Real Housewives of Potomac Season 5 Cast Photo Dresses

The Real Housewives of Potomac returns May 3rd August 2nd! I think I speak for us all when I say we can’t wait for season 5’s premiere. The gorgeous ladies all looked absolutely stunning wearing their purple gowns in the cast photo. Actually I recently learned that purple is an aura color meaning “entertainment” and “center of attention” in addition to the traditional associations of the shade with “royalty” “power” and “wealth”. I also associate it with the famous book and film, The Color Purple, which is an important part of Black culture. SO purple being season 5’s color totally makes sense based on all f this.

And hey, if hidden meanings and auras aren’t really you’re thing that’s okay because I know that the RHOP are. And since we are all bored with a housewives hiatus, for now we can keep ourselves busy with some shopping for these glam gowns.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Candiace Dillard’s Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Click Here To Shop Her Micheal Kors Purple Sequin Dress

Photo Credit: @candeegal09

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Karen Huger’s Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Click Here To Shop Her Lilith Off The Shoulder Sequin Gown

Photo Credit: @officialkarenhuger

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Monique Samuels’ Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Click Here To Shop Her Alex Perry Felix Purple Sequin Gown

Photo Credit: @mrsmoniquesamuels

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Robyn Dixon’s Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Click Here To Shop Her Sherri Hill Purple Beaded Gown

Photo Credit: @robyndixon10

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Gizelle Bryant’s Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Click Here To Shop a Similar Purple Sequin Dress

Photo Credit: @gizellebryant

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Ashley Darby’s Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Click Here To See Her Sold Out Badgley Mischka Lilac Off The Shoulder Gown 

Photo Credit: @ashleyboalchdarby

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Wendy Osefo’s Season 5 Cast Photo Dress

Jovani (Not Pictured) //From Deja Vu Boutique

Photo Credit: @wendyosefo

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Originally posted at: Real Housewives of Potomac Season 5 Cast Photo Dresses

Real Housewives Zodiac Sign Fashion

Needless to say here at Big Blonde Hair HQ we’re self-admitted astrology freaks, and the topic has very much been dominating our Slack convos as of late; I mean, there was just a dinner party from hell a few weeks ago on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills where the theme was focused on it (pretty sure we could have told you all of the ladies’ signs and how they influence their personalities before that astrologist lol). Which has gotten us to thinking, how are the style choices of the celebs we cover influenced by their zodiac signs? And do our own personal styles match up with our signs too? Well without further ado, scroll on down below to see what your fashion horoscope has in store for summer with twelve astrology-themed lewks that are totally written in the TV stars.

Fashionably,

Faryn

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Gucci Headband / Uncommon James Earrings / Free People Shorts / Paige Sandals / Lovers + Friends Bodysuit / O.P.I Nail Polish / Gucci Belt Bag / Victoria Beckham Sunglasses

If you’re an Aries like Melissa Gorga you have a fiery personality and style to match. You aren’t afraid to wear super bold, sexy pieces or experiment with new trends, and the colour red is often your best friend.

Other Aries’ We Love: Jennifer Aydin, Margaret Josephs, Shannon Beador, Robyn Dixon & BBH’s Lauren Sebastian 

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Alice + Olivia Dress / Versace Ring / Jimmy Choo Clutch / Rachel Zoe Sandals / Yves Saint Laurent Lipstick / Jenny Bird Necklace / Versace Sunglasses

If you’re a Taurus like Caroline Stanbury you have a taste for the finer things in life and your style reflects that. You are drawn to high-quality, expensive pieces by luxury labels, and are not afraid to stand out with bold designer accessories.

Other Taurus’ We Love: Teresa Giudice, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, Luann de Lesseps, Kandi Burruss, Karen Huger & Gina Kirschenheiter

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Treasure & Bond Tank / Saint Laurent Purse / Bronx and Banco Shorts / TKEES Sandals / Too Faced Foundation / Dior Sunglasses / Iris & Ink Earrings

If you’re a Gemini like Stephanie Hollman you have a dualistic personality when it comes to clothing. You enjoy mixing casual basics with more bold, statement-making pieces and always manage to look very well put together.

Other Gemini’s We Love: Ashley Darby, Chelsea Meissner & Andy Cohen

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Dior Sunglasses / Citizens of Humanity Jeans / Gianvito Rossi Sandals / RtA Tee / Tom Ford Perfume / Gucci Ring / Bottega Veneta Clutch / Anzie Earrings

If you’re a Leo like Tracy Tutor you have impeccable taste and are drawn towards luxurious, timeless pieces. You have a signature style that you know works for you, so you don’t usually care too much about hopping on the bandwagon of new trends.

