Mommy and Me collections are on the rise this year, with fast fashion brands buying into the major potential of style conscious new wave millennial moms making matching outfits more sought after than ever before. Global womenswear brand Naked Wardrobe is the latest clothing company to take advantage of this market by providing its first-ever affordable luxury Mommy and Me basics featuring jumpsuits, bodysuits, rompers, and shorts, available in three different colorways with sizes ranging from six months to five-years-old, as well as women's sizes ranging from small to x-large.
Partnering with television personality and entrepreneur Malika Haqq, this collaboration is a match made in heaven as Haqq states:
"It was very important for me to collaborate with a brand that I trust and choose to authentically wear on my own. I felt that it was a good starting place to build out a line for mothers and babies."
So far, the "Mommy and Me" collection has been a success and Haqq recently announced on Instagram that the collection is now available online and in select Nordstrom stores! As the company's first-ever children's collection, founders of Naked Wardrobe Shideh Kaviani, Shirin Kaviani and Shida Kaviani said in a statement:
"We worked hard to produce and offer these styles at an accessible price point without compromising quality and we hope moms everywhere will love it as much as we do!"
Not only is the new collection a huge accomplishment for the Los Angeles-based fashion brand, as part of the Mama Malika collaboration, Naked Wardrobe and Haqq have partnered with the Made by DWC, the social enterprise arm of Downtown Women's Center, an organization dedicated to helping create jobs for women transitioning out of homelessness. A portion of the proceeds from this collection will be donated as well as to MADE by DWC Boutique which helps fund the DWC organization and promotes sustainability through its resale of gently-used clothing. It was extremely important to donate profits to such a groundbreaking entrepreneurial organization as Haqq says:
"I hope to be an inspiration to women, mothers and single mothers who want to carve out their own path. It's so important to do the things that you love and I want women to see that it's possible."
With her son being the source of inspiration for this collection, the Mama Malika collection ranges from $26 to $42 for babies and children while mama's matching pieces span from $38-$60 with a focus on affordability. As Haqq states:
"I know I'm not the only mom that's obsessed with dressing like their baby... but you don't have to break the bank to do it!"
Shop the Mama Malika collection now by clicking here.
Featured image courtesy of Mama Malika x Naked Wardrobe
'Sistas' Star Skyh Black On The Power Of Hypnotherapy & Emotional Vulnerability For Men
In this insightful episode of the xoMAN podcast, host Kiara Walker talked with Sistas star Skyh Black, as he opened up about his journey of emotional growth, resilience, and self-discovery. The episode touches on emotional availability, self-worth, masculinity, and the importance of therapy in overcoming personal struggles.
Skyh Black on Emotional Availability & Love
On Emotional Availability & Vulnerability
“My wife and I wouldn't be where we are today if both of us weren't emotionally available,” he shared about his wife and Sistas co-star KJ Smith, highlighting the value of vulnerability and emotional openness in a relationship. His approach to masculinity stands in contrast to the traditional, stoic ideals. Skyh is not afraid to embrace softness as part of his emotional expression.
On Overcoming Self-Doubt & Worthiness Issues
Skyh reflected on the self-doubt and worthiness issues that he struggled with, especially early in his career. He opens up about his time in Los Angeles, living what he calls the “LA struggle story”—in a one-bedroom with three roommates—and being homeless three times over the span of 16 years. “I always had this self-sabotaging thought process,” Skyh said. “For me, I feel therapy is essential, period. I have a regular therapist and I go to a hypnotherapist.”
How Therapy Helped Him Heal From Self-Doubt
On Hypnotherapy & Empowering Self-Acceptance
Skyh’s journey is a testament to the power of tapping into self-development despite life’s struggles and being open to growth. “I had to submit to the fact that God was doing good in my life, and that I'm worthy of it. I had a worthiness issue and I did not realize that. So, that’s what the hypnotherapy did. It brought me back to the core. What is wrong so that I can fix it?”
Watch the full podcast episode below:
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Quinta Brunson Gets Real About Divorce, Boundaries & Becoming
Quinta Brunson is the woman who chooses herself, even when the world is watching. And in her June 30 cover story for Bustle, she gives us a rare glimpse into the soft, centered place she's navigating her life from now. From leading one of television's most beloved series in the last decade to quietly moving through life shifts, the creator of Abbott Elementary is walking through a personal evolution and doing so with intention, grace, and a firm grip on her boundaries.
Back in March, the 35-year-old filed for divorce from Kevin Jay Anik after nearly three years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." The news hit the headlines of news outlets fast, but Quinta hadn't planned to announce their dissolution to the public so quickly.
Quinta Brunson On Divorce, Public Scrutiny & Sacred Boundaries
"I remember seeing people be like, ‘She announced her divorce,’" she told Bustle. “I didn’t announce anything. I think people have this idea that people in the public eye want the public to know their every move. None of us do. I promise you. No one wants [everyone] to know when you buy a house, when you move, when a major change happens in your personal life. It’s just that that’s public record information."
In regards to her private moves becoming tabloid fodder, Quinta continued, "I hated that. I hate all of it."
"I Am An Artist First": Quinta On Cutting Her Hair & Reclaiming Herself
Still, the diminutive phenom holds her crown high in the face of change and is returning to the essence of who she is, especially as an artist. "Cutting my hair reminded me that I am an artist first. I want to feel things. I want to make choices. I want to be a person, and not just stuck in having to be a certain way for business." It's giving sacred rebirth. It's giving self-liberation. It's especially giving main character energy.
And while the headlines keep spinning their narratives, the one that Quinta is focused on is her own. For her, slowing down and nourishing herself in ways that feed her is what matters. "It’s a transitional time. I think it’s true for me and my personal life, and it’s how I feel about myself, my career, and the world," Quinta shared with Bustle. “I feel very serious about focusing on watering my own gardens, taking care of myself and the people around me who I actually interact with day-to-day."
That includes indulging in simple rituals that ground her like "making myself a meal" which has become "really, really important to me."
That spirit of agency doesn't stop at the personal. In her professional world, as the creator, executive producer, and lead actress of the critically-acclaimed Abbott Elementary, Quinta understands the weight her choices carry, both on- and off-screen. She revealed to Bustle, "People used to tell me at the beginning of this that the No. 1 on the call sheet sets the tone, and the producer sets the tone — and I’m both of those roles."
She continued, "I understand now, after doing this for four years, how important it was that I set the tone that I did when we first started."
Quinta doesn't just lead, she understands the importance of curating the energy of any space she enters. Even amid a season of shifts and shedding, her power speaks loudly. Sometimes that power looks like quiet resistance. Sometimes that power is soft leadership.
And sometimes that power looks like cutting your hair and taking back your name in rooms that have forgotten you were an artist long before you were a brand.
Read Quinta's cover story on Bustle here to witness the fullness of Quinta's becoming.
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Featured image by Zach Hilty/BFA.com/Shutterstock