The Style Observer (SO) is recapping the very best on the fashion scene at this year’s Essence Festival! For three days, SO travel, culture and entertainment storyteller Tenille Clarke had front-row VIP seats to the fashion explosion and sizzling style looks in New Orleans, Louisiana, for this year’s flurry of events.

The Visionary Voices Dinner was an intimate experience collaboratively curated by social media giant TikTok and communications conglomerate Essence, in celebration of visionary black creatives who are making a difference on the contemporary media landscape. The fabulous soirée saw a coming together of culture disruptors, tastemakers and thought leaders, co-hosted by TikTok‘s Kudzi Chikumbu, director of creator community, and Shavone Charles, head of diversity and inclusion communications at TikTok. The event sought to celebrate black creators who are making an indelible impact on the social media landscape and amplifying diverse voices across the global entertainment industry.

The Media Mavens x EssenceFest Takeover Brunch gathered 80 black women in Hollywood and beyond who work as journalists, influencers, media personalities, and more, to talk about their experiences in the media and entertainment circuits. Celebrity guest appearances included Tami Roman from VH1′s soon-to-premiere Caught in the Act: Unfaithful, and Amara La Negra from Love & Hip Hop Miami. It was certainly a powerhouse affair with black girl magic on display, and fashion accessories spoke volumes.

The 2022 Essence Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola celebrated a weekend chock-full of activities for fans, followers, fashionistas and friends from far and wide who flocked to the charming city of New Orleans. While Essence inspires a global audience through diverse storytelling and immersive original content rooted in culture, equity and celebration, the fashion certainly took centre stage for three days. With headline performances from Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson and New Edition, both celebrities and attendees alike stepped up their style game for some next-level stage and street style.

— Tenille Clarke

Tenille Clarke is an avid storyteller, seasoned publicist and cultural enthusiast from Trinidad and Tobago who often writes about her ongoing love affair with travel, entertainment and culture through a Caribbean lens. Follow her digital journey @tenilleclarke1 on Instagram and Twitter.