Other Leo’s We Love: Tinsley Mortimer, Amanda Batula, Lindsay Hubbard, Dayna Kathan & Naomie Olindo

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Valentino Tee / Jacquemus Purse / Commando Shorts / Schutz Sandals / Fenty Lip Gloss / Celine Sunglasses / 8 Other Reasons Hair Pins

If you’re a Cancer like Dorit Kemsley your #OOTD is very much inspired by whatever kind of mood you’re in. You could be channeling Barbie one day and then a beekeeper the next; you always like to keep em’ guessing.

Other Cancer’s We Love: Erika Jayne Girardi, Lisa Rinna, Kary Brittingham, Teddi Mellencamp, Brandi Redmond, Porsha Williams, Ariana Madix, BBH’s Chelsie Shackelford & BBH’s Jessica Knottek

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Leith Dress / DIFF Eyewear Sunglasses / Lovers + Friends Purse / Dolce Vita Wedges / Retrofete Jacket / L’Oreal Paris Mascara / Ettika Necklace

If you’re a Libra like Jackie Goldschneider you gravitate towards cute, feminine pieces and are very fashion-forward. You however don’t like anything too flashy or gaudy, and prefer a more understated, casual-glam look.

Other Libra’s We Love: Kelly Dodd & Monique Samuels

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Cinq à Sept Dress / Thierry Lasry Sunglasses / Prada Purse / Nike Slides / NCLA Hand Sanitizer / Electric Picks Jewelry Bracelet / The M Jewelers NY Earrings / Express Face Mask 

If you’re a Virgo like Leah McSweeney you are all about attention to detail, even with the most casual of outfits. You also probably definitely wouldn’t be caught dead going outside right now without a face mask on.

Other Virgo’s We Love: Lala Kent, Lisa Vanderpump, Gizelle Bryant & Tamra Judge

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Lovewave Top / Lovewave Skirt / Amber Sceats Necklace / Uncommon James Earrings / Carmen Sol Tote / Carmen Sol Wedges / Laneige Lip Balm / Saint Laurent Sunglasses / Eric Javits Hat 

If you’re a Scorpio like Bethenny Frankel you are all about the edgy vibes. Your wardrobe is likely full of studs that you hopefully never stab anyone with and you tend to gravitate towards dark-coloured clothing that gives a hint of sex appeal.

Other Scorpio’s We Love: Ramona Singer, Eva Marcille, Cameran Eubanks & Paige DeSorbo

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Rococo Sand Dress / Gucci Sunglasses / Urban Decay Setting Spray / Ancient Greek Sandals / Amber Sceats Clutch / Jennifer Behr Earrings

If you’re a Sagittarius like Braunwyn Windham-Burke you’re an adventurous free-spirit who likes to go where the wind party takes you. You enjoy wearing unique, one-of-a-kind pieces that blend both comfort and style.

Other Sagittarius’ We Love: Sonja Morgan, Dorinda Medley, Garcelle Beauvais, Nene Leakes & Candiace Dillard

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Zulu & Zephyr Romper / Express Face Mask / The Balm Blush / Saint Laurent Slides / Chanel Purse / Michael Kors Sunglasses / Five and Two Earrings

If you’re a Capricorn like Kyle Richards you gravitate towards simple silhouettes that will keep you comfortable at all times. You enjoy buying investment pieces (such as handbags) that become staple pieces in your wardrobe for years to come.

Other Capricorn’s We Love: Emily Simpson, Kameron Westcott, Dolores Catania, Katie Maloney-Schwartz & Kristin Cavallari

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MadeWorn Tee / Ray-Ban Sunglasses / Huda Beauty Eyeshadow Palette /  BlankNYC Shorts / Raye Sandals / Roxanne Assoulin Bracelets / Lovers + Friends Purse

If you’re an Aquarius like Denise Richards you are a non-conformist with a unique sense of style, and it’s important to you that what you’re wearing remains true to who you are. You like mixing unusual pieces and often enjoy incorporating bold pops of colour into your looks.

Other Aquarius’ We Love: Kenya Moore

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MISA Los Angeles Dress / DANNIJO Earrings / Nordstrom Clutch / Black Suede Studio Sandals / L’Oreal Paris Mascara / Electric Picks Jewelry Bracelet / Chloé Sunglasses

If you’re a Pisces like Cynthia Bailey you have a very romantic, dreamy sense of style and enjoy wearing flowy, feminine silhouettes. As one of the most emotional signs of the zodiac, your mascara is also most likely waterproof.

