It's been said that "Good clothes open all doors," and perhaps no one knows this to be true more than the entrepreneur—which is why we're presenting Style Guides, our series on women who've merged business and fashion sense to build seriously stylish careers. Here, meet a woman who's not afraid of a little—or a lot of—color.—PRESENTED BY TOPSHOP
Have you ever had a moment of such intense frustration that your mind wandered to ditching it all, putting your things in storage, moving to a foreign country to just be, and create. You probably shrugged it off as totally illogical. Completely impossible. Crazy. And irresponsible. But what you should really do the next time your mind goes there is do it. Literally do it. Take the leap.
It's been said that "Good clothes open all doors," and perhaps no one knows this to be true more than the entrepreneur—which is why we're kicking off Style Guides, our new series on women who've merged business and fashion sense to build seriously stylish careers. These icons understand that personal style is a lot more than just what you put on in the morning. Rather, it's how you present yourself, define your brand and stand out in a crowded space. So stop, look and listen. Our obvious first choice to profile was Jayne Min.
Last week when we were watching the VMAs, one moment stood out to us more than any others—and no, it wasn't one of Miley's outfits. Instead, it was when Demo Lovato told herself "I am enough" right before going on stage. We've all had those moments where we need a little extra encouragement, which was why it was so refreshing to see that huge pop stars have them, too. In solidarity with Demi, we tapped five of our favorite female entrepreneurs to tell us what they tell themselves when the going gets rough.
We're natural born creators and cultivators, which means we're always on the move. Doing what we love, doing what we need to get to that next step, and doing what we can to help others.
That's why when Sara Haile, creator of People Who Do reached out to collaborate on a series celebrating those "who do," we were totally game. We continue the series with lawyer-turned-athlete and co-founder of Undo Ordinary magazine, Robin Arzon. Get to know the powerhouse below.
While restoring hand-painted silk scarves for Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, Ellisha Alexina was inspire to turned her fascination with art, fabrics, and history, into a full-fledged textile business.
After experimenting with the effects of layering watercolors and natural plant dyes on textiles, Ellisha developed her own mixed media process that blends screen-printing and hand-painting, winning over clients like Johnny Depp and garnering critical success—all before her 30th birthday. Here, the 26-year-old shows us her studios and shares her notes on making it work.
It's hard not to love Whitney Port. She's humble and hardworking, and gets it all done with a (particularly beautiful) smile. Everyone swooned over her palm print skirt set — ok, we're still swooning — on the #createcultivate stage in Los Angeles, a look from her own Whitney Eve line, of course, and we're even more excited to see what she busts out at #createcultivateCHI!
Whitney has won over heart all over with her grace and style, and we can't wait to some advice on everything from Instagram to transitioning her personal style into a successful brand on and offline. We had fun asking Whit to list off a few of her favorite things, so keep reading for more! Pinot and platforms, anyone?
We're natural born creators and cultivators, which means we're always on the move. Doing what we love, doing what we need to get to that next step, and doing what we can to help others.
That's why when Sara Haile, creator of People Who Do reached out to collaborate on a series celebrating those "who do," we were totally game. And who better to kick off the Create, Cultivate, & Do series than our very own founder Jaclyn Johnson? Get some insight into her thought process and philosophies on life, work, and #createcultivate!
Suzanne EL-Moursi is the creative director for smart jewelry brand Mira, where she has led the brand’s successful redesign and is building a creative team comprised of content strategists, editors, UX designers and industrial designers, all passionate about women’s wellness and empowerment to live healthier lives.
We're thrilled she's found the time to come speak about her experience as a speaker and sponsor at #createcultivateCHI! Read on to learn more about Mira and this wonder woman behind the brand.
Name, @username, craft, elevator pitch:
Emily Greener, Co-Founder/CEO of I AM THAT GIRL
@thatgirlgreener + @iamthatgirl
We inspire girls to be exactly who they are, instead of who they think they are supposed to be. I AM THAT GIRL is a community that provides girls with a safe space to love who they are and have honest conversations about things that matter.
Panel: Moderating — How to use the Digital Space for good via commerce, blogging, content & more
Nadia Aboulhosn is a voice to be reckoned with. She's won over countless fans and brands alike with her real talk, real style, and sense of humor. Her plus-sized design collaboration with UK retail giant Boohoo put the brand back on the map, and showed off Nadia's ability to translate that real talk to very real sales. Read on for a little insight into how she does it all, and then some.
Louise Androlia is a writer, inspirational speaker, life coach, artist, tarot card reader and general magic-maker in the truest sense. In short: she does a lot, and makes it all work beautifully.
