Month: November 2020

If the ongoing lockdown taught us anything about fashion, it’s to invest in functional pieces that can fit with the times we’re living in. For instance, a cozy, faux fur coat that hugs you like a blanket and translates well on Zoom. Or maybe a faux leather trouser that pairs as well with comfy sneakers as it does with heels. For Jordan Brand’s holiday 2020 women’s apparel line, the sportswear brand gives us all that and more, adding a runway edge to the hoop culture-inspired collection.

Described as “authentic sport silhouettes reinterpreted through lux fabrics and a utility edge,” the Court to Runway 2020 Holiday collection features a cropped zip-front jacket, leggings, trousers, a bodysuit, and more, each of them dipped in various fabrics from faux fur to faux leather and created with cold-weather layering in mind.

Courtesy

The compact collection is built around the faux leather flightsuit, fashioned with an embossed pattern and metallic hardware throughout. A standout of the bunch is easily the black faux leather trousers, which features a fold-down high-waist and large cargo pocket crawling down the sides leading to a jogger hem. Jordan Brand’s holiday collection arrives in a sweet fall palette of brown and black with a dash of leopard print.

Courtesy

The Jordan Brand Women’s Court to Runway Holiday 2020 Apparel Collection arrives on November 26 in North America, and will release globally at a later date this winter.

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“The role of business has evolved – in today’s world, driving meaningful change is just as important as the bottom line.”

Earlier this year, Canada Goose unveiled its Sustainable Impact Strategy, focusing on the brand’s longterm commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Having already committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and eliminating single-use plastics in all their facilities by the end of this year, among other plans, Canada Goose has now introduced Humanature, “a purpose platform that unites its sustainability and values-based initiatives.”

With commitments they intend to roll out across every aspect of the company’s operations, the goal of this Humanature initiative is to “keep the planet cold and the people on it warm.” Their efforts will be focused on not just combatting climate change but also on prioritizing philanthropic endeavours, local community empowerment and support for the arts. Last month, the brand teamed up with Ryan Reynolds to provide over 300 parkas and pairs of footwear to the students at the Inuujaq School in Arctic Bay, Nunavat.

“The role of business has evolved – in today’s world, driving meaningful change is just as important as the bottom line,” said Dani Reiss, President and CEO, in a statement. “We are steadfast in our commitment to strengthening our communities, protecting our planet and working towards a future for generations to come. Since 1957, we have been trusted to protect people from the elements and to keep them warm; now, through Humanature, we are taking warmth to an even deeper societal level.”

Future eco-focused plans for the brand include the launch of a new Standard Expedition Parka in January 2021, which promises to be their most sustainable parka to date. Made from recycled and un-dyed fabrics and lining, as well as 100 per cent responsibly-sourced down and reclaimed fur, the design of the parka reportedly generates 30 per cent less carbon, based on footprint, compared to the in-line Expedition Parka.

Stay tuned for more initiatives and announcements as part of the Canada Goose Humanature plan in the near future.

Bretman Rock is a work of art. When the social media star and beauty influencer is not expertly beating his face with his non-dominant hand or rating Trix cereal an eight out of ten (“I would say it’s slightly better than Fruit Loops”), he’s directing his focus to the camera for 7.89 million YouTube subscribers and 15.2 million Instagram followers. With a knack for endearingly calling viewers “bitch” without making you wince, Rock is the internet’s sassy best friend.

The aggressive positivity he radiates is the same Gen Z energy that shines bright while lifting others up (see also: Donte Colley, Rickey Thompson, and other twenty-somethings who charged the polls and OK boomer’d to boost Biden). The “posi vibes only” generation moves forward with kindness and emojis and boldly embraces authenticity, which is Rock’s speciality.

He’ll always call Hawaii his home, which is where he’s lived since he moved to America from the Philippines when he was seven years old. The backdrop of his Insta-stories are sun-drenched mountains and the occasional cameo of his mom sweeping, which helps separate him from his peers farming content in TikTok houses. Rock is on island time, taking things slow and on his own terms.

So it makes sense that he’s held back on fashion partnerships. Despite inking major beauty deals, starring in upcoming digital series No Filter with MTV, and attending New York Fashion Week, today marks his first major fashion collaboration with Dime eyewear. Now available for purchase (and for only $30 a pop), Rock worked with the eyewear brand to launch four new sunglasses, which are featured in a campaign inspired by the social media stars of the 14th century: Renaissance painters.

