Photo credits: AP photo/ Alan Diaz

This is exciting news! Donna Karan has been supporting Haiti tirelessly since the quake and even 3 years later her commitment is still strong. She attended the opening of  a Little Haiti Cultural Center exhibition of art, accessories and furnishings produced by artisans in Haiti and sold through her Urban Zen Foundation last week in Miami. Karan sported a paper mache handbag by a Haitian artisan inspired by Haiti’s handmade carnival masks.

“A painting can say anything, but let’s get it out there in the world where people buy T-shirts,” Karan said at the opening of a Little Haiti Cultural Center exhibition of art, accessories and furnishings produced by artisans in Haiti and sold through Karan’s Urban Zen Foundation.

It’s no charity craft fair. The items artfully displayed in the Miami gallery would sell in any mainstream home furnishings store. What sets them apart is their origin: handmade in Haiti from stone, wood, metals and textiles sourced or repurposed in the Caribbean country.

[READ FULL STORY by CTV News]

[DONNA TALKS ABOUT HER TRIP TO HAITI]

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BLACK TRENCH COAT | BLACK SHARK BITE TANK TOP | BLACK SHARK BITE VEST | BILL BLASS SKINNY BLACK BELT | H&M CONSCIOUS COLLECTION PANTS | BCBG MAX AZRIA BOOTIES | MULTI COLORED HEADSCARF | MIU MIU BLACK HANDBAG | GOLD ACCESSORIES

Enjoy!

For more Black Fashion Week coverage and Backstage Chronicles, follow me: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest.

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Natural hair is very versatile and can be worn in many different ways. Here are a few more “Natural Hairstyles You Should Steal From Pinterest.” Check out Part 1 in case you missed it! Enjoy!

#1 THICK AFRO!

When it comes to the afro the bigger the better! So all you ladies with thick kinky textured hair pick out your fro and rock it like it’s 1969!

#2 LOCKS!

I don’t personally have locks but if I did I would wear these styles. Color and classy updos look amazing on dreadlocks and sister locks alike.

#3 ACCESSORIZED!

Whether it’s a flower, a scarf or a cute bow accessorizing your natural hair is an easy way to add a little bit of fun to your do!

#4 CURLY & GRAY

These women are gray and … fabulous. I hope we can all look this good someday. These ladies give us something to look forward to, don’t you think?

Want more? Check out my Pinterest for more Natural Hairstyles! Don’t forget to share your pictures with me if you decide to try one of these looks!

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Photo credits: Pinterest. 

#1 ALL OUT!

This is what every natural hair girl aspires to: a big curly afro that commends attention! If you can’t wait for you own hair to grow this long, add in some pieces for volume! Just make sure to match your hair texture perfectly!

#2 UPDOS!

Every curly girl needs to master the art of the updo if she wants to have a long and healthy natural hair journey. Updos are great protective hairstyles and promote hair growth.

#3 TWA!

You can add a little bit of edge to your TWA (Tinny Whinny Afro) with a bold haircut, or color or both!

#4 BOLD COLOR!

Color can revive any style! I particularly love reds and different shades of blond on natural hair! So hot!

#5 TURBAN FLOW!

This look is one of my personal favorites as you already know. My OOTDs and Instagram are covered in pictures of me rocking different turbans. Turbans are especially great to give your hair a break and also to conceal any bad hair day!

Want more? Check out my Pinterest for more Natural Hairstyles! Don’t forget to share your pictures with me if you decide to try one of these looks!

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“Dear self,

Please, accept yourself more,

Love yourself,

Make the right choices,

Know what is good for you,

Know that you are not alone!”

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ONE | Join the fight against extreme poverty.

ONE is a non-profit organization that describes itself as: “a hard-headed movement of people around the world fighting the absurdity of extreme poverty.”  And they do so by mobilizing over 3 Million members around the world.

GENET SCARF, $65

For Mother’s Day, one of their members, Jane Crawford, designed an exclusive limited – edition scarf made in Ethiopia. She named it after an African mom, Genet, who turned her life around after being offered a job making scarves with fashionABLE. She said: “because of you I am ABLE to embrace my role as a mother.”

I love this scarf because it is the perfect throw-on scarf for spring and the black + white pattern is easy to match with any outfit!

GODIVA + FEED | Fighting hunger and malnutrition around the world. 

FEED is a non-profit organization which is dedicated to supporting programs and organizations that are effectively working to fight hunger and eliminate malnutrition in the world. And GODIVA, well this chocolatier needs no introduction for us girls!

SPRING BALLOTIN AND FEED BAG, $70 (on sale)

FEED and GODIVA partnered and created a slew of cute chocolate + FEED bag packages for your mom! The Mother’s Day package includes GODIVA’s exclusive $50 box of chocolate and a ‘FEED 10′ bag ($40 value).

