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Wardrobe Essentials For The Aspiring Dapper Gent
Chiwionne Mason, the owner and visionary behind Modish Vine, provided a ton of gems throughout the course of our interview. Today we are sharing his take on wardrobe essentials for young professionals and seasoned gentlemen looking to upgrade their image. These basics can easily take you from the boardroom, to happy hour and church on Sunday morning. Wardrobe Essentials for the Aspiring Dapper Gent: 3 suits: Black, Gray & Navy Blue 3 Plain White Shirts w/ Varied Collars A Patterned Shirt (window pane or gingham pattern) A Light Blue Shirt A Striped Shirt A Contrasting Shirt (Ex:black, gray or blue shirt with a white collar) A Plain Black Satin Self-Tie…
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Modish Vine: The Style Blueprint
Frequently we hear about the absence of fathers and male figures in the lives of men which is often the catalyst for who they become. For Raleigh native, Chiwionne Mason, owner/visionary behind Modish Vine, it was the presence of strong male figures that set him on a road to becoming a man and ultimately an entrepreneur. Mason was fortunate to have two male influences, his great-grandfather “Pop Pop” and father, shape and mold him into manhood. In additions to their influence, Mason was also a member of the ROTC at his alma mater, Broughton High School. As such, upon graduation Mason embarked on a career in the United States Marine…
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gold élan llc: Home Decor with Panache
Born in Jacksonville but raised in Washington, NC; Meyetta ”Meme” Grimes, owner of gold élan llc, always had an admiration for home decor and design. “Washington is a very historic town and we always lived in these huge houses that were five or six bedrooms that had a lot of character to them. A lot of times I would just sit there and draw the fireplaces” she recalls. As a teen, she’d spend her spare time sketching architecture, designing wedding dresses and developing as an athlete. Ultimately, it was athletics that earned the track and field star a scholarship to Appalachian State University where she studied Sociology. Shortly after college,…
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Shenette Swann: Constantly Evolving
There are no boxes or labels vast enough to describe the constantly evolving talent that is Shenette Swann. A classically trained vocalist, percussionist, dancer, author and motivational speaker, Swanns’ gifts came naturally and were nurtured by parents who are both artists in their own right. Her mother a professional singer with a band as a teenager, her father a drummer and her aunt a professional opera singer; music was a living and breathing member of the household. Born in NC to a military family, Swann lived in multiple states throughout the U.S. Her exposure to various cultures was instrumental in shaping not only her world view but her musical palate.…
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Moni B Cosmetics: A Kiss of Confidence
Born in Harlem but raised in the Bronx, NY native Moni “Moni B” Brodie has been enhancing the confidence of women with the stroke of her brush for over two decades. A makeup artist since the age of 19, Moni B has turned her passion into a lucrative business called Moni B. Cosmetics, LLC which launched in 2014. The beauty maven has used her platform to create numerous opportunities to further the reach of her brand including motivational speaking, most recently adding talk show host and producer to her long list of credits. She’s managed to accomplish all of this while balancing her most important role as a single mother…
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Andrea Sheree Benjamin: Elegance & Design in Harmony
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 That’s the scripture that kept playing in my head during my interview with Andrea Sheree Benjamin, owner of Elegant Harmony. Not because she mentioned it but because that’s the confidence and conviction that she exudes when it comes to her faith and her business. Born and raised in Raleigh, NC, Benjamin received her degree in Business with a concentration in Spanish from North Carolina Central University but it was her experience as an event coordinator for Adventure Landing that helped her to discover her passion for event planning and design. Benjamin’s love of all things shiny and full…
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Chakara Conyers: Epitome of a Hustler
Mom, community activist, author, social media/marketing specialist and business owner are just a few of the titles that Chakara Conyers holds. Methodically building her brand by finding voids and fulfilling needs; she is successfully running multiple businesses simultaneously. Growing up in the Southside of Raleigh, Conyers’ didn’t live a life of luxury but it was filled with a strong sense of family and community. Today, Conyers is building a brand that’s deeply rooted in those same values. “I love writing. I love creating. I love marketing.” beams Conyers. She has managed to put each one of those talents to work, first as an author of two books, Hard Dreams and…
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Chronicles Photography: Everybody Needs Picture
When you first meet the naturally beautiful Dawn Michelle Downey you’d probably expect her to be in front of a camera, instead she’s behind it. Born and bred in Brooklyn, Downey was given her first camera by her grandmother around the age of 7 and ever since that day she was always, “the girl with the camera” recalls Downey. As the owner/visionary behind Chronicles Photography, Downey uses her innate creativity to capture the moments that last a lifetime for her clients. Despite being the resident photographer among friends, it wasn’t until getting married and moving to North Carolina approximately 5 years ago as Downey recounts that “a close friend put…
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JQ Sports PR: Growing Brands One Client at a Time
Jaquese “JQ” Smith knows her way around 94 feet of hardwood. She’s played at the collegiate level, coached and is currently 1 of 3 hosts on DNA sports talk radio. All of that aside, JQ’s passion lies in her ability to “Groom athletes for success” which was the goal she had in mind when she formed JQ Sports PR. With two high school athletes and her first professional client, JQ is well on her way to establishing her brand within the PR community. JQ Sports PR offers two levels of service. For student athletes, services such as SAT prep and guidance, community outreach, media coaching, recruiting exposure, academic/social media monitoring…
