Puzzle of Color Q&A

Brother and sister, William and Ericka are the brains behind Puzzle of Color. Puzzle of Color is a lovely business that support and highlight the work of amazing artists of colors, that make puzzles so beautiful that they are worth framing.

1.Prior to Puzzle of Color, you have been doing puzzles. What were your favourite Jigsaw Puzzles?

Ericka - My favorite was the puzzle that started it all! The first puzzle that I remember doing was a 300 piece puzzle of a family celebrating Kwanzaa. We did that puzzle every year for a few years before moving on to more complex puzzles.

William - I like the Starry Night photomosaic puzzle. We avoided it for years because it looked so hard. So, when we finally did it, it was a huge accomplishment.

 

2.When and where did you start Puzzle of Color?

Ericka - I came up with the idea a year ago when I was pregnant with my daughter and looking for a puzzle to model my nursery around. I did not find anything that I liked, but William has an artist friend (Kwanzaa Edwards) that our family loves and thought it would be so cool if one of her pieces was a puzzle. So, one day after church, I mentioned the idea to William and we got to work planning how we could make it a business and showcase other artists of color.

 

3.What are some of the educational benefits of Puzzle of Color? 

Puzzles have good mental benefits. They help with spatial reasoning, problem solving, and help to fire off the neurons in your brain, so it keeps you sharp. One of the big reasons that we started doing puzzles in the first place is that our mom wanted to keep our minds engaged during the winter and summer breaks from school.

4.What is it like going into business with your sibling?

William - It's been great. I have created several businesses over the years because entrepreneurship is a passion of mine, but Ericka has helped me to get out of the idea phase and set deadlines so that we can move forward and get the products out there. We have also had our share of bumps along the way, so it's been good to have someone that knows you really well to get through it and bounce ideas off of to problem solve.

Ericka - Yeah, I think our skills really complement each other for making this business work well. Plus, we have always been close, but this has helped us learn things about each other that we never knew. Like I knew that William was a graphic designer, but never saw him doing the work before. It's awesome to see him in his element!

 

  Haute by Bryant Small

 Do What Makes You Happy by Emmanual Ignatious 

 Black Boy Joy by Ija Charles

 Strength by Kaitlin Edwards

 To Be Loved by Kwanzaa Edwards

 Priceless by Melrick Steele

 

 Out of my Soul by Noland Anderson 

 Comfort and Joy by Paul kellum

 

6.You have chosen incredible artists, all the jigsaw puzzles are beautiful. I won’t mention my preferred one, it’s just would not be fair. How do you select your artists?

William - We follow a lot of art hashtags on Instagram and are constantly messaging back and forth when we see a piece that we love. So, from there, we go to that artists page to get an idea for their overall portfolio. We look for an elevated quality and unique details to have interesting puzzle pieces.  It needs to be clear what is being depicted even in tiny pieces.

 

7.I find it relaxing to do a jigsaw puzzle, but it takes me ages. What would you say is the best way to start?

Ericka - As much as we love puzzles, I wouldn’t necessarily say that we are experts at putting them together, we kind of do it more as a hobby. But I think the universal starting point is just to flip all of the pieces over and find the edges!

 

8.How have things been for you during these months of lockdown?

Ericka - Its been busy! I have a baby at home, work full time, and am running this business which takes a lot to get off the ground. But back to the sibling question, its been great doing it together. We both work from home in out day jobs so the only time we get to hang out with other people is usually when we meet to do work for Puzzles of Color. We are fortunate to live close to each other, so we can’t see out extended family as much, but we get to go to our parents and both of our in-laws are local as well.

 

9.What jigsaw puzzle sizes do you offer?

William - So far, we offer 500 and 100 piece puzzles. They are frameable sizes so that you can preserve the puzzles if you want to put them on the wall. They’re art so why not?!

 

10.How long will it take for a puzzle to ship?

William - We have just closed presales and started live sales, so puzzles will ship within 1-2 days of an order being placed.

 

11.People can order directly from your website. What is the latest day they should order if they want it by Christmas?

