I Mean Business | Victoria Van Ness

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“I always say that I first became interested in fashion when I started traveling and I saw how different women around the world dressed.” -Victoria Van Ness

Victoria Van Ness takes the entrepreneur lifestyle and does it with style and grace! “I’m a traveling entrepreneur + blogger. My publication covers all things travel, fashion, and beauty. I recently launched my business, Cheat Sheet co. – which helps small business define and execute their online strategy,” Victoria says.

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“Whenever I am running low on inspiration going to a new place gives me more ideas.” -Victoria Van Ness

Start

With business on the brain and fashion in the heart, Victoria has created a masterpiece! As we began to break down all of the various moving parts of her life, I dived right in and asked how did all of this begin? “I dropped out of college after my first semester to travel. But I didn’t have the create outlet I so desperately needed. Therefore, I launched my blog in 2015 and it’s truly grown with me through such experimental years of my life. My blog landed me jobs in marketing, social media, etc. which then introduced my love of that world, which led me to launch my company,” Victoria glowingly expresses.

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“Once a week my boyfriend (also my photographer) and I go out, explore a new area, and shoot for my blog or Instagram. We get to do something creative that we both love. We have different styles so when we come 50/50 together on a projects, it gives me a new perspective. Which funnels into different aspects of my life. Whether it’s business or personal – you have to look at things from a different view.” -Victoria Van Ness

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Milestone

Of course being able to do the things she loves on a daily basis has many rewards. For Victoria, it has felt so good to accomplish so many things at such a young age. “I always knew it was something I wanted to do. It was a an end-term goal for me. I noticed my love for marketing, entrepreneurship, and truly connecting with other creatives was fueling my fire more than blogging, I decided to take the leap sooner rather than later,” Victoria exclaims!

However, her achievements hasn’t made her stop pushing for even greater things. After all, it’s the process that Victoria really finds exciting! “I don’t think I’ve had a real ‘pivoting’ moment. My favorite thing about my journey is really the journey. I’ve learned so much about myself in these past three years. From resilience and perseverance, to understanding where my weaknesses lie and adjusting. It’s cool to step back sometimes and take note of who you really are,” Victoria continues.

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“My main focus right now is building Cheat Sheet co. Eventually I want to become more involved in offline connections, like conferences and mentoring girls my age with their business goals. But until then, then, I’m working on really making it more of a name in the space.” -Victoria Van Ness

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What style/fashion accessory is your favorite?

I’m a bag lady through and through.

If you can/could consider yourself an expert in one area of style/fashion, what would it be?

Packing for any weather in a small amount of space! I’ve been living out of my suitcases for a year now. It’s gotten me through every season and 9 cities.

Can you give me a tutorial on how people can best incorporate that style/fashion advice in their life?

It’s all about a capsule wardrobe! Stick to one solid color, versatile piece of everything and your wardrobe will take you wherever.

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Victoria Van Ness

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Fashion Trip | Daniela Correia

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Fashion and travel, a duo that never dies.

Traveling can be great inspiration for style and your style can be inspiring to others you meet in your travels. This classic pairing of a love of travel and fashion is the foundation of Daniela Correia’s works. She has created a place to share her adventurous fashion and travels.

“I am sharing what I like the most in life, Fashion and Travel. I don’t pretend to be an influencer, I was just like to write about the things I’m passionate about. And I want to share with people that they can realise their dream to travel in the magnificent places that I am sharing or even wear the crazy stuff that I do as well. Nobody should be ashamed of anything in their life. We should just do what we like.

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I share love for anybody who wants to receive it,” Daniela says.

Inspired

Daniela was into fashion for as long as she remembers. She grew up creating her own living room fashion shows and tearing down the runway in her mom’s clothes and shoes. As she grew older, the world became her runway. Living in different cities has inspired her fashion. For instance, living in California brought the free spirit out of Daniela. “I love to say that I am a hippy. I lived in California for a year and that really brainwashed me. I love the Boho style. Everything is so simple and colorful. I don’t know, it’s just the style where I feel the most comfortable. Unfortunately, Living in Switzerland is not easy to find those beautiful boho items than I did in California,” Daniela explains.