Originally from the UK, she's now based in Los Angeles, CA, where she works with clients one-on-one, in groups, and through writing, and believes in empowerment through self-awareness. We asked the world wonder a few questions about life, work, balance, and magic. Read on.
We've got some seriously incredible sponsors lined up for Create + Cultivate in Chicago. If you're lucky enough to be in attendance, you'll find them in your gift bags (the VIP gift bag is worth the cost of admission alone), on the conference floor, and in the coming weeks, we'll highlight a few of our favorites right here on the C+C blog. Because sharing is caring and they're too awesome not share.
First up: Lulu & Georgia, the lifestyle boutique of our dreams.
Erica Domesek founded the DIY empire P.S. - I Made This, taking the brand from blog to books to events and then some. She's an expert on delivering smiles one DIY project at a time and building a brand both online and off, which is why we can't wait to hear her on panel at #createcultivateCHI!
Proving that necessity is the mother of invention, design duo and best friends Cammy Hebert and Cologne Schmidt, both 29, of Show Me Your Mumu reinvented the classic mumu after a weekend vacation in Miami. The rest is modern fashion history wrapped in their eclectic brand that has been embraced by celebs like Jessica Alba, Kate Hudson, and Beyoncé.
Name Gaby Dalkin (@whatsgabycookin)
Trade Chef, Food Blogger, & Globetrotter at What's Gaby Cooking?
Panel Mastering Food Photography: The Ins and Outs of the Perfectly Posed Shot
On the eve of the release of her first book A Hot Glue Gun Mess: Funny Stories, Pretty DIY Projects, we asked our friend Mr. Kate about the art of oversharing and how it feels to add "author" to your resume. Read on.
This sounds so cliche but I was at the Chateau Marmont with Cory Kennedy and I showed her some very, very early designs on my iPhone and she was into it—which surprised me actually. I quickly sampled them and sent them to her. Within a week, they were on NYLON magazine’s Instagram and then stocked in their shop and I immediately sold 50-100 units. So then, yeah, it became a business. A-ha!
When we were selecting panelists for #createcultivateCHI Jeff Mahin stood out as the forward-thinking restaurateur we needed to nab. At 31, he is a chef/partner at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (LEYE) and the creative force behind Stella Barra Pizzeria (Santa Monica, Hollywood, Chicago, North Bethesda), Summer House Santa Monica (Chicago, North Bethesda), Do-Rite Donuts (Chicago), and M Street Kitchen (Santa Monica). As regulars at Stella Barra in Santa Monica, the C+C staff already loved Jeff's food, and after getting to know the man (and Forbes 30 Under 30 alumna) behind the dishes we knew he'd be the dude to dish (pun intended) about finding a unique voice and vision in the ever-growing Food, Health, & Wellness space.
Name Jeff Mahin
Trade Partner/Chef at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Panel The New Disruptors: How to Break Out in Food, Health, & Wellness
Favorite neighborhood in Chicago Before I moved to Los Angeles, I lived in Chicago for years. There are so many diverse neighborhoods and I've lived in many of them, but my favorite would have to be Lincoln Park. It’s the first neighborhood I moved to in Chicago so I have a lot of great memories there. Our restaurants Stella Barra and Summer House Santa Monica are also located there.
Best bar for a nightcap Violet Hour and Three Dots and a Dash. If I am with a bigger group or with friends from out of town, I’d go to Three Dots and a Dash. For a smaller group, or a date with my girlfriend, I’d go to Violet hour.
Your top spot for late night grub Allende Restaurante, a taqueria in Lincoln Park. They have the best al pastor taco I've ever had (even better than anywhere in L.A.) and they stay open until 3 a.m. When I first moved to Chicago and had no money, I would go there after work late at night to get a great meal for pretty cheap. In fact, I still eat there whenever I’m in town. I think it’s fair to say I have eaten at this restaurant more than anywhere else in the city. Lady Maria, who works there, is there every day and always remembers me.
Best Chi-town donut shop Do-Rite Donuts, of course! We have two locations in Chicago. There is a great variety of artisanal flavors like Pistachio Meyer Lemon, Candied Maple Bacon, and Valrhona Chocolate Cake, along with a selection of gluten-free and vegan donuts. But the one I’m most proud of is the most basic: a classic buttermilk old fashioned. We worked on perfecting this donut for a long time. The flavor brings back so many childhood memories.
What do you love most about Chicago? Chicago is a great, big city with amazing architecture. I love the diverse neighborhoods and the sky rises. But what I love most is that it doesn’t really have that big-city mentality. It’s a very warm, welcoming, and clean city.
I'm Natalia Borecka (@nataliaborecka) the Editor-in-Chief, Creative Director and Founder of Lone Wolf Magazine. We’re putting substance back into fashion and turning it into a vehicle for personal empowerment and education.