Ericka - If you want a puzzle by Christmas, you will need to order by the 19th in the US. International orders will take a bit longer, so it depends on where you are located but those shipments usually take 5 days. Of course, with the pandemic, there are quite a bit of delays so plan ahead!

Contact to order your art puzzle

https://www.instagram.com/puzzlesofcolor

https://www.facebook.com/puzzlesofcolor

https://twitter.com/puzzlesofcolor/

https://www.puzzlesofcolor.com

 

Vanity Afro, 13/12/2020

Q&A with Artist Brenda Brudet

1. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Brenda. I live in The Netherlands, and I was born here too, but I’m from Surinamese decent. Surinam is a former Dutch colony in South America. I’ve been working as a web designer for about 15 years now. But the last 2 years I’ve been working towards establishing myself as a professional fine artist. And it’s been a wonderful journey. It all started when I saw a video on YouTube of someone working with Panpastel. It seemed like such a fun medium to work with, so I decided to give it a go. And it made me fall back in love with art all over again. I’ve been creating soft pastel and oil portraits ever since. 

2. What is the creative community like in Netherlands?

Well, there’s a thriving mainstream art scene. But It doesn’t really appeal to me that much. I’m a self-taught artist, and I’m very big on taking control of your own art career. So I tend to just stick to myself and do my own thing. But I do have a few like-minded art friends from The Netherlands. We share similar backgrounds. They’re also self-taught, black female artist and we’ve started our art careers around the same time. So we have a good connection and sincerely support each other. 

3. Have you always had a passion for fine art?

Yes, I have. Growing up I used to watch my big sister create these amazing drawings, and that made me want to be able to do that too. I used to draw all the time when I was young. But unfortunately, I wasn’t conditioned to view art as a viable career option, so I chose another path. But I felt miserable. Being creative is like breathing to me. I can’t imagine live without it. So as a compromise I then became a web designer. It’s creative but provides a stable income. I still do that part time.

4. Is there a specific color palette that you like to work with?

Yes, there is. I’m very much drawn to soft, muted and feminine colors. So lots of pinks, minty greens, turquoise, violets and warm neutrals. You’ll see that in pretty much all of my work.

5. How long do you spend on an average painting?

I have a very realistic style, so it takes me quite some time to finish a painting. About 20 hours on average. But it depends on the size and complexity of the piece.

6. Love all your paining, the botanical and female combo is just stunning. What is your favourite painting?

Thank you! I would say ‘A space between spaces’. It’s one of the first pastel pieces I’ve created, and it’s very dear to me. I still remember the feeling I had after finishing the piece. It’s like falling in love. I was floating on air, and I almost couldn’t believe I had created that. It’s like magic you know, creating something beautiful. It gives a rush every single time. And this particular piece made me dare to dream and think that an art career could be obtainable.

 

7. For me it’s hard to choose so I’ll ask about 3 of them but love them all. How did you get inspired for “Exposed”?

‘Exposed’ is a piece about letting your guards down and showing your true self. It’s a reoccurring theme in my work. Maybe because I’m an introvert it’s my way of reminding myself to not be afraid of putting myself out there.

8. What inspired you for “Enthroned” the oil painting and gold leaf?

‘Enthroned’ depicts the black woman as royalty. We all need to remind ourselves of that sometimes. Be reminded of our worth and to be urged to claim our throne, especially when people try to make you feel less than. 

9. Where did you get the inspiration for “You’re the sunflower”?

This is also an empowering piece. Like ‘Exposed’ it shows a woman’s beauty, inside and out. And that you shouldn’t be afraid to let that beauty shine, like a sunflower. 

 

10. How do you think your art can inspire women?

My art is all about inspiring and empowering women. My aim is to create emotive and relatable portraits that touch the heart and leave you with a positive feeling. It might not resonate with everybody, and that’s okay. But I’d be very happy and blessed if I could touch even one person with my art.

11. Who would you love to have the opportunity to paint?

There’s a Dutch politician, her name is Sylvana Simmons. She’s been very focal about systemic racism, gender equality and such, and she’s very much hated for it, unfortunately. She’s a very strong, smart and eloquent woman, and absolutely gorgeous too. I would love to paint her one day. And Michelle Obama, of course.

