October Vibes: Black History Month Celebrations, Fashion Updates, and Beauty Must-Haves and More 👗🤾🏾♀️📚

Hey FROW fam, we’re totally loving the October vibes! Are you? With our Fall wardrobe ready to slay, we’re in for a solid month of cool times and good vibes 🥰This month is Black History Month and FROW is proud to celebrate the Black community and its amazing endeavours. Our founder Leanna was so thrilled to be part of the UK Black Business show in London last Saturday, which was filled with inspiring Black entrepreneurs who are leading their industries. Along with great panel conversations and workshops. Our editor was even got to get a pic with the one and only Steven Bartlett. You won't want to miss next year!

If you’re a bookworm, you’re going to love the Black British Book Festival 📚 which is happening in London later this month. Keep scrolling to find out which celeb is going to be there! 

Speaking of empowering, Good American is back again continuing their journey championing change in the fashion industry - it's calling all aspiring models for its open casting. Yes to diversity, yes to inclusivity, yes to the #GoodSquad. Tell us, are you going to give it a shot?

Big Brother is back and even if you haven’t watched it, you’ve definitely heard all the drama.  The controversy started when housemate Olivia was trying to teach the housemates a highland song, but the housemates were struggling to understand her and she made a comment about Yinrun, who is originally from China which has cause a racism row. Viewers were enraged and took to Twitter X rooting for Olivia to get kicked out. Tell us what you thought about it.

On the other hand, Marina Rinaldi teams up with Mary Katrantzou. PUMA collaborates with Modibodi to give us something that doesn’t hold back any movement  and Lady Gaga’s Haus Labs just launched their debut eyeshadow palettes, so before we give away too much, why don’t you sit back and keep scrolling? 

The fabulous fur-no-fur collar is back with Marina Rinaldi 

Now who doesn’t love an ombre effect? Greek designer Mary Katrantzou launched her very first capsule collection with Marina Rinaldi this month, delving into her past pieces to showcase a series of majestic garments. Creating hypnotic prints to marble textures, Mary’s inspiration was led by ancient books and library designs blended of course with the brand's aesthetic. How fabulous! The pieces consist of sophisticated dresses designed in various motifs with a lurex or pleated thread. Along with stylish tailored outerwear such as her show-stopping interweaved ombre coat - did I mention has a detachable fur-no-fur collar! The Marina Rinaldi collection by Mary’s Katrantzou is available online with prices starting from £160.

Get Parisian chic with Lanvin 🩰

Lanvin are tiptoeing through with their newly launched ‘LANVIN Ballerinas’ collection! One of their iconic house archives rises again with their classic, ballerina shoe. Lanvin designed a staple, winter wardrobe piece that reflects style, functionality and comfort whilst bringing us the upmost elegance. So who says dancing shoes are only for dancing? With heightened proportions, the renewed 2000’s ‘Ballerina Flat’ comes in a bold palette of colours made from either polished patent or metallic leather. The collection is available online priced at £550.

Denim Tears showcases the history of African Diaspora 

 Dr. Martens and Denim Tears team up to release a collection based on the legacy of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Both brands joined forces to drive a collection with creative director, Tremaine Emory's, that presents the history of the African diaspora through clothing to educate and glorify its lasting effects. We love this Dr. Martens!🤲🏾  The message highlights the HMT Windrush revolution that rebuilt this nation whilst migrants who settled faced racism and unimaginable hostility. Emory’s goal was to promote inclusivity and identity, which we stand with! The collection represents an infusion of Caribbean culture through Britain’s Union Jack logo, transformed by the bright Jamaican flag palette. This iconic print is designed across the 1460 boot and the penton loafer shoe in eccentric black and bold red. Dr Martens X Denim Tears collection will be available from the 17th of October online.

And that's a wrap for Ivy Park and adidas 😭

Ivy Park and adidas release their final drop, ‘IVY PARK NOIR’. Bringing you another capsule wardrobe, a collection defining elevated monochrome with innovative materials to channel true functionality. Combining athletics with a trend-defying vision, the all black capsule focuses on fit, texture and not forgetting style! Catering to everyday pursuit’s through tight to loose fitting pieces, such as their multifunctional jackets, signature stand-out jersey’s, body-con latex cropped tops, and pants in an inclusive sizing range of XXS-3XL. Not only offering clothing but trainers too! To continue its vision of function they designed sleek, original footwear with an architectural touch for the collection. You can find the collection in selected adidas stores and online with prices starting from £25.

