New York Fashion Week has arrived and melanin is in full effect. From Janelle Monae's electric performance at Ralph Lauren's Fall 2019 show and the Zendaya x Tommy Hilfiger collab at The Apollo, to the colorful creatives and spectators who lined the streets of New York this past week, fearless Black fashionistas set the city on fire with style and beauty trends that we'll be rocking all damn season.
Among the celebrities spotted at NYFW this year was our favorite Canadian-Jamaican supermodel and certified baddie, Winnie Harlow. The now 25-year old model made her debut on the catwalk in 2014 after being handpicked by Tyra Banks to participate as a contestant on the 21st season of America's Next Top Model and has since made her mark in the industry as a trailblazer, collaborating with industry giants like KKW Beauty, Steve Madden, and Victoria's Secret.
Our melanin is as beautiful as it is complicated, which is especially true for Winnie, who was diagnosed with vitiligo at only four years old. After enduring years of teasing and name calling, the model finally found her own light and makes it a point to continuously bless the industry with her glow.
Winnie recently sat down with Vogue and gave up all the details on how to slay the evening like a supermodel, including but not limited to the beauty tips and makeup products that kept her camera-ready all week long. While Winnie says she can whip up a mean beat any day of the week, the model shared that Fashion Week can make her beauty routine especially difficult. In the video, she explained:
"I really feel like my skin breaks out the most around Fashion Week. Um, and that's because of course, we have to create looks, we gotta do runway and all that and your skin isn't made for makeup. But prep the skin and prepare it for war pretty much is what I like to think of it as."
She also dropped this piece of advice for ladies, like myself, who have spent a lot of time, energy, and phone data searching for the perfect foundation: stop it, sis. According to Winnie, two is always better than one, and that's also her motto when it comes to choosing a foundation that matches her skin tone effortlessly.
"I feel like everyone has a really high expectation for foundations and makeup brands. I feel like makeup brands today are doing a really good job, but I don't think it's like super possible to put one shade on your face and just be like, it's perfect."
Using a combination of products from her latest collaboration with KKW Beauty and other cult favorites, Winnie gave us the recipe for the perfect beat and we have all of the ingredients.
For a better glimpse into Winnie's beauty routine for Fashion Week, scroll below:
DIY Makuka Honey + Aztec Clay + Apple Cider Vinegar Mask
Vogue/YouTube
"I tend to use my Clarisonic like every other day. I don't want to over-exfoliate my skin. So now I'm going to go in with a mask and I like to do this mask twice a month. I kind of eyeball it whenever I mix this mask. My goal is to create a paste-like consistency like this, so it doesn't drip everywhere because apple cider vinegar stinks."
NIVEA Q10 plus Anti-Wrinkle Night Care ($9.75)
Vogue/YouTube
"We're out [of this], but I have enough for today and I feel like I really like using a night cream in the day because I don't use like an eye cream or anything like that."
MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($12.97)
Vogue/YouTube
"I'm going to go on top with my magic weapon, this Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pot, and it's kind of like a concealer but not, I feel like this is like professional feeder makeup-type consistency. So I'm going to take a brush that looks kind of like a cat's paw to get a whole lot of product on here and I'm going to go ahead and dab that on top. I use this because I really want the makeup to stay."
KKW x Winnie Eyeshadow Pallette ($49)
Vogue/YouTube
"I had this amazing idea and I brought it to Kim and she was so excited that she was like, 'You know what? Let's hold off on that idea because it's gonna take a really long with production, everything. I'm so excited to work with you. I just want to like work on something right now that like we can get out this year.' And I was like, 'Ah, amazing. Perfect. I like that. Let's do that.' So she was like, 'Cool, let's, let's figure out what you want to create. What do you want to do?' And I was like, 'I really want to do an eye palette.' So Kim and I collaborated. I think we did really well on this palette."
