Born Free Announces Fashion Collaboration with Vogue, Shopbop, M∙A∙C AIDS Fund and 22 Top Designers to Raise Awareness for Elimination of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

VOGUE/Annie Leibovitz

Born Free, a private sector-led initiative with the sole objective of ending mother-to-child HIV transmission by December 31, 2015. Today it was announced that a series of initiatives supported by leading fashion and beauty companies in an effort to raise awareness and support for this cause.

Shopbop, Vogue, and 22 leading designers, including Isabel Marant, Jenna Lyons, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace to name a few, have joined together to create a limited-edition collection in support of Born Free. The Collection, based on the work of the celebrated Kenyan-born, New York-based visual artist Wangechi Mutu, features designer pieces for both women and children, with most pieces under $250.

The campaign is in the May 2014 Issue of Vogue Magazine that features a number of models with their children, all wearing the Born Free Collection, and in hopes to increase awareness and gain support among consumers. The above photo is of model and participating designer, Liya Kebede as she visited South Africa to learn more about Born Free.

Beginning today, the Born Free Collection is available exclusively on Shopbop.com. See few of the designers collection....

Alberta Ferretti for Born Free Collection

Steven Alan x Dr. Scholl's Launch Collaboration Collection

Steven Alan x Dr. Scholl's Launch Collaboration Collection

Another collaboration as  hit the sales floor... designer and fashion pioneer Steven Alan has joined forces with the classic American shoe brand, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes, for a limited edition collaboration collection. This idea of a collaboration came when the Creative Director of Dr. Scholl's James Sowins, and Alan were having dinner in New York City. The collection, which is now available at Steven Alan store locations and website, consists of two women’s and a men’s style available in two colors ways. With a contemporary take on the iconic Dr. Scholl’s Shoes wooden exercise sandal, these range from $100 to $145.

What do you think of the Steven Alan and Dr. Scholl's Collaboration?

Get the Look: 5 Floral Finds

Get the Look: 5 Floral Finds

My Spring search is winding down even though the weather has other plans. What I realize is that like it or not Floral prints will always be a Spring season staple.  However what I love is the airy lightness that floral prints can capture. Also, what I inspected for many floral items that are in stores now, is that the these prints are enlarge so you see the daisies, tulips, leafs and many others in high definition. Last but not least, if you don't want to wear a daisy you can surely smell like one through the eyes of Marc Jacobs's perfume Daisy.

How would you incorporate florals in your everyday wardrobe?

Get the Look ...

In honor of Earth Month, Say YES To Beating Hunger with Yes to Carrots

For the month of April there's the #YESTOMOVEMENT monthly hashtag projects which give people a simple way to share their YES MOMENTS. 

Yes to Movement is a year-long project aimed at encouraging everyone to spread the power of positivity by saying YES to something for yourself, for the people you love, etc.

Here's how you can participate...take a photo of your favorite snack and post it to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #YESTOSNACKS and #YESTOMOVEMENT. For every hashtag, YES will donate a healthy snack to Blessings in a Backpack, a non-profit organization that feeds school children in the United States who currently get meals during the week on the federally funded Free and Reduced Meal Program and are at risk of going hungry on the weekends.

You should hashtagging now becuase YES will giveone participant in this hashtag project a year’s worth of Yes to Wipes and a $150 gift card to Whole Foods to stock up on their favorite snacks. 
If you're going to use social media on a daily basis might as well use it for a good cause.

Nicki Minaj Summer 2014 Collection

Nicki Minaj Summer 2014 Collection

The Starship has landed ...
The Nicki Minaj Summer '14 collection is about to be available at Kmart and Shopyourway.com. So If you're fan of rapper Nicki Minaj or if you're one her dedicated "Barbs" you will love the Nicki Minaj Summer collection that will soon hit the sales floor. Denim jumpers, body con skirts and dresses and vibrant prints gives all the jolt you may need to head into the Summer season. If you want to unleash your inner rapper or hop on that Starship, the Minaj collection has you set.

Are you excited for the Nicki Minaj Summer '14 collection?

