Author: awrensays
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Orangers en Fleurs by Houbigant smells like springtime
The concept behind Orangers en Fleurs by Houbigant was the use of orange blossoms for 18th century weddings. This central note was associated with fertility and innocence. The fragrance of this offering is very light. I would describe it as feminine and fresh. In the air, Orangers en Fleurs by Houbigant smelled like springtime; on…
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The value of African fashion
Throughout the week I have been writing about Studio 189. The short introduction, if you haven’t read the other posts, is that it is a higher end brand of clothing produced in Africa using many of the traditional African clothing making techniques. I previously saw one of the skirts, ornately patterned and dyed, and I…
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Now you can ball in Balmain, but would you want to?
Balmain have released what they are calling the first luxury “playable” basketball shoe in connection with Puma. It is currently available on the Balmain site for $1000 and will be released on the Puma US site February 28. I want you to come to your own opinion, but I can’t see myself paying $1000. I…
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Brand Spotlight: Studio 189 overview
Studio 189 was founded in 2013 by Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson. At the heart of the brand is the desire to use fashion as a tool for social change. The brand has a split headquarters in Accra, Ghana and New York City. It uses local Ghananian talent to craft their clothing using traditional weaving…
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Designer Spotlight: Abrima Erwiah, advice for those who seek to make fashion a tool for social change
Yesterday, I provided the backstory of Abrima Erwiah, one of the co-founders of Studio 189. As I pulled together that information, I was left with a set of quotes that I believe would be helpful to anyone who is considering how they to can use fashion as a tool for social change. The following are…
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Designer Spotlight: Abrima Eriwah of Studio 189
Post New York Fashion Week, I am spending some time exploring some the brands that showed. First up is Studio 189, with a profile on one of its founders: Abrima Erwiah. Abrima Erwiah started Studio 189 with Rosario Dawson. Prior to starting the brand, you could hardly say she was a fashion outsider. Erwiah had…
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The BeautyStat Universal C Eye Perfector isn’t perfect
I am comfortable admitting when I used a product wrong or when there has been a weird fluke experience. (See the update below.) But no, I didn’t like Beauty Stat’s Universal C Eye Perfector. I am going to contrast my experience with what how the brand describes it on the site. Beauty Stat Universal C…
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The regal smell of Initio Parfums Oud for Greatness
Oud. That word strikes fear in the hearts of newbie fragrance lovers. Okay, my heart, thereis fear in my heart. When other fragrance reviewers have described the note as “skunky,” I couldn’t help but think twice about trying an oud forward fragrance. And with a name like Oud for Greatness, I had no idea what…
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Face to face is better
I don’t know who needs to see this, but please do not send bad news via text. Who wants to be the one to share bad news, have difficult conversations, or give negative feedback? Very few of us. The way of lessening the discomfort, granted to us by modern technology is the text message. It…
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Is in-store retail really back?
In article posted in WWD, analysts have said that the January sales period ended on a high note, while others have said the numbers match the annual growth trend pre-pandemic. What they don’t say is how these numbers look for in-store vs online sales. I think that distinction is important. In January, a different article…
A Wren Says 