12. Surreal days... what are you doing to keep your spirits up?

Paint!! You know, having to stay home doesn’t affect me as much. I’ve always been a bit of a hermit, so it’s business as usual I guess ;-)  I love to spend time in my home art studio, painting, listening to music, or podcasts. I even watch Netflix while painting. It’s tons of fun, and very relaxing. I would recommend it to anybody.

13. How can we buy your art? Do you ship internationally?

Original artwork and prints are available through my website www.brendabrudet.com. Or you can DM me on instagram (www.instagram.com/brendabrudetart) because I tend to post my newest artwork there before it goes up in the shop. And yes, I do ship internationally.

Buy Brenda Brudet art now

 www.brendabrudet.com

www.instagram.com/brendabrudetart

Vanity Afro, 26/10/2020

Q&A with Cora Harrington from the The Lingerie Addict

 

 Photo credit: Nomi Ellenson

                                           

Cora Harrington is the Founder and Editor in Chief of The Lingerie Addict, the world's largest lingerie blog. With millions of visitors per year, and a social media following over 300,000 strong, The Lingerie Addict is a destination for lingerie fans around the world. Cora Harrington has been featured as a lingerie expert on The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Teen Vogue, Racked, CNN and Forbes. Ms. Harrington currently resides in NYC with her husband and too many boxes of tea.

1. Tell us a bit about your journey to the lingerie addict.

I started my site on a lark in 2008. I didn't have any plans. It wasn't a serious thing. This is before there were brand pages on Facebook and still in the very, very early days of Twitter. So my site was just a hobby. I started by sharing pieces I found online that I thought were cool, and things grew very gradually from there. As I discovered more, I shared more. I began writing reviews, doing more research, attending tradeshows, and so on. After a few years, I decided to try and make my blog a full-time job, and that's what I've been doing ever since.

 

Photo credit: Jessica Eisner

2. You say lingerie is a way to express your personal identity and sense of self. I know what you mean and agree. Can you please explain it for readers who might not?

My feeling is that lingerie is intimate apparel, in that it is intimate for the wearer, not an observer. Lingerie allows you to be who you really are. No matter what you may have to wear on the outside, you can always choose undergarments that represent who you are inside.

Photo credit: Playful Promises

3. How does lingerie empower women?

First, lingerie isn't just for women. It's for anyone who wants to wear it. Second, the word "empower" gets used a lot today, to the point that I'm not even sure what most people mean when they say it. Lingerie can be empowering, I believe that empowerment can come from what I referenced earlier - expressing your true sense of self. But lingerie isn't innately empowering, no more than a pair of shoes or a handbag.

 

4. What is your favourite lingerie luxury?

If you're asking about my favorite item of lingerie, I love a good caftan, especially when it's made from silk. Drapey, soft, flowy...what is there to dislike?

If you're asking about my favorite luxury brand, currently that's Christine Lingerie. Unsurprisingly, they work in silk and always have beautiful prints every season.

 

5. Let’s talk about your book ´In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie’ what led you to write this book?

I was actually invited by my publisher, Ten Speed Press, to write it! I felt like I had something to say about intimate apparel which hadn't yet been put in book form. I wanted to share not just my perspective on intimates, but also the knowledge I'd accrued over more than a decade, so people could feel prepared to find the lingerie of their dreams.

6. What can readers hope to learn from ‘In Intimate Detail’?

In Intimate Detail is a very much a Lingerie 101 guide. You'll absolutely get something out of it even if you're already familiar with intimate apparel, but it's written with new people in mind. There are seven chapters: bras, underwear, shapewear, hosiery, loungewear, shopping, and care & storage as well as several appendices covering special bra fitting and underwear concerns and sample lingerie wardrobes. Finally, the book ends with two bra size conversion charts as well as a list of books for further reading. It really is everything I learned in a decade of writing about lingerie condensed into book format, and it's meant to have a little something for everyone within its pages.