This is a great gift for mom. Think about it… chocolate and fashion! What more could you ask for?

SAME SKY | Every Woman. One dream. 

SAME SKY makes beautiful hand-crochet glass bead jewelry but this is not your average costume jewelry maker. In fact, this company does not believe in giving hand outs but hand ups! For this reason they employ women living with HIV/AIDS in Africa. These women are trained as artisans and are able to earn 15 to 20 times the average Sub Saharan wage.

TANGERINE PROSPERITY BRACELET, $65 (available in other colors)

SAME SKY PROSPERITY BRACELETS are crocheted by women artisans of the Abataka Collective in Lusaka, Zambia.  What I love about these bracelets is that they come in beautiful colors, are stackable and most of all, by purchasing this bracelet you and your mom become a part of a powerful circle connecting women everywhere.

BLACK + WHITE FAITH EARRINGS, $50

These earrings are so cool. Like the bracelets, they come in different color ways: black + gold, silver + grey, orange + gold and more.  The black + white pattern and the shape reminds me of the 1980′s. Who doesn’t love ’80s fashion? 

HEARTS | Designed with Purpose

Hearts works directly with over 2,000 artisans around the world and prides itself on designing products that are environmentally friendly, cruelty-free, promote freedom and social justice, and improve the quality of the communities they work in.

SILVER HEARTS NECKLACE, $84

What better way to tell your mom how much you love her than by giving her an open-heart necklace? This necklace is not only beautiful it is also handmade in the USA, ethically sourced & produced, it is made of recycled material and supports environmental sustainability and quality of life in a community. What’s not to love!

FOLD-OVER CROSSBODY BAG, $96.60 (on sale)

This bag is so casual-chic and would be perfect for the mom on-the-go. The fabric, the rope handles and the  functionality of this fold-over crossbody bag is ideal for going to the park with the kids, running errands or for a casual date night.

THE LEAKEY COLLECTION | Natural Elegance. 

The Leakey Collection is a fair-trade design company and was founded by Philip and Katy Leakey in 2002. Their goal is to create environmentally friendly work opportunities for Maasai women (Kenya). They are not only creating beautiful jewelry, but they are also bridging the gap between communities around the world.

 MULTI-STRAND NECKLACE – MORNING DIP, $39.95

This necklace is made of 16 strands of eco-friendly Zuluglass beads. It is chic, sparkly and can be worn long or as a choker. Your mom will love it!

MARULA OIL, $78

This Mother’s Day give your mom the gift of beautiful skin. The Leakey Collection’s Marula oil is the ideal moisturizer. It has higher levels of antioxidants & omega 9 acids than argan or grape seed oil and is suitable for all skin types. It will leave your mom’s skin soft and supple.

Mother’s Day Special: In addition to the Marula oil, you will also receive a pink multi-strand bracelet absolutely free and packaged in a golden chiffon bag ready for gifting. (retail value $29.95)

Enjoy your mother’s day and remember that above all the gifts, the love that you and your mom share is what really matters.

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This is such a pretty look. It is perfect for a spring date or a night out with the girls! I hope you like it and I would love to see pictures if you attempt to do this look yourself. Enjoy!

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Photo and video courtesy of Beautybylee.

Enjoy!

BEST PUNK INSPIRED LOOKS

1. Sarah Jessica Parker in a headpiece by Phillip Treacy and dress by Giles Deacon.

Sarah Jessica Parker knocked it out of the ballpark in my opinion. She took the punk theme and rocked it. Everything from her dress choice to her headpiece screamed punk fashion with a to die for renaissance opulence.  Her Sex in the City days might be over but SJP is still an extremely skilled fashionista in my book!

2. Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs.

Miley made this list because ‘punk’ is in the essence of who she is. Her look was really simple but for some reason it worked. My only negative comment however is the hair. What happened there?

3. Nicole Richie in Topshop.

Nicole Richie went all out when it came to her hairstyle as well but she did it correctly. Take notes Miley! I loved Nicole Richie’s look from head to toe and her nails were amazing. Check out her nails here.

4. Madonna in Givenchy and Casadei shoes.

Ok. I already know what you are thinking here but… it’s Madonna. I honestly did not like this look at all but again if someone could do this it’s Madonna and it is punk to the umpteenth degree. I will leave it at that.

5. Katie Holmes in Calvin Klein.

Overall I didn’t think this dress fit Katie Holmes very well especially in the front bust area. However I wanted to applaud the train of this dress which was soft yet very punk! Loved that about it.

6. Rooney Mara in Givenchy.

There is so much to say about this look. What I like the most about it is the harmony. The lace dress, pale skin, dark lip and dark hair created an ethereal vamp look that I didn’t expect but really enjoyed.

