Always

Sale PSA: A satin midi slipdress from Vince, now 60% off, a pretty wrap dress from Reformation, now 30% off, and linen/cotton relaxed shorts from Uniqlo, now just $15.

I’m a minority and have experienced racism but have never walked down the street in fear I might be shot, nor have I worried that as my children grow I might have to teach them how to appear less of themselves, to protect their existence. Black lives matter and this shouldn’t be a mantra we repeat only when such lives are directly threatened but it should be kept in our hearts, always, as citizens in our countries and humans in this world. As people who benefit from black contributions and labor in all areas of our lives but even if we didn’t it shouldn’t matter. Because don’t we all deserve dignity and safety?

I struggle to write because I am a private person about my actual feelings, and many of the topics I feel strongly about. There’s a reason why I mostly blather about fashion. Like all of you, there are struggles in my life, pain, and causes I believe and support. Though in private. I try my best and don’t want to be a hypocrite but I’m sure I am. But I’ll keep moving and trying.

We can offer support with our actions, our platforms, and our voices and wallets. So today, nothing about me, (well a little) – but today’s post is dedicated to black owned businesses. Some of my favorites:

Semicolon Books: Chicago’s only black woman owned bookstore (And gallery!). If you go to the site I linked, I believe the books on their “shelves” are the ones actually in their store inventory which they earn a higher commission on – the beauty of the Bookshop.org site however is you can order almost any book out there, and Semicolon will at least get a percentage. For example, one of the orders I placed was for a set of Bob Books for a homeschooling friend (I didn’t link directly because it seems to take away the store link – just go to the Semicolon link I shared above and then search from within the shop). Semicolon has already discounted all the stock 10% AND for California at least, when I placed my order I didn’t get charged tax (they charge $4.50 for shipping). Which brings the price in line or cheaper than Amazon. Seriously, why not?

Blk & Bold Tea: Tea and coffee, who doesn’t need these at least one of these? Also you can order direct from Amazon, and Target. I actually am not a normal coffee drinker but ordered the Limu Single Origin to keep on hand and to gift.

Pottery by Osa: Okay this shop I haven’t ordered anything from yet. But only because everything is sold out right now (which is awesome)! Osa’s shop has been on my Etsy favorites list and has some of the most beautiful pottery/ceramics.

PS, another great ceramics line with a different aesthetic – Not Work Related.

Mented Cosmetics: Yes…we are not really using makeup right now. But we’re using some (maybe?) a little, right? One of the few items I’m still using are eyebrow pencils so I’m trying out their pencil in the “Brow You Know” – intrigued by the waterproof claim and it is half the price of my usual Hourglass favorite!

Black owned businesses in the SF Bay Area (was excited to find some new restaurants and got takeout!), New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and I’ll update with more as I come across.

If you have a favorite black owned business, also please share! I’d love for this to be a living resource.