We’re in awe over Puma and Modibodi’s new period underwear 🩲

Ladies, no need to worry when it’s that time of the month! Puma collaborated with apparel brand Modibodi on creating period underwear made for movement. Specializing in leak-proof technology, Modibodi allows women to be active with confidence during their cycle. What more could we want?👌 Each piece is designed with three layers of recycled materials and soft-breathable fabrics for stretch whilst holding up to 15 ml (which covers moderate to heavy flow days) without any stains! It doesn’t end there, they all have a barrier layer for secure protection along with sealing away any fluid or odour. This fantastic underwear comes in three, fresh-coloured patterns to go easily under your outfit plus designs from boy shorts to hi-cut full briefs. If you’re new to period underwear, they have short photo-instructions on how to care for them. You can find the collaboration in selected stores, and online on Modibodi and Puma with prices starting at £16.90.

Your brand new handbag awaits you in Paris 👜

In need of a new clutch? Well, IKKS Paris have launched their iconic, new ‘The 1’ Handbag. A prized piece to elevate your Autumn wardrobe as an easy-to-wear bag. The brand wants to embody the motto of less is more through 3 trilogy designs that features their famed chevron clasp: timeless, rock and glitter, plus a limited edition😉. Worn either crossbody or over the shoulder, ‘The 1’ handbag is made from lambskin leather and designed with quilted texture, trapeze shaping and adjusted with an XXL chain strap to wear at whichever length you’d like! This statement collection also comes with a range of 3 smaller pieces: clutch bag, the purse and the card holder. The new collection is available instore and online with prices ranging from £72-£425.

FRAME welcome’s Gisele! 🥳

Alongside the launch of FRAME’s A/W 2023 collection, the gorgeous Gisele Bundchen was announced as their new brand face! FRAME enters its second decade, by stepping into a fresh era with a new narrative. The campaign inhabits a new FRAME woman crafted through the 3 inspirations of the high-fashion side of LA, the laid-back lifestyle of California, and lastly, starring Gisele for the DENIM ICONS campaign. How exciting! Co-founder, Erik Torstensson, wanted an aspirational female whilst creating an authentic community for FRAME and long-term friend Gisele fit the role. Her lifestyle aligned perfectly with the collection’s vision of seasons changing and its comparison to ever-evolving lifestyle choices. Elevate your wardrobe with the new collection, which can be found in store and online - with prices starting from £280.

Add That Oomph To Your Skin With Trinny London 

Ever gone for a microneedling session? Your dermatologist will back us up, that this tiny device does wonders for your skin. And now, you can even do this in the comfort of your own home or even on the go! Trinny London has just launched their Plump Up Microneedle (£44), and we’re ready to tap on that ‘add to cart’ button🖱️. This microneedle consists of 540 stainless steel, 0.5 mm needles. These tiny heroes create tiny microchannels on your skin’s surface to boost your skin’s natural healing process. This tool is all the hype because it not only helps active ingredients get absorbed faster into your skin, but it also pumps up your collagen and elastin so you’re left with healthier, plump skin. Every microneedle comes with a sachet of Plump Up Peptide + HA Serum too, so let your skin soak that goodness after its microneedle- workout. Plus, you get a protective cap and a cleaning spray so that the whole process is safe and sterile. The head of the microneedle is replaceable, change it when you feel the need (which according to the brand is after every 24 uses). Hey, we forgot to mention that the Plump Up Microneedle is clinically proven to visibly reduce fine lines, pores and wrinkles within a month, so who wants to test it out👐? 

We’re Going Gaga Over Haus Labs’ First Ever Eyeshadow Palletes 🎉 🎉 

Haus Labs has just released there first ever eye shadow palettes named Eye Library . The limited-edition, clean and highly pigmented palettes have left no crumbs -with plush matte, chrome shimmer and bio-glitter shades, the bold and neutral colours are meant to be true to palette colour on any skin. The Super Neutrals Vol. 001 + Vol. 002 (£46 each) offer curated 6-way combos for any kind of look– from a diva’s day out to a relaxing picnic date. Not only are the colours max-intense but they are also formulated with HausTech Powered innovation. They include plant squalene, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E which makes them super nourishing and comfortable on your skin. We’re trying to keep it together till next week (October 20th) when these beauties launch exclusively online and in-store at Sephora. Ladies, our calendars are marked, is yours?

The Body Shop Has Set The Bar Up High 🫧

We're talking about The Body Shop's first-ever shampoo bars, and in their traditional way, they are of course good for your body and good for the planet🌍. Formulated with an amazing moisture-lock complex, your hair can enjoy one bar for up to 50 washes. Don’t worry, these bars are sulphate-free yet highly foaming, and leave your hair feeling soft and nourished. The bars come in 3 different formulas suited for your hair needs: Shea (moisture-restore), Ginger (anti-dandruff) and Banana (nourishing and anti-frizz). They are totally plastic-free, vegan, ergonomically designed and are also travel-friendly. No more shampoo pool in your luggage! The shampoo bars are priced at £10 for 60g, so if you're ready to restock your supplies check them out in store or online. 

