Spring Fashion Preview: Duro Olowu for JCPenney

JCPenney gets a much-needed infusion of standout style this spring with more than a little help from Brit-designer Duro Olowu. The limited-engagement Duro Olowu for JCP collection hits stores in March and is reasonably priced from $10 to $100.

It includes vibrant, African-inspired prints emblazoned on clothing, handbags, shoes and home decor. The statement jewelry pieces--notably a blinged-out Ram's head pearl necklace ($25)--are killer.

Designer Duro Olowu.

Duro Olowu’s spring collection for JCP was previewed at an event hosted by JCP and The Daily Front Row./Top images courtesy of The Daily

Everything She Wants previewed the collection during Fashion Week and we were gifted a couple pieces from the colorful, pattern-rich collection. First Lady Michelle Obama is a fan of Olowu's flamboyant designs, and now we are too. While fashion insiders got a sneak peek at The Daily Front Row-hosted event, the Nigeria native held court with his lovely wife Thelma Golden, chief curator of The Studio Museum of Harlem.

When asked by The Daily to comment on the state of diversity in the fashion industry, the charming designer replied:

"What I've always loved about fashion is that we're constantly inspired by other cultures and using their ideas and techniques to create something new. But that's where it ends lately," he explains.

"The industry is much less diverse than it was in [previous decades], and I think that's unfortunate. The reluctance to use not only black models but also those from diverse cultures is baffling. I find it hard to sit through a runway show that has 40 looks and every model is white. Beauty, like style, is international."

Scenes from the Duro Olowu for JCP spring collection preview./Courtesy of Everything She Wants

Comments

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore. I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued. I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store. And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Giveaway: Thank Your Friends with Merci Chocolates!

National Friendship Day was August 4, 2013, but Everything She Wants has decided to continue the celebration with a giveaway from merci fine European chocolates . While some friendships are for a season or a reason, other friendships are built to last a lifetime. I’m fortunate to have two best friends: Cindy, whom I’ve known since junior high school and Deanna, who started out as my amusing intern. Besides my mother and my husband, these girlfriends are my greatest confidants. They’re like the sisters I never had and we’ve supported each other through personal trials and triumphs. So what better way to say ‘thank you’ to your friends than with merci chocolates? One lucky reader will win a ‘Friendship Kit’ that you can either keep to reward yourself for being such a great friend or share with a deserving comrade. The kit includes: $25 Target gift card (yay!) 7 ounce box of merci chocolates A picture frame to display a photo of you and your friends A choc

Probiotics Do a Body Good: Vitamin Shoppe Tips to Trust Your Gut

You've heard about probiotics. But what are they and what do they do? We asked the Vitamin Shoppe's on-staff nutritionist Brian Tanzer for the skinny on the benefits of these good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. Why you need probiotics? I f you eat a lot of processed foods, excess sugar or refined carbohydrates, the bacteria in your digestive tract might have a hard time staying in balance. And probiotics inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. Tip: You can find them in capsule , tablet, powder and chewable forms. When you should take a probiotic? If you are looking for a probiotic to take every day, try a multi-strain probiotic starting with 5-10 billion CFU, and see how it works for you. CFU's, or colony forming units are used to measure probiotics potency. CFU’s can range from 1 billion up to 100 billion. The best time to take a probiotic supplem

Everything She Wants

Search This Blog