 

7. You've said that this book has been a true labor of love, what does this mean?

It took an entire year of my life to write, and writing a book isn't easy! You don't write a book - especially a book about lingerie - for money or fame. You do it because you really love the topic and want to share it with other people.

 

8. Where can we buy ´In Intimate Detail´?

If you live in the US, you can buy it from most any bookstore, including Amazon. I also sell signed copies directly from my website. Outside the US, you'll want to check with local booksellers to see if they carry it.

 

Get in touch

https://www.facebook.com/TLAfans 

https://www.instagram.com/thelingerieaddict/ 

https://twitter.com/lingerie_addict 

https://www.thelingerieaddict.com/

 

Vanity Afro, 09/09/2020

 

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Q&A with Sherene Headley, Founder of Mokkah

Mokkah, an affordable luxury footwear brand for fashion-conscious women who wear larger sized shoes (UK8-12). They are actively crowdfunding to launch their first collection, the Noir Collection.

1. Where were you born and currently live?

I was born and raised in London, England and still reside here.

2. What does Mokkah stand for?

The name Mokkah came from me brainstorming abstract names for my brand. I started thinking of brands like Apple and Orange mobile and realised that the brand is what I make it. Mocha is a colour – can be a mixture of brown, cream, nude in appearance, a colour I find aesthetically pleasing and a go when choosing interior design combinations – even my nails at the nail shop!

Mocha is my got to and felt it was a nice extension of myself subtly incorporated into the brand. To remove connotations of coffee and the colour, I reworked the spelling.

3. What were you doing before you founded Mokkah?

I have a housing background. In the past I worked at a Housing Association in Customer Service, at a University within their Accommodation team and now at a London Council, within property acquisitions where I rehouse homeless families.

4. Where are your shoes produced and why?

My shoes will be produced in Portugal. Portugal is one of the most respected countries for shoe production, alongside Spain and the UK. I chose this particular manufacturer as they were able to work with me on the small scale (a lot of factories have restrictions of how low a quantity they will produce) and when I met them, our personalities worked well together.

5. I think it’s a fantastic idea that you created fashionable shoes for large feet. I am size 8 (Eu 41) and find it a challenge to find stylish shoes that fit. Is there a reason that shoes brands do not want to make large size shoes?

Thank you – it has been a struggle for far too long! I think it’s an accompaniment of a few things, but I feel the major one is a lack of understanding. Slowly but surely brands are creating larger shoes but I do not think they realise how much it’s needed! Also, it costs more to produce larger shoes due to the materials and development cost – they don’t need to worry about this, when making standard sizes.

6. Can you describe your inspirations for the Noir collection?

As the Noir Collection was the first, I very much wanted to create designs that were ‘safe’ – one for every type of occasion and the universal colourof acceptance is black. I have an occasion heel, a party heel, and a work heel as well as a work loafer and casual dress down loafer.

These designs were based on my own sense of style, what type of styles and designs I wish I had more access to, along with popular shapes and styles in the market.

7. What constitutes a great shoe?

A great shoe is long lasting and comfortable. A great design are both those things but also meets current trends. Style, Fit and Quality are the pillars of our brand mission and it was clear by the response to the surveys we carried out, that women within this cohort are seeking all three.

8. How have you been adapting your business during the coronavirus lockdown?

One of the biggest adaptions I made during this period, was my way of thinking. As I’m not trading yet there weren’t many changes to my way of working however the lockdown did mean a delay to my samples!

We all hear the saying “don’t put your eggs in one basket” but when it comes to business, you have to live by this saying. When you are just starting up, you do not have much capital so you can falsely think you have no choice but to – there’s always a choice. As I’m working with a manufacturer in Portugal, I wondered what would happen if there was a second spike there or if they couldn’t reopen, through brainstorming and building connections I came across a small workshop in the UK that could accommodate (should I need to change production).

9. Who is the woman you imagine wearing Mokkah?

Our target customers are women between the ages of 25 and 40 who love to keep up with current trends. They like to dress smart casual, the shoes being the staple with a complimentary bag.

