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J U L Y 2 0 1 8 I S S U E N O . 2
THE MOMPRENEUR MELANIE MARIE SHARES HER STORY ON HER GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS, WHICH IS HAVING HER DAUGHTER AND RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL JEWELRY BUSINESS.
INSIDE STORIES: Shiva Tavakoli shares her inspiring story on her hair care line that has been featured in Allure. Magazine. Kim Le Pham shares her story of growing and expanding her beautiful clothing boutique.
e h t e se d l r o w
EDITOR'S NOTE
Angela Brickley FOUNDER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @LUVANGELAMARIE
Welcome to the July's issue of Luxur Lux, a monthly fashion, influencers and young female entrepreneurs magazine, which is offered in digital and print. This is for readers that would like to get the latest fashion trends, business tips to local influencers and female entrepreneurs sharing their journeys to a successful business. Every month each issue will get even better than the one before! We are interviewing more influencers and young female entrepreneurs that inspire so many women. If you have not already subscribed to Luxur Lux, make sure that you do, so that you don't miss out on any of the entrepreneurial advice shared from the most inspiring girl bosses. Thank you in advance for flipping through the pages of our second issue. I would like to invite you to stay with us and join a positive women's movement that is all about supporting and inspiring each other. INSTA: @luxurluxmag
Founder & Editor-in-Chief Angela Brickley Editorial Assistant Moni Demaris Editorial Intern Lori Granded
EDITORIAL CONTACT INFORMATION Luxur Lux is published monthly For advertising please email | info@luxurluxmag.com
www.luxurluxmag.com
Inside YOUR GUIDE TO ISSUE NO.2
14 Melanie Marie Melanie Marie shares her greatest achievements, which is having her daughter and running a successful jewelry business.
22 Blogger of the Month Brittainy Perry of @styldgrace gives us the run down on why she started her blog while balancing her 9-5.
35 Shiva Tavakoli Shiva Tavakoli shares her inspiring story on her hair care line that has been featured in Allure Magazine
39 Kim Le Pham Kim Le Pham shares her story of growing and expanding her beautiful clothing boutique.
CLIMB TO THE TOP OF YOUR DREAMS
Jeans that you need in your wardrobe
SKINNY JEANS No matter the size, SKINNY jeans are not only for skinny women. These jeans make every woman feel confident and sexy.
@stylepantry
Skinny jeans will always be here to stay because there is so much versatility on what you can wear with them and where you can wear them.
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@vivaluxury
WHERE TO GO THIS SUMMER Article by Jamie Smith
@sydesummer
s n a e J e t i h W White jeans are back!
There is nothing like a pair of white jeans that you can wear with tennis or heels.
@kyleecampbell
@jessi_afshin
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High Waist Jeans "High waisted jeans will accentuate your waist and hips." @walkinwonderland
The perfect fitting high waisted jeans will accentuate your waist and hips, giving your body the perfect shape. In addition to making those curves stand out, these jeans will elongate your legs too.Â
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@racquelnatasha
Mom Jeans Mom jeans came back from the 80s and 90s. Nowadays, brands like Levi's sell mom jeans like crazy and the fit is amazing.
"Mom jeans aren't like your typical jeans."
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Paper Bag Jeans
"The best way to wear this trend is with fitted tops."
They create an illusion of a tiny waist and compliment every single body type.
@walkinwonderland
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d e p p o r C im n e D
"Cropped pants are so much more fun to play around with and to style."
@heidiklum
@juliahengel
Cropped pants are so much more fun to play around with and to style — with a few inches between the top of your ankle and the ground, the possibilities are endless.