We chatted with Rock over Zoom, where he gave us tips for dating in quarantine, the touching reason he became a plant daddy, and the NSFW story behind his artful campaign for Dime, below.

Lauren Naylor / courtesy of dime

How are you doing today?

I have a date later. So, you know, I’m feeling myself. Getting my hair flat as possible.

Are you excited? How are you feeling?

Girl. The question is, are they excited to see me? I’m never excited to see no boy, they should be excited to see me. I’m planning my hair right now because you know, I think I’m going to give him very executive realness for this date.

Is this a first date?

I wouldn’t say that. This is my very like sugar daddy vibes. Who’s not so daddyish, he just got sugar, kind of like me.

Do you have any advice for people dating right now in quarantine?

I would say, know your status, period. Doesn’t matter about if it’s HIV or COVID. If you’re going to go out on a date, you got to know your status, at least take a COVID test. Both of ya. And I would say, start with Zoom dates first. Don’t be risking your lives to go see some bitch.

How has your style evolved over the years?

I think I’ve always had this non-binary energy with me. My mom has always told me that I’m pretty and handsome at the same time. And so I kind of just believed her. And a lot of people tell me that I really could wear and do whatever the fuck I want.

I’ve always known I was non-binary and always known I wanted to wear whatever the fuck I want. But then at some point I just started dressing basic. I started dressing for other people instead of dressing for myself. And so that’s how my style has changed. I started dressing for me now.

You’ve gotten increasingly political on social media. But with everything that’s happened this year, what does “Use your platform, bitch” mean to you?

I feel like we obviously all deal with different things and we all value different things and we all believe in different things. And to me, my statement of using your fucking platform is really breaking the silence and really standing up for what you believe in. Whatever it may be, because I feel like we all should stand up for at least one thing. You know what I mean? We don’t all have to fucking save the turtles.

It’s just knowing that everybody has a voice. You do not need a check mark next to your name. You do not need millions of followers to know and to feel that you have a platform. I feel like everyone should realize that they have a platform regardless of how big their audience is.

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How did you get into houseplants?

I got into plants because when my dad passed away last November. We went back home to the Philippines and my dad had always had a greenhouse in front of our house. It kind of made me sad cause it was so full of plants and it was so luscious and he collected a lot of flowering plants, a lot of Bonsai. He loved plants.

When I got back home to Hawaii, it made me realize I didn’t fucking have any plants. And so I kind of just started buying plants, and it’s going to sound so corny, but in a way it made me feel a little connected to my dad. Knowing that he was also taking care of plants and that I didn’t realize I had a green thumb until I started getting plants — they made me a little bit closer to my dad. Because sometimes, believe it or not, he would show up in my dreams and remind me to water certain plants. I would go look at that plant the next day and it’s either half dead or it needed water.

How’s your TV show going?

Every time I go to work or the set, it makes me so grateful to be doing what I’m doing. And it’s like, wow, I really fucking manifested this shit when I was a kid. Growing up instead of watching cartoons or High School Musical and the Disney Channel, I would literally be watching fucking Bad Girls Club, America’s Next Top Model. Manifesting this shit. And I would literally always say, “I’m going to have my show one day.” It’s so weird to me that I almost fucking canceled it for a selfish reason, but it’s so fun. Oh my gosh, everyone needs to have a reality show.

Do you have any reality TV stars you’re channeling when you’re shooting?

Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. The Simple Life was just so iconic. A lot of my personality comes from that show, also The Osbournes. But I like to say that my show is a little like a marriage of both, because it’s like family but it’s also like me trying new things.

What made you want to partner with Dime for your first big fashion collaboration?

I’m still new to the fashion industry. I didn’t want my first collab to be with a company that’s been around for a while. I kind of wanted the idea of growing with Dime. And doing my first collab with them and them having one of their first influencer collab in their fairly new company.

So, that was a plus. Dime let me be in charge, not just with the sunglasses, not just with the frames, not just with the colors, but it goes down to the packaging. I painted my own packaging, I fucking painted that shit. I wanted my turtle logo in there, and they just kind of said yes to everything. I love a brand that doesn’t tie me down and does shit for me. If I’m going to write my name on something, I want to do shit for it. I’m not just going to say yes to a pair of sunglass and put my fucking name on it without anything behind it and no story at all. You know what I mean?

