First…

As the fur coats from Jamaican-blooded accessory designer Brandon Blackwood’s fall collection continue to trend, SO focuses its lens on American rap superstar Cardi B, who made a statement in the Leather & Mongolian wool coat for an appearance on David Letterman’s Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. The WAP singer was styled by the person responsible for a number of her most iconic looks, celebrity stylist Kollin Carter.

And…

British music sensation Lizbet Sempa, popularly known as Mysie, wears Maison Bent’s AW20 tan suit in her latest music video Gin + Juice. Maison Bent, a London-based fashion house, draws inspiration from its founder Shanna Bent’s Jamaican heritage, effortlessly combining vintage Caribbean aesthetics with modern glamour.

Also…

American fashion blogger and model Rocky Barnes turned heads in Italy with pieces from Jamaican-born Los-Angeles based jewellery designer Chari Cuthbert.

Then…

Jamaican fashion model Toni Smith delivers in the Star Rib-Knit Skirt from Jamaican-blooded designer Grace Wales Bonner for HEROINE magazine issue 16.

Meanwhile…

American writer, producer, comedian and actress Quinta Brunson, who gained prominence for her well-received freshman ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary, which she created and stars in alongside Jamaican Sheryl Lee Ralph, glitters in pieces from Jamaican jewellery designer Matthew “Mateo” Harris for this month’s Vanity Fair TV issue. Brunson wore the 18kt Gold and Diamonds Wheel Hoops with styling courtesy of the mag’s fashion director Nicole Martine Chapoteau.

There’s More…

Saint International Martinican beauty Aurelie Giraud rocked the Balenciaga Resort 2023 runway show on May 22, 2022 as the luxury label took over the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange to debut its collaboration with iconic sportwear brand Adidas. Giraud stomped the runway in Look 59 for an audience that included A-listers like Megan Thee Stallion, Kanye West, Offset, Lauryn Hill, and Alton Mason.

The joint collection was instantly made shoppable via Balenciaga’s website.

Next…

Jamaican-Canadian model Winnie Harlow was dreamy in Off White Fall/Winter ‘22 as she headed to the Elvis premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.

CREDITS

Make-up: @adjinaya

Hair: @stella.yato

Photos: Frédéric Monceau

Plus…

The latest entries from Rock-blooded, New York City-based fashion designer Junny Ann Hibbert’s style diary. The daughter of a seamstress from Kingston, and former ESPN-executive-cum designer, Hibbert’s eclectic style is a mash-up of trends she’s spotted on the streets of her Harlem neighbourhood and her native Jamaican heritage. Her style — a mélange of colour, prints and patterns — has served as inspo for many including clients who flock to her brand for luxe caftans and other bespoke garments.

Etc…

Saint International star Tami Williams is staying booked and busy! The New York-based stunner is now the newest face for American multi-brand speciality retailer of contemporary women’s apparel Intermix. Williams turned up the fab factor in a selection of pieces from the retailer’s latest collection, ‘Night Out Y2K,’ which consists of luxury brands.

Additionally…

Film producer extraordinaire Maxine Walters has turned her sights to her original first love — art, specifically installation and visual art. Walters is one of only two prominent creative Jamaicans invited to participate in this year’s Biennial of Contemporary African Art Dak’art which attracts art enthusiasts and creators worldwide.

Using this year’s ‘Out Of The Fire!’ theme as inspiration, Walters and her Jamaican-born confrère Yrneh Gabon are set to ignite the Jamaican spirit on the grounds of the Monument de la Renaissance Africaine and throughout the Biennial venue. The exhibition runs through June 21, 2022.

Biennial of Contemporary African Art Dak’art is the largest and most prominent art event on the continent of Africa, staged in Dakar, Senegal. The event, now on its 33rd staging will highlight the works of several visual artists and artists’ collectives. Nearly 85 countries are represented in the programme with 250,000 visitors expected and more than 1,200 journalists present.

Gabon, who is also exhibiting in the main event, and Walters are part and parcel of a larger collective that was formed two years ago, dubbed Knit Work in response to an invitation by Senegalese artist Kalidou Kassé. They will join their fellow ‘Knitworks’ team Ibe Ananaba, Michael Massenburg, Janet E Dandridge and June Edmonds as they take on the task of making a statement about their shared vision of Africa for Africans.

Walter’s presentation, Fire in the Dancehall, is an immersive display that showcases the power of the dancehall aesthetic, and was inspired by her novel Serious T’ings A Go Happen: Three Decades of Dancehall Signs. To achieve this multimedia installation for the Dakar Marché, she assembled a dynamic team comprising Matthew McCarthy (lead designer), Gillian Foster Hall (visual artist), Loris Cicogna (technical support), Dean “Squiddly” Sutherland (cinematographer) Simone and Jonathan March (marketing and purchasing).

“We came together organically to recontextualise the aesthetic of the dancehall. This is my first trip to our ancestors’ home of West Africa from whence we came. Now we return, [and] I’m excited about going back and cannot wait to light up Dakar with Fire in the Dancehall,” shared Walters.