A Fashion Moment

Season 2, Episode 19: Constance C.R. White

Constance C.R. White is a fashion content creator, editor, writer, and style expert. She studied journalism at New York University and received her MBA from Northwestern University, blending her penchant for reporting and the world of business. Constance landed roles at Women’s Wear Daily, ELLE, and would later cover fashion for The New York Times. Constance was also a contributor to many publications like the Chicago Tribune and became a frequent TV guest on programs like The Today Show and MSNBC. In 2003, Constance was appointed as the style director, brand consultant, and spokesperson at eBay and would later become the editor-in-chief at ESSENCE magazine. She is the author of books like How to Slay and StyleNoir. She is also the editor of the hit book From the Editors of Essence: Salute to Michelle Obama and has been named twice as one of the “Top 50 People in Fashion” by The New York Daily News. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Constance to discuss her fashion career, the world of editorial, what it means to be a great journalist, and why it’s important to serve your audience.

Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment

Connect with Us!

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Show notes:

Follow Constance on Instagram @officialcwhite 

Visit http://constancecrwhite.com/ 

Avenue Magazine article by Constance C.R. White, “Anifa Mvuemba, a New Face of Fashion” https://avenuemagazine.com/anifa-mvuemba-fashion/ 

Learn more about Pam Grier: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-interview/when-you-earn-it-they-cant-take-it-away-an-interview-with-pam-grier 

Learn more about New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute: https://journalism.nyu.edu/ 

Learn More about Carrie Donovan: https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/13/nyregion/carrie-donovan-one-of-a-kind-fashion-editor-and-tv-s-old-navy-lady-dies-at-73.html 

Check out the Old Navy commercial featuring the legendary Carrie Donovan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-DYN3MBi34 

Learn more about Claudia Payne: https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/media/17asktheeditors.html 

Follow Monique Greenwood on Twitter @MoniqueAkwaaba 

Check out Monique’s Akwaaba bed and breakfasts locations: https://www.akwaaba.com/ 

Learn more about Agnes Cammock by following her on Instagram @agnescammock 

Learn more about Darlene Gillard Jones: https://www.darlenegillardjones.com/

Season 2, Episode 18: Tanya Taylor

At 25, fashion designer Tanya Taylor launched her namesake brand in 2012, taking the New York fashion scene by storm. Equipped with academic training from McGill University, Central Saint Martins, and Parsons, in conjunction with her unwavering belief in her vision, Taylor transformed her clothing line into the successful multifaceted brand it is today. Tanya integrates her love of color into all of her collections, but her dedication to the arts, activism, and inclusivity are most prevalent throughout her work. 

Whether it’s getting people to register to vote, providing a range of sizes beyond the industry standard, or her ongoing collaboration with Memorial Sloane Kettering, Tanya uses her talents, connections, and love for fashion to make an impact. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim catches up with Tanya to talk about her career journey in the fashion industry, strategic decisions that helped her thrive as a brand during the pandemic, and of course, one of her favorite fashion moments of all time. 

Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment

Show Notes:

Shop Tanya Taylor’s collections now at https://www.tanyataylor.com/

Follow Tanya Taylor on Instagram @tanyataylor and on Facebook @tanyataylornyc  

Shop Tanya Taylor x Paintbox Nail Polish: https://gretta.co/products/tanya-taylor-x-paintbox-nail-polish 

Follow Toronto Fashion Week on Instagram @tfw 

Learn more about McGill University: https://www.mcgill.ca/ 

Vogue Business article covering Tanya’s commitment to size inclusivity, “The payoffs of plus-size: https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/tanya-taylor-plus-size-inclusivity-profit 

House Beautiful article, “Fashion Designer Tanya Taylor Launches Home Collection”:

https://www.housebeautiful.com/shopping/best-stores/a36674977/fashion-designer-tanya-taylor-launches-spring-summer-home-decor/

Glamour article, “Designer Tanya Taylor Debuts Clever NYFW Film Series to Encourage Voting”:

https://www.glamour.com/story/tanya-taylor-nyfw-film-series-to-encourage-voting

Learn more about Tanya Taylor & Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: 

https://www.tanyataylor.com/pages/msk

Learn more about HENSE’s mural work in Washington, D.C.: https://savingplaces.org/stories/slideshow-update-painted-dc-church-now-artistic-inside#.YdIl4mjMLIU 

Learn more about the notes left at the White House during that infamous Obama farewell party: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9445203/Dave-Chappelle-says-celebrities-left-dirty-notes-White-House-Trump-Obama-party.html 

Season 2, Episode 17: Elaine Nichols

Elaine Nichols is the Supervisory Curator of Culture at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C. A native of Charlotte, North Carlina, Nichols developed her love for African American history at a young age by listening to the stories about her heritage, culture, and resilience from the elders in her family. Her love of history would later guide her academic pursuits, leading her to complete a Masters of Art in Public Service Archaeology from the University of South Carolina and a Masters of Art in Social Administration and Planning from Case Western Reserve University.

Nichols made her curatorial debut at the South Carolina State Museum, where she curated the exhibition, The Last Miles of the Way: African American Funeral and Mourning Customs in South Carolina, 1890-Present. The collection garnered worldwide attention, propelling Elaine up the ranks to become the museum’s curator of history. In 2009, after completing work on the “Save Our National Treasures” project, Nichols was recruited into her current role at the NMAAHC, where she curates a variety of costumes, textiles, and decorative arts to tell the stories that reflect significant moments in African American culture. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Elaine to discuss her longstanding career as a curator, what it was like to meet Rosa Parks, black fashion history, why she loves the flapper dress, and more.

Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment

Show Notes:

Learn more about the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC): https://nmaahc.si.edu/

Learn more about Elaine Nichols: https://nmaahc.si.edu/

Check out the upcoming events at NMAAHC: https://nmaahc.si.edu/events

(WATCH) All of the Videos from the Fashion, Culture Futures: African American Ingenuity, Activism, And Storytelling Symposium: https://nmaahc.si.edu/events/fashion-culture-futures-african-american-ingenuity-activism-and-storytelling-symposium?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D155809946

Learn more about Dr. Bertha Maxwell-Roddey: https://www.ninertimes.com/news/unc-charlotte-s-second-full-time-black-professor-dr-bertha-maxwell-roddey/article_96a626d4-80e6-11eb-97ca-efc343687404.html

L.A. Times Article “The Sweet Chariot Swings Low–A Study of Black Burial Rites”: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-05-vw-3215-story.html

Learn more about Shannon Faulkner: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/when-the-first-woman-entered-the-citadel/2018/08/06/0906e622-7bb4-11e8-aeee-4d04c8ac6158_story.html

Learn more about Kitty Black-Perkins: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/02/28/meet-south-carolina-woman-who-designed-mattels-first-black-barbie/2702687002/

NPR Article on the NMAAHC “Save Our National Treasures” program: https://www.npr.org/2014/09/10/347378402/to-preserve-black-history-people-keep-national-treasures-at-home

Learn more about Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch III: https://www.si.edu/about/secretary-lonnie-bunch

Rosa Parks’ dress from 1955 on display at the NMAAHC: https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/snapshot/rosa-parks-dress

Learn more about the work of fashion designer and entrepreneur Ann Lowe: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/pretty-pink

Check out B.Michael on Instagram @bmichaelamerica

Season 2, Episode 16: Nigel Barker

Nigel Barker is a photographer, TV personality, and philanthropist known for his breath-taking photos and his iconic role as a judge on America’s Next Top Model, a televised model competition show hosted by supermodel, Tyra Banks. Born in London, Barker hit the fashion scene as a model after winning a televised competition. He would later move to New York City and eventually teach himself the fundamentals of photography by observing the sets, production details, and logistics at his modeling shoots. Nigel used what he learned to eventually become one of the most sought-after photographers in the world. In addition to his many talents, Barker has directed and worked on several films including humanitarian documentaries like A Sealed Fate and Haiti: Hunger and Hope. Nigel recently launched a podcast with his childhood friend, Tom Astor, called Shaken & Stirred. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Nigel to talk about his iconic career in the fashion industry, the complexities of identity, and the importance of family, along with an update on his recent work with the Special Olympics. 

Show Notes: 

Follow Nigel Barker on Instagram @nigelbarker 

Check out Nigel’s podcast Shaken & Stirred: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shaken-stirred/id1455145047 

Follow Shaken and Stirred on Instagram: @shakenandstirred

Learn more about Nigel’s work as a Champion Ambassador with the Special Olympics and the “Be Brave” collection + campaign: https://www.specialolympics.org/stories/news/special-olympics-shines-at-new-york-fashion-week-2021-with-bebrave-collection 

Watch America’s Next Top Model episodes on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/70258519 

New York Times 1997 Article: “The Model Who Invented Heroin Chic”: https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/07/arts/the-model-who-invented-heroin-chic.html

ABC News Feature with Nigel Barker: “How to Look Better in Photos: Celebrity Photographer’s 6 Tips” https://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/photos-nigel-barkers-tips/story?id=21400498  

The DOGPOUND gym: https://www.thedogpound.com/

Season 2, Episode 15: Kimora Lee Simmons

Kimora Lee Simmons is a model, a mogul, but most of all, she’s a mom. In 1999, Kimora launched her first clothing line, Baby Phat, which would become one of the first explosive streetwear brands that specifically catered to women, and even more so, women of color. Kimora created size-inclusive denim styles and looks that complemented a wide range of women with diverse body types. As a result, the Baby Phat brand became a fashion sensation, popping up in magazines, runways, and top celebrities across the globe. In the early 2000s, Kimora launched an intimate docuseries called “Life in the Fab Lane,” where she gave the audience an inside look into her life as a working mom and a glimpse behind the scenes into her fashion empire. 

In 2006, Kimora captured our hearts with her book Fabulosity, which empowered countless women to pursue self-love, confidence, and success. She would later build a high-end luxury brand, KLS, and would become the Creative Director of JustFab. Her list of accolades and accomplishments is endless. Now, with her brilliant daughters Aoki and Ming by her side, Kimora launched Baby Phat Beauty and recently revived and expanded her clothing brand, Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons. Host, Kirsten Holtz Naim sat down with Kimora to talk about her illustrious career, the revival of Baby Phat by Kimora Lee Simmons, and her dedication to empowering women.

Enjoy the episode? Support the podcast by buying a cup of coffee! Learn more here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment

Connect with Us!

Spotify | Apple

Shop + Support

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Show Notes:

Check out the new Baby Phat Collection: https://babyphat.com/ 

Shop the full collection available at Macy’s: https://www.macys.com/shop/featured/baby-phat-womens 

Follow Baby Phat on Instagram @babyphat

Follow Kimora Lee Simmons on Instagram @kimoraleesimmons   

Shop Baby Phat Beauty: https://babyphatbeauty.com/ 

Purchase Kimora’s book, Fabulosity: What it is and How to Get It: https://www.amazon.com/Fabulosity-What-Kimora-Lee-Simmons/dp/006084339X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=fabulosity&qid=1639505761&sr=8-1