Definitely. Who’s your dream celebrity you’d love to see wearing your sunglasses?

Besides myself? Girl, I’m going to just dream as big as I can. If I ever see Miss Rihanna wear my sunglasses, I would probably die.

Lauren Naylor / courtesy of dime

The campaign stars yourself, done up as subjects from famous paintings. How did that idea come about?

Do you want an honest answer or a PR-ready answer?

I want an honest answer.

What the fuck was I thinking. OK, since you want to ask me what I was thinking, bitch. I was high as fuck one day. I accidentally got high. I hate when that happens. Oh, you know what I mean?

The joint just fell into your mouth.

The joint was there and I’m like, “Oh my gosh!” Anyways, I was lit, and then my manager texted me out of nowhere and she was like, “Brett, your photo shoot is coming up and we need to do something.” And I was thinking and thinking and it hit me, like the edible that I took. I really wanted to recreate paintings. I love Renaissance paintings.

And I plan on doing more recreations, hopefully later down the road with future collections. Cause there’s so many paintings that I could remake, and it’s also so cool to see a brown person as the Girl with a Pearl Earring. It’s cool to see a brown person in The Creation of Adam. I think it speaks so much more about what art actually means to people. It speaks different ways with other people. That’s what I wanted to create with these sunglasses — I really wanted someone to see my sunglasses and see that they could wear this with any type of outfit. It’s a classic frame, but it’s also kind of a nod to vintage frames.

So would you consider yourself an art heaux?

I would consider myself an artsy ho. I’ve always been, and I’ve always — even though I’m not that gifted with painting, it’s the thought that counts.

I mean, technically you’re a professional painter, if you painted the packaging.

Yes. I’m a painter. I paint my face pretty well.

Shop Bretman Rock’s first fashion collab with Dime, here

444 Sunglasses in Black

dime x Bretman Rock
dimeoptics.com

$30.00

444 Sunglasses in Tortoise

dime x Bretman Rock
dimeoptics.com

$30.00

sage green

dime x Bretman Rock
dimeoptics.com

$30.00

444 Sunglasses in Sage Green

444 Sunglasses in Blue Light

dime x Bretman Rock
dimeoptics.com

$30.00

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If you ever needed a reason to get a robe coat.

As the main character in HBO’s The Undoing, Nicole Kidman plays Grace Fraser, a New York-based therapist with a wardrobe that will induce some serious coat envy. While her life may be in turmoil, her fashion sense is spot on. From a metallic pleated Givenchy dress to a plethora of perfect coats, Grace’s wardrobe serves up no shortage of style inspiration for the cooler months ahead. Since outerwear speaks volumes in the winter, try one of Grace Fraser’s favourite styles and no one will question if you’re wearing a sweatsuit underneath.

Scroll down for some of our favourite coat styles that Nicole Kidman wears in The Undoing (and similar buys to add to your wardrobe):

A textured robe coat is a winter win. This bohemian take on the simple tie coat can be dressed up or down with its cozy finish. Whether it’s nubby or smooth, texture adds an extra dimension.

A topper in a check feels sophisticated but can be dressed down with a cozy knit. The neutral tones and menswear-inspired silhouette make it a must-have for every closet. Size up for a bold fashion forward look.

Another scene, another robe coat but this time in red – Fraser clearly has an infinity for the synched waist silhouette. This jewel toned topper is a festive way to show your holiday spirit even from a socially acceptable distance.

When I first see Karlie Kloss on my screen, she’s a pixelated, slightly delayed version of the model/Kode With Klossy founder/Project Runway host the world knows. “I’ve been having some WiFi troubles today…” she tells me, springing into action just as I offer to switch my own connection. It’s one of the all-too-common scenes filling our days in 2020, as technical difficulties impede our ability to connect.

But after a few virtual adjustments, it becomes clear that not even a weak WiFi connection will be tampering Kloss’s excitement. She’s here to introduce her new collection with Adidas, a spring/summer 2021 athleisure line designed alongside Adidas Design VP Jo Aberg. “It’s a dream come true to be creating and launching this collection with Adidas. Long before my day job being a model, I really have always identified as an athlete,” Kloss recalls. “Growing up, I played every sport in the book. I loved the role that sports had and continue to have in my life. It’s such a core part of how I connect to my body and my mind and how I feel my best.”