Other Pisces’ We Love: D’Andra Simmons, Brielle Biermann, Erika Schaefer & BBH’s Faryn Wegler

Photo Credits: @MelissaGorga, @CarolineStanbury, @StephHollman, @TracyTutor, @DoritKemsley, @JackieGoldschneider, @LeahMob, @BethennyFrankel, @BraunwynWindhamBurke, @KyleRichards18, @DeniseRichards, @CynthiaBailey10

Originally posted at: Real Housewives Zodiac Sign Fashion

The best kind of advice comes from someone who knows—better yet, someone who has already been through whatever problem you’re dealing with. That’s where Black skin care experts come in. Black women are looking to find beauty products that actually cater to their spectrum of skin tones and melanin-specific challenges. And if ongoing inclusivity issues within the beauty industry are any indication, Black women are still faced with the challenge of finding products that simply work for them. Thankfully, that demand is being answered—slowly, but surely—by an onslaught of Black-owned businesses created for and by us.

Skin care is an especially important category, given the issues that hit us especially hard, such as discoloration and disorders such as eczema and psoriasis. The gamut of brands out there is pretty wide, but what we love about this carefully curated set of experts is that their unique brands are backed by the kind of expertise we can trust. Shop organic face wash, sunscreen that doesn’t leave behind a gray cast, face oil and masks—and that’s just the beginning. Get to know these experts, ahead.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Image: Plant Apothecary.

Holly McWhorter

McWhorter and her husband, Bjarke Ballisager, are the founders of Plant Apothecary. This Brooklyn-based unisex brand is not only 100 percent USDA Organic–certified, it also gives back to the community by partnering with a nonprofit, BKLYN UNLTD, on production and distribution efforts. Besides the fact that everything is relatively affordable, plant-based products are renowned for their ability to provide relief to problematic skin in a gentle, but effective way.

Image: UnSun.

Katonya Breaux

While most of us don’t learn the importance of sunscreen until we’re well into adulthood, Breaux has been slathering it on since her twenties. Now a mother of two (her oldest son is singer Frank Ocean), the seasoned skin-care pro has parlayed her expertise into a line of tinted sunscreens, formulated specifically for people of color. What separates Unsun Cosmetics from its SPF counterparts is a tint that doesn’t turn gray or milky white after being rubbed into the skin.

Image: Target.

Nyakio Grieco

If you’ve ever purchased a skin saver from Nyakio Beauty, you have its namesake founder to thank. Grieco, a first-generation American of Kenyan descent, based her collection on beauty secrets shared by her grandmother—a coffee farmer—and her grandfather, who was a medicine man. The ingredients within her green line are sourced from all over the world and are helping usher under-represented cultures into the world of prestige beauty.

Image: Lauren Napier.

Lauren Napier

While on a flight from Dubai to New York City, the celebrity makeup artist dreamed up a simple but incredibly useful idea: makeup wipes for women on the go. Today, her mini miracles, made with water, aloe, chamomilla, and cucumber, are textured enough to scrub away dirt and grime but gentle enough to leave skin feeling silky-smooth. Oh, and each packet is made in the good ol’ USA, engineered using solar energies, and the products are free of hazardous microbeads.

Image: Foxie Cosmetics.

Kayla Phillips

This twentysomething Austin, Texas, native created her very own bath and skin-care brand after realizing that there weren’t many safe options out there for vegans like herself who are also a part of the chronic illness community. As of this year, she’s created more than 500 products from home and continues to expand her lineup to meet a growing demand.  “I want to create things that get you feeling yourself effortlessly, by your own terms and standards. Beauty is whatever you want it to be and I don’t serve to make you think it means ONE thing!” she writes on the brand’s official website. We couldn’t agree more.

Image: Mielle Organics.

Monique Rodriguez

A love for beauty and more than nine years of experience as a registered nurse are the foundation of Mielle Organics, an eco-friendly line of hair and skin products started back in 2014. Since its inception, it has grown to become one of the premier hair brands for women of color and now that skin care has been thrown into the mix, men and women are falling in love with her line of face masks and moisturizers, too.

Source: Instagram

Dr. Michelle Henry

Dr. Henry, a black dermatologist who is also trained in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, frequently lends her expertise to big-shot brands like Cerave and Dove, all while catering to her clientele in New York City. Every time we see her name touted in a skin-care advice article, we know we’re in good hands.

Nayamka Roberts-Smith

On YouTube as The Golden Rx, esthetician Roberts-Smith teaches her more than 350k subscribers all about oil cleansing, the worst viral skincare trends and how to treat keratosis pillars. Fans flock to her Twitter, too, hanging on her every word and buying up every product she loves.

You can be happier and healthier as you grow older by embracing positive ageing.

Positive ageing is a practice which encourages maintaining a positive attitude, feeling good about yourself, keeping fit, active and healthy, and engaging fully in life as you grow older.

Maintaining a positive attitude about ageing enables you to take better control of your future and be happy with your current stage in life.

What is Positive Ageing?