7. Giovanna Battaglia in Dolce & Gabbana.

When I saw Giovanna I instantly thought Baroque. There is a richness to this look and I think she pulled it off well with her choice of make up and hair.

8. Cara Delevingne in Burberry.

Punk and studs are just synonymous and Cara obviously knows this. This dress, although simple, had just the right amount of punk to earn it a spot on my best punk inspired looks list.

BEAUTIFUL BUT SAFE LOOKS

1. Solange in Kenzo.

Solange is just such a beauty, she can’t seem to go wrong. She chose a figure flattering Kenzo ensemble and paired it with big earrings and her gorgeous afro! Love.

2. Jennifer Lopez in Michael Kors. 

Someone left a comment on Instagram about JLo which made me laugh because it rang true: “Really loved JLo’s look the best! But that heffa could wear a cow and still look fierce!” JLo’s look wasn’t my favorite but she did look amazing and I loved that she took a risk with her hair.

3. Anne Hathaway in Valentino.

Anne Hathaway going blond was a definite highlight for me – no pun intended! She went from boyish to femme fatale. Love it!

4. Carey Mulligan in Balenciaga and Tiffany & Co jewelry.

Carey’s Met Gala look made it to this list because of its edgy - simplicity. Her Balenciaga dress had figure flattering cutouts / lines and her shoes were ultra sexy.

5. Blake Lively in Gucci Premiere.

I am in love with Blake Lively’s look from the waist down. The detail in this Gucci Premiere dress is exquisite and fit in perfectly with the punk theme.

TRAIN WRECK LOOKS 

1. Nikki Minaj in Tommy Hilfiger.

What in the world happened here? I don’t understand anything in this look from the different textures in her hair to her less than figure flattering Tommy Hilfiger dress. Looked like a last-minute fiasco to me. I expected a lot more from Nikki Minaj since this was the perfect event for someone with her outlandish style to really shine.

2. Kim Kardashian in Ricardo Tisci.

Ok. This look left me incredibly puzzled. What made Kim Kardashian think that her figure would look good in a print like this? The dress itself has a great silhouette but the pattern makes her look like an old couch. I wish Ricardo would have opened the neckline and served it in all-black or white with black inserts on the sides to give her body a chance.

3. Beyonce in Givenchy.

Beyonce should have brought Sacha Fierce with her last night. First, the dress was great and fit into the theme beautifully. However, the boots and belt were ill-fitting and her simple hair and make up did a disservice to the overall look. Picture this dress with a pair of black over-the-knee boots, the same gloves, smokey eye makeup and a Sacha Fierce worthy hairstyle. Now that would have been a Met Gala look everyone could applaud.

4. Ashley Olsen in Vintage Dior.

I didn’t get this…. so no comment.

Don’t forget to share your favorite looks with me in the comment box below!

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Photos courtesy of  The Huffington Post. 

This collaboration is so dope! I apologize for using slang but it’s the truth! Whenever TOMS and charity: water partner on anything you can expect greatness and this collaboration is no different. This is TOMS first eyewear collaboration and its third collaboration with charity: water.

Thus far, the TOMS eyewear initiative has helped 100, 000 people get their eyesight back and it’s only the beginning. Every purchase of these limited-edition sunglasses will not only help someone get their eyesight back – which is an amazing thing in and of itself – but $10 will also be donated to fund water projects in India.

The sunglasses come in two styles:

WINDWARD: TOMS x Charity: Water Edition, $126

SANDELA: TOMS x Charity: Water Edition, $126

The WINDWARD style is best suited for round, oval and heart-shaped faces. While the SANDELA style looks best on oval, square and heart-shaped faces. So whatever face shape you have there is a pair for you! Not sure what your face shape is? No problem! Check out TOMS Face Shape Chart.

Join the movement and BUY yourself a pair NOW!

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Photos courtesy of TOMS. 

This quote (my own words) depicts a crucial moment in every individual’s life: the moment when he or she decides what career to pursue. There are so many factors to take into consideration during this process: personal interests, innate abilities, desired lifestyle and purchasing power, scholarships or the lack thereof,  grades, parental expectations etc. And to think that  this very important decision has to be made by a 16 or 17-year-old who is about to graduate high-school. That’s a big responsibility don’t you think? Needless to say that many end up wandering from major to major for years before settling on a career path, others get a degree only to find out that they hate their job a few years later. There has to be a better way.

This quote may seem simplistic but it is so profound. It poses a fundamental question that demands an answer: what do I want to do with my life and how do I know I made the right choice?

As always I want to hear from you. How did you choose your career path? What advice would you give someone who hasn’t quite found their way yet?

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