Shaniqwa Jarvis

Shaniqwa Jarvis

That same spirit is evident in her streetwear-inspired output with Adidas, an orange-accented activewear line featuring high-performance workout bras, leggings, shorts, and outerwear. The collection utilizes recyclable material and AEROREADY fabric technology to create a sustainable, but sporty experience for consumers. “This collection we wanted to create was really a culmination of so many things that I love,” Kloss explains. “Empowering young women to take part in sports, but also the fashion aspect of it—creating pieces that are functional and fashionable and the best-in-class performance gear.”

Two women that embody this mission are Alexis Williams and Elysha Ang—both alums of Kode With Klossy, a coding program for women founded by Kloss. They’re featured front and center in the Adidas campaign and are products of the model’s mentorship. Inspiring women in the sports and tech spaces is a topic Kloss admits she can’t “stop rambling” about. When asked about the origins of her passion, she begins, “Well, I mean I grew up in the Midwest,” stopping so that we can bond over shared knowledge of the University of Missouri. “Did you go to the J-school? You probably know all of my neighbors and cousins and friends,” she jokes.

Shaniqwa Jarvis

Kloss grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, one of three sisters with parents who encouraged them to embrace their dreams without limitations. “Just because we happen to be young women doesn’t mean that we are not capable of anything that the boys are capable of. I think I had that mentality, in sports in particular,” she says. “I was always the girl at recess playing kickball, outplaying the boys. So I think I’ve always had that competitive drive, but also the communal aspect of a strong sisterhood—literally with my sisters, but also with friends in my hometown of St. Louis and in the fashion community.”

Noam GalaiGetty Images

Some of those relationships were cultivated last year when Kloss joined Project Runway as its new host. In addition to missing judge and ELLE Editor-in-Chief Nina Garcia, Kloss says she’s feeling grateful for the design opportunities the show provided her. “Being able to be a part of the creative process as a producer on Project Runway has been such an educational experience as well,” she says. “Probably since I’m 13 years old, I have been a part of this industry and learning from so many incredible creatives. Being able to bring these visions to life, not only as a model, to be a part of the creative process in a very involved way has been such an incredible evolution of how I get to do my job.”

These days, Kloss admits her previously fast-paced lifestyle has been replaced with trips from the living room to the kitchen and back again. “For the last, I don’t know, more than a decade of my life, I’ve been on an airplane,” Kloss explains. “I’ve been running around, just crazy kind of days, and taking on so many different things, which I love.” But she admits, “Not traveling so much has actually been a blessing in disguise to be more present and connected to my loved ones, and connected to myself. I think for me it just kind of put into perspective what matters most.”

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Like many of us, Kloss is adjusting to the new normal by investing in a new set of hobbies. “I caught up on basically 10 years worth of TV in the last eight months,” she laughs. “I also have been pleasantly surprised by how much I love virtual workouts. That’s one thing that I didn’t really ever do before quarantine. I have been cooking a lot more than I ever, ever did. I find that really meditative, and also it’s important because it was a skillset that I never invested in before, and now I feel like I’ve come a long way.”

Kloss is also looking ahead to 2021, a year poised for major changes. If all goes according to plan, she wants to run in the New York City marathon (for a second time). New Adidas product drops are in the works. There’s also that one personal project she’s keeping to her Instagram grid for now. No matter what the next phase holds, Kloss wants women to feel as empowered to embrace every part of themselves as she is. “I don’t identify as just one thing. Yes, I’m a model, but I also consider myself and treat my body and my mind like an athlete. Yes, I’m a student. Yes, I love computer science. Yes, I’m an entrepreneur and a founder of Kode with Klossy,” she says, wistfully deciding, “I don’t know, I have all these various aspects of who I am.”

Karlie Kloss’s Adidas collection is available to shop on December 1.

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Here’s the final installment of our primer on cannabis beverages: what they are, what’s in them, and the products that match your personality

In part one of our series, we gave you an introduction to the brave new world of cannabis beverages, and in part two, we broke down the ingredients and flavour profiles.

In this final instalment, we give you the goods on when you might consider one of these adult-only beverages as a novel way to toast a special (or, frankly, ordinary) moment. Truss Beverage Co. is a company with a lot of thoughtfully-produced, flavour-forward options to match those moments—and your personality. Born out of a partnership between HEXO Corp. and Molson Coors Canada, Truss has put an immense amount of research and expert knowledge into their beverage offerings. The company prides itself on being cannabis beverage specialists and their portfolio includes a wide range of options as diverse as the people who drink them. Here’s a rundown of four of their brands. Advice to newbies: start with a low dose, sip slow and adjust as you go along.