FENTY BEAUTY by Rihanna Sun Stalk'R Instant Warmth Bronzer x Caramel Cutie ($30)
Vogue/YouTube
"Now I'm going to warm up my skin with this mineralized skin finish who I also like to warm up with this Fenty Beauty Caramel Cutie."
KKW Beauty x Winnie Highlighter Duo ($26)
Vogue/YouTube
"I wanted to be chocolate girl-friendly. So I made this beautiful golden bronzy highlight and this like iridescent, almost pink. And then I'm going to go in with that top shade and I'm going to highlight my nose."
Charlotte's Tilbury Lip Pencil - Foxy Brown ($22.00)
Vogue/YouTube
"So for my signature lip, I either use 'Chestnut' by Mac or I use 'Foxy Brown' by Charlotte Tilbury."
Charlotte Tilbury Super Pigmented Gloss ($22)
Vogue/YouTube
"Then I take this Charlotte Tilbury's super pigmented gloss, and I used this. I'll either use this or it lipstick, but I use this to kind of blend the color of the liner into my lips while kind of creating this gradient."
Mascara
Vogue/YouTube
"So last but not least, mascara. When comes it to putting mascara on your top lash, when you have lashes on, it's more important to get them on your actual lashes so then you can blend them in with your falsies."
The Finished Product
Vogue/YouTube
Check out the full video below!
Winnie Harlow's Afterparty Beauty Look — Just in Time for Fashion Week | Beauty Secrets | Voguewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com
Some women have their whole wedding planned out, from the bridal gown and venue to the bridal party and playlist. However, KJ was not one of those people. “I didn’t foresee a wedding in my future,” she reveals. “I was just gonna be the boss chick, rich auntie. I didn’t force love in my life until recently. I never had an idea of what a dream wedding would look like, it was easier for me to elope.”
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
And to many people’s surprise, that was their original plan – until Skyh brought up a valid concern. He was raised by his grandmother and thought she should be at the wedding, and naturally, that led to KJ wanting her grandmother to be there as well – then her mom – and later her sister – and, you’ve gotta invite the besties too, right? From there, the guest list continued to blossom. Much like the updo and pop of color bold red lip, she wore on her special day, which was initially on her Pinterest board as a soft glam look with her hair hanging on her shoulders, KJ is okay with changing her plan if it brings her and her loved ones happiness.
So let’s get into the wedding, which took place in Malibu, CA. The first thing you should know about the celebrity couple is that they’re non-traditional. They know, and they don’t care. So, in true unconventional fashion, they shared the morning of the wedding together.
“I woke up with Skyh, we walked our dog, had black coffee, and said good morning to the people who stayed at the venue with us,” she says.
Now, it was time for hair and makeup. While she was getting glammed up, she had Black-owned McBride Sisters wine and champagne (which ties into The Black Experience theme) on deck with her mom and friends, had her besties help rework her vows, retried on every outfit (sis is very Type-A), took photos, and ended the early-celebration with prayer and meditation. It seems very non-Bridezilla, I said.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company,” she explains. “The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
Things moved quickly, and before she knew it, it was time to line up to walk down the aisle.
“Yeah, I was the most unbothered bride ever. Everyone was just so supportive. As entertainers, we go on red carpets all the time. We actually have a production company. The get-ready process was like a day at work, but with people we love the most. Being entertainers, we didn’t feel stressed at all, but my excitement was so high.”
KJ Smith and her bridal party
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
Since everything started with their grandmothers, the couple wanted to ensure they honored them and planned to keep an element of their wedding traditional. Although we’ve all seen the reception videos and photos online, you may have noticed visuals from the wedding itself are harder to find.
“We planned for it to be traditional, but we’re not like that, so we tried to create those moments. We jumped the broom and had a salt ceremony (where the bride and groom individually pour salt into a glass container, symbolizing their lives becoming one.) But honestly, still, nothing was traditional about it.”
