HOT 5 - 2/25/22
Hey HOT Friends!
Sorry that I'm a week late with this HOT 5 but I have a very good reason -- I finally took my first vacation in exactly 2 years! A few weeks before the pandemic hit in 2020 my family and I took a quick 4-day jaunt to Miami. It was a great get-away but little did we know that it would be the last trip for any of us for 2 years. So you can imagine the joy (and just a little trepidation) we felt boarding our flight for sunny Jamaica! It was a perfect holiday from beginning to end and I even remembered how to pack well. If you need a little help in that department just consult this post for a few great tips. Do you know what the best part of my vacation was? It was the feeling of immense gratitude that we had gotten to this point unscathed and being hopeful for a brighter future.
Here’s this week’s HOT 5:
1. It's Time To Talk Trends
2. The HOT Vintage Fashion Sale
3. HOT Pick -- Tote Bags
4. Black-Owned Shops on Etsy
5. Quite The Contrary - On Life, Work and Loving Miles Davis by Yvonne Durant
1. It's Time To Talk Trends
Haven't the recent teasingly warm weather days made you long for new spring clothes? I know I'm ready to burn the pieces I've been wearing non-stop for the past several months! This is the perfect moment to review the trends for spring '22. And I've decided to show you the more wearable trends (not sure how many of us are going to be rocking bra tops or ultra minis but you do you!). See below for the runway example of the trend along with 2 "real way" looks -- one at a moderate price point and one at a downright cheap and cheerful one. Get ready to make your list! Here are the 8 trends I can get behind:
Bold Brights, Lovely Lace, The Long Short, Checks And Balances, Not Grandma's Crochet, Chain Chain Chain Belts, Tiny Cardigans, Big Boxy Blazers
Bold Brights: Runway Look, & Other Stories $89, Mango $49.99
Lovely Lace: Runway Look, Anthropologie $297, H&M $45.99
The Long Short: Runway Look, Ted Baker $117, The Rack $24.97
Checks and Balances: Runway Look, Nordstrom Topshop $93, Baggu Ripstop Tote $12
Not Grandma’s Crochet: Runway Look, Bloomingdale’s $68, Saks Off 5th $19.97
Chain Chain Chain Belts: Runway Look, House of Terrance $60, Saks Off 5th $14.99
Tiny Cardigans: Runway Look, Madewell $79.50, H&M $24.99
Big Boxy Blazers: Runway Look, Zara $149, Mango $99
2. The HOT Vintage Fashion Sale
Since I was away and missed the run up to Presidents Day Weekend I've decided to have a belated holiday sale on my HOT Vintage Fashion. Through Friday, the 11th of March I'm offering a hefty 50% off everything on the HOT Vintage Fashion tab. And that's not all, everyone who makes a purchase will receive a surprise free gift and it's a good one, I promise. There are still a lot of great pieces to be had and many can be worn through the spring and summer so make sure you check it out. And of course I'll salute you for shopping sustainably and being kind to our planet.
3. HOT Pick -- Tote Bags
Maybe you're like me and you just can't quit your big ole tote bag! As charmed as I am by all of the very au courant adorable little handbags we're seeing everywhere these days, the only bag I grab with any consistency (ok every damn day) is a tote bag. There are so many things I don't want to be without as I make my way about town. For this week's HOT 5 I give you the all-important tote bag and not the flimsy ones that double as a grocery bag but the nicely constructed ones with inner compartments, strong straps in lovely leather or high-end nylon. The 6 bags below are sturdy, carry a ton, and will look great on your arm!
4. Black-Owned Shops on Etsy
There are only a few more days of Black History Month. Of course, anytime is a good time to support Black-owned small businesses but if you haven't specifically done that yet why not look through some of these great businesses on Etsy? Here you can buy everything from an exquisite Gees Bend quilt to a stunning African print jumpsuit! I recently joined Etsy and have just sold my first Maskeraide mask chain, yay! Etsy can certainly be daunting but how great is it that they've given us this lovely curation of Black-owned brands? I'm sure you'll find something that will make you happy.
5. Quite The Contrary - On Life, Work and Loving Miles Davis by Yvonne Durant
In my last HOT 5, I mentioned how excited I was that good friend and fellow advertising alum, Yvonne Durant was launching her memoir published by Audible and entitled Quite the Contrary. Yvonne was one of the few Black women copywriters working on major accounts at some of the biggest advertising agencies of the time. We met in the early aughts at Grey Advertising and I remember being impressed with her style and her stories. We also had a shared love of Europe having both lived and worked there in the 80s. I've just begun to listen to Yvonne's fascinating coming-of-age story and I highly recommend it. I am so proud of and impressed by my friend!
Terry xoxo