If you want a moment to yourself

Lean into one of Veryvell’s easy-going sparkling waters: Sicilian Lemon, which has a subtle twist-of-lemon flavour, and Strawberry Hibiscus, a lightly carbonated drink with floral hints and notes of strawberry. With 15 mg of CBD and 0.5mg of THC, the two flavours are perfect for a night of your latest streaming binge-watch. Besides sparkling beverages, Veryvell makes three different cannabis extracts: the Exhale Drops (1mg of CBD for every 2 drops) for when you want to cuddle up on the sofa, Tingle Drops (0.5mg THC and 0.5mg CBD) for when you’re in the mood for… you know, and Yawn Drops (1mg of THC per two drops) the perfect pairing for your nightstand.

If you’re planning a gourmet dinner

For complex sparkling tonics with botanically sourced terpenes that will tingle your tastebuds, trust in House of Terpenes. Both of its balanced tonics (each one contains 5 mg of THC and 5 mg of CBD) use the dominant terpene flavours found in cannabis as the star ingredients in the tonic itself. Limonene and Sparkling Tonic emphasizes the flavours of lemon, tangerine and thyme flavours—adding a twist of lemon rind and a sprig of thyme to fully experience  a citrusy sip of the unfamiliar. And the Myrcene and Sparkling Tonic, with its tarragon and clove notes, will pair well with an orange wedge.

If you want to watch sports (or reality TV—your choice)

If you’re looking for something to sip (that happens to have THC in it) while watching the game or your favourite reality-show confection, Mollo’s got you covered with two lightly hopped, crisp options with an easy drinking taste. Mollo 2.5 contains, yep, 2.5 mg of both THC and CBD, while Mollo 5 contains double the amount of both cannabinoids.

If you want to toast everyday victories

In a year like 2020, we deserve to make the most of any teeny tiny wins—so why not grab one of the Little Victory’s four sparkling beverages as part of an impromptu celebration? The Dry Grapefruit and Dry Lemon flavours are bubbly, light-bodied beverages with a slight tannic mouthfeel, made with grape varietals grown in the pacific northwest . The Sparkling Blood Orange and Sparkling Dark Cherry drinks are flavour-forward in their effervescent offering. With 2.5 mg THC and 2.5 mg of CBD in every drink, this quad squad really is ideal for a socially distanced hang.

Discover why Clarins Double Serum is worth the hype.

Plain and simple, applying a great serum will make the biggest difference when it comes to overhauling your complexion because serums are designed to deliver high concentrations of specific active ingredients. They’re also formulated with smaller particles that can penetrate the skin on a deeper cellular level, which means they work faster and more effectively. There’s constantly a flood of new serums hitting the market that make big promises. But there are a few excellent formulas that breakthrough all the noise for one key reason: they work. Enter, Clarins Double Serum.

With a 35-year track record and cult following to boot – one bottle of Clarins Double Serum is sold every five seconds around the globe – this serum envelops skin with a soothing blend of plant actives that make skin soft, hydrated and radiant.

We spoke with Clarins’ Responsible Innovation Director, Marie-Hélène Lair, to learn about what sets Clarins Double Serum apart from all the other serums on the market.

It’s a two for one

This complete age control concentrate is made up of 21 unique plant extracts housed in two power-packed anti-aging serums. Two separate chambers dispense a hydric serum and lipidic oil to mimic the skin’s composition which is 70% water and 30% oil. “Not all plants are soluble in lipids or in water, which is why we have two bottles in one,” says Lair. The separate chambers also stop the ingredients from mixing and destabilizing. Lair compares the design to a vinaigrette: they would separate if they were mixed together. So, to “preserve the integrity” of the fat-soluble and water-soluble ingredients they’re encased in their own formula.

Launched in 1985, Clarins Double Serum may be considered an “old millennial” but as science, innovation and new breakthroughs in ingredients have been discovered, the formula has evolved with the times. Now, in its eighth generation, it has added turmeric, which is applauded for its active anti-aging properties while also delivering topical benefits including reducing oxidative stress and photoaging. Other notable ingredients include marsh samphire, which reduces the loss of water that passes from inside the body through the epidermis to the surrounding atmosphere. There’s also Mary’s thistle and cocoa, which have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, while teasel is said to boost radiance.