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THERE'S A CONSTANT NOISE OUTSIDE NEVER SILENCED AT NIGHT THERE IS NO WAY TO HIDE FROM THE CITY LIFE
Rise &
Slay Page 13
MeLanie Marie THE MOMPRENEUR When did you start your business and tell us the story behind your brand? My absolute greatest achievement has to be my daughter. I have done a lot of great things in my life, but having her was the greatest/biggest thing I have done. After having my daughter, my greatest achievement would have to be maintaining a successful business for 9+ years and continuously growing and getting better. Who or what inspires you to chase your dreams? I am inspired by many things, but my motivation is what drives me to chase my dreams. I have heard so many times that you need to have a regular 9-5 job in order to be successful and I knew I could prove that wrong. I am motivated to make my business a household name, so I will stay determined to make that dream a reality. Why did you decide to start your business? I started my own business because I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted the freedom to be able to work as much as I want and when I want and to be able to flexible with my time. If I wanted to go on vacation, I could. If I wanted to go take/pickup my kids from school, I could. If I wanted to go on a mid-week vacation, I could. I feel like I am always working, but I also feel like I am able to spend so much more time with my family and live on my own terms. What is your dream-level goal for your business? My dream level goal is for my business to be a household name. I want my lines to be featured in major retailers. What does your current business model look like? Currently, I still do majority of the tasks within my business. I always like to make sure things are done right, so I am heavily involved. I have an assistant and intern that helps with customer service and packing orders.
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What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out? The best advice I can give is never be afraid to try and don’t give up. A lot of people are afraid of starting and they fail before they can even begin. No matter the business- people will go through ups and downs. It is apart of business. When something goes wrong, you have to push through and not quit. It is similar to a marriage - through the ups and downs. If I quit when I failed, I would never be where I am today! What's next for your business? I have been toying with the idea of creating a children’s clothing line. I am big into dressing my daughter up super cute and I know I can crush that!! That may be my next move. Stay tuned on that
Where can people find you? Email: info@melaniemarie.com Website: www.melaniemarie.com Instagram: _melaniemarie_
"I have heard so many times that you need to have a regular 9-5 job in order to be successful and I knew I could prove that wrong."
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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.
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18
BOSS BABE
Yellow Fashion Inspo
Lifeclub
Who What Wear UK Page 18
Find a flattering type of bikini to show off your best qualities. Some women prefer low rise or high cut.
@margaret_zhang
Yellow is the new millennial pink @golden_barbie
Look for a cover up that is sexy, yet trendy to show off that beautiful bikini color.
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I didn't come this far to only come this far.
BRITTAINY the
fashion blogger style
and
BLOGGER OF THE MONTH
with
grace
@styldgrace
CAN YOU TELL OUR READERS ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BLOG?
My name is Brittainy! I'm a twentysomething, NY born gal living in Houston, Texas! I have a normal 95, but also run my blog, Styl'd Grace. Styl'd Grace was started towards the end of 2015 as a platform to share not only what fashion trends I was loving at the moment, but also to inspire the every day women. I was noticing how so many women were tearing each other down, instead of uplifting each other as we should and wanted to change that! I grew up with a very strong mama, who was and still is one of the most uplifting, encouraging women that I know. I would like to think that God blessed me with that trait as well, with my desire to constantly inspire like-minded women to be the best in their daily lives that they can be!
I dreamed about moving back to the big apple, with the corner office & city view. Upon graduating school, I landed my "dream job" as a corporate stylist at a very well known company. I had dreamed about this my whole college career and although I genuinely loved what I did- I realized that as much as I thought it was, it wasn't my "passion". I moved on to other things and missed the fashion industry, so started writing a bit and that's when Styl'd Grace was born. I never had a goal of "X" amount of followers, "X" amount of page views, none of that! I knew that I wanted my platform to always be genuine and true to myself, so that's what I promised myself it would always be. Since then, Blogging has become sort of the "thing" to do. My Blog was never meant to be a "Brand"- it was sort of just mine and has since grown into what it is today.
Working in the corporate world, especially as a young woman of color- it's not-so common to see others like yourself in the workforce. I wanted to build a platform where other women can not only get caught up on some trends that are "in", but also be lifted up in other ways, through such as my weekly inspiration pieces or my series #BossBabes where I feature women who are doing amazing things! There are so many beautiful souls in the world, and I feel as if so many of them are overlooked and feel forgotten about. I want to change that. DESCRIBE HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO BLOGGING?
Welll..my blog was the effect of a lot of events. For one, I always loved to write. I told myself when I was little that I would be a magazine editor.
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"THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL SOULS IN THE WORLD, AND I FEEL
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BLOGGING STYLE?
Genuine. As stated previously, I knew from the jump that I wanted my blog to be my own voice. I try my hardest to bring my readers things that are inspiring, honest and fun wrapped up in one. I'm sarcastic, like to have fun, and am grateful for every moment. I try to reflect that in my writing style. WHAT TYPE OF NETWORKING DO YOU THINK IS BETTER TO ENHANCE YOUR TRAFFIC TO THE BLOG?
