If you’re heading to Essence Festival from July 4 through July 7 or any mega-tour happening this summer (like Megan Thee Stallion, Jhene Aiko, and Tems, to name a few), remember to bring a clear bag with you. Many stadiums enforce a clear bag policy, so handbags, totes, or carry-alls may not be permitted inside the venue. To help you prepare, we selected clear stadium bags to complement your outfit and streamline security checks.
These cute little bags may be small, but they are perfect for keeping your must-haves like keys, wallet, phone, and charger safe and sound. It’s important to note that not all venues have the same policy regarding clear stadium bags. So, before you buy one, ensure it meets the venue’s size guidelines.
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WATCH: Shop this Black Owned Luxury Leather Handbag Brand
Alexandria started her passion for fashion at age ten, when she persuaded her mother to let her be an assistant at her Fashion Design Studio everyday after school. At that young age she learned a lot about design and running a fashion business. At the age of thirteen her family moved from Nigeria to Atlanta, Georgia and she started her modeling career. She modeled for major companies throughout the South.
As her modeling career advanced she fell in love with the beauty and glamour of the industry, But soon she realized that most women including her could not afford the luxurious accessories and clothing that she modeled in magazines and on the runway.
She also realized that there was a void in the Market for black-owned luxury handbag brands that were household name brands. She decided she would change the narrative by putting her educational background with her years of experience in the fashion industry and create an affordable luxury brand.
With the support her husband Alfred Alli, and two amazing kids F&W Style was born. F&W Style handbags are in over 1000 boutiques and Retail stores including Nordstrom, Tjmaxx, and Marshall’s. F&W Style has also been featured in several publications including Oprah Daily, Vogue, Essence, Black Enterprise. And worn by celebrities like Gabrielle Union, Tiffany Haddish and more.
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If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
