I love this new Macy’s commercial that represents the brands and stars of the store. The only star missing is Laidback..soon and very soon coming to a department store near you.

I know I have been MIA for a minute but I am still here. I am steady working on the new collection. Stay tuned for the new collection and site redesign. Big Things Poppin.

Just as I was talking about how Essence has recently diappointed me with their content. I logged onto the site to copy the url for the last post and caught a glimpse of what made me fall in love with them as a preteen. Essence has a new online reality dating series starting tomorrow morning at 10am. The clicker for me are the women featured in the series, they are young, beautiful and articulate. They are the exact opposite of what mainstream tv has been portraying women of color as recently in reality tv. The beauty is what I aspire to and have grown to become and that is my reality. Thank you Essence, you just scored one if the show is as good as the teaser. See teaser here (it’s on the upper right side of link)

One of the best magazines out right now covering black culture is Clutch. They are a monthly online mag that updates daily with a blog that covers current events, fashion and music. Growing up I was an Essence chick, I always wanted to be in the magazine (Hell, who am I kidding, I still do, lol) but the flava and content that I grew up on with Susan Taylor is gone. I have not brought a copy since last year and it deeply saddens me. However, Clutch does it for me, and I look forward to being up in there very soon.

I want to send prayers and love out to my NY family and to everyone affected by that horrible day. Afrobella, one of my must read daily blogs challenged us to remember the day. It was hard to put in words, but I along with many others recalled the very moment our lives changed for good. I still love NY, but it will never be the same, but hey I ain’t going nowhere.

It is always great to check out a great boutique that has great product and merchandising. However it is even better when a few of the items in the great selection are yours.. The best boutiques have items that are unusual and generally not found in mass marketed stores. Check out the way the items were merchandised at both the Studio Museum Store in Harlem and A&G Merch in Williamsburg, BK.

Studio Museum: Also check out the way the t-shirts were folded to brazenly and repeatedly remind you that Black is Beautiful, love that!!

A&G Merch: Love the color play in the merchandising, the bed looks so fun and lively. Peep the box below the bed with the brightly colored Laidback pillows waiting for someone to pull it out and chill.

A&G Merch