Elevate Your Closet With These Black Woman-Owned Apparel Brands
No matter what part of the world you live in right now, I'm almost positive that the weather is doing whatever the hell it wants to. Where I live, a full-force hail storm let loose in July, so I know that there's no telling what the rest of the year has to hold weather-wise, but I do know that rain or shine, my wardrobe will be on point.
The countdown to this year's ElevateHER event is on, and with only a few weeks until we all gather in a utopia of black girl bliss, we need to get our wardrobe together, sis.
One of the most difficult tasks in the world can be shopping for clothes when your city is constantly under attack by unpredictable weather patterns; but buying black isn't a motto, issa lifestyle. We're here to help you can attain the ultimate drip in any climate with the four black woman-owned businesses listed below:
J. Dow Fitness
Dr. Jacqueline Dow's motto is to not stop until you make yourself proud, and that's exactly what she plans to do with her athletic apparel brand, J. Dow Fitness.
Before launching her company, Jacqueline got her doctorate in Public Health and gained more than eight years of experience in the sector and now, she's on a mission to confront health disparities that exist for women of color through advocacy and research. The collection currently offers a unique line of tops, sports bras, and leggings that will help you attain all of your fitness dreams.
Click here to shop J. Dow Fitness.
Swank Blue
Created by the legendary Olori Swank herself, Swank Blue is guaranteed to give you the ultimate drip for any and every occasion, even at Waffle House. Olori, who is a renowned entrepreneur, celebrity stylist, and author, originally enrolled as a student at the University of Georgia with plans of going to med school, but as it turned out, God had other plans.
After graduating with honors with a bachelors in Psychology, an unexpected meeting with the VP A&R at Jive Records led Olori to jumpstart the celebrity stylist career or her dreams. Since then, Olori has worked with artists like Childish Gambino, Teyana Taylor, and Lance Gross, and now she's bringing her signature style to your closet with her brand, Swank Blue, which offers a unique collection of dresses, sets and onesies.
Click here to shop Swank Blue.
The Working Beauty
Janelle Henderson used her God-given talent of thrifting to help women get fly AF on a budget, and we stan for an unapologetically frugal Queen. You might have bought a style box in the past, but you've never had a monthly subscription quite like this. The Working Beauty sources specifically curated, thrifted items all over the world that you can buy either a la carte or as a part of a 10-piece package deal for under $100.
Click here to shop The Style Box.
Poise Ann
Corduroy and buttons and textures, oh my! *Inserts heart eye emoji* Poise Ann is a bad and bougie black woman's dream, and offers a collection of business-casual pieces that will turn every head in the boardroom.
The company's goal is to help busy women not only embrace their beauty and power and shatter gender-based obstacles, but to help them look damn good while they're doing it. This brand offers a unique collection of bottoms, dresses, blazers, jumpsuits and tops that range from $54 to $105.
Click here to shop Poise Ann.
Featured image by Instagram/@swankblue.
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Taylor "Pretty" Honore is a spiritually centered and equally provocative rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana with a love for people and storytelling. You can probably find me planting herbs in your local community garden, blasting "Back That Thang Up" from my mini speaker. Let's get to know each other: @prettyhonore.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage