Détroit Is The New Black!

Last week I was kindly invited by fellow fashion blogger of DolacheSpace, to a Sip and Shop Event at local store, Détroit is the New Black! The invitation read: Enjoy champagne and recieve 20% off your purchase of featured pop-up designer, Tracy Reece, along with Roslyn's in-house label! I'm not one for drinks, but boy am I one for a sale! So obviously my friend Katlyn (who I recently dubbed as my fashion partner in crime) and I headed downtown and got our shop on ;) On the outside the store is very inconspicuous, but on the inside it has the feel of a spacious loft featuring fine art, and fine clothing. The store was very minimalistic, open, inviting, and shoppable. Fine art pieces were spread throughout, and metal jewelry was shown in cases. Clothing was neatly hung from racks according to color and style. The CEO and owner of DITNB, Roslyn Karamoko, was a very pleasant host, and kindly explained her store, and listened to our fashion endeavors. We had previously seen her speak at the FashionSpeak Conference, and had been dying to see her store ever since. Her designs adorned the Détroit is the New Black logo, or the simple D insignia. The clothing was simple, but held a very powerful message. Her pop-up designer, Tracy Reece, had clothing of a very different type. Her designs were considered more high fashion, and consisted mostly of dresses and gowns with a vintage twist. Katlyn and I both very happily purchased something from Roslyn's collection. While unwrapping my purchase at home, I found a small card containing the company's message on it. It read: "Détroit is the New Black is inspired by the city. We are a forward movement of millennials energized by the history and resilience of Detroit. We combine minimalism and high street to achieve the perfect balance of urban fashion. A mantra for Rebirth. Inspiration. Authenticity. Culture. We believe in the power of manifestation. Join the movement". This small card gave me the chills. It was the perfect desciption of my experience at her store, and her brand. That's a designer that knows herself, and knows what she stands for! So needless to say, we had a wonderful first time shopping with Détroit is the New Black. I plan on visiting them again in the near future, and encourage you to do the same! Visit www.detroitisthenewblack.com, or @detroitisthenewblack on Instagram to purchase or view Roslyn's work! Or visit the store for yourself at 52 East Forest Avenue, Détroit ;D

Michigan's First Catfé!

Yesterday I went to Michigan's first Cat Café, the Catfé Lounge in Ferndale! If you don't know what a catfé is, I will fill you in on the furry goodness! A catfé, is a place designated towards drinking coffee and spending time socializing with people and cats! Most catfés charge by the hour, by the coffee, or take donations. Some catfés also serve as adoption centers paired with local shelters. The idea of a catfé originated in Japan, but the first ever catfé opened it Taipei, Taiwan in 1998. Japan did not open its first catfé until 2005, but it was such a success that many others opened there shortly after. The reason for it being so overwhelmingly popular in Japan, is because of it's small land size. Many people there live in small apartments that don't allow pets, so they look for that companionship in a catfé! This concept has spread to other countries, and there are now several in the US. California, New York, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, Florida, and Michigan are a few of the locations currently open, but there are many other states in the works! My time at the Catfé Ferndale was very relaxing and enjoyable! Tons of cat toys, and towers lined the room. There were plenty of chairs, tables, and benches to sit and admire the cats. There was also a little Keurig coffee maker, or your option of water or juice boxes. The woman in charge explained to us that they were still working with the health department on having a more stable drink and food menu. There were 6 cats roaming the catfé. Some were very sleepy, and some were very playful! Austin and I had our fun teasing a fluffy black kitten with a feather on a string! So if you're looking to adopt a feline friend, or just have a kitty companion for the day, I would definitely suggest a catfé. If you're a fellow Michigander, take a trip to the Catfé Lounge in Ferndale!

Walk Fashion Show Detroit!

Last night I attended the Walk Fashion Show as a guest blogger! We chose to attend the Independent Designer Showcase, but the Children's Showcase from pictures looked adorable! Overall, my friends and I had a very entertaining experience! The event was held at the beautiful Garden Theater in Detroit. Vendor tables lined the entrance with sparkling jewelry and clothing by local designers, like Detroit is the New Black. At the entrance, a small red carpet was set up with sponsors listed in the background for a photo op. Inside was a bar and small cocktail area for guests to enjoy drinks and conversation. The runway ran right down the center, lined with chairs on both sides. Two large screens on each side of the stage provided a full view of the runway and the current designer name and collection for reference. The crowd was a very diverse group with people of all ages. Many friends, and proud family of the designers to show their support. My two friends and I were greeted by the producer of the show, Daishawn Franklin. We briefly made introductions, shot a few pictures, and he very kindly took us to our second row seats with the perfect view. Although the music wasn't entirely coordinated, models strutted to some of the most popular tracks. We were having a hard time keeping it classy and ignoring the urge to bust a move ;) Models were chosen from hundreds of local applicants, and ranged from first-timers, to those who know the business. Designers also ranged from international brands, to local start-ups. Designs were anything from gowns, to streetwear, to vintage. Some of the brands and designers included were Reginald Robinson Oche Wear, Chicago Playground, Nyan Nior Collection, Kizzed Clothing, PNX Diesel, GO India Jacqueline, Profit Vogue Studio, Vintage Ties Jaiden, Nama Melonson The Showroom, Dynamic Women, Bailee Dai Vintage, Detroit Sleeves, and Li Collections just to name a few ;) The spirit was high, and the clapping and cheering never ran out of steam. During intermission, we caught up with our friend Brooklyn, who displayed pieces for The Showroom collective of designers. I also noticed a few familiar faces from Fashion Speak, and caught up with them later on social media. Following the show, we spoke to the designer of Profit Vogue Studio, who graciously took our picture and invited us to his upcoming event. I enjoyed being inspired by fashion, meeting new faces, and connecting further with people who share my passion. It was encouraging to see fellow Detroit designers putting themselves out there, and all the support for this growing fashion community. I was very appreciative to Walk Fashion for having us there, and hope to see them continue many more shows in the future!