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“I have always been a happy kid and really enthusiastic in what I did. When you grow up, you lose a bit this mentality but traveling makes me realise what really matters and I come back from my many travels with this mentality of being still this kid dreaming.” -Daniela Correia

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Life lesson

The lesson here is to not be bound by anything if it keeps you from exploring the things you love. Let your adventurous side lead you to your dreams. It will leave you with a happy, loving and satisfying life. Don’t be that person that has to live with the doubt of not fulfilling your true destiny. Go after what you want, no matter where it leads you!

Can you give me a tutorial on how people can best incorporate that style/fashion advice in their life?

People must be feeling good about themselves otherwise nothing is gonna be beautiful on them. The most important thing on earth for me regarding fashion is to feel good about yourself and then we can work on which style reflects your personality. Because style is just a way to express yourself without speaking.

“I want people who follow me to be motivated every time i post something. I hope that people won’t hesitate to ask anything about style, motivation, goals, travel, fashion or even beauty!” -Daniela Correia

What are your favorite places to travel to?  Why?

California, Los angeles (because of the craziness and the artistic way of this busy city)

San Diego (because it reminds me so much souvenirs in my head that changed me forever)

What’s next?  & why?

I will be moving, I hope, pretty soon in order to accomplish my dreams in California.

What are you reading these days?

Eat, Pray, Love

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Daniela Correia

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SnapChat: @daniicatzz

Forever Fashion | Atsuna Matsui

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For as long as she could remember, Atsuna Matsui has always had an interest in fashion. Fashion is Atsuna’s outlet to self-expression and since her childhood she was always very expressive through fashion, even if she wasn’t able to express herself in other forms. “I was always very much interested in fashion for as long as I could remember. It was always a form of self-expression to me and a representation of what I was feeling that day. Growing up as a kid, I had a very shy personality, but I always took bold risks with fashion because it was essentially a creative outlet for me to be whoever I wanted to be,” Atsuna says.

As far as her career in the fashion industry, Atsuna started off as a photographer. “Photography was my greatest passion since I was twelve and through photography, I learned a lot about composition, color, and lighting. When I ended up becoming a blogger, I used a lot of my photography knowledge and incorporated that background into blogging,” Atsuna recalls. With the love of photography and growing audience, Astuna tried to branch out and try something new. it only took one post to help her expand her goals and give her the confidence to pursue more. “I initially started out as a photography account on Instagram. Then, I posted my first outfit photo and noticed so much more engagement on that photo so I started incorporating more photos with me in them. Eventually, I converted my Instagram photography account to a beauty, lifestyle, and fashion account. One thing that I love about blogging and social media is the community you build with your followers and other fellow bloggers so engaging with other users was what made it so fun and motivated me to always self-improve,” Atsuna explains.

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Personal style

Since Atsuna has been interested in fashion for so long, she has her personal style down pact. Her style is interesting, combining simplistic pieces with trendy counterparts. She is not afraid to make a bold statement. “As a born-and-bred Los Angeles girl that is accustomed to nearly year-round warm weather, my sense of style is minimal, breezy casual luxe with a touch of nonchalance. I balance between trendy pieces and classic, timeless basic threads to create fashionable ensemble,” Atsuna describes.

“I think, to a large extent people are defined by the things they say no to.  I think this can also be applied to style and aesthetics.  I try not to do excessive things and I generally stick to what I’m into the most.” -Atsuna Matsui

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Accomplished

Atsuna has accomplished great things in her career. One of the biggest accomplishments was her ability to convert a hobby into a full blown career. Trust me, it’s certainly something that not everyone can do. However, with her perseverance and optimistic outlook on life, she was able to find the key to success. “I think the constant novelty and challenges are at times difficult, but they also make it new and rewarding.  Being self employed, you need to be a self-starter and always striving and pushing yourself which is something that I know will never go away on this path I’ve put myself on,” Atsuna explains.

Stay True

I find reaching people on social media to be so fascinating.  There is so much potential there and yet there is a dark side to it as well and I want to address that here.  I am by nature a very private person, but I also want to deeply connect with my followers.  Navigating through the pitfalls of adult life we learn so much and can go through many hardships, but I hope that whoever reads this doesn’t ever lose hope in themselves and in the importance of maintaining values and virtue while doing it. Nobody talks about integrity and virtue anymore and I think that’s something that’s lost in our culture today and I don’t think it needs to be that way.  

“I want everyone who reads this to know that I believe firmly in the fact that you can always improve and that nobody out there is better than you, no one.” -Atsuna Matsui

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Who do you consider the icons in the fashion & design industry?

Youji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Ellen von Unwerth, Ryan Mcginley.  I know the latter two are photographers, but they have had an impact on me.

What’s the next frontier in building your tribe?

First off, I love that you used the word tribe,  I think it speaks to the true essence of the need of belonging for people.  I want to continue to just fine tune my social media outlets.  Curate better and take things in a more interesting direction.

What’s next?  & why?

In general, I am always looking toward the future, but there are so many possibilities right now, I just haven’t completely decided on one yet, so we will have to see.

What are you reading these days?

I think we all don’t read enough these days, so I can’t say that I have been reading that much at the moment.  Alain De Botton is a writer and philosopher that I always enjoy reading and there’s another book,  Triggers, by Malcolm Goldsmith.

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Atsuna Matsui

Website: www.atsunamatsui.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/atsunamatsui

Twitter: www.twitter.com/atsunamatsui

SnapChat: https://snapchat.com/add/atsunamatsui

Creative Inspiration | Zia Domic

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Here at LUX we admire creative vision. Running a fashion blog takes A LOT of creativity. Putting together looks, capturing the attention of an audience, and creating promotions all take a large amount of inventiveness. The more imaginative you are, the better the outcome.  

Using herself as a muse, fashion blogger, Zia Domic, expresses her creative side through her personal style. Above all else, she inspires others to unleash their originality too! “I followed other blogs and felt I had something to contribute by starting my own, I have been collecting clothes since high school and believe if you buy quality you will own certain pieces for a lifetime. I love to incorporate my older pieces with new ones, ultimately hoping to inspire others along the way,” Zia says.

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Zia’s Style

Zia style has a lot if class and even more sassiness. She often pairs more simplistic pieces with bold prints and vibrant accessories. She is really great at using a pop of color to bring her fun outfits to life. “My parents are European and have great appreciation for clothes raising me to believe you should always look your best, polished and stylish. I’ve been a fashion lover since early childhood; I’ve always had a strong sense of personal style and recall arguing with my mom in first grade over what to wear to school. With the option of wearing, whatever I feel like now, I love classic styles with a little femininity or rocker chic edge,” Zia explains.

Milestones

Zia’s blog has become extremely popular among the crowd.  She has over 48,000 followers on Instagram which has helped her translate into a highly successful blog. “The day my blog was launched I was extremely emotional. I felt I had accomplished such a huge feat,” Zia recalls. Looking back now, Zia realizes that her blog is only the beginning. Since she has been featured in Redbook magazine and has thought about expanding her brand even further. “Expanding to YouTube, as an actor I have a hard time posting anything that’s not perfect on all levels although I know YouTube is not about professional perfection.  I also hope to expand into travel because I love it and it inspires my style,” Zia exclaims!

While having all of these opportunities is beyond Zia’s wildest dreams, it’s the personal reward that provides Zia with great satisfaction. “Refining my own style has been the most rewarding aspect of my blogging career. as the stakes are higher being in the public eye. Also meeting so many wonderful like-minded people, although there are some people out there that I have met and weren’t so wonderful. The fashion world is very competitive on all levels and it motivates me to be the best,” Zia says.

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Think about the 80/20 rule; if you get 80% of your impact from 20% of what you do, what is that 20% for you as it pertains to developing and expressing your personal style?

IM A BIT OF A PERFECTIONIST AND IF I DONT THINK IT’S WORTHY I DONT PUBLISH IT AND I THINK THAT RESONATES WITH MY READERS

What about discovering new styles to incorporate into your look and style?

I FOLLOW OTHER BLOGGERS, SCAN INSTAGRAM AND PINTEREST FOR INSPO AND OF COURSE PEOPLE WATCHING

Who do you consider the icons in the fashion & design industry?

I REALLY THINK BLOGGERS HAVE TAKEN OVER CELEBRITIES AS THE NEW ICONS

What style/fashion accessory is your favorite?