It’s a multi-tasker that does it all

Clarins Double Serum is rich in antioxidants (such as edelweiss and ginger) that help skin fight all those nasty free radicals – or as Lair refers to them: the bad guys. “The bad guys are highly reactive molecules that can cause damage to different components in cells and for the skin that means causing premature aging, dehydration and wrinkles,” she says. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by giving up some of their own electrons. In making this sacrifice, they create a natural “off” switch for the free radicals which breaks the chaotic chain reaction which can lead not only to premature aging but irritation and inflammation, too. The best part of the elixir: It doesn’t take long to see results. The serum delivers firmer, smoother and more radiant skin in just 7 days. Even better news? After just one use you’ll get instant gratification with skin looking brighter and dewier.

Don’t wait till you’re older

Two things you should start doing in your 20s are starting a RRSP and committing to an anti-aging plan of attack. “I think early to mid-twenties is a great age to start. The sooner the better!” says Lair. Her belief is it’s easier to prevent than to treat signs of aging – and the perfect place to start is with Clarins Double Serum. “Whatever generation, ethnicity, gender and skin type – it’s really the ideal serum for everybody,” says Lair.

The bottle has a dial that allows you to control the dosage dispensed. “Younger [skin] can just use the small drop setting and it can be increased to the larger drop according to your age and your skin’s needs,” she says. Regardless of your age, if you have dry skin you may want to go for the larger drop setting. The serum, which has a pleasant botanical scent, is mild enough to use on your face and neck both morning and night and a major bonus is that it doesn’t pill under moisturizer or makeup.

Kerry Washington is one of Hollywood’s more daring and experimental style stars today, but she’s also a strong believer in classic, timeless jewelry. And that is what makes her new partnership with jewelry brand Aurate such an organic business match.

For Washington, who is not just the face of the new Aurate campaign but is also as an investor, teaming up with the jewelry brand and its two founders, Sophie Kahn and Bouchra Ezzahraoui, was a no-brainer. She was instantly drawn to the brand’s transparency on the types of pieces made, how they were being made, and who they were being made for.

“When I met Sophie and Bouchra, I just pretty much became obsessed with them. They’re so smart and beautiful and tenacious. I loved them. I loved their jewelry, because, of course, they’re always wearing it, and I really loved what they were building,” Washington tells BAZAAR.com. “I love this idea of building a company that was really invested in cutting out the middleman so that you can avoid the insane markups for fine jewelry and making high-quality, beautiful fine jewelry accessible to more women.”

Of her decision to join the Aurate team, Washington says, “I love their sustainability practices, their commitments to diversity, the fact that they were a female-driven company. The fact that they’ve always given back. Giving back is embedded in their DNA from the very beginning. I just thought, ‘I love them, I love what they are building, and I want to be a part of this side.'”

In addition to starring in the ethereally photographed campaign, Washington had a hand in co-designing the new Lioness Collection, which features a mixed-texture necklace, a corresponding bracelet, link huggie earrings, and the Lion Coin Pendant. All the pieces are meant to symbolize the power, strength, and resilience that lives within women. Twenty percent of proceeds from sales of the new collection’s Lion Coin Pendant will benefit Supermajority, a women’s activist organization working to transform the country and build an intergenerational, multiracial movement for women’s equity.

David Urbanke

“This is a company by women for women. And I wanted to make sure that our design was an organic growth out of those values and that commitment,” Washington explains. “We started talking about the lioness and what she symbolizes. Because lionesses, they hunt together and they raise their cubs together. They provide for the tribe by going out for the kill together, but they also come back and they raise each other’s cubs and there’s no hierarchy. There’s no one lioness who’s in charge of the other. They really are a collective of sisterhood.”

Applying the lioness symbolism to women, Washington says, “I just love that imagery for how it speaks to the power of women when women come together, how we are both fierce and loving. We also started working with the imagery of Sekhmet, who is a goddess from Egyptian mythology. Her name literally translates to, ‘She who is powerful,’ but she was a warrior, because she is a warrior goddess and also a goddess of healing.”

She continues, “Also using the idea of a coin to really speak to women’s value and our worth in the world. But another one of my favorite things about the collection is the two different chains that are bonded together as a symbol, really of what happens when women come together as one circle. So there’s a lot of really powerful imagery [within the collection] and I love that.”

