A Diva State of Mind

SNOBSWAP & Dewdrop are delighted to announce Swap In The City charity swap party and fashion show on Thursday, May 9th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The dynamic duo invites fashion enthusiasts to swap designer clothing and accessories and enjoy a fashion-focused event to help end domestic violence.

Swap In the City will rally DC’s emerging fashion giants for a fun-filled evening of social shopping and style sneak peaks. Attendees dropping off their luxury swaps will be greeted with complimentary cocktails and treats, a wealth of style tips from local experts, and a fashion presentation by Kolton J and D’Milikah.

Closing the night with a high-end clothing swap, event-goers will walk away with coveted, designer goods for a noble cause. All unswapped items will be donated to the Goodwill of Greater Washington and a portion of the event ticket proceeds will benefit Becky’s Fund, a non-profit that aims to foster awareness, encourage advocacy, promote activism and create support for victims of domestic violence.

To purchase discounted tickets for Swap In the City visit www.swapinthecityDC.eventbrite.com.

The plan was to host a Prom Queen Boutique with the Launched Ladies Creative Agency for DC area high school students in need of a prom dress and accessories.  The Prom Queen Boutique is a intimate boutique set up to cater to young deserving women to try on selected donated dresses, gowns, shoes and accessories along with hair & makeup consultations.

Although we weren’t able to connect with a DC high school or organization to make the Prom Queen Boutique a reality in DC, the boutique is taking place in Baltimore.  The boutique will cater to young women of Reginald F. Lewis High School.  Through the end of April, Katwalk Boutique is collecting gently worn prom gowns, cocktail dresses and accessories.

I know for some, Baltimore may be a hike, especially during the week. If you want to make a donation, stop by Katwalk Boutique this Saturday, April 27th. Between 2-8pm, shoppers will enjoy cocktails, preview the new spring collection, and receive a free makeup consultation by Motives for LaLa.  There will also be a silent auction to benefit the Prom Queen Boutique. If you make a dress/accessories donation that day, you’ll receive $25.00 toward a Katwalk Boutique purchase.

If you are able to make it to Baltimore to make a dress and accessories donation, I encourage you to do so! Hopefully I’ll be able to partner with organizations in the DC area next year to host a prom dress donation drive.

Like many large retailers, JCPenney is committed to giving back to the community and wants to encourage customers to do the same.  This year each month, the company will support a worthy cause by inviting customers to round up their purchases at the register to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the featured charity partner. Customers will also have the option to round up their online purchases when they shop at jcp.com.

You all know that I am a supporter of Dress for Success. I have volunteered with the DC affiliate for years and truly believe in the work they do to help improve the lives of women. This month, JCP is partnering with Dress for Success for this round up at the register initiative.  So far this month, JCPenney has raised $245,933.

Dress for Success provides professional attire, a network of support and career development tools to help women thrive in the workplace and in life. Worldwide, the organization has served over 650,000 women through more than 120 affiliates in 13 countries.

JCPenney has really stepped their game up in terms of its apparel offerings over the years. I found a few skirts at the store for a client last year and a friend recently purchase really cute tops.  If you plan on shopping this month, please consider making a purchase at JCPenney to support Dress for Success.  I know I will!

Learn more about JCPenney’s round up at the register initiative HERE.

It’s no secret; I’m a advocate for community service. I believe we all have a responsibility to do what we can to give back. So when the civic engagement and career boutique, Friends of Ebonie, contacted me to serve on the Host Committee for Defining Young Black Philanthropy, I was both excited and honored!

On Thursday, February 21st, The National Headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women will serve as the venue for Defining Young Black Philanthropy- DC. This will be an energetic evening bringing together politicos, changemakers, and philanthropists for a candid discussion about social accountability, responsibility and action.

From 6:30 to 7:30pm, attendees will enjoy complimentary cocktails and desserts and have the opportunity to meet and greet with Washington, DC area non-profit organizations seeking to connect through leadership, volunteer and donor opportunities. Non-profits confirmed to attend include: D.R.E.A.M. Life Inc., A Legacy Left Behind, Dreams Work, The MusicianShip, Black Benefactors, Michelle In Training.

A panel discussion and in-depth discussion on philanthropy, civic engagement and social influence will follow the mixer. This event serves as a great opportunity to network and learn more about how you can become involved in philanthropy.

Tickets are available for purchase; early bird ticket sales end on Wednesday. You can purchase tickets at http://dybpdc.eventbrite.com/. At the bottom of the registration page, please indicate that I referred you!

Hope to see you on February 21st!

Hosted by Nife O. of Skinny Hipster and fashion/beauty blogger, Naja of NajaDiamond.com, the POP-UP BEAUTY LOUNGE will transform the La Petite Marmoset showroom into a live fashion and beauty lounge.  Guests will enjoy cupcakes by Red Velvet Cupcakery, holiday hair consultations from celebrity hair stylist Adrin “Seven” Washington and more.  The lounge will also feature models donning holiday looks for those female guests whose schedules are overflowing with company parties and family gatherings.