SHOES MAKE ME HAPPY AND THEY MAKE OR BREAK THE OUTFIT

If you can/could consider yourself an expert in one area of style/fashion, what would it be?

DRESSING MYSELF

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Zia Domic

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Catch Her

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Fashion industry expert & model Thania Peck is the creator of the popular blog, ‘Catcher in the Style’ as well as a fashion director.

Fashion industry expert & model Thania Peck is the creator of the popular blog, ‘Catcher in the Style’ as well as a fashion director.

Giving Back

Fashion isn’t Thania’s only passion. She also has a heavy interest in working with charities. Often time she uses photos on her blog to create a message for the charities. She uses her blog to promote many different charities. A couple of those charities are the Young and Brave Foundation and R-Ranch. She also pairs philanthropy with the various brand campaigns that she coordinates. “I want to use my status in the industry to make an impact in the world. It feels good to help people,” Thania says. She uses the events to gain more exposure for the charities and donates a portion of the proceeds to them as well.

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Blogging Style

Thania blogs about the newest fashion trends that interest her. She usually focuses on on the cutting edge of where the industry is going. The blogosphere is fast paced and it allows people to share new trends at a rapid pace. Thania says this is in part because “we post trends at a fast pace, faster than magazines.” In addition to that, she uses her blog to display new trends in street style. This is what translates each particular piece from the market to the consumer.  “You get to see the product on real people of different body types.”

“As bloggers, we’re basically taking clothes and showing you how to style it,”

Sure, 6-foot models look pretty dashing in designer clothes on the runway, but it’s a lot easier to imagine yourself in an outfit when you can see it interpreted by someone who shares your unique tastes. “It’s all about the interpretation from market to consumer. Most people see clothes in a store and think ‘How would I wear that!?’ Im here to provide an answer to that question.”

Thania also gets to put a lot of her personality into the outfits she pieces together. She describes her personal style as edgy, chic, and tomboyish. All of that personality it is reflected through the outfits Thania styles. “Putting together outfits is like puzzle pieces,” Thania says. She also likes to add her favorite accessories to complete the look. Thania particularly loves shoes and hand bags. “If you have a perfect chic shoe and an iconic bag, that’s going to tie your outfit together.” Thania also expresses that one of the best parts of blogging is if you don’t like her particular style, there are many other bloggers you can view different styles from.

“My style isn’t for everyone,” says Thania. “But the great thing about fashion blogging is that I can pair a dress with combat boots while my friend pairs the same dress with a pair of heels! Two great looks, two different styles.”

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What are some up and coming Fall fashion trends?

Velvet( Blazers and shoes)
Red and Blush Pink colors
Leather jackets over dresses
Over the knee boots
Suede skirts
Bomber jackets
Military inspired clothing
Embroidery on jeans and jackets
Re-done/Patched Jeans

What are your favorite topics to blog about?

Tips on Fashion
Music
Art
Interviews with stylist and stylish people

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Thania Peck

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Be You | Martin Salomon

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The best part about choosing a career in the creative arts field is that it is so much room for you to be yourself. You can choose to do whatever you like and go for your passions. Your creative expression does not have to revolve around those of another. That is all the reason why photographer and fashion blogger Martin Salomon chose the career path he is on.

“I am going after a goal/dream that I had since I was a kid. All I want to do is to create a platform where I can share my passion for fashion, photography, grooming, travel, and etc. I want to inspire others to go after their goals and to not be afraid of the things they want for their life. I know it takes time to get to a good place but everything is about working hard and to always believe in one’s self. To all of you that are trying to find a spot in this industry, it’s important that you stay true to yourself and to not try and become someone else. This industry is big enough for us all. No need for copy-cats. You should always surround yourself with the right people. People who will lift you up instead of putting you down. And lastly, always believe in yourself, because you got this!”

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Start

Martin began his journey about 3 years ago. It started with him just sharing his personal style and photography with others. His love for the industry inspired him to expand. “All I have ever wanted was to have a platform to share and inspire others,” Martin says. And indeed creating martinsaloman.com gave him that opportunity. He took it beyond just showing his style. He also began to expose the world to his passion.