10. Who are your favourite designers from the footwear industry?

My favourite designers are Tamara Mellon and Sandra Choi – LOVE their work!

Stay connected

https://www.instagram.com/mokkahshoes

https://www.facebook.com/Mokkahshoes

 https://twitter.com/mokkahshoes

To follow the Mokkah Crowdfund please visit:

https://natwestbackherbusiness.co.uk/mokkah-shoes-for-women-who-wear-larger-

sizes

 Vanity Afro, 10/06/2020

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Q&A with Aaron Wallace | Natural Hair & Beard Grooming

This month I am excited to be featuring a top-notch black owned men’s grooming and beard company, Aaron Wallace. Trustworthy company, great product and friendly team! 
If you tired of using your girlfriend or wife's product, and is looking for the best in men beard, skin and hair care, bon ben voilá, look no further! 

1. Aaron Wallace is a great company name. What is the backstory behind it? 

We initially launched as Shear & Shine Grooming but after getting a £100k investment decided that with the new direction, a new name was needed. We went back and forth for months trying to find a name that we felt was right. After spending countless long but fun days brainstorming with the team in various London meeting rooms, we suddenly all reached the same ‘aha’ moment. 

We had to be called (by) Aaron Wallace! 

Why? Aaron Wallace is not just one of the founders, he is the embodiment of the very black men we want to champion. He grew up in South London and faced many of the same issues mirrored by our customers. He came up against many of the same challenges and sought to overcome many of the same obstacles. This mission is personal not just to him, but to all of us on the team. Therefore, the brand name had to be a direct reflection of the journey: past, present and future.

2. It would be great to see Aaron Wallace in a supermarket or local pharmacy as I don't think I’ve ever seen black male grooming products in there? What are your thoughts on this? 

 You are absolutely right! There are not many, if any black male grooming products readily available on shop shelves and we are determined to change that. If you look at black women, who, for the most part, can walk into a local Boots or Superdrug shop and find well known black hair brands like Cantu, Shea Moisture and ORS, which is fantastic. However, this is not the case when it comes to black men. There are already limited options available to them when it comes to products that will help them take better care of their hair and skin. This is made even more challenging by accessibility; they have to search harder to find those products. Why should they not be able to walk into their local supermarket or pharmacy and be able to find products that work for their hair and skin types?

Therefore, we are actively approaching retailers to make that happen.

3. You use black seed oil and mango butter which are great natural ingredients and perfect for Afro hair. Do you ever test on animals or have alternative non-animal methods to test the safety of your products?  

Absolutely not! We do not and will never test on animals. We use ethical methods to test the safety of our products and we do so in a controlled environment with formulation and lab experts who have the experience and the means to ensure we meet all the regulatory standards.

4. What are your Beard Collection's key ingredients and scent profile?

Our key ingredients are Mango Butter and Black Seed Oil. You will find this in all our products. The scent is a unique one developed specifically for our brand. This process was incredibly fun. We wanted something unique to us, something that would set our products apart and we worked with our brand ambassadors, formulation expert and the entire AW team to play around with different smells. 

5. What's a good moisturiser for men and when should they apply it? 

 Ours! I am not just saying this with bias but because it is true. We especially sourced ingredients that are good for Afro haired men to help reduce dryness which is the leading cause of breakages. Adding to that, we made the conscious decision of using a water base for our products so that much needed hydration is reintroduced to the hair, black hair requires a lot of hydration to keep it healthy. Moisturising daily is ideal, whether you choose to do so in the morning or in the evening is entirely up to everyone. As long as you remain consistent.

6. Any tips to black men for managing hair and beard during lockdown? 

Do not drop the ball on your hair and beard care. Make sure you continue to wash and condition at least 1x per week, ideally 2x per week, and make sure you moisturise daily. The barbershops may be shut but this is no excuse to stop taking care of your hair and beards. In fact, this can offer a welcome break to focus on getting your hair and beard nice and healthy. Manage your stress levels and mental well-being too, as this all impacts your hair and beards too, make sure you are eating healthy, exercising and finding ways to relax.

