Check out our latest fashion editorial with some of the greatest personalities out of DC. The holiday is one of the best seasons for fashion, so naturally we had to showcase some of our favorite looks for a fun fashion editorial with some of our favorite things. Take a look after the jump!
The snowflake that Stays On My Nose and Eyelashes
Photo: Norman E. Jones @normanejones
MakeUp: Lauretta J. McCoy @beautycomestoearth
Model: Dupe @thedupester The Artist Agency
Wardrobe: William H. Rawls @Wardrobewillbblessed
Silver White Winters That Melt into Spring
Photo: Don Harris @don_Harris202
Prop Styling: Desdesiigning Life’s Moments @designinglifesmoments_
MakeUp: Janelle Z Beauty @Janellaz.beauty
Hair: Jessica Ferguson @jessfergusonhair
Wardrobe: William H. Rawls @wardrobewillbblessed
Featuring: Dani Sauter @Blonde_inthedistrict
Dani Sauter: OK so when I was a kid, and it still is, “The Sound of Music” is one of my favorite movies. “My Favorite Things” means so much to me because my mom used to sing it to me when I wasn’t feeling good or whatever. She would sing it to me to cheer me up. My mom passed away many years ago. The song means a lot to me. So the concept is very emotional for me in a good way.
The Knockturnal: I’m glad we get to do this. I remember my mom playing The Supremes version. Dani, Please tell me about your style-setter award? The article was great.
Dani Sauter: The Washingtonian. So when I actually first started,…. this is funny. I started six years ago, October, 6 years ago right when I started. The Washingtonian, I saw, put out a style-setters feature. It was profiling some of DC‘s most fashionable. I remember looking at that and I was like, I want to do that. I want to be in that one day, so last year it literally came together. The Washingtonian reached out to me and asked me to be in their 2019 and I was like Lord I was literally floored. I was so excited about it. I loved it, also that they didn’t make it about like size. They just said you are a stylish person and that’s something that I love. It was a goal of mine and it is one of the things I have been most excited about in my blogging career.
The Knockturnal: I’m sure you’re happy with the diversity we are seeing now. What are your thoughts on the shift?
Dani Sauter: Yes I am, I think it’s great. I think that you, know one, of the reasons I actually started as a blogger relying more on visual and editorial was because growing up, I always loved to see editorial photos but I never saw somebody that looks like me. From a size perspective I’m not 5 foot 11. I think that it’s important to encompass the real person and the real person comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors. I think that’s what really brings style together. We’re all the ones who are wearing clothing anyways so I think that diversity needs to be and should continue. We’re like here right now, and we need to get it up here. We really need to push that boundary and have all people represented in editorials.
The Knocktuanl: Thank you for sharing that about your mom and in honor of our theme. What are your Fave of the holidays?
Dani Sauter: Well I just ordered a hot pink Christmas tree and that’s gonna be probably number one. Number two, the food that goes with holidays definitely. Three just the energy, the happiness, and joy that people express for each other. I’ll say for the fun like sparkly style I am all in for the holidays and New Year’s, I love all the sparkle and sequins. Then five favorite seeing animals in like Halloween and in costumes, like you know how to put them in like Santa costumes are like little elves I love seeing animals dressed up as you know. Yes, I love cats I love all animals.
Girls in White Dresses, with Blue Satin Sashes
Photo: Don Harris, @don_Harris202
Prop: Designing Life’s Moments @Designinglifesmoments
Wardrobe & Article: William Henry Rawls @wardrobewillbblessed
MakeUp: Erica Moore, @Beatlife.beauty
Hair: Jessica Ferguson, @jessfergusonhair
Featuring: Nekol, @inekol & Nailah, @theNailahshow
The Knockturnal: So when we met, you were the model, and clearly your so much more, please reintroduce yourself.
Nekol: My name is Nekol but many people know me as Koko from my modeling days. I am an artist, entrepreneur, and most importantly a mom!
The Knockturnal: Now please tell me about this brand?
Nekol: My current focus aside from painting is my active-wear brand Glamourina. This is a bold, culturally inspired active-wear brand that I co-founded to motivate and encourage women of color to live healthy, active lifestyles.
The Knockturnal: What is the greatest similarity & the greatest difference in the art & the brand?
Nekol: The greatest similarity with my art and active-wear brand is that I get to play with bold colors which I love so much. The greatest difference is that the brand encompasses so many intricacies from a business standpoint while I get to be selective and more creative with my art business.
The Knockturnal: In reference to the theme of our shoot, what are your fave 5 for the holidays?