From a young age, Martin’s looks were very important to him. Not in a vain sense, but in a way that how you present yourself is a great reflection of what’s on the inside. Grooming and dressing his best was instilled in him at a young age. He still carries these lessons in the way he presents himself today. “I remember growing up watching my parents as they would dress up for any occasion and their style was just so great. I was raised to always look my best and to dress the right way but at the same time to always have fun with it and take risks,” Martin says.

Advice

Through 3 years of exercising his opportunity to share his passions and style, Martin has learned many keys of success in this industry. He says it is important to work hard especially when doing something that you love. It is also important to remain true to yourself and your identity. Strive to be excellent in the way that you share your work and express yourself. “ I would tell myself to work harder on the things I want and to always be myself no matter the circumstances. In the creation of my work and the sharing of my work, I strive to bring excellent content,” Martin says.

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Next

Martin has plans of adding a couple new things to his repertoire. He wants to take a shot at videography. He feels videography will give him the opportunity to share more with his audience in a different platform. He also wants to travel more. It will give the opportunity to really explore the world and give him a lot of new insight. “I think all of this can work together to create something different from the rest,” Martin explains.

What is your advise to to guys that are thinking of re-inventing themselves and their fashion style? Where should they start?

To know what’s the right fit for them and to not be afraid to take risks. They should begin on knowing what they want or what is the next step for the re-inventing process. I have been there quite so often. It’s all about taking risks and enjoying those risks.

Are their staples that every guy should have to anchor their wardrobe?

Yes there are so many staples a guy should have, for example a good leather jacket, a denim jacket, a good pair of white sneakers, chelsea boots in different colors, definitely a good pair of jeans, and amazing accessories.

Who do you consider the icons in fashion & design industry?

David BeckhamKanye West & Tom Ford. They are such an inspiration. I feel connected to their fashion style.

What style/fashion accessory is your favorite?

A good pair of sunglasses and a leather jacket. I mean, c’mon. . . you can never go wrong with those two.

If you can/could consider yourself an expert in one area of style/fashion, what would it be?

I’d be an expert in styling. Every since my youth, I’ve had so many people tell me that I have a great eye in telling others what’s best for them, and when it comes to style I’m a great help with finding pieces for other’s to wear.

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Martin Saloman

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SnapChat: salomonmartin

Creative Foundation

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Craig Steely explores the creative expression behind architecture.

The creative arts field is a huge industry. You have people that do everything from painting, drawing, music production, to fashion designing. But, one creative expression we often forget is the art of architecture. Ever just looked at a building design and explored the beauty of the structure? The aesthetic and the function is so personal. And each architect has their own style.

Craig Steely has been in the architecture field for many years. From an early age he knew he wanted to be an architect.  “I remember the moment it “gelled” for me.  I was around 14 and visiting the Sea Ranch community along the northern coast of California. I had spent the morning wandering around construction sites and sketching houses.  Back at the place we were staying I found an old Sunset magazine laying around and honestly it was probably the first time I ever realized there was a thing called an “architect”—something different from just building, more like thinking about the possibilities of building.”  Craig recalls.

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“I remember thinking “I should do this, I could do this!”

Designing Process

The creative process of designing building is much like that of designing fashion or creating music. You want it to have a certain appeal. You also want to invoke some of your own style through the structural design. Even though you have a client to please, creating a design is sort of like an extension of you. Craig, like many designers, has a sketch pad with models that he envisions in his head. Once a client becomes available he can then make modifications that incorporate the needs of his client.

Once the building comes to life, the finish product will still capture the essence and design of what he envisioned while remaining functional for the needs of his client. In comparison to fashion design, it’s sort of like the designer who creates a beautiful piece of clothing for a high profile celebrity. The celebrity requires alterations so things get modified to accommodate the wants and needs of the star. “It’s like solving a riddle. When I’m designing, in my mind I have “glimpses” of a finished project. Then at a certain point while designing, I begin to see the shapes come to life before my eyes,” Craig says.

