(NEW YORK, NY) September 12, 2016 — In honor of New York Fashion Week, nearly 10,000 fans joined Time Inc.’s Essence for its record-breaking third annual Street Style Block Party, which took place in Brooklyn on Saturday, September 10. The event’s official hashtag (#EssenceStyle) was trending on Twitter throughout the day, with thousands of posts from around the world celebrating real women with great style.

The Essence Street Style Block Party was a day-long extravaganza fusing music, fashion, art, shopping and food and featuring a surprise appearance by actress Zendaya Coleman, a Street Style fashion show co-hosted by actress Naturi Naughton and an incredible performance by R&B singer Ayo Jay. In addition, the event featured local vendors and designers via the Street Style Shops; Essence Eats, a curated local food truck experience; an engaging Kids Zone; and a first-time, interactive Twitter Mirror booth.

The 2016 Essence Street Style Awards, which were given during a private dinner in prior years, were incorporated into this year’s programming, honoring the year’s standout fashion influencers: singer Kelly Rowland (“Closet Crush”); celebrity stylist Law Roach (“Style Disruptor”); dancer/actress Khadija Shari (“Curator of Cool”); fashion blogger Blake Von D (“Chevy Street Style Maven”); and designer Romeo Hunte (“Designer to Watch”). Previous Essence Street Style Award recipients include Ciara, Gabrielle Union, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jason Rembert, Charles Elliott Harbison and June Ambrose, to name a few.

“In recognizing this year’s trendsetting Street Style Award honorees—Kelly Rowland, Law Roach, Khadija Shari, Blake Von D, and Romeo Hunte—we celebrate the power of diversity and self-expression during New York Fashion Week,” said Essence Editor-in-Chief Vanessa K. De Luca. “Our Street Style Block Party clearly resonates with women as an opportunity to express our unique style and beauty and to see this uniqueness celebrated and brought to life.”

For more information, visit Essence.com/Streetstyle. Follow @essence on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and join the excitement by using #EssenceStyle to see and share Essence Street Style Block Party looks and photos.

Partners for the Essence Street Style Block Party included Chevrolet, SheaMoisture and Coca-Cola.

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About Essence Communications Inc. 
Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the number one media company dedicated to African-American women, with a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events and online. The company’s flagship publication, Essence, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women, generating brand extensions such as the Essence Festival, Essence Black Women in Hollywood and Black Women in Music, Window on Our Women and Smart Beauty consumer insights series, Essence.com and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 46 years, Essence, which has a brand reach of 14.2 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information and specific solutions relating to every area of African-American women’s lives. Additional information about ECI and Essence is available at www.essence.com. 

 

About Time Inc. 
Time Inc. (NYSE:TIME) is one of the world's leading media companies, with a monthly global print audience of over 120 million and worldwide digital properties that attract more than 150 million visitors each month, including over 60 websites. Our influential brands include People, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Time, Real Simple and Southern Living, as well as more than 50 diverse titles in the United Kingdom. 

 

CONTACT: 
Dana Baxter 
212-522-1634 
dana_baxter@timeinc.com 

Sheila Harris 
212-522-1089 
sheila.harris@timeinc.com