#wearfashionandconsciousnessunite

[theempressofstyle]

Lit Design Queens x @TheEmpressofStyle collab. Garment designed by yours truly; custom textile print by my lovely students - The Design Queens Wear your heart on more than just your sleeve. Their contribution has me looking fly after hours like you wouldn't believe. 📷: @743239 #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #NoFilter #StreetArt #StreetStyle #designers #TeachingArtists #FashionConscious #DesignQueens #Queens #Kings #RebelWithACause #Punk #BridgeTheGap #FuturePeople #graffiti #Print #Canvas #Empowerment #DesignBlog

[theempressofstyle]

TrendForecaster The state of our world now has been the same since the beginning of time; people fight, kill, hoard, steal, squabble over things & even deny - plentiful resources that aren't even theirs to keep. We can't take any of this with us. Only you can dictate what hangs in your mental closet. Sit with yourself. Meditate. Watch the world closely Same style on repeat Do you rock exclusive designer thoughts from the Creator or from the basic & clueless? Filter out the outdated mess only you can dictate what hangs in your mental closet. 📷:@743239 Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #DesignerThoughts #DesignerMindset #Designer #MentalCloset #Mindset #Mindfulness #Trendsetter #Leaders #weekendvibes #MentalHealth #Fashion #Style #Streetstyle #DesignBlog

[theempressofstyle]

The museum is my safe haven. When I am feeling doubtful, or the weight of the world on my shoulders has become too much - the museum serves as my sacred oasis. When I am bombarded & attacked daily by images & conversations oppressing us, normalizing toxicity, caging us from who we are born to be, walking through the halls of such institutions remind me of how limitless we actually are. Doubt is released from my shoulders & casted to the floor when you are surrounded by proof of those who have made tremendous strides in the face of resistance & even limited resources. We are all designers. You don't need a needle and thread. All you need to use is your head. Happy Friday! Designer: Hussein Chalayan. Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #HusseinChalayan #AvanteGarde #DesignYourWorld #DesignThinking #TGIF #museum #history #MakeHistory #DesignHistory #Exhibitions #Empowerment #boundless #designers #inspiration #fashionconscious #DesignBlog #BlkCreatives (at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

[theempressofstyle]

Emperor of Style I am an Empress by Design due to not only my mom passing down her fashion forward sensibilities but primarily my father. He came from the South, apprenticed as a patternmaker, & currently co-owner of a sample production firm in midtown. He has been in fashion ever since I was a little girl. Tru'ed my patterns & ripped my designs apart while at Parsons School of Design because he wanted me to not take short cuts, just start over & do better. Currently focused on my own creative work, he has been an awesome mentor, informing me to be about my business "Make sure you get half down payment before you start anything." Ultimately, waking me up to the good,the bad, & the ugly nature of the business. The lesson not to give up your goods for free in more ways than one.😂 People are investing in your services - make sure they can put their money where their mouth is. My mission is not only to continue family legacy but to also learn about his story. Thanks Patternmaking Pops for being a Black man about his business & inspiring this black woman do the same thing. Happy Father's Day! Please note the white lady is not my momma. 😂 Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #fatherdaughter #FathersDay #FamilyofFashion #Melanin #BlackFamily #MadeInNYC #SaveTheGarmentCenter #ParsonsAlumni #Legacy #Fashion #Theater #Film #Father

[theempressofstyle]

Chump Change We wake up everyday with the gift of change, the gift of choice, an opportunity to be a bit better than we were yesterday. Still many of us won't cease the moment. We toss it away as if it were chump change anticipating a bigger reward. Shift your mindset & spend your time wisely as if god gave you a mastercard to run free with. The only interest you should accrue is in building a solid legacy before your time gets maxed out. A little something that crossed my mind today when I was a little stressed out. I almost forgot to shift the scale to balance the wealth. Here is a penny for your thoughts. Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #TEOS #Style #Mindset #Crown #EmpressbyDesign #Designer #stress #Artist #HairInspiration #wealth #Empress #museumchic (at Museum of Native American)