Nekol: First off, I love the holidays. It makes me so happy and so grateful to share this shoot with my daughter. My favorite 5 things about the holidays is Christmas music, family time, snow, decorating the Christmas tree, and wrapping presents.
When the Bee Stings
Photo: Norman E.Jones, @normanejones
Necklace: Zenobia by Janelle, @zenobiabyJanelle
MakeUp: Janelle Z Beauty, @janellez.beaty
Hair: Jessica Ferguson, @jessfergusonhair
Featuring: DJ Cyd @djcydofficial
The Knockturnal: DJ Cyd, tell me about Cyndi and her electric dream?
DJ Cyd: Cyndi is truly soft at heart but life has taught her to harden up through difficult times. Her electric dreams would be to live in a world where she could completely show her truest self without being let down by the disappointments of the outside world. Cyndi wants to see a world where all people could be their truest and most vulnerable selves.
The Knockturnal: There is a quote from a page of yours that says ” Create your destiny: Learn characters from trees, values from roots & change from leaves” I’m borrowing it. What does this mean to you?
DJ Cyd: I love watching the seasons change and there is so much to learn from it if you are watching the birth, death, and rebirth of trees. Our character is the core of who we are and we should always remember to stay true to that. Our values should always keep us rooted or grounded so we never forget as to why we do the things we do. Leaves change with the seasons and as time changes that we should embrace change and as time-lapse we become wiser with time.
The Knockturnal: In keeping with the theme of our shoot & what you do. Give me your fave 5-holiday songs
DJ Cyd: My favorite 5-holiday songs are
- Mariah Carey- All I Want for Christmas
- Jackson 5- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Boyz II Men- Let it snow
- Whitney Houston- Who Would Imagine A King
- Stevie Wonder- What Christmas Means to Me
When I’m Feeling Sad
Photo: Shohn Page @thefocuslens
Article: William Henry Rawls @Wardrobewillbblessed
Prop: Designing Life’s Moments, @designinglifesmoments_
Featuring: Rahmein @Rahmein88
The Knockturnal: Congrats on your 10 year anniversary doing stand up, have you always wanted to be a comedian?
Rahmein: Thanks! No, it just kinda happened to me and sometimes it still feels weird to think I’m doing it. But, when the people come to support and laugh like they do, it’s amazing.
The Knockturnal: During these last couple of months when nothing seems to be funny, how are you finding material?
Rahmein: Who says I’m finding material?
The Knockturnal: Well, If you’re not looking for materials where does the funny come from?
Rahmein: It’s a hard time to be funny. I rely on old jokes and just talking to the crowd. We all want to laugh and feel connected.
The Knockturnal: The holiday season being all about family. Is there a favorite family funny movie? What is it & why?
Rahmein: Then what’s your favorite holiday funny Movie?
The Knockturnal: A Christmas Story
Rahmein: I sway between sentimental and funny. So it’s a tie between It’s a Wonderful Life and National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
When the Dog Bites
Photo: Dyrec @iamdyrec
Shohn Page @thefocuslens
Featuring: Baki @baki_the_bully & Dyrec @iamdyrec
The Knockturnal: Being in the business, what can you tell me about Baki, do you think he’s a star? Are you biased?
Dyrec: As a Director, I definitely think Baki has star potential. He is a very well mannered American Bully. I started training him as soon as I got him between 7-8 months. Receptiveness of different instruction for the months to follow definitely helped him grow into the great dog that he’s become. Definitely has star potential and I’m not biased at all.
The Knockturnal: Great job on Blade Existence. How was it working on that?
Dyrec: Blade EXISTENCE was a film that I had planned for 2 years prior to actually going into production. From writing the script, designing the costumes, saving money for props to Directing and acting in the project it was exciting to see it all start to come together in the end. With my fam over at Kelektiv Media Group, we ended up going to New York, debuted the project in Time Square at AMC theaters, and blew the audience away with what they saw. We also won an award for the film. It’s been a while since we’ve seen anything from Marvel about the character Blade, so it was definitely a sight for sore eyes to see this iconic character back on the big screen again.
The Knockturanl: We will be seeing a Baki and Dyrec collaboration in the near future?
Dyrec: A Baki and DyRec collaboration could definitely happen in the near future. I’ve been having some ideas of him being in a couple of new projects I’m working on in 2021. Hopefully, Baki can get me in some of his projects if Knockturnal magazine decides to do anything else with him.
The Knockturnal: How can we keep up with everything Baki?
Dyrec: You can keep up with everything Baki by following him on Instagram @baki_the_bully