This spring, I’m all about flowy dresses, dancing barefoot, and stepping out in statement mules. I’ve been keeping my hair in braided extensions. They’re great for easy updos, and headwrap styles. They’re also perfect for adding drama to my fancy dance moves, that often include shaking my head, shimmying, and a little hip shaking. OK, maybe they’re not that fancy, but they’re pretty fun!
In the past few years, I’ve been really intentional about where I spend my money. From random TaskRabbit* hourly projects to finding photographers, graphic designers and makeup artists for my campaigns, I typically go out of my way to hire a woman of color. A bunch of the art that fills my home are from black women artists, and I do most of my splurging on black designers ( that’s a whole other topic with lots of photos to come!). And through my extensive research and support of these amazing women entrepreneurs and businesses, I’ve noticed two things:
They undervalue their goods or services.
They’re uncomfortable with giving their rates when approached about a project. They give me the runaround, which gives me (the client) too much to worry about, and so I find another person or solution because often, I have a strict deadline.
This past weekend, I had to pleasure of speaking and displaying my company at South by Southwest’s International Women’s Day celebration in Austin, TX. It was one of the biggest events we had ever participated in so I wanted to make it special and to push myself to do something I had never done before. I designed my very first set and contracted artist and self proclaimed, modern day renaissance man, Moyo to help me bring it to life. I selected and hired two delightful, brilliant women (Alexandra and Cassie) to be the brand’s ambassadors, and I delivered a solo talk about building self confidence. It was a long twelve-hour work day, but I got to hug, meet, and celebrate so many amazing women.
I’ve been called “extra” many times before I even realized or maybe accepted that I was. So when Intermix asked me to choose a look for the holiday season, I selected this multilayered bright red two piece work of art by AMUR. When asked where or what occasion I’d wear it to, I answered: The real question is where could I NOT wear this look? I would wear this to eat dinner with my husband for his birthday. Or I would call some friends and tell them that we’re going out for fancy cocktails and dinner, and yes, I would arrive in this ensemble. I’d even wear this to take myself to the ballet and book a table for ONE at one of my favorite French restaurants in New York. But, since we’re talking about the holiday season, I’d wear this to dinner for NYE too.
rom the inside, the historic walls of the Princess Hamilton are adorned with an iconic art collection that includes original artwork from artists such as Andy Warhol, Nelson Mandela, Bansky, among many others. And from the outside, the majestic pink walls stand tall and make the perfect backdrop for a serious collection of plants and flowers where tiny lizards live happily. I tried to focus and indulge in the beauty that surrounded me. To be present. And thankful. To not think too much of the travel ahead, my connecting flights, the work that awaited back home, the surgery…