Before we rocked Apple Bottom jeans and boots with the fur, Kimora Lee Simmons had everybody and their mama rocking velvet tank tops and rhinestone belts. Recently, Queen Kimora brought Baby Phat back from the 99's to the 2000's and gave us all the throwback Thursday we didn't know we needed.
Originally launched in 1999, the brand was hugely responsible for creating a palpable trend that had black women across the country dropping with street style sauce. Kimora told Fashionista:
"Honestly, I had that vision from the beginning because in the '90s, women had little in the way of representation in the urban lifestyle category. The market was wide open, but no one had thought to cater to women – especially women of color – yet. Baby Phat's growth transcended even what I thought was possible. It really turned into a movement."
Now, after 20 years, the cat is back, and Kimora enlisted the help of Forever 21 and a few well-known family members to bring her lifelong vision to fruition. After watching their mom slay runways and close lucrative business accounts around the world for much of their lives, Aoki and Ming became instrumental in Kimora's plan for relaunch and even starred along Diddy's twins in the viral ad campaign.
Kimora explained that it was only right to position her daughters at the forefront of the relaunch because they were there to see it all happen the first time around:
"Bringing back Baby Phat in a meaningful way has been a dream of mine for years. Sometimes the timing of things just aligns perfectly. My girls, Ming Lee and Aoki Lee, are 19 and 16 years old now and want to be a part of what truly is our family business. The stars really aligned on this one."
To Kimora, Baby Phat has always been more than a fashion brand, issa legacy, and her goal is to ensure that her work can inspire women in the same way now that it did 20 years ago. She continued:
"From its birth, Baby Phat was designed by women, for women. Now it's owned by a woman who will share it with the next generation of women, which includes my daughters. Models of every color, age, gender, and size should be represented because fashion is more global than ever."
As one of the first people to ever show love to black women in the high-end fashion world, Kimora says that her mission has always been clear: to be iconic. The 44-year-old fashion entrepreneur hopes to make Baby Phat the Chanel of our generation:
"The really exciting challenge here is that we are bringing back a brand that feels iconic to half our audience, but also introducing it for the first time to the other half of the audience – millennials and zillenials who weren't even born yet when we first debuted."
With her new line, Kimora promises to pay homage to the old collection while still giving the brand a major renovation:
"Honestly, I had that vision from the beginning because in the '90s, women had little in the way of representation in the urban lifestyle category. The market was wide open, but no one had thought to cater to women – especially women of color – yet. Baby Phat's growth transcended even what I thought was possible. It really turned into a movement."
To check out some of our favorite pieces from the new line, click through the gallery below!
Baby Phat Leopard Print Biker Shorts ($17.90)
www.forever21.com
Images courtesy of Forever 21
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The origin of the word "discipline" can be traced back to the Latin word "disciplina," which means "instruction" or "teaching." Over time, however, discipline has come to be synonymous with punishment, with parents relying on shame, fear, and/or physical pain to curb undesirable behavior.
Teaching takes time, so nipping it in the bud in whatever fashion parents deem necessary (within reason) has become the norm. But is this what’s best for children? And when does it become less about curbing undesirable behavior and more about getting our licks back for offenses we feel our children should know better to do?
In my work as a parenting coach, I’ve often heard parents say, “I asked him nicely three times before spanking him. He didn’t stop doing it until I did, so clearly talking doesn’t work.”
And the parent isn’t wrong. Talking often doesn’t work the first, the third, or the even the 10th time. And the reason is directly tied to brain development.
Children cannot and do not process information the way an adult can. Auditory processing is not fully developed until a child is 14 or 15 years old. And even then, if a child has auditory processing delays or Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), they may always struggle with processing auditory commands. According to Susie S. Loraine, MA, CCC-SLP, the term auditory processing refers to how the brain perceives and interprets sound information. Several skills determine auditory processing ability—or listening success. They develop in a general four-step hierarchy, but all work together and are essential for daily listening.
Without this understanding, discipline can easily become revenge because parents will then view their child’s misdeeds as a personal slight. Instead of teaching them to do better, parents now want to show them the consequences of not doing better. This is why it's imperative for parents to discern between discipline and revenge to maintain healthy relationships with their children.
5 WAYS TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN PARENTAL GUIDANCE AND RETALIATION:
Understanding The Intent
Discipline is rooted in love and concern for the child's well-being. It focuses on teaching lessons and helping children understand the consequences of their actions. Conversely, revenge-driven actions stem from a desire to inflict pain or punishment as payback for perceived slights or disobedience. Parents should reflect on their motives before taking disciplinary actions. Ask yourself whether your intention is to help your child learn or to make them suffer for upsetting you.
Example: If a child accidentally breaks a valuable item, a disciplinary response would involve discussing the importance of being careful and working with the child to come up with a way to replace or fix what they’ve broken. On the other hand, a vengeful reaction might involve yelling, harsh punishment, or bringing up past mistakes to intensify guilt.
Maintaining Emotional Regulation
Effective discipline requires parents to remain calm and composed, even in challenging situations. It's natural to feel upset or frustrated when children misbehave, but responding with anger or resentment can escalate the situation and blur the line between discipline and revenge. Before addressing the issue, take a moment to breathe and collect your thoughts.
Example: If a child cannot follow instructions, a disciplined response would involve calmly explaining why their cooperation is necessary in working with the child to accomplish the goal. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve shouting, name-calling, or resorting to physical punishment out of anger.
Promoting Growth and Learning
Discipline should always aim to promote growth and learning. It involves guiding children toward making better choices and understanding the impact of their actions on themselves and others. Effective discipline strategies include positive reinforcement, setting clear expectations, and providing opportunities for reflection and growth.
Example: If a child repeatedly forgets to complete their chores, a disciplinary approach would involve discussing the importance of responsibility and finding solutions together, such as creating a chore chart or setting reminders with Siri or Alexa. In contrast, a revenge-driven response might involve imposing overly harsh punishments or belittling the child, which can undermine their self-esteem and hinder their ability to learn from their mistakes.
Momo Productions/Getty
Building Trust and Communication
Trust and open communication are essential components of a healthy parent-child relationship. Discipline should strengthen this bond by fostering trust and encouraging children to confide in their parents without fear of judgment or retaliation. When children feel safe and supported, they're more likely to accept discipline as a form of guidance rather than punishment.
Example: If a child admits to breaking a rule or making a mistake, a disciplined response would involve listening to their perspective, discussing the consequences of their actions, and working together to find a solution. Conversely, a retaliatory response might involve accusations, blame, or shutting down communication, which can erode trust and damage the parent-child relationship.
Seeking Professional Guidance
Parenting is a learning journey, and, disciplining children is a delicate balance between guiding them toward responsible behavior and nurturing their growth. By understanding the intent behind our actions, maintaining emotional regulation, promoting growth and learning, building trust and communication, and seeking professional guidance when needed, as parents we can help our children built on love, respect, and understanding.
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