#designermindset

[theempressofstyle]

My Hair Is My Moodboard "Sameness is depressing & even dangerous. Let's have something different. I am always going upstream when everyone else is going downstream. This is something I was born with." - Grace Jones I loc'ed my hair 11 years ago to embark on the journey of loving myself. I hated my hair. It effected my self image. I tried weaves, perms, extensions & was never satisfied. I found it all to be too high maintenance & restricting. I cut my hair all off & began loc'ing my hair & it was the best decision I ever made. It's an extension of my artform; It serves as my walking installation piece. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of what my hair is capable of doing & also consider it a social experiment. People are fascinated & fearful of black hair -of blackness. For instance my knotty knots were assaulted by snickers & giggles by two hispanic women sitting beside me on the train. I saw them glancing over & talking in spanish. My instinct was to shrink but I held my head high. Immediately shrugged off their ignorance. Later the same day a young black man came up to me in awe, said he loved it & told me to keep doing my thing. Lesson learned is you can't bend & fold to what people want when a majority are stuck in their comfort zones. No one knows what they want. There are two sets of people - those who conform & those who do not. To focus on exploring who you are is to subject yourself to the court of public opinion. Your inner voice has to scream louder than any external force. You have the right to figure out who you are as a human being. Please expect me to keep pushing the boundaries of your consciousness as my crown twists, turns, & takes you to new heights. Excuse me while I fall in love with myself. I encourage you to explore your own masterpiece. Stay Fashion Conscious Move Fashion Forward © #TheEmpressofStyle #wearfashionconsciousnessunite #TEOS #Naturalista #BlackHair #Crowns #EmpressbyDesign #Fashionista #CrownHeights #BlackGirlMagic #SundayStyle #Masterpiece #Ignorance #Artists #SelfLove #selfexpression #stylishandbuddhist #women #SelfMastery #DesignerMindset #GraceJones #Influencer

[theempressofstyle]

Melanin Morning I walked outside this morning & this was the first thing I saw. An impeccably dressed black family walking down the street hand in hand. A unicorn? Nope. It's always existed. Don't believe the hype. Pick up your heads from your phones and pay attention. Read your environment. You are part of the problem & are held accountable for not only perpetuating stereotypes but for not questioning information. Filter out the mess to decipher the info you digest. The little girl was the cutest thing ever. The message brought to you by my designer mindset. Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #Style #BlackGlamour #Streetstyle #Microfashion #SaturdayStyle #FightStereotypes #Family #BlackFamily #DesignerMindset #DesignYourWorld #DesignBlog #Muse #Photography (at Harlem)

[theempressofstyle]

His, Hers, Theirs, Ours "It is the duty of the younger Negro artist...to change through the force of his art that old whispering ‘I want to be white,’ hidden in the aspirations of his people, to ‘Why should I be white? I am a Negro—and beautiful!’” -Langston Hughes Use the pronoun suitable for you. This is still universally applicable. Why wish to be anyone other than yourself? Make a wish & blow out the candles to provide the strength to be your authentic self. Don't be fooled by this streak of blond hair! I know I am B.B.F. Black, Blessed, & Fabulous. Crown: @jadaisreal_01 Robe: by yours truly Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #Style #streetstyle #DesignerMindset #Designer #LearnYourPronouns #Design #Binary #NonBinary #LangstonHughes #Community #SelfLove #Inclusive #Artists #art #DesignYourWorld #DefineYourself #Beauty #Empowerment #unity #Designblog #blkcreatives (at Madison Avenue Bridge)

[theempressofstyle]

TRIBAL COLORS When you resolve to be your authentic self you will always find a tribe out there for you. Blonde & red. Who knew? What up sistas!!! I should have been a trendforecaster.🤔 😂 Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #EmpressByDesign #ReiKawakubo #CommeDesGarcon #Japan #JapaneseDesigner #Tribe #Crown #HairInspiration #DesignerMindset #BlackDesigner #TrendForecaster #Blonde #Red (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[theempressofstyle]

