A Fashion Moment

Season 2, Episode 14: Tracy Reese

Tracy Reese is an American designer whose signature designs for the modern woman transformed the fashion industry and paved a significant path for black designers across the globe. In 1998, Tracy Reese launched her namesake fashion brand in New York City and expanded into sub-brands like Plenty, Frock! and Black Label, which sold in stores like Barney’s Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie for more than two decades. She is also the first black member on the Board of Directors for the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama wore a custom Tracy Reese dress to address the DNC. Other notable fans of the brand include Sarah Jessica Parker, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Oprah Winfrey.

Tracy Reese continues to evolve and has pivoted her business strategy to a more sustainable, slow-fashion model. Tracy recently moved her design studio to her hometown, Detroit, where she built an artisan studio to create economic opportunities for women in under-served communities. In 2019, Tracy launched Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese, a responsibly designed and produced collection. Hope for Flowers’ mission is to create a positive social impact by empowering women and young people through arts programming in public schools and collaboration with local artisans in Detroit. In this episode, host Kirsten Holtz Naim discusses Tracy Reese’s legendary fashion career and the importance of sustainable design.

Connect with Us!

Spotify | Apple

Shop + Support

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Show Notes:

Shop Hope for Flowers by Tracy Reese at HopeForFlowers.com 

Follow Tracy Reese on Instagram @tracy_reese 

Follow Hope for Flowers on Instagram @hopeforflowersbytracyreese

HistoricDetroit.org article on Crowley’s Department Store: https://historicdetroit.org/buildings/crowleys-department-store 

Learn more about Stephen Burrows: https://stephenburrows.com/ 

Learn more about Parsons School of Design: https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/ 

Follow and learn more about designer Mariane Sitbon on Instagram @martinesitbon 

Vogue Article Perry Ellis Spring 1993 Collection (feat. the work of Marc Jacobs): https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-1993-ready-to-wear/perry-ellis 

Learn more about Fe Noel: https://fenoel.com/

Season 2, Episode 13: Carlton Spence

Born and raised to Jamaican parents in Springfield, Massachusetts, stylist, on-air personality, and creative director Carlton Spence knew that fashion was his calling from an early age by recreating looks for himself and loved ones. Carlton would later launch his decades-long fashion career in the buying office for Jordan Marsh and Lord & Taylor department stores. He eventually took a position as a Marketing Manager at Boston with Marithe + Francois Girbaud, propelling his career into visual merchandising, where he discovered his ultimate calling as a stylist. 

Carlton would later become one of the top stylists on the gospel scene, working with artists like Byron Cage, Ricky Dillard, Hezekiah Walker, Shirley Caesar, and more. Spence is now a Fashion Merchandising professor at LIM College, where he shares his expertise in styling and merchandising. In this episode, host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Carlton to discuss his fashion career journey, the importance of looking the part, the impact of fashion in the gospel industry, and what it takes to make an artist look their best. 

Connect with Us!

Spotify | Apple

Shop + Support

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Show Notes:

Follow stylist Carlton Spence on Instagram @carltonspence 

Learn more about Carlton by visiting CarltonSpenceStyle.com 

Zora Article: “Easter Sunday Is Peak Black Church Fashion: An Appreciation”: https://zora.medium.com/easter-sunday-is-peak-black-church-fashion-an-appreciation-de84ef2a12cf 

About EBONY Fashion Fair’s Shayla Simpson: https://www.afro.com/shayla-simpson-ebony-fashion-fairs-goddess-ages/ 

EBONY Article: “Ebony Fashion Fair: Defining African-Americans in Fashion”:https://www.ebony.com/exclusive/ebony-fashion-fair-defining-african-americans-in-fashion/ 

EBONY Magazine: https://www.ebony.com/ 

About Jordan Marsh: https://mountauburn.org/author-talk-jordan-marsh-new-englands-greatest-department-store-3/ 

About Lord & Taylor: https://lordandtaylor.com/ 

About Marithe + Francois Girbaud: https://www.girbaud.com/en/ 

Learn more about Pamela Watson: https://www.pamelawatsonstyles.com/about 

About the Stellar Awards: https://www.thestellarawards.com/

Gospel artist Byron Cage on Instagram @byroncage 

Check out 5001 Flavors: https://www.5001flavors.com/ 

“For Every Mountain” by Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUaGoS2LW5g

Season 2, Episode 12: Sahara Lotti

Sahara Lotti is an American entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Lashify, a luxury beauty company that holds over 100 patents and trademarks worldwide. Sahara is known for inventing the Lashify system: the revolutionary Gossamer lash and Fuse Control Wand. The technology allows for the lash to be placed on the underside of the upper lash, creating a seamless look without the damage. The Lashify system is an award-winning technology bringing home several awards, including The Cosmopolitan Holy Grail Award, Marie Claire’s Worth It Award, and The New Beauty Award, among others..Lashify lashes have been featured on several celebrities on the red carpet,, television,, movies, and more.