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The Client

Imagine you have the resources to build your dream home. You have this elaborate list of things you just have to have. Of course the typical person can’t just pull out the bricks and cement and build their home without any help. Your best bet is to find an architect. It’s important to find one that can relate to your style. It’s their job to take the vision you have in your head and put it before your eyes. That’s why the relationship between the architect and the client is so critical. “The clients become good friends.” Finished buildings come out so much better when the foundation of the building is the relationship developed between the architect and client.

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“You should only work for clients you respect. Only do projects you can find something interesting in—be protective of your passion for what you do.”

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Projects

Craig has done projects all over the world. In fact one of the aspects of his job that he finds most rewarding is the places that architecture has taken him. Some of his most rewarding projects have been located on the Hawaiian Islands.  “My Hawaii projects as a whole feel like a strong step towards an architecture that connects to nature in a contemporary way using contrast along with other more subtle ways of relating to the land than just the visual.”  He is inspired to create architecture that integrates technological advances to nature. Where better to find inspiration than in the beauty of nature. “Architecture is uniquely positioned to promote the understanding that technology and nature must co-exist together. For me it’s continuing the search in my projects for a balance between rustic camping and the feeling of the Farnsworth House.”

“Travel to experience great buildings.”

Who do you consider the classic icons in architecture?

I’m interested in the work of Paulo Mendes De Rocha in Brazil, particularly his houses from the 70’s. There is a roughness and purity to the forms and materials that create a sensuality to the spaces.

What books would you recommend?

Read everything!

Read the architect and writer Pierluigi Serriano. I don’t know anyone more versed and knowledgeable on the roots of California Modernism. He searches out the rare and obscure. And he has a visceral and deeply personal knowledge of it — tracking down buildings and befriending the surviving architects involved to get a deeper narrative. Read all of his books. They can be read on multiple levels— visually (they are always filled with great architecture photos), as historic architecture narrative, or about the personalities of the architects behind seminal buildings.

Modern design in architecture is often revered and misunderstood at the same time. Why do you think that people in America have such misunderstood feelings about modernism?

Perhaps the misunderstanding comes from experiencing poor or inappropriate examples of it. Or maybe it is because some people see the world changing too quickly and others want it to change faster. I think it comes down to those who look forward or only look backwards. To me it seems inappropriate to build with new technologies and materials in any other way.

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Craig Steely

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Life of Fashion | Jessica Hunter

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Some find their calling early in life and never let it go. For Jessica Hunter, fashion was always something that intrigued and lead her to her calling. Her primary goal is to inspire others. Whether it be through style,  story or the content she creates. Jessica wants every person she encounters to come away from an interaction with her or her brand feeling empowered.

“Style has been something that interested me since I was little. I loved to go shopping, and would plan my outfits weeks in advance when I was in grade school. Oddly enough though, it wasn’t until I had graduated from college and started working in finance that I realized that style and fashion were what truly inspired me. Women like Tamara Mellon the founder of Jimmy Choo and Kate Moss were my icons and so when I relocated to Scottsdale after more than 5 years in finance, I took my first step into the fashion industry working part time as a Sales Associate at Jimmy Choo,” Jessica shares.

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Intrigued

Interested in learning more about Jessica’s love of fashion, I asked her if she could share some of her first fashion memories. Right away, this question took Jessica all the way back to her childhood. Her mom and dad are her first and favorite fashion icons and even inspired her blog.

“Growing up, my mom was a corporate powerhouse and would dress in absolutely immaculate Armani suits, TSE cashmere and David Yurman cuffs. She had her finger on the pulse of timeless fashion since before I can remember. She is my Chic.

My dad on the other hand, had his own way of dressing that was equally as stylish, yet could not be more opposite Ripped up 501’s, Chuck Taylor’s that he had sharpied drawings onto and a ornate hat and sunglass collection that would rival any collector. He is my Disheveled.

Together they taught me the value of High-Low fashion, taking risks and that confidence is key when it comes to style,” Jessica lovingly describes.

As the conversation kept flowing, I learned that her mom and dad weren’t the only ones who had a hand in Jessica’s journey to pursue a career in the fashion industry. As fate had it set out, her brother and his wife played a crucial part!

“I was in New York for the first time visiting my brother and his girlfriend (now wife) Roxanne. As fate would have it, they lived blocks from the Lincoln Center and New York Fashion Week was in full swing.