7. How important is it for guys to take pride in their appearance and overall presentation? 

 I would say especially important. Taking pride in your appearance and overall presentation also helps with confidence. When you look your best, you feel your best and all of this will radiate to the outside world. People gravitate towards those who are confident and who take good care of themselves.

9. Should a man’s approach to grooming change as he gets older?

Only slightly. In the main you will still want to ensure a consistent care routine is adopted but the manner in which you take care of your hair and beard may change as you may decide to rock a bald head for example, which requires a different approach vs. someone will a full head of hair. Grey hair tends to be dryer and tougher and as such will need even more moisture so you will want to increase the frequency with which you moisturise your hair.

10. For those who are looking for great Father’s Day gift ideas; do you have a beard grooming kit available? 

Our 3-step- system is extremely popular and it makes for the perfect gift for Father’s Day, as it contains all the essentials needed for proper hair and beard care. In it you will find our Hydrating Hair & Beard Shampoo, our Mango Butter + Black Seed Conditioner and our Hair & Beard Moisturiser with Mango Butter + Blackseed Oil.
                                   

11. If you could be featured in a magazine, which one would it be and why? 

We are always happy when magazines choose to feature our brand. Publications like yours are the reason why people find out about our brand. We recently got into GQ which was great as it is the pinnacle of men's style/fashion magazine. It is hard to pick one because as I said, any feature is always great.

12. What makes Aaron Wallace different from other black owned men’s grooming retailers?

 Our products are natural and free from toxic ingredients. We are not just black owned; we are also dedicated to developing products specifically for black men. We are awfully specific and very intentional about our mission to help black men take better care of their hair and skin.

13. What's the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

 Never give up on what you are genuinely passionate about, the rest will fall into place.

14. Tell us about what you have planned for 2021. 

To increase accessibility and get our products into local retailers so that more black men can find the right products for them.

Get in touch 

https://www.facebook.com/byaaronwallace

https://www.instagram.com/byaaronwallace/

https://twitter.com/byaaronwallace

https://byaaronwallace.com/

Vanity Afro, 15/05/2020

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Q&A with Dami

Meet Dami a beautiful and young inspirational entrepreneur based in London. Dami is the founder of Damihow, a fashionable and functional active wear, catering all sizes. Who does not feel more motivated to go to the gym with a cute outfit? Looking good and feeling good with a breathable, comfy outfit, will give you mental & physical confidence leading to better workouts results. So, what are we waiting for? :)

1. Please can you introduce your work? 

DAMIHOW is an active wear brand founded in 2018, aimed to motivate individuals to feel confident in fitness. 

The brand is dedicated to providing quality activewear that makes you feel comfortable, without having to compromise on style. 

2. What inspired you to create Damihow? 

I was really into fitness and training, and loved wearing nice gym clothes because it motivated me to go to the gym and made me feel more confident. I've always wanted to have a clothing brand from a young age, but couldn't figure out what type of clothing I wanted to build a brand on. I grew a passion for fitness, which is what inspired me to start an active wear brand. I wanted to create something that was stylish and comfortable, and at the same time use the opportunity to motivate people to feel confident in fitness. 

3. What makes Damihow stand out above the rest? What is its USP? 

The branding(messaging) and the quality. It's not just a clothing brand, it's a brand with a purpose to influence the community.

4. What successful entrepreneur has had the most influence on you? 

Conna Walker

5. What is your more popular collection? 

Between Essentials, Synergy,Track Collection and Flex Collection? The Track Collection is the best seller, however all the other collections come right after this. All the collections are doing pretty well at the same level.

6. What is your advice for young people trying to start a business? 

Go for it! You'll have your ups and downs, you'll learn a lot.  Be passionate about your business, have a purpose. Explore your options, do you research and be confident about your brand. Don't allow you main motivation to come from others, of course there are people/brands that'll inspire/motivate you but don't let this be what you rely on. Let your motivation come from within.

7. What is your favourite workout at the moment? 

Deadlifts 

8. What are your hobbies and how do you like to relax? 

I don't think I have any hobbies at the moment(still trying to search for this). I mainly like to relax in my own space at home. Spa days are also a win.