JCPenney Launches THE BODY Elle Macpherson Intimates

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JCPenney Launches THE BODY Elle Macpherson Intimates

Australian Model Elle Macpherson aka The Body has a line of invisible t-shirt bras and panties are designed for comfort and fit in the flirty, feminine aesthetic for which Macpherson is known. Cleverly named, THE BODY Elle Macpherson Intimates it's JCPenney’s  newest intimates collection. Here's what Elle Macpherson said about the collection,  "I am intimately involved in the creation of all Elle Macpherson Intimates collections because I love helping women feel effortlessly beautiful. Lingerie is the first thing that she puts on every day, so it's important that it makes her feel special." For a model to be known as The Body, this line intimates fit right into Elle Macpherson many business endeavors. The collection features 4 distinct styles - THE BODY Boost, THE BODY Fit, THE BODY Smooth and THE BODY Natural ranging in price from $40-$44 for bras and $12-$14 for panties, and is now exclusively available in 300 JCPenney stores and jcp.com.  

pics courtesy of via JCP media room

Get To Know: Origami Owl

Origami Owl is a custom jewelry brand that has found a way to use lockets and charms that builds a personalize piece of jewelry unique to you and whoever you give the jewelry to. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting founder Bella Weems at the Origami Owl presentation. At the ripe old age of 17, Bella has cultivated a multi-million dollar business which consumers will be able to tell their stories through jewelry. At the presentation I built  my own locket filled with charms that meant something special to me and that in itself was something truly an unique experience.  

To learn more about the brand and find out how to obtain your own Origami Charms, click here.

To view more lockets and see the pic with founder Bella and I ...

The Next Designer Collaboration is Alexander Wang x H&M coming November 6, 2014

Alexander Wang x H&M coming November 6, 2014

News broke of the Alexander Wang and H&M collaboration at Coachella, that means me and many others on the East coast got the news in the middle of night. This is by far the best news that emerged from Coachella. For Designer Alexander Wang, the past few years has been good to him, with the CFDA win, creative designer at Balenciaga, having his Fall '14  fashion show in Brooklyn and endless celebrities wearing his clothes. This collaboration is to quench the thirst for the masses! I'm super excited!

 So I gathered 5 items I would love for Alexander Wang to recreate for this collaboration. ...

Peter Som for DesigNation launches in Kohl's for Spring '14

Peter Som for DesigNation

“Clothing should make you feel fabulous. When I design, I always think about the woman wearing it and where she is going. The pieces in my collection are fresh and stylish which will help women effortlessly blend confidence with femininity.” said designer Peter Som on the heels on the launch of the Kohl's DesigNation collection, that will be in stores April 10th. Peter Som is no stranger working with Kohl's as this is his fourth installment with the retailer. He was heavily influenced by playful spirit of St. Barths, so expect to bold prints and other must-have items for under $100. Shop the collection, here.

See more of the Peter Som for DesigNation for Kohl's Collection ....

3 Types of Spring Denim Jackets

3 Types of Spring Denim Jackets

After a very turbulent winter that extended way into Spring, the temperatures are slowly raising and people are losing the layers. One of the go-to jackets people like to pull out their closet is a denim jacket. Denim jackets are lightweight and come in different washes. Many people buy different shades of denim to coordinate with their outfit, while some people stick to just one and wear it with everything. I love a medium wash denim jacket, it's not too dark and not to light, the wash fits just right for me. So the question remains... 

What's your favorite type of denim jacket for Spring?

Light Wash| TOPSHOP MOTO Fitted Denim Jacket //  Medium Wash| Target Merona Women's Denim Jacket // Dark Wash| Armani Jeans Lace Trim Denim Jacket

Get The Look: Stripes + Dots

Get The Look: Stripes + Dots 

Mixing outlandish prints can be intimidating, but looking at the Burberry Spring '14 styled looks got me thinking about mixing just the basic prints. The basics prints are stripes and polka dots, you really can't go wrong by wearing either of them. However based on the Burberry collection, mixing is a fresh way of wearing your basic prints and eating wearing it two. Tip: The scale of each print have to be moderate of each other, so if you're wearing a wider stripes and pair it with slightly larger polka dots, visually you want the combination to be balanced.

Stripes or Polka Dots, which is your favorite print?

Get the stripes/dots look ...

Market Appointment: MCM Fall 2014 Preview

MCM Fall '14 Preview

MCM is a German luxury fashion brand specializing in leather good. MCM  has grown to streetstyle success with their monogram leather backpacks. I've seen what that have in store for Fall '14 and this brand is not stopping at just backpacks. They're diving into more textiles such as furs and different kinds of animals skin prints. Also their handbags are such great quality and the consumer has the option for a bag with usual MCM monogram or settle with  a satchel or bowling bag that's more subtle in colors. Last but not least, my favorite was the hightop sneakers with explosive fur coming from the top... look below.

See more of the MCM Fall 2014 Preview ...