[theempressofstyle]

Daylight Savings Time Note to self: your not paying me enough to waste my time. Shine light on your own daily habits, perspectives, biases, how you are obtaining knowledge, & people who you are rolling with. I went to a discussion panel at Pratt yesterday & it left me unimpressed. They didn't exude power or fire in any capacity. It felt like watching women in a fishbowl. The common thread I've grown to understand of those in power roles is falling into the trap of growing too comfortable. They forget to revamp, revisit, & breathe new life into what they are doing to check if it is still applicable. People make the dangerous assumption when they are in control of everything around them, when everything is constant, as a sign of success. Meanwhile, things & people are struggling to grow & those in power are not adopting new methods to make room for this growth. It actually serves as a red flag for stagnation. Instead of empowering new talent - they feed off of it. From this day forward, in my year of yes & beyond, to make it my habit to be consciously uncomfortable. Actively mining the wealth around me with the notion that I know nothing but the limits of my own experience. It isn't going to be easy but to oppress others because I am too afraid of tackling my ego by refusing to understand when my current methods aren't en vogue is something I can't live with. I want to be in service, not a detriment to society. Crown by @jadaisreal_01 Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward.© #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #TEOS #EmpressbyDesign #DesignerMindset #Style #Crown #Hair #BlackDesigner #Designer #Intellect #Fashionista #Trailblazer #Influencer #Innovator #Creatives #SelfAwareness #Women #Leaders #Ego #Purpose #SaveTime #TimeManagement

[theempressofstyle]

Maya Monday Timeless advice from the Empress of The Spoken Word Ms. Maya Angelou. Even though the forecast might be gloomy outside today, here are some words for those facing an internal superstorm. Bucker up boo, cause you got work to do. Happy Monday! "You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody." Maya Angelou. You are full of talent, purpose and uniqueness. Don't hide, shine." -The Angelou Johnson Family Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward.© #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #TEOS #MayaAngelou #EmpressbyDesign #Authenticity #MondayMotivation #Artists #Shine #Integrity #Purpose #Women #Talent #Greatness #IamEnough #Empowerment #blackgirlmagic #blackglamour

[theempressofstyle]

The Lotus Salon The lotus grows out of murk & mire, beautiful, stylish, & unscaved. It draws it's sustenance & blooms from a rather crappy environment. The beauty salon, like the barber shop, is a place of community - places such as this help beautify the neighborhood. If you want to take action & shift your school of thought - start here. A day ago, I had extraordinary anxiety in my studio, to the point I had to walk around the neighborhood. I had so many concepts & ideas I felt I couldn't get it out fast enough. Once, I sat down in the salon chair & my stylist @jadaisreal_01 applied bleach to my tresses, I felt all of my burdens were lifted. The salon was peppered with seasoned women - customers & beauticians, who were in awe at the stripping away of my hair color. "Her hair was so beautiful & brown. Why would she ruin her hair?" I overheard one of them say. My stylist & I discussed why not? I mentioned to her, I don't own any of this. I can't take any of this with me. The only thing I have power over is my spirit - the rest is just a vessel. How I want to adorn it is my business. Live Change Evolve Grow I haven't colored my hair in an extreme fashion in 11 years! I always kept my color subtle as my trademark, only to realize I was being controlled by my hair, playing it safe. When I smelled the bleach, I took a deep breath, I had no clue what would come out of this but I trusted my stylist. I realized I can't encourage or motivate anyone if I can't embrace change myself. Authenticity Respect your existence by embracing change. Enjoy the process Wiggle your fingers Wrinkle your nose Shake out a new idea Set it loose Nurture it & watch it grow Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward.© #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #TEOS #Crown #Naturalista #SalonStories #EmpressbyDesign #StylishandBuddhist #Buddhism #Enlightenment #Artist #Evolve #BlackHair #Bold #DesignerMindset #Authenticity #Change #Process #EnjoyTheProcess #blackgirlmagic #ProtectTheMagic #Life

[theempressofstyle]