I would for sure say social media is great, but nothing beats in person networking. Anyone can type behind a computer, but face-to-face networking is still the best way to get yourself out there! It's always good to put a face to a social handle and meet others who share the same interests as you.
"I was noticing how so many women were tearing each other down, instead of uplifting each other as we should and wanted to change that!"
HOW DO YOU MANAGE TIME TO RUN YOUR BLOG EFFICIENTLY?
I would say- Plan, Plan Plan! I live by my planner and have no idea what I would do without it. Having a 9-5 while running a full time blog is not easy, but is sure capable if you are able to manage your time efficiently. I would say, be sure to block off time for your platform- whether daily or weekly, to get done what you need to. At first, I totally tried to just "wing it", fitting my blog in when I could and I totally failed, LOL.
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IN THE FUTURE WHERE DO YOU HOPE YOUR BLOG WILL TAKE YOU?
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BEST STRATEGY THAT WORKED WELL FOR YOU TO GET MORE TRAFFIC TO YOUR BLOG?
As of now, I really don't know. I love my full time job, so leaving that behind and committing to Styl'd Grace 9-5 is
Great photos and Authenticity! Being that there is soooo
currently not an option. I would, however, would love forÂ
many blogs out there right now, I would say find your niche that fits your personality, your style & stick to it! Being yourself is the one thing that will separate you from others. Also, I would say consistency is the next best thing. Be sure to give your readers something to look forward to- having new posts, updates, etc. on a regular basis will give your target audience something to look forward to!
handle on all social media, buying your own domain, etc. are really important when first starting out. Starting out with a really good "blog foundation" is really important and
Ah so many! I love Mattie James from Mattieologie- I've been following her for a while and just respect her hustle honestly. She is very open with her readers and is always giving tips and plans as to how she got her blog to what it is today. Another one is Grasie Mercedes from StylemeGrasie- I just think she's cool. Like- I would love to sit and have coffee with seem very down to earth even though they both have really big followings, which I really love.
My number one tip I always tell others is to do your research! Little things like making sure you have the same
CAN YOU NAME SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE BLOGGERS AND EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE YOUR FAVOURITES?
her and just hear her life story. Both of these women just
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT BLOGGING IS AN EASY. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR THOSE THAT WANT TO START A BLOG?
gets you aligned for future potential growth!
"Having a 9-5 while running a full time blog is not easy, but is sure capable if you are able to manage your time efficiently."
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2018 SPRING/SUMMERÂ OUTFIT OF THE DAY
Backpack
HANDBAGS Floral
Top Handle
Belt Bag
You can shop these trendy looks right at your fingertip by clicking on each photo. (only for digital) Fringe Crossbody Clutch
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"THE TYPE OF HANDBAG YOU WEAR SAYS A LOT ABOUT YOU!"
@natashandlovu
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INFLUENCER & GIRL BOSS STYLE FEATURE TAMARA KALINIC OF THE GLAM AND GLITTER
Check out Tamara Kalinic's collection of handbags on her blog. CLICK HERE (only for digital)
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The Clear Out THE CLEAR PVC TREND IS HERE TO SHINE
Inspo
@songofstyle
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Click each item to shop (only for digital)
BUILDING YOUR DREAM TEAM By: Moni Demaris A company cannot be successful with just one person. You have to build a strong team in order to grow and mature into a larger corporation. Below I am giving you 5 essential tips on building your dream team.Â
1. Handing over control It will take some trial and error to find the right fit to join your team, especially if you have been doing everything for your business solo. It is all about handing over all control and focusing on networking and strategically thinking of the bigger goals to allow your business to grow.
2. Company culture Define your company culture and value before you decide to bring on a team. Once you know the company culture you start seeking those type of candidates. Company morale plays a big part in the retention rate and you start to see how each employee is valued.
3. Value adding candidates It is easy to say that you just need help with certain task that you can't ever get to. But what you really need is each team member to add value. Think about that are your weaknesses and build your team around the skills that you need help with.
4. Personalities Of course everyone has different personalities, so keep that in mind when building your team. But everyone has to get along and works together as "ONE" team. The bottom line is you want those individual that is going to take the company to the next level.