Jewelry—unlike say, stilettos—has remained a style staple for Washington even while spending the majority of her time now working from home. Because major red-carpet opportunities for the actress to show off her bold, experimental style are paused for now, she’s relied on timeless accessories to spice up her at-home looks.

“What’s funny is I feel like jewelry has outlasted COVID. I’m not walking around in my five-inch heels. There are three moments in the last nine months that I’ve put real heels on and the Emmys was one of them,” says Washington. “The shoes are not fairing so well in COVID, but jewelry is, because you can still bring some sparkle and joy to a Zoom conference and feel like you’re bringing your best self when you are doing yourself from the waist up. I love to have a classic aesthetic with pops of something, whether it’s a pop of a ring or a shoe or a bag.”

Forging a decades-long relationship with fine jewelry, Washington says that accessorizing for fancy events provided her with the experience necessary to co-design a collection. “I’ve always been drawn to fine jewelry that has a real delicacy to it. I spent 20 years going through jewelry trays, whether I’m doing press or walking the red carpet or doing a junket or at a magazine cover shoot, looking at jewelry, figuring out what do I like, what don’t I like, what works, what doesn’t work,” she says. “And so it’s been fun to bring some of that experience now to the table, as an investor and designer.”

Shop the Lioness Collection

Lioness Pendant Necklace

Lioness Chain Bracelet

Lioness Gold Hoop Earrings

Lioness Chain Necklace

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This is Texture Talk, a weekly column that deep dives into the dynamic world of curly hair. This week, beauty director Natasha Bruno reveals the maddening lack of salon pros trained to work with textured hair and her hope that change is coming.

I can remember the horrible — and illuminating — experience so vividly. I was in my teens living in my hometown in central Alberta, and my mom had booked me into a local hair salon for a trim. Back then, I was addicted to chemical relaxers — something I continued to religiously apply to my fragile strands well into my 20s until I embraced my natural afro-textured hair—to help make my tight coils more manageable for me to style. Weekly poker-straight blowouts were my thing for years.

Having grown up in a mostly white community, I was accustomed to there not being a Black hair salon anywhere in sight, unless we travelled to a bigger city, and therefore having to basically take my entire hair regimen (yes, even my beloved relaxer) into my own hands — minus the cutting.

Upon entering the salon, I was greeted by a hairstylist who looked downright overwhelmed and like she had absolutely no idea what to do or where to even begin with my coily locks. (It had been a minute since my last relaxer application so I had quite a bit of new growth.) Her first tactic: coming in hard with thinning shears to remove some of my natural volume. I’ve since blocked out the “after” image, but I do recall feeling uncomfortable in my own skin while sitting in her chair and wondering why it was so hard for her—a trained hairdresser—to do something as routine as a trim. It wasn’t like I was asking for a completely new hairstyle.

This is just one of many instances throughout my hair journey and career in beauty that made me realize there’s a dramatic lack of knowledge surrounding curly hair within the industry at a fundamental level — an education gap that disproportionately impacts Black hair. And what’s worse are the negative repercussions that ensue: textured-hair clients dealing with the hassle of a botched cut or being rejected from many salons entirely due to inadequate training; the stereotype that Black hair is unmanageable; and, probably worst of all, the perception that natural Black hair isn’t even a part of true beauty.

My most recent memorable hair encounter was earlier this year. While covering backstage beauty during New York Fashion Week Fall 2020 pre-pandemic, I decided to go for a wash ’n’ go curly hairstyle at a swanky SoHo salon someone had put on my radar. One thing I always have to ask when trying out a new spot is if they have a hairstylist on deck who’s equipped to work with afro-textured hair. I was assured “yes” when booking, but during my one-on-one consultation with my designated stylist, I got an immediate gut feeling that he actually hadn’t been exposed to coily hair much at all. With that appointment being my only opportunity during the trip for a true NYC salon experience, I decided to bite my lip and let him proceed.

I sat down at the sink, and soon there were two sets of hands working on my mane; I realized that my stylist was being helped by one of his female colleagues — a Black hairstylist. Step by step, she was walking him through curly-hair basics: washing, conditioning, detangling and later finger-coiling for ample definition. The whole scenario validated another realization I’ve long held: that the salon industry mostly looks to their hairstylists of colour to service textured-hair clients and that they often have to work twice as hard at perfecting all hair types. There isn’t the same level of expectation for all professional hairdressers. I know that my experiences are far from uncommon, and, to be honest, to this day I’m always surprised when I meet a non-Black hairstylist who is thoroughly knowledgeable about afro hair — like Kevin Mancuso, global creative director at Nexxus.