Sahara has taken Lashify to the next level by creating a supportive community of women from all over the world who share not only their lash looks, but also encourage and empower one another across social media. Lashify is more than just lashes, it’s a lifestyle, and Sahara is the embodiment of the brand. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sat down with the one and only Sahara Lotti to discuss her journey as an entrepreneur, the wonder of Lashify, and her go-to fashion favorites.  

Enjoy this episode? Help us keep the podcast going by buying us a cup of coffee! Visit www.buymeacoffee.com/afashionmoment to support.

Connect with Us!

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Show Notes:

Shop LASHIFY Now at https://lashify.com/ 

Follow Lashify on Instagram @lashify 

Follow Sahara on Instagram @saharalotti

Season 2, Episode 11: Reco Chapple

Designer Reco Chapple does it all. As one of the very few African American designers to create and manage a successful fashion house, Chapple’s portfolio includes a variety of womenswear, menswear, accessories, and houseware. The Atlanta-based designer started by dressing local strippers and drag queens and would later style some of the most prominent figures in business and entertainment, including Toni Braxton, rapper T.I. Kandi Buruss, Janelle Monáe, and more. Chapple has also established one of the only black-owned fabric stores in America. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim sits down with Reco to chat about the road to establishing his career and fashion house, the power of the bounce back, valuable advice for young designers, and his deep love for the Black community.

Connect with Us!

Spotify | Apple

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Show notes:

Follow House of Chapple on Instagram @houseofchapple

Shop House of Chapple at https://www.houseofchapple.com/ 

Follow Glamour World Fabrics on Instagram @glamourworldfabrics

Follow Reco Chapple on Instagram @iamrecochapple

Shop HBCU Collegiate Central at: https://hbcucollegiatecentral.com/ 

Follow HBCU Collegiate Central Instagram @hbcucollegiatecentral 

Follow House of Chapple on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXh0LpGk6IwmZC3ncXUoL_A 

Learn more about Tennessee State University: https://www.tnstate.edu/ 

Kevan Hall: https://kevanhalldesigns.com/ 

Sergio Hudson: https://sergiohudson.com/ 

Learn more about Michael Knight: https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/18/entertainment/mychael-knight-dead/index.html 
Check out Jedda-Khan’s episode on A Fashion Moment: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jedda-khan/id1545056305?i=1000509483885

Season 2, Episode 10: Norma Kamali

Norma Kamali is an American fashion designer and icon whose career has continued to rise for over five decades. This native New Yorker and FIT graduate took the world by storm with the invention of her iconic sleeping bag coat in 1970, an item that continues to be one of the designer’s signature staples until this very day. She was one of the first major designers to launch an online store in the 90s and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the CFDA. Much like her designs, Norma is both classic and timeless. Now in her 70s, Norma continues to uphold her dedication to empowering women. This year, Norma released a new book, I am Invincible, a blueprint on how to age with power detailing her personal mantras, life advice, recipes, healthy living tips, and more. Host Kirsten Holtz Naim chats with Kamali about her illustrious career in the fashion industry, the secret to aging well, and the importance of sleep and body movement. 

Connect with Us!

Spotify | Apple

Instagram: @afashionmoment

Twitter: @A_FashionMoment

Email: AFashionMomentPodcast@gmail.com

Website: A Fashion Moment

Show Notes:

Follow Norma Kamali on Instagram @normakamali

Shop Norma Kamali at normakamali.com

Buy Norma’s book I Am Invincible: https://www.amazon.com/Norma-Kamali-I-Am-Invincible-ebook/dp/B084SY46DB

Check out the “Sleeping Bag Coat”: https://normakamali.com/collections/sleeping-bag-coat

Learn more about the history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STQjemRl5Y4

And this pretty cool Flash Mob in NYC for the 10th anniversary in the 80s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2s9HgCwRW4

Check out Norma’s acceptance speech for the CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RUPR8rziC0

Town & Country Article: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/beauty-products/a35525066/norma-kamali-memoir/

Huffington Post coverage of Norma Kamali’s Wellness Cafe: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/norma-kamali-3d-shopping_n_1009091