Both VP Kamala Harris And Michelle Obama Rocked Black Designers For The Inauguration
Many people in the fashion world know that having your designs paraded around on some of the biggest names in entertainment, is designer gold. It's the sure way to catapult your name and brand above the status quo; to cross over the threshold of fashion, to designer in high-demand.
In, walks Sergio Hudson. Originally from South Carolina, the young black brainchild behind his top tier Sergio Hudson Designs, has worked with celebrities including Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne and Pharrell Williams. Additionally, he advanced throughout this extremely competitive industry, to emerge a winner when his designs were chosen by singer and fashion icon Rihanna.
Christopher John Rogers is a young, Black, and queer, rising star, who founded his New York label in 2016, was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and studied fashion at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Each are making waves as he dressed both Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama for Joe Biden's Presidential Inauguration. The former First Lady opted to wear a light plum suit by Sergio Hudson, which featured high-waist, wide-leg pants, a cozy turtleneck, and a floor-length coat, all tied together with a statement-making gold-hardware belt. She killlllled the look, sending the world wide web into a freenzy, accessorizing with black suede Stuart Weitzman boots, a black Christy Rilling face mask (which was simple, but set the 'fit out), and black leather gloves.
Oh, and sis was wearing the curls for the girls, as she donned a bomb silk press for the people, literally causing the word 'LAID' to begin trending on Twitter!
This isn't the first time Michelle has repped Sergio Hudson. That purple power suit she snatched our edges with in 2019, well, that was custom-made by Sergio too.
Getty / Paras Griffin
Vice President Kamala Harris wore a Christopher John Rogers ensemble, a calf-length peacoat and matching dress, complete with pearls to symbolize her AKA roots. Rogers is known for having an eye for color, and his choice of an iridescent purple for today's inauguration is almost certainly a symbolic one.
Additionally, for the candlelight vigil at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to honor of the more than 400,000 lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris wore a camel coat by Pyer Moss, another New York label designed by a young Black talent. Pyer Moss' founder Kerby Jean-Raymond, who is the son of Haitian immigrants, gained steam when he transformed his studio into a PPE donation center and provided emergency grants for women- and minority-owned small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
And let's just say, the people are here for it all!
Reclaiming titles:
Making grand entrances:
Snatching wigs:
Picking up on the shade:
And celebrating the MAGIC!
Alexa, play "Brown Skin Girl".
Alexa, play 'Brown Skin Girl!'
Are you a member of our insiders squad? Join us in the xoTribe Members Community today!
Featured image by Getty Images
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
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.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Damson Idris Says Being Raised By His Mom Influenced His Love For Black Women
It's raining men, hallelujah. Lucky for us, ESSENCE just rolled out their May/June issue, otherwise known as "The Men's Issue" with four new covers and their inaugural "Sexiest Men of the Moment" list featuring 18 Black men across various industries. Leading the pack and adorning the mag's coveted issue on different covers embodying different definitions of "sexy" are British actor Damson Idris, pro-athlete Russell Wilson, and the Usher Raymond.
The older you get, the more it's understood that sexiness isn't about appearance as much as it is an energy you embody. Sexy is as sexy does. It's something that recent NAACP Image Award winner Damson Idris understands to a T. "I think if you care about what you do, that’s sexy—and that’s inspiring," the 32-year-old actor reveals to ESSENCE in his cover story.
Here's what else the "man of mystery" shared with the publication:
Photographed by: Adrienne Raquel
Courtesy of ESSENCE
Damson on his love for Black women:
Damson was raised by his mother, Silifat "Philippa" Abike Idris, whom he affectionately called "my hero, my best friend, my guru" to the mag. He went on to detail to ESSENCE how being raised by a single mom informed his love for Black women:
"I just have a love for women. My mother is a Black woman, and that love stays with me. I feel protected by Black women. I feel loved by Black women. I feel at home."
Damson on keeping some things about his life private:
As the Snowfall actor's stock has steadily risen, so has his desire for privacy.
"I think privacy is key. I’ll speak to my industry, just as an actor and an artist. Someone once said, 'If they pay to see you for free during the week, they won’t pay to see you on the weekend.' So I stick to that philosophy—keep some of that mystique."
(L-R) Damson Idris and his mother Philippa Idris at the 55th NAACP Image Awards
Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET
Damson on the importance of staying humble:
Damson shared with the mag that the most important life lesson he has learned in the industry is "to remain humble," something he also said was instilled in him from his mother.
"I love the saying, 'The giant looks in the mirror and sees nothing.' Humility is such an important thing that can take humans far."
Read the full cover story here. ESSENCE's May/June issue is available on newsstands April 23.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by