5. Work ethic and drive Look for candidates that have a solid work ethic and is willing to go over and above to make the company grow. The drive level has to be on your level as if they already see the bigger goals months ahead of time.
MASSIMO DUTTI SPRING-SUMMER 2018
5 WAYS TO STAY INSPIRED AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY MAX LEE
Set and Maintain a Regular Target Set a realistic target goals everyday and maintain decent time management.
"Find a good group of people that can challenge you and still be your biggest cheerleader." A lot of people enter into the entrepreneur world every day. But only a few of them become successful and continue on the journey. A big part of the entrepreneur community quits after a short period of time. Why? Because of burnout. I have laid out some excellent tips on staying inspired and avoiding getting to this stagnant stage. In this quest of building your business with the drive and ambition, here is ways to discover some of the best ways to avoid burnout and find inspiration.
Routine Divide twenty-four hours of the day equally into task. f you do not give regular attention to these important tasks, you will lose focus and find yourself being uninspired.
Develop Ideas The best way of keeping up with inspiration is by developing new ideas. This shifting lets you discover and study new ways to grow your business.
Identify Competitors & Observe Their Strategy Healthy competition in developing ideas on the same niche can actually enrich you, as well as provide an incentive for continuing to grow your business.
Create a Circle Finding mentors or sponsors that are seasoned veterans in your niche. Having lots of people in your corner helps you in avoiding burnout. Find a good group of people that can challenge you and still be your biggest cheerleader.
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SHIVA TAVAKOLI FOUNDER JOON HAIRCARE A haircare line that pairs ancient Persian secrets with modern chemistry.
W
hen did you start your business(s) and tell us the story behind your brand(s)?
My brother and I grew up in the haircare industry. My father owned a chain of salons and at one point had over 150 salons based mostly in Houston. He would stock the shelves of his salons with these national haircare lines. He realized he wasn’t happy with them; they weren’t effective or the ingredient list in many cases was not the best. So he started his own haircare laboratory and launched his own line. I grew up in this haircare world. Meanwhile, during the summers, I spent with my family in Iran. My grandfather was an spice exporter, so he would export Persian spices, herbs and nuts such as saffron, pistachio, etc. to European countries. My grandmother and aunts would use many of these same pure ingredients in not only their cooking, but also their beauty rituals. In fact, some of these beauty rituals have been around for centuries, passed down from mother to daughter, grandmother to granddaughter. We officially launched Joon Haircare in October 2017. I launched Joon, because I wanted to create a line that marries ancient Persian rituals with modern science. It was something I had never seen done before.
Who or what inspires you to chase your dreams? I have always been ambitious. I always wanted to create something great and bigger than myself.
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OUR LINE IS INSPIRED BY MIXTURE OF SCENTS AND FLAVORS INSPIRED BY BRIGHT PERSIAN PLANT-BASED INFUSIONS THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN DONE IN BEAUTY BEFORE. Until a few years ago, I didn’t know what that was. It never occurred to me when I was younger that I would work in the same industry as my family business. I also come from an immigrant background so I was always encouraged by my parents to work hard and make something of myself. In fact, I say the inspiration behind Joon goes far beyond just my background. Joon’s story is really an immigrant story, an underdog story about celebrating your history no matter where you come from. It’s about pushing past boundaries, hardships, borders or stereotypes. With Joon, I also seek to include minority women who are often left out of the beauty conversation. Why did you decide to start your business(s)? Many people in the beginning tried to talk me out of branding my line as "Persian," but I think that is what set us apart. There are plenty of haircare lines, but I know we had something unique with Joon. Our line is inspired by mixture of scents and flavors inspired by bright Persian plant-based infusions that I have never seen done in beauty before. We also have a very strong story and mission.
What is your dream-level goal for your business(s)? I want to first establish a strong direct-to-consumer business, so I can directly talk to my Joonies. I also have my eye on certain retailers and salons that I can see Joon in. Lastly, I hope to have a chain of Joon stores; of course, the stores have to be very experience driven and experiential-based in today’s world. What does your current business model look like? Currently, we sell directly to customers on our website as well as salons and boutiques. I am the only full time person working on Joon so I handle anything from sourcing packaging, product development, marketing, PR, content creation, customer service, business strategy, etc. My brother works part-time on Joon and mostly handles wholesale accounts and pursuing leads, and we have two other people who help us with graphic design and shipping when we need it. Additionally, we have our chemist and staff who help with manufacturing the actual product.