That's A Ruby Rap When your stylist fusses at you, offering you a gem of advice for the appropriate attire for future hair salon sessions. Stylist: "You wear black to get your hair bleached? Uhm, steer clear of wearing black to get your hair bleached." As she fusses over me, tucking my arms under the protective apron. Me internally: "I not going to win this either way - I'm rollin' in melanin." 🎥: Chris Tucker/Ruby Rhod, Fifth Element, 1997 Costume/Fashion Designer: Jean - Paul Gaultier Stay Fashion Forward. Stay Fashion Conscious.© #TheEmpressofstyle #wearfashionconsciousnessunite #TEOS #Crown #FifthElement #Movies #90s #ChrisTucker #BruceWillis #Melanin #JeanPaulGaultier #SalonStories #BlackHair #DesignerMindset #Wardrobe #Black #Showtime #leopard #CostumeDesign

[theempressofstyle]

My Hair Is My Moodboard "Sameness is depressing & even dangerous. Let's have something different. I am always going upstream when everyone else is going downstream. This is something I was born with." - Grace Jones I loc'ed my hair 11 years ago to embark on the journey of loving myself. I hated my hair. It effected my self image. I tried weaves, perms, extensions & was never satisfied. I found it all to be too high maintenance & restricting. I cut my hair all off & began loc'ing my hair & it was the best decision I ever made. It's an extension of my artform; It serves as my walking installation piece. I enjoy pushing the boundaries of what my hair is capable of doing & also consider it a social experiment. People are fascinated & fearful of black hair -of blackness. For instance my knotty knots were assaulted by snickers & giggles by two hispanic women sitting beside me on the train. I saw them glancing over & talking in spanish. My instinct was to shrink but I held my head high. Immediately shrugged off their ignorance. Later the same day a young black man came up to me in awe, said he loved it & told me to keep doing my thing. Lesson learned is you can't bend & fold to what people want when a majority are stuck in their comfort zones. No one knows what they want. There are two sets of people - those who conform & those who do not. To focus on exploring who you are is to subject yourself to the court of public opinion. Your inner voice has to scream louder than any external force. You have the right to figure out who you are as a human being. Please expect me to keep pushing the boundaries of your consciousness as my crown twists, turns, & takes you to new heights. Excuse me while I fall in love with myself. I encourage you to explore your own masterpiece. Stay Fashion Conscious Move Fashion Forward © #TheEmpressofStyle #wearfashionconsciousnessunite #TEOS #Naturalista #BlackHair #Crowns #EmpressbyDesign #Fashionista #CrownHeights #BlackGirlMagic #SundayStyle #Masterpiece #Ignorance #Artists #SelfLove #selfexpression #stylishandbuddhist #women #SelfMastery #DesignerMindset #GraceJones #Influencer

[theempressofstyle]

Ella is Now Well, before Ms. Stella strutted her icy behind into my neck of this concrete jungle, I managed to treat myself to a show @schomburglive - Ella Is Present, on Monday. As a native New Yorker it was sadly the first time I ever stepped into the venue. I am grateful I did. Hosted by Grammy award winning percussionist @terrilynecarrington, it was a great way to spend my day off (from theater row) - still had to come in and run a show today. On Broadway, the show must go on, rain, sleet, snow or armageddon. On that note one of most memorable moments is when empress Terri Lyne shared a warm memory of the goddess of song, Ella Fitzgerald. She had the spectacular opportunity to [hang] in her dressing room as a young girl. After one performance she exclaimed to Ella that she was the best singer out there but Ella retorted & humbly stated she was "just a rhythm singer". I interpreted the experience as Ella dismissing any sense of competition. She only cared about mastering & enjoying her instrument. She knew her purpose. She was a queen indeed. An Empress reigns A Diva competes Stay Fashion Conscious Move Fashion Forward © 📷: unknown (if you know inform me) Stay warm & safe out there! #TheEmpressofstyle #wearfashionconsciousnessunite #Winterstyle #DesignerMindset #EmpressbyDesign #designers #blackglamour #Travel #purpose #leopard #Rhythm #Soul #Icon #legend #Trailblazer #Jazz #Style #SelfMastery #SelfAwareness #Artist #Instrument (at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York Public Library)