9. What are your future plans for your business? 

One of the plans is to expand the Men's wear range and grow the male following

10. Where can we buy/find out more in UK?

 www.damihow.com and instagram.com/damihow

Connect with Dami to stay active in style

Instagram: @damihow

www.damihow.com

Vanity Afro, 12/03/2020

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Q&A with Amber Lucas

Meet stunner Amber Lucas! Blogger and Fashion stylist, Amber give you great style advice, inspiration within the creative world, as well as interesting content fashion and real life stories.

America's sweetheart but Parisian by Heart.

1. Where were you born and currently live now?

I was born in Washington, DC, the capital of the United States. Fun Fact: Washington, District of Columbia is not a state, but a “federal district”.

2. How did your career within the fashion industry get started?

It started in college, at the end of my third year of University; I became the director of the REVO fashion show and landed an internship in fashion merchandising and public relations. I was hooked!

3. What’s the best piece of advice you have about developing a personal style?

Try everything. Try everything that interests you, even if it’s not your “style”. I feel that people can sometimes get stuck in a style rut (myself included) and for me it usually happens when I try to stick with a prefabricated idea of a style formula. Whenever I feel that I am in a style rut, I look for styles and silhouettes that excite me and then adapt them from there. Wear what you can move in, what makes you excited to get dressed, and what you can afford.

4. What’s the number one thing a stylish woman should have in her closet?

Something that she knows makes her happy to wear. It can truly be anything; it can be a trendy piece, or something that was passed down from a family member. It doesn’t have to be top-notch designer, or couture - just something that she is happy and excited to wear.

5. How would you describe your style?

This is a hard question for me to answer - because the short answer is, I don’t know how to describe my style. I feel as though I can do so many things, and dress in so many ways...But I also know what makes me happy, and sometimes what makes me happy changes from one month to the next. I like to have a formula for my wardrobe, especially for the fall and winter months; I like sticking to a specific colour palette which is mostly neutral, with a “highlight” colour or two. I love menswear inspired pieces, especially shoes. I tend to dress in oversize pieces, and because of that, I gravitate towards structured purses. In the spring and summer, I love colour - I love puffy sleeves, and cropped tops to show a bit of skin, and I love funky, playful prints. I love having an element of the “unexpected” such as a horse Paddington blouse, or cicada-bug earrings. I really love classic pieces too...so as you can see, it’s a little hard for me to describe my style! But others seem to be able to define it well for me, which I appreciate.

      

                                     

6. Who are your style muses?

Jane Aldridge, from Sea of Shoes: I love her style so much! It’s funky and quirky, and she is so well educated on true personal style.

7. If Brands send you clothes that you do not particularly like, what do you do?

I work very hard with brands to make sure I will like the items that are gifted to me. Should the unfortunate event happen where I do not like the clothing, I will try to work with it. If I feel that I cannot work with what was sent to me, I will reach out to the brand and politely ask if we can come to an agreement. If not, I will donate the item. 

8. What is your job or hobbies other than blogging?

I work full time as a Marketing Manager - with a strong focus on digital marketing and strategy.

9.What is your favourite city and why?

Paris. I know it’s cliché, but I truly adore Paris. I very much consider it my home. I have friends and friendships that I hold very dear, in Paris. I have shopkeepers that I visit, and waiters at restaurants that I stop by and say hello to, and favourite neighborhood. I love Paris because it feels like dreaming wide awake.

10. What is an unusual habit or an absurd thing that you love?

I really, really love peas. I could eat a bowl of them for dinner - I have eaten a bowl of them for dinner!

11. What are you grateful for?

Friendship and love. The two humble me continuously, and I am all the better for it. I am so grateful for the love of others, and for others loving me...the friendships I have made in this life are the ones that I truly treasure.

Get in touch with Amber Lucas

Fashion + Lifestyle in Sonoma County

Instagram: @amusedblog

www.amusedblog.com

A Mused

Vanity Afro, 28/02/2020

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X