Human brains have the amazing ability to rewire. They can be reprogrammed to grow stronger, rather than weaker, as we get older. This concept, which scientists call neuroplasticity, developed when research showed that many aspects of the brain remain changeable even into adulthood.

Can we really reprogram our brains to be happy about ageing? A growing body of research says that we can push back the decline of our cognitive abilities by building our social connections, engaging in physical exercise and making our brains work harder.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has studied positive ageing extensively. They found that the difficulties commonly faced by older Australians (and likely older people in general) include maintaining health and fitness, keeping up with social networks and activities, dealing with feelings of sadness and loss, worry over financial security, decreased mobility and an increasing reliance on others.

Their primary finding? That people who learn to deal with these issues in a positive way live longer and healthier lives, and enjoy a better quality of life as they grow older.

How to Live a Longer, Healthier Life

APS identified eight ways to age positively, including maintaining a positive attitude, staying connected, working to keep your brain active, managing stress, volunteering or seeking part-time employment, engaging in physical activity, having regular medical checkups and eating a healthy diet.

Many of these are issues which I discuss in Retiring Solo, a book which I wrote as I prepared to enter my 60s as a single woman. I was excited about the future and its possibilities, but knew that I needed a plan to ensure my independence in the years ahead. My efforts produced both a book and a plan for positive ageing.

The greatest challenge of growing older is maintaining good health. Our ability to be healthy, get healthy and stay healthy impacts our ability to remain socially, physically and mentally engaged with the world around us. There’s no question about that.

The way that you feel about yourself and ageing, in general, will affect your life view and your desire to engage in social and physical activities. The more control you have, the more likely you are to see ageing in a positive perspective. The more engaged you are, the more likely you are to remain in good mental and physical health.

Exercise Your Mind and Body

Keeping your mind active can be as simple as reading a book, learning a new hobby or doing a puzzle. Dealing with stress can be difficult for all of us. Stress can produce emotional, behavioral and physical symptoms, impair the immune system and diminish the quality of life.

Staying active – through social or physical activities, or by volunteering or working part-time – can help keep day-to-day stress in perspective.

Exercise is a great way to maintain health, fight depression and stress, and reduce the risk of disease. Strength training helps maintain healthy bones and joints, while also improving balance and mobility.

Physical activity can also provide social interaction, particularly if you join an activity program or gym, or link up with groups of other active adults. Eating well and maintaining healthy habits (e.g., exercising, not smoking, keeping alcohol in check) will help ward off illness, improve your energy level and make it easier to carry out your daily routine.

Growing Older is a Gift

There are some real rewards as we grow older. We generally grow more contented with life and our bonds with others become deeper and more satisfying. We look for more meaningful relationships and are less impulsive in creating new contacts.

We place a greater value on time and become better advisors to others. We place greater emphasis on quality, versus quantity, and look for ways to leave a lasting legacy behind.

Living a full and happy life requires planning and a positive, proactive approach that looks for ways to stay active, alert and engaged as we grow older. Positive ageing is a goal and a lifestyle that each of us should work to embrace.

How have you embraced getting older? Do you practice positive ageing? Are there health issues or other challenges that you have had to overcome to remain socially and physically engaged? Do you have a support circle of women who believe in positive ageing? How did you find it? Please share your thoughts and insights below!

I wish someone schooled me on wigs earlier in life because they are truly everything. No, I’m not talking about the cheap ones you get at your local party store every Halloween. I’m not just referring to wigs in and of themselves either. I love everything about wig culture—from the classic Bonner Brother hair shows to the innumerable amount of trusted reviewers on YouTube to the beautiful (and beyond talented) Black people who have made it perhaps the most exciting and enduring sector of the haircare industry. The only thing that would make my love for wigs even bigger is having more Black-owned wig brands to choose from.

The number of products made for and by us is growing by the year and the Black woman’s spending power increases at the same speed, too. And since it’s Juneteenth and I have the day off…my credit card is about to go to work instead. If you’re going to indulge in retail therapy today—or any other day, TBH—add any of these Black-owned wig brands to your list. I see nothing but flawless hair days in your future.

Mayvenn.

Mayvenn

I have two Mayvenn wigs in my possession and can confirm they’re the most realistic-looking units I’ve ever owned.

Heat Free Hair.

Heat Free Hair

Whether you want clip-ins, ready-to-wear ponytails or wigs, this brand has some of the best textured hair options out there.

XOXO Virgin Hair.

XOXO Virgin Hair

In 2014, this brand became the first to exclusively offer Vietnamese hair free of synthetic fillers and chemicals.

Wig Dealer.

Wig Dealer

You’ll need a lot of willpower to avoid buying more than one wig from this wide-ranging selection of textures, colors and wig types.

Toni Daley.

Toni Daley

This underrated site is a must-see for wigs that mimic a fresh blowout and voluminous strands.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.