Tik-Tok Made Us Buy It: Hair Syrup Edition 🚿

It’s the same old story, isn’t it? But this time, we’re talking about the viral brand, Hair Syrup, a vegan British hair treatment brand with promising results. Any haircare fan knows that pre-poo is just as important as any other step in your washday, and now you can step up your game before you hit the shower. Hair Syrup has now launched some limited edition syrups, which include the TikTok-viral hair growth formula, rosemary-infused Grows-Mary (£15.50) and OG hair saviour The Original (£14.50). Hair Syrup is already making some noise with their Hair Syrup Scalp Superfoods (£14.50) which is a multitasking hair treatment that uses 12 superfood ingredients to give you a healthier scalp and softer hair. If you’re looking for some soul-nourishing aromatherapy, then check out their newly launched Hair Syrup Zen (£14.50). Packed with the goodness of lavender, oat and hemp, get ready for some soul-soothing as well as a scalp-soothing shower. Well, we’ve rambled on enough. Just massage any of these hair treatments on your scalp from dry hair, then rinse and carry on with your regular wash routine. Check out the limited edition Hair Syrup products or their other products online to see what your hair fancies!

Add Life To Tired Undereyes With This Natural Firming Eye Serum 😍

Our undereyes are the first to give away our darkest secrets: dark circles from sleepless nights, wrinkles or puffiness due to stress. Now Green People has just reformulated its Firming Eye Serum to make it 94% natural with organically farmed ingredients, making it even more effective🤩. Gentle and soothing on the skin, this delicate serum fights issues like crow’s feet and laughter lines by toning and hydrating the skin with its star ingredient, Bacillus Ferment. It supports skin regeneration and reduces water loss to give you firm and radiant skin. Other ingredients include Inulin Prebiotics to keep the skin healthy, Perilla Oil which is rich in nourishing Omega-3 fatty acids and lastly Marshmallow which soothes the skin and maintains hydration levels. This vegan and cruelty-free serum also comes in a recyclable tube. Priced at £18 for 10ml.

Find What’s Beyond Beauty with Afua Hirsch’s New Book, Decolonising My Body. 📖

Afua Hirsch, journalist and author of Brit(ish), is about to launch her new book ‘Decolonising My Body’. The book explores the concept of beauty, both in ancient culture and today’s modern era, and how beauty is linked with politics, identity and more. The standards of beauty have certainly evolved through the ages and Hirsch’s book explores how minority groups can reclaim their space and cultural roots in these tricky times. There an event with Afua  taking place next Tuesday, October 17th at EartH Theatre, London. She will share her journey to the new book and take us on a trip around the world’s beauty practices and you can join in on this enlightening evening, Tickets are available here. The event will be followed by a book signing so do check it out. Her book launches on the 19th of October, priced at £20 for the hardback copy.

Celebrate Literary Greatness With The Black British Book Festival📚

Calling all literature enthusiasts📣 This Black History Month, the Black British Book Festival is back loud and proud to celebrate Black authors and their works. This year, the events will take place on the weekend of 27th and 28th of October in the Southbank Centre, London, and it will showcase some of the finest Black British Authors from across the UK. Influential Black people with something to say like: Candice Brathwaite (author, journalist, presenter), Kehinde Andrews (Professor), Derek Owusu (poet, writer, podcaster), Fats Timbo (TikToker and podcaster) and many more! This is also an amazing opportunity for aspirants and emerging talents to meet and be inspired by the greats. Kicking things off is renowned singer-songwriter, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, who will launch her much-anticipated book ‘Believe’ on the evening of the 27th. All the events are filled with a diverse lineup of talented authors, engaging discussions, and workshops, so get ready for a vibrant and unforgettable experience. All the information you need can be found on the Black British Book Festival website, book your tickets before they sell out! 

Fancy A Cute Bowl From Jimbobart? 🥣

Yep, for the first time ever, Jimbobart and its cute animal kingdom are serving us up with the cutest bowl designs for their AW23 collection, along with a range of side plates and mugs. The company is the brainchild of Brighton illustrator James Ward, and all printing and production is UK-based. Thank you James for sharing furry characters with the world! The adora-bowls feature a superhero guinea pig “cereal defender” so you know your cereal is always safe, except for the “cereal destroyer” racoon, who sits at the bottom of another bowl. For the side plates, Jimbobart introduces a pigeon and a seal to the collection - you better get yourself the “pastry pecking pigeon” plate before we all go pecking for it! Four new mug designs stay evenly divided between coffee and tea, just like we are. The whole collection is up for grabs online, the bowls and side plates are priced at £22.50 each, while the mugs are priced at £19. There’s something for everyone and the big C(hristmas) is around the corner, gift ideas aye!😉

Missed last week’s FROW News? Don’t worry, click below to catch up 👇🏾