River Deep - Mountain High One of the major lessons I have learned is in an effort to operate from a place of wealth one must have a strong sense of self awareness. People make decisions based on their own [comfort] level - self absorbed, pillowy comfort, not based on challenges. Our own outlook can make tackling challenges more difficult than need be due to our unwillingness to see things as they are. We often expect more from other people than ourselves. Keep your ego at bay - be honest about what you can & cannot handle - respect when others do the same. Stop drowning in your own man made rivers. Get beyond your ego & climb your way to the mountaintop. Stay Fashion Conscious Move Fashion Forward #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #TEOS #Crown #CrownHeights #StylishandBuddhist #Style #Streetstyle #Designer #Mindset #hairinspiration #TinaTurner #Ego #BlackGirlMagic #Mountain

[theempressofstyle]

Sunday Best Wake up & wear your Sunday Best Being your best self is just enough. That is being black And to be black It is to be excellent Excel in being cool Excel in being grateful Excel in knowing your history Excel in writing your future Feel sufficient Feel worthy In this present space Wish for nothing more Wish for nothing less Than to be in the skin you are in Melanin so rich it has its own currency Inflation & depression are in your power to control Understand the economy of your kingdom Bring to fruition all the wonders your mind can unfold Wear your Sunday Best Wake up & be proud To be black To be excellent Love Stay Fashion Conscious Move Fashion Forward #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #NoFilter #BlackLove #LoveYourself #Empowerment #SundayBest #Melanin #Naturalista #Designer #localdesigner #mindset #Black #Blavity #Refinery29 #Vogue #Essence #honeynaturalmag #SundayStyle #hairinspiration #WinterStyle #MartinLutherKingJr #MLKDay #Kings #Queens

[theempressofstyle]

Ease On Down The Road Up the ante on Dorothy. There is no need to click your heels to go back home. You get all the way to Oz to find the remedy for all our troubles only to discover it's just Richard Pryor with a megaphone. He is just as lost as you & doesn't even know what the hell to do. Always remember that you are The Wiz. No matter the circumstance you got this. Trust yourself. Follow the yellow brick road back to yourself. Always remember you are worthy & fabulous! Leave you with this quote: "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." - Alice Walker 📷: @743239 👑: @JadaIsreal_01 Dress: @BeaconsCloset Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #MelaninMindset #TheWiz #WorldIsAStage #StreetStyle #Photography #Motivation #EmpressbyDesign #Love #Life #AliceWalker #DesignYourWorld #EaseOnDownTheRoad #Red #Bold #HairInspiration

[theempressofstyle]

#Mood Empress @esperanzaspalding perked me up and smoothed me the fuck out this rainy Friday morning. Wardrobe supervising includes not only managing clothes but managing egos (tiresome)but during my down time - planting seeds to take over the world. Can't wait to finally to have two days off after working 6 days, 12 hrs straight for the past 2 weeks. I want to feel my face please. Work hard for others. On your days off, make time for yourself work hard for you. Funk the fear and go for it. No excuses! Happy Friday! Thanks for the tunes my buddha sista! Kept my crown in alignment.😂 May my spirit speak volumes. Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward.© #TheEmpressofStyle #Wearfashionandconsciousnessunite #Style #Jazz #Music #MusicTherapy #StylishandBuddhist #Spirit #Queens #EmpressbyDesign #EsperanzaSpalding #Buddhism #OnSetStyle #IndieFilm #Wardrobe #Designer #DirectYourLife #InvestInYourself #Evolution #Muse

[theempressofstyle]

