In Atlanta this August, after breaking my fashion fast with Crusade of Curves, I wanted even more fabulous full-figured fashion. I am obsessed with curvy women fashion, so I headed straight to the 8th annual Life Styled Honors Awards.
For 8 years, Life Styled Honors was created by Maui Bigelow, the writer at HelloBeautiful. co-founder/producer at CurvyNoire, and owner of PHAT Girl BouTique, has created a “celebration of womanhood that fuses fashion, entertainment, and empowerment”, honoring several women each year who embrace those values every day in their lives.
This year’s curvey women fashion event kicked off on Friday, August 13th, with the “Black Women Are Lit” all-black semi-formal dinner at Slush Atlanta restaurant. Sponsored by natural hair care, body, and skincare brand Carol’s Daughter, both Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price and Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor, whose young life was tragically cut short by police violence, were honored.
But the night didn’t end there! Guests donned their best all-white outfits and went all the way up to the rooftop of the Suite Food Lounge for the long-awaited all-white VIP social, Curves En Blanc. Sponsored by Lane Bryant it was an unforgettable evening of style, networking, and celebration with the creme de la creme of the plus-size industry.
The celebrations continued on Saturday, August 14th, with the 8th Annual Life Styled Honors, the plus industry’s largest appreciation event, often referred to as an “ingenious meld of fashion, beauty & empowerment.” Taking place at the 595 North Event Center, the doors opened early to allow guests to shop to their heart’s content at tables from vendors like Garner Style, Daja Amyia accessories, Grey Butterfly Studio, Ardens Closet, Dope Without Labels, Boj Oil premium organic products, Curvy Encore boutique, Black•Preneur, and Caab Customs “culturally ratchet tees”.
Once it had been confirmed that everyone had spent their rent/mortgage payments, the fashion show and honoree ceremony began. Maui was joined by co-hosts comedian Starr Carter and actress and makeup artist Nzinga Imani who introduced both the honorees and designers with fantastic flair.
Models Ashley Walker, Dori Carter, Jilvonda Koonce, Latisha Bostic, Malia Faison, Meredith “Mimi” Baker, Rae Nicole Davis, and Tia Tillman were kept awfully busy both on and off the runway, changing from one designer to another, but they never missed a beat!
The audience got to view ultimate curvy elegance from Curverra, sexy swimwear from Curvy Fox, the world’s first exclusively plus-size luxury fashion house Bella Rene, Dope Without Labels, and lastly Livi Rae Lingerie, whose rather, um, delicious-looking male model escorts caused quite a stir!
In between the fun and the plus size fashion on display, the most important event was taking place; the recognition of this year’s honorees. A huge thank you for all their hard work and dedication to empowerment, inclusivity, and positivity goes to Essence Magazine entertainment editor Brande Victorian, celebrity makeup artist Brandi Mallory, plus-size model Devorah Story, celebrity stylist Thomasina “GooGoo” Atkins, plus size blogger and designer Kristine Thompson and Trendy Curvy, founder of Carol’s Daughter Lisa Price, plus size blogger Rochelle Mayerson-Johnson, and, of course, Tamika Palmer, the mother of Breonna Taylor.
Who do you think should be honored at next year’s Life Styled Honors? Tell us in the comments section below!
Hashtags: #LifeStyledHonors #PHATGirlFresh #CurvesEnBlanc, #BlackWomenAreLit #breonnataylor #GotSlushedInATL