I will never forget when I first met Mancuso a few years ago at Nexxus’s Tribeca salon during a work trip to New York. The excitement in the veteran hairstylist’s face and voice as he was about to get his hands on my hair was contagious. And as I sat in his chair watching him effortlessly style my coils, from washing to diffusing, I came to learn that Mancuso’s career path as a non-Black hairstylist was a road far less travelled.

The Brooklynite graduated from beauty school in the late ’70s and, unlike many of his fellow classmates who were gunning for über-high-end Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue salons post-graduation, landed in an establishment with a predominantly Black clientele. There he would meet his two longtime mentors, a Jamaican and an African-American stylist, who helped him master chemical relaxers and how to wash, treat, blow-dry and cut afro-textured hair as well as perfect the iconic Jheri curl — a wildly popular shag of chemically altered curls among the Black community during the ’80s. “It wasn’t until six years into my career that I decided I needed to learn geometric haircutting,” he shares. “That’s when I went to Sassoon Salon, which was my first time ever working in a predominantly white salon.”

As Mancuso’s reputation grew in an industry that lacked Black hair professionals as key players in the editorial world, he soon became known among hair brands as one of the few go-to hairstylists in New York who could service Black models and celebrities, gaining famous names like Naomi Campbell, Patti LaBelle and Chaka Khan as clients in the process.

With hairstylists not required to have a basic level of Black hair knowledge, the resulting segregation of hair types in salons was unshakable, says Mancuso. “Back then, it was very, very separate,” he recalls. “You either did Black hair or you did straight hair. Most Caucasian stylists thought of Black hair as a completely foreign material; people were really afraid of it. As a Caucasian male in the business, I was an exception to the rule.” Sadly, that racial segregation is still all too common in salons around the world today.

Textured-hair expert and celebrity stylist Stacey Ciceron is passionate about addressing trained hairstylists’ trepidation surrounding coily hair — one of the biggest driving forces behind Black hair being abandoned by the mainstream. “There’s a lot of stigma around working with highly textured hair,” she says. “Stylists are afraid that they can’t get the result they’re looking for. They’re afraid that it may take too much time. They’re afraid they may just disappoint clients.”

It’s these issues that led Ciceron to carve out a unique space in the hair industry by developing online and in-person textured-hair courses for professional hairstylists — an initiative that has since earned the New York-based expert the title of brand ambassador and trainer for big-name hair-care brands such as Oribe.

Ciceron’s courses focus on building a strong basic-level foundation for working with curly hair: knowing the different hair types, detangling, wet styling, cutting. “My biggest goal is to do whatever it takes to build up stylists’ confidence so that they can start taking clients with highly textured hair,” she says. And amid the recent racial unrest, demand for her online classes among non-Black hairstylists has boomed. “It’s been overwhelming,” says Ciceron. “The Black Lives Matter movement has opened a lot of eyes.”

Montreal-based stylist and salon owner Nancy Falaise says it best: “Ignorance is racism.” The Canadian pro has also taken matters into her own hands surrounding the deep-rooted erasure of Black and textured hair in beauty education: She offers workshops for hairdressers based out of her eponymous salon, which specializes in curls.

Through her local workshops and teaching internationally, Falaise is on a mission to challenge and correct the infuriating issue of ill-trained hairdressers — so much so that she is petitioning to mandate curly-hair education in Quebec beauty schools. “I saw that there was a woman in Toronto who started a petition, and I was like, ‘This is a sign that I have to do the same thing for Quebec,’” she says.

With industry experts working hard to push the hairstyling industry forward while also demanding for a complete overhaul at the school level, it’s beginning to feel like the trickle effect is slowly but surely taking shape. Case in point: Vancouver-based beauty school Blanche Macdonald Centre recently expanded its hair curriculum by introducing a textured-hair module. “It’s mandatory,” says Crystal Morgan, a textured-hair and extensions and wigs instructor at the school. “We really go into depth: the proper ways to cut, the right products to recommend to clients, natural hairstyling. We even get into dreadlocks.”

Oh, how I await the day when I can finally stop asking salons if they’re skilled at managing my hair texture. Here’s hoping that day comes soon.