Be The First It's October 1st. A new month, a new day, a new hour, a new minute, a brand spanking new second to work on you. Pursue your goals like no one ever did it before you - because there is only one you. One of the greatest lessons I learned is true authentic power is to understand your self worth. Once you harness this the doors meant for you will open. When they do...show up responsibly. Go forth with the knowledge in tow of all those who came before you and the trail you blaze for those after you. Do your homework: on yourself, society, systems we work within - benefits and limitations. It will give you a clarity on designing the path for you. The business of humanity is to find common ground. No matter our backgrounds as human beings we want to be apart of something great. (It's just up to you to determine what that is. And you thought it was going to be easy 😂). I don't have all the answers - I can only uncover as I learn for myself. So stop hiding. Own who you are & stand out from the crowd. Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofStyle #WearFashionandConsciousnessUnite #FashionConscious #DesignerMindset #October #Fall #Goals #Purpose #ProtectYourKingdom #DesignYourWorld #BeBold #BeTheFirst #BeAuthentic #Legacy #Boss #DesignBlog

[theempressofstyle]

Throwback Into Your Dang Self Thursday.... I'm just gonna leave this right here. The door is open for discussion. Personally, if you are about your own mission you have no time for both. A friend of mine told me he was discussing with a friend of his about one of my goals. He was [worried] that I wouldn't accomplish it by the timeframe I told him. It bothered me deeply because he was sitting around with someone else discussing the potential failure of accomplishing [my] personal dreams - instead of focusing his energy on attaining his personal goals. 🤔 After a solo vacation I recalibrated to solely focus on empowering people and surrounding myself with those that are not only empowering themselves but through their personal victories were motivating me. So in short we are friends but just waaay over there 😂. Positive friendships shouldn't be draining and require over excessive communication. My friends are all on their grind, living their lives, and we shoot each other positivity through DM's or an occasional text message. It should be effortless. Those who have supported me along the way thank you; those who hated (probably didn't realize you did) & offered their criticism - 🤔 eh hem. thank you.. For showing me your true colors. 😂😂😂 Have a great Thursday. We all got work to get back to do. Tidbit of the day: None of us know what the f*ck we are doing. There are just two types of people, those who think they know it all and those out making moves to uncover it all. It's your choice which lane you want to fall into. Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #paulocoelho #writeyourfuture #Friendships #Haters #Critics #Projection #Positivity #humor #humansarestupid #life #LiveBoldly #DesignYourWorld #designers #DesignThinking #tbt

[theempressofstyle]

The Smoking Jacket Not many people knew this but I guess since the internet info is more accessible; Hugh supported black artists especially during the civil rights movement. Playboy was heavily shaped by the sophistication of the jazz artform and showcased musicians such as Louis Armstrong to comedian Dick Gregory. Thank you for supporting black designers. The iconic Playboy bunny attire was designed by Zelda Wynn Valdes, a highly reknown Hollywood fashion & costume designer. She designed for such artists as Dorothy Dandridge to Billie Holiday. I think life is all about being unapologetically yourself & using your platform to empower others along the way. He pretty much did so in a nutshell no matter how controversial his publication might have been to some. He definitely did it his way. R.I.P. #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #HughHefner #RIP #StyleIcon #SmokingJacket #BlackDesigners #ZeldaWynnValdes #DickGregory #Jazz #Music #BlackArtists #civilrightsmovement #Empowerment #Unapologetic #Authentic #BillieHoliday #DorothyDandridge #BlackHollywood

[theempressofstyle]

Artist MGMT (Part II) Bitterness renders you immobile. Take Action. Use your instrument to make a difference. Whether it may be big or small. If you can manage a smile that is still enough. Bitterness permits toxicity to seep into the next generation. It feeds it. Take today, this very moment to forgive yourself, love yourself, and empower yourself. Wake up and try again. Do not allow the world to harden you; allow your purpose to enlighten you. People try their best - even if it is sickening, despicable and horrific. It's up to you to take the same path or pave a bold new one. It's your choice on how you design your world. 🎥: Iconoclasts Dave Chapelle x Maya Angelou Stay Fashion Conscious. Move Fashion Forward. #TheEmpressofstyle #WearFashionandconsciousnessunite #TheEmpressofStyleMoodboard #ArtistManagement #MayaAngelou #DaveChapelle #wcw #mcm #Icons #pushboundaries #Purpose #DesignThinking #ProtectYourMagic #MentalHealth #DesignYourWorld