We were walking through the neighborhood one day and I saw a group of people running through to the tents with long sleeve shirts on that read ‘volunteer’.  I immediately went home to look up the program and applied to volunteer for the next season. Because of my retail sales experience I was accepted and went on to volunteer and eventually work for LDJ productions as a volunteer team manager.

That experience really lit a fire under my ass to find fashion wherever I could get my hands on it, which eventually led to my career as a fashion stylist. Through time I realized that it was street style and my own personal relationship with style that inspired me more than  publishing high fashion editorials, so I started my blog, Chic & Disheveled. I felt like so many people misunderstood what high fashion editorials tried to convey so I began to dissect trends and translate them into something more relatable, Jessica reveals.

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Style

One thing you have to know about Jessica is that she really enjoys putting her style on display. This doesn’t mean flashy or super fancy. Jessica has a more laid-back approach to fashion, however she wears everything with confidence. The confidence she brings allows her style to stand out and her personality to shine through.

“Comfort + Confidence are the two major factors in my style. It doesn’t matter how trendy or ‘IN’ something is, if I feel like an asshole wearing it, it will never make it to my closet. Comfortable doesn’t just mean leggings either – (but I am a BIG fan of the athleisure trend). To me, comfort goes way beyond how comfy something feels. It also has to do with mental comfort, you have to feel your best regardless of what’s trending or what a Personal Stylist tries to sell you.  

Style is such a personal thing for me, and it comes from so many different channels that it’s hard to pinpoint just one. It is totally irrational and feeling based. I know it when I see it because of how it makes me feel. I still create actual lookbooks with fashion magazines which is a time-honored tradition from girl’s night with my mom and sister.

Instagram and Pinterest are also great source of inspiration because I am such a visual creature that seeing cool pictures often lead to ah-ha moments about what I wear and how I style it,” Jessica explains.

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Future in Fashion

Jessica wants to continue to find new ways of sharing her style and helping others discover theirs. And she also is growing in  personal sense too. I couldn’t wait to find out what she has in store for us next!

“Businesswise, my next main focus is to develop my e-newsletter and start sending that out consistently. I have been building my subscriber list for a while now and am in the final throes of design. I want it to really benefit peoples’ lives and have it be something people look forward to so I am really taking my time to make sure that the content is engaging and worth subscribing to.

YouTube is also at the forefront of my mind. I have been partnering with a bunch of cruelty free beauty brands and so I want to start bringing that content to life via more how-to videos! Stay tuned and make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel here to stay in the loop for when they launch:

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

On the more personal front, I just got engaged and my fiancée moved in with me so we are in the process of decorating our little love shack and starting to plan our wedding,” Jessica exclaims!

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A Piece of Advice

“For anyone who’s looking to start a blog or entrepreneurial endeavor YAY!!! I think my biggest piece of advice would be to follow your own heart.  It can be so easy to get so caught up in what everyone else is doing that you can forget your own accomplishments and goals. Remember, you are the only person who can share your point of view and that’s valuable! Stay true to yourself and believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who lift you up and genuinely support you!

Believe it or not, I graduated college and became the branch manager of a financial institution. After about 5 years of my year career, I realized I detested the industry and began to look for ways to transition into the fashion industry. Thankfully, my honesty with my District Manager was well-received and he allowed for me to work part-time at the branch while working part time as a sales associate at Jimmy Choo and eventually at a modeling agency.

After 2 years I had made a full transition into the PR and Marketing world. If anyone reading this is looking to leave the corporate world, keep in mind that when you transition into a completely different field be prepared to take a pay cut. Instead of focusing on the money, I began taking opportunities based on the experience I could gain to help my own business such as InDesign, Photoshop and Word Press.

For the next two and a half years I held three different positions for that very reason. First is was Social Media Manager at the nations 2nd largest RV company’s, and then it was Director of Communications for launch of InMexico Magazine, a luxury lifestyle print publication…then took the leap to become a full-time content creator and blogger.  There are nights I don’t sleep, at times I might be broke AF…but found a calling that speaks to my soul,  and keeps me engaged every single day, and that is priceless.” -Jessica Hunter

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Jessica Hunter founder of Chic & Disheveled

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