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Talk us through what your typical day looks like.
What's next for your business(s)?
Everyday is different, but these days I wake up anywhere from 6 to 8 AM depending on the things I need to accomplish. I try to work out in the morning. Lately, I’ve been needing my coffee, so sometimes I’ll run out for Starbucks. I usually work from home on things that require more focus in the morning and go to the office late morning or in the afternoon. Right now we are working on product development, so I have been going to the office earlier.
We are working on new products! A few months ago I asked my Joonies (email subscribers/customers) what products they want to see next and they told me shampoo and conditioner! So there will be a Persian twist on that.
What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out? To have patience on the journey, because business is a marathon, not a sprint. If it gets tough or you feel like you are getting bogged down in the everyday details, just remember why you started and think of the bigger picture. Visualization can help.
Where can people find you? (include website and social) Our website is www.joonhaircare.com where you can purchase or sign up for our email list. I share things with my email subscribers that I don’t share elsewhere. They get to decide what products we make next and get a behind the scenes look. We are also very active on our Instagram @joonhaircare and Facebook, which is also @joonhaircare.
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Who or what inspires you to chase your dreams? My parents were refugees from Vietnam and struggled to give me and our family a better life. I am reminded everyday of their sacrifices and it pushes me to work harder and persevere. Why did you decide to start your business? After having difficulty finding outfits for my engagement photos in 2013, I noticed there weren't a lot of resources out there that provided "photogenic" clothing. I decided to create an online store where beautiful clothing was more accessible to women everywhere.
Kim Le Pham GIRL BOSS BEHIND THE BRAND MORNING LAVENDER, AN ONLINE WOMEN'S BOUTIQUE FEATURING FRESH & FEMININE FINDS FOR THE EVERYDAY GIRL. When did you start your business and tell us the story behind your brand? Morning Lavender was started in 2014. As a wedding photographer and fashion blogger, I wanted to create a brand that featured classic and feminine clothing for the everyday woman. I carefully curate each and every product for a woman who wants to look and feel feminine. Our shop offers stylish dresses, tops, bottoms and accessories - all with a feminine flair and sophisticated style and all at reasonable prices. We strive to find the pretty pieces that make you feel special when you put them on. We want to make all women feel empowered and to look and feel beautiful in their everyday lives. We buy limited quantities to ensure the freshness of our styles and constantly update our collection by finding styles that are flattering and most of all - pretty.
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"WE WANT TO MAKE ALL WOMEN FEEL EMPOWERED AND TO LOOK AND FEEL BEAUTIFUL IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES." What is your dream-level goal for your business? After opening 2 brick-and-mortar stores and our first cafe, I'm excited for the possibility of opening more locations throughout the country! What does your current business model look like? We are fortunate to have a team of 40 employees between our warehouse and retail locations. Our Morning Lavender team has become our second family and each member is invested in the growth of our company as well as the happiness of our customers. Between Inventory Management, Customer Service, Retail Sales and Barista duties, everyone has a specific role and understands how they contribute to building our brand and providing a unique service and product to our customers.
Talk us through what your typical day looks like. I do a little bit of everything each day and every day is a little different, which makes it very fun and exciting! I am always checking emails and messages as well as having my hand in buying, marketing, managing and forecasting. I bounce back between our cafe, retail locations and warehouse to make sure each department is functioning as they should and finding ways to improve our processes and grow our business. The ideas never end and the possibilities are endless which I am most excited about. What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out? I would tell someone starting out to do what feels right. A lot of people want to give you advice but it's important to stay true to yourself, your passion and you values. Remember why you started and make every decision with that reason in mind.
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What's next for your business?
Where can people find you?
We want to continue to provide a great product to our customers and in doing so, we want to find ways to improve our processes and customer service. It's important to us to create a wonderful experience for our customers and employees. After that, we hope to open more locations and bring our unique brand across the country!
www.laceandlock.com is my personal and fashion blog and www.morninglavender.com is our online clothing boutique Instagram - @laceandlocks (personal) Instagram - @shopmorninglavender (online clothing boutique)
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Zara | Spring / Summer 2018
Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures - LEWIS CARROLL
@spiritedpursuit