She goes on to explain that her mom caught the holy ghost coming down the aisle, her glam team was on deck, and she became so nervous with excitement that she had an anxiety attack – something she struggled with for years, she explains tearfully. Her friends had to literally cheer her down the aisle because of how overwhelmed she felt until she eventually calmed down.
“Skyh was standing there with his hand on his heart; we have our own little language, and I could feel the support,” she shares.
It was surprising to hear all these emotional moments happened before the party we saw online. That is until she once again got into the backstory.
“As a Black woman actress, for so long, it was popular to be mysterious and secretive, but that’s not who I am or what I like. Plus, we both wanted to create an experience for everyone there. We are the people who always host family and friends,” she says. “Like for me, the first order of business was getting sandals for the women so they can dance all night long. We had oxtail, D'ussé, and a coffee and sativa lounge – which is part of Skyh and I’s lifestyle and routine. We wanted to bring them into our world.”
Skyh Black (L) and KJ Smith (R)
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
She went on to discuss the dance routine she did for her husband at the reception, which has taken over the internet. Apparently, that’s another thing that didn’t go according to plan. According to KJ, she had promised a performance at their joint bachelor/ bachelorette party, but her outfit got stolen from her car. So, Skyh ended up performing for her – complete with a strip tease. Still, she never forgot her promise to dance for him.
So, she hired her friend as a choreographer, learned the routine, made friends and family watch it endless times, and attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance show a few days before for a confidence boost. It ended up being a show to remember. But that wasn’t all the night offered. Lil Mo performed, and the guests received special goody bags featuring their favorite Black-owned products like journals, hair care, and more.
“We made sure everyone was taken care of all night. That kind of stuff makes us happy. I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives,” she says.
But naturally, the internet is going to internet, and while there were countless people praising the event and applauding the newlyweds, some thought it was too over the top. I was curious to know her thoughts on some of the criticism.
“It’s cool. We did what we wanted to do. I’ve decided to share my world with people. Just how I went on social media platforms and found inspiration, I want people to do the same,” she explains. “I don’t think it's fair to my supporters not to give that out. There’s so much I wanna share with brides, specifically Black brides. I love that people are adding it to their Pinterest boards."
"I wanted everyone there to experience the joy and love I have for myself, my partner, and for them. I wanted them to feel full and whole, and they had the time of their lives."
KJ Smith
Photo by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
“I’m happy with it because we did what we wanted to do. They can do what they wanna do. Don’t be cruel, though, because you will get blocked,” she said, laughing.
The more I spoke with her, the more her sense of freedom shined through. People are always going to have their opinions, but at the end of the day, it’s you who has to live your life, and it seems like the couple realizes that and embraces that power. She also stressed the importance of not living for others and the lessons life has taught her.
“I’ve been to countless weddings, and I’ve been in countless weddings. I’m a generally older bride. So when women in my demographic get married, and you and your husband are busy working people like us, you deserve to have the one you want to have,” she shares.
“This is what we wanted to do. Our loved ones love and support us. We did so much to honor them, but we also wanted to start our own tradition, legacy, and creation. I'm not going to be pulled back into ideas of the past when I’m trying to create a future with my partner. “
If you’d like to see more of the couple, you probably won’t have to wait long. Although no content is planned yet, she admits to being an oversharer. “Me being open and transparent about my experiences lets people know it’s okay to have flaws; it makes you human, and for many years, I didn’t believe that was okay. I had pressure to be perfect, and I’d crumble every time,” she explains to xoNecole.
Now, she owns her flaws and uses them as a superpower to connect with her community and feel and express her love.
“Some people give us [Skyh and KJ] a hard time because they say we just seem too perfect. I’m like, why is that a bad thing? I love the people I love. From my man to my mama, to my friends - unabashedly. We move through time and space how we want to move. If we did it another way, we’d let ourselves and our union down.”
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Feature image by Stanley Babb/ Stanlo Photography