The first 50 guests will receive a gift bag featuring products from the following sponsors: IMAN Cosmetics, African Pride hair care, Crux NY jewelery, Kiehl’s skin care (Georgetown), Plush Beautiq, Seven and Company, and Phyto hair care.

A portion of proceeds from sales at La Petite Marmoset will go to benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp.  You may recall, the shopping soirée I hosted earlier this year also supported the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp. The camp encourages entrepreneurship in creative careers amongst young women in the DC metropolitan area.  

The event is FREE. RSVP http://popupbeauty.eventbrite.com/#

While the holiday season is about family, food and gifts, it should also be a time when we focus on giving back to those in need. It is important to give back throughout the year, but the holiday season is a time when others need our help the most. Between Thanksgiving food baskets for military families, coats for the homeless or toys for kids during Christmas, there are numerous ways we can be a blessing to others.

Earlier this week I Googled something related to Thanksgiving and came across an article titled “Ten Ways to Give Back on Thanksgiving” on Divine Caroline. While the list focuses specifically on Thanksgiving, the ten ways to give back can be done throughout the entire holiday season.  Majority of the activities can be done throughout the year:

1. Donate to a nonprofit that helps the hungry
2. Donate a Thanksgiving(or Christmas) food basket
3. Hold a food drive (donate items to a shelter)
4. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
5. Send a phone call or care package to a soldier
6. Hold a Thanksgiving (or Christmas) charity bake sale (donate proceeds to a nonprofit organization)
7. Donate to a charity that helps the homeless
8. Deliver dinners to housebound people
9. Visit hospital patients
10. Take part in a charity Turkey Trot or 5K

What are you favorite ways to give back during the holiday season?

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!! Safe travels to those going out of town!!

As you probably know by now based on the type of events I post on the blog, I love doing what I can to give back to the community!  You don’t have to have much to be able to make an impact!

Next Wednesday, I’m teaming up with Fashion Empowering Women (FEW) to raise money and collect school supplies for their Build A Backpack Drive. The goal of the drive is to provide 600 backpacks full of supplies to kids living in DC for the new school year.    By making a minimum $5 donation and/or bringing school supplies, you’ll have two extra hours to enjoy Vinoteca’s happy hour specials, 5-9pm.

I hope you are able to attend! This is a great opportunity to give back to the community, enjoy happy hour with friends and network with new people!  If you are unable to attend, but are interested in making a donation, please visit http://buildabackpack.eventbrite.com.

If you follow me on twitter you may have seen tweets about an upcoming shopping soirée.  A Diva State of Mind has teamed up with Current Boutique to host a shopping soirée next Thursday, July 26^th to benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp scholarship.

I met Rebecca and Madiana Margao of Red Sprinkle last month when I interviewed them for the latest issue of Façon Magazine.  The Fashion Camp provides free fashion classes to teen girls 13-17 years old in the DC area.  The classes focus on a variety of areas in the fashion industry including fashion blogging, wardrobe styling, hair and makeup and fashion photography.  Some classes are taught by celebrity hair and wardrobe stylists.   This camp is a great way for you girls to better understand the industry and begin to figure out what area of fashion they are most interested pursuing.

Not only does the camp offer FREE fashion classes but select students will receive a scholarship at the end of the 6 weeks to go towards their college education.

10% of the sales from the Shopping Soirée will benefit the Red Sprinkle Fashion Camp scholarship.  All attendees will enjoy refreshments and shop the latest trends. This event will serve as a great opportunity to shop and network with other fashionable professionals in the DC area.

Ladies if you need to shop for a new dress or fellas you need to get a gift for the special lady in your life, I encourage you to attend the soirée next week!!

Please RSVP at http://shoppingsoireeatcurrent.eventbrite.com

I hope to see you there!!

Join Dress For Success Washington, DC Affiliate as they celebrate 10 years!  The Mix It Up Toast It Up rooftop event is not only a celebration; it’s also a fundraiser to help Dress For Success continue to grow and help women transition toward self sufficiency and independence.  Guest will have the chance to vote as three of DC’s premier mixologists face off in a cocktail competition.  The celebration will also include complimentary hors d’oeuvres & wine and beer from 6-7pm.

For more information and to RSVP, click HERE.

Ashley Silva of I Am Super Gorge, Desiree Venn Frederic of Fashion Empowering Women, and Sunni from WPGC have teamed up to host Attire To Inspire. The purpose of the event is to provide FREE professional clothing to 15-20 women from various shelters.  These amazing women will not only receive clothing, but they’ll also enjoy free hair and makeup services.

Check out this video by Sunni discussing what motivated her to create this event:

In order for this event to be successful, donations are needed!!  If you have any suits, dress pants, blouses, dresses, and other spring/summer attire that you no longer wear, please donate them.  All donations should be clean and in good condition (meaning no stains, holes, broken zippers, etc).

All donations can be dropped off at Caramel Boutique (1603 U Street NW, Washington, DC). through the end of May.  I hope you’ll consider making a donation to Attire To Inspire!