If you aren’t familiar with SSENSE, it’s the online epicenter for buying luxury brands and high-end streetwear. Founded by the three Atallah brothers, the goal was to take away the obstacles and headaches that could arise from purchasing high-end fashion and democratize the latest, coolest brands.
More than any other platform right now, SSENSE does curation right. They’re painfully aware of which pieces from new collections are a fit for their audience. They show you what’s relevant and hot right now — prioritizing pieces you’ll genuinely like rather than what’s just being pushed by the brand. Now, SSENSE carries brands of all price points from Adidas to Versace.
Another highlight: SSENSE is known for its brand diversity. They often highlight Black-owned brands and showcase collections from people of color and lesser-known designers. To close out Black History Month 2024, SSENSE is teaming up with none other than ESSENCE: a pairing that makes perfect sense.
ESSENCE, the lifestyle publication geared towards Black women, is helping feature three designers and artists: Bianca Saunders, Mowalola, and Stanley Raffington. The series will showcase their designs and tell their story.
According to SSENSE’s site,
“The two brands are turning ESSENCE’s “In The Studio” print franchise into a video series hosted by Lynette Nylander. The series will spotlight the achievements and creativity of Black designers who have significantly impacted the menswear realm. With three episodes, each featuring a distinguished designer, the series offers exclusive insights into their creative processes and journey,”
Meet The SSENSE X ESSENCE Feature Designers
Bianca Saunders
Bianca Saunders
British GQ
Bianca Saunders’ clothing embraces masculinity in womenswear. Her jackets will always be a bit oversized, or the style will mimic a classic streetwear bomber that could have been borrowed from boys like Jeremy Allen-White and Jacob Elordi — a girl can dream.
“The essence of Saunders' clothing lives in the details, which point to how she subverts ideals often associated with menswear.”
Finding the intersectionality between workwear and streetwear, Saunders clothing is genderless and trendy. Some of her signatures include layered shirts, tucked waists, and somewhat minimalist designs.
@babyboyflame Buying Black: @Bianca Saunders #streetwear #menswear #blackownedbusiness #fashion #fashiontok #fashiontiktok ♬ Oldschool - Cookin Soul
Mowalola
Mowalola
Joyce NG
Mowalola, a highly sought after designer whose pieces have been worn by the likes of Rihanna and Naomi Campbell, is a bit of an icon in the fashion world. Her mantra for fashion is “do what you want to do” and that’s exactly the kind of energy Mowalola’s clothes give off.
Much like Bianca Saunders, Mowalola is known for her gender bending designs. Inspired by cinema, many of her collections revolve around movies. And this is on full display at her cinematic runway shows.
She brings an edge to her designs through textures like leather and intentionally placed cutouts. She’s not afraid to make public commentary on race and gender, making her runway shows incredibly popular.
“The British designer has shifted the cultural zeitgeist with her boundary-pushing collections inspired by the world around her.”
@i_d Replying to @JAC So are we! #ferragamo #maximiliandavis #tiktokfashion #mfw #mowalola ♬ original sound - i-D
Stanley Raffington
Stanley Raffington
ESSENCE
In a world where the Chanel black-and-white aesthetic hails ever-popular, especially amongst those emulating Old Money Style and Sofia Richie’s closet, it’s hard to find designers who aren’t afraid of a bit of color…enter Stanley Raffington.
Often incorporating Rastafarian colors of red, yellow, and black as an ode to his Jamaican roots, Raffington isn’t going to shy away from any hue. He quickly rose into fashion prominency when Madonna and FKA Twigs attended his show, which included 3D printed accessories.
Constantly inspired by his Jamaican roots and the nostalgia of past trends, you will see lots of Y2K nods in Stanley Raffington’s clothing. He’s embraced tech in the fashion world by utilizing 3D printing in many of his designs and runway shows, and he’s not slowing down now.
@yungstanz Process behind my 3d printed curve bag. Taking inspiration from the architecture of Zaha Hadid, mixing new technology with natural materials and craft. Available now exclusively at @SSENSE ♬ Never Lose Me - Flo Milli
Fall In Love With A New Fall Wardrobe
I’m not a big online shopper, yet as a busy woman, spending hours at the mall isn’t always productive or fruitful. Summer vacation is long gone and pumpkin spiced lattes are filling the menus at my favorite coffee shops which means only one thing: Fall is in full swing. The time has come to bring out my sweaters and boots and put away my shorts. Shopping for a fall wardrobe is a must, and getting my fashion-friendly cool-weather clothes geared up is on my never-ending todo list.
My style is a blend of a few different things. I want to look modern, stylish, and workplace-chic, while staying true to my individuality and being comfortable. As the seasons change, a new closetful of fresh clothing is something to look forward to. But as someone who can’t find the time to go from store to store scouring racks and shelves for ensembles that may or may not suit me, another mode of shopping would be a time-saver as well as a great tool to help me put together a seasons’ worth of clothing. That’s why I decided to try Le Tote Select, a service that delivers a box of clothes curated for you directly to your door.
I heard about Le Tote Selectfrom an always in-style girlfriend and was instantly intrigued. An online personal stylist for just 20 bucks? Seemed too good to be true, but as I perused the website and its amazing offerings, I was not only impressed, but also ready to relinquish my own meager shopping skills and trust a professional stylist to help me put together a fall wardrobe that would put the “fashion police” out of business.
I logged onto the site, filled out an in-depth questionnaire to hone in on my personal tastes and style, sizes, and personality, and the process was underway. For the attention and specific selections, I would be willing to pay more than the $20 styling fee. I picked my delivery box theme and waited in anticipation until my first shipment came. With 5 days to decide if the items were to my liking, I could give every piece a whirl and decide whether to keep it or send it back for something new. The pre-paid return bag makes it simple to send back what I don’t like, and for the items I love, they are ready to wear with great fit and fashion-forward appeal. I only had to pay for the items I kept and with every shipment, my stylist got to know my preferences even better.
For me, a season-suited wardrobe is a must for a fun fall season. But the dip in temperature doesn’t mean style needs to fade too. Le Tote Select’s stylists are in-the-know about the hottest styles, trends, and classics, and ready to offer the finest in flattering and affordable clothing.
If you’re anything like me, the idea of traditional shopping makes you want to head for the food court rather than the women’s section. Now I can stay home, browse the site , and look better than ever thanks to Le Tote Select. Fall has never been so fabulous.
If you’re intrigued, take the free style quiz and discover how Le Tote Select can amp up your fall style. Don’t fall for imposters, only Le Tote Select has the looks you’ll fall for! Follow this link to sign up with Le Tote Select today!