Wear Your Dreams by Alice Oluyitan

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 10 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Chrissy Rutherford, the Senior Digital Editor at Harper's Bazaar. Originally from Westchester New York, Chrissy has had a passion for clothing and fashion from a young age. After graduating from her major in Communications, she cultivated her digital saviness while working as an assistant at InStyle.com and FashionEtc.com. She currently lives in Manhattan and is marking her 5th year working at Harper's Bazaar! Here’s what we learned from Chrissy: Chrissy talks about how tough it is to break into the fashion industry. There are so many sectors within this industry, so it is important to keep as many options open as possible. This was one of the reasons why Chrissy chose to study Communications as opposed to a strictly fashion degree. Communications enabled her to pursue an interest in Media Studies, which introduced her to the field of magazine editing! Whether you are an upcoming designer, or you are simply looking for an intern position, be persistent in getting yourself recognised! As the Digital Editor at Harper's Bazaar, Chrissy is often emailed by new designers who want to get their designs noticed. She explains that the fashion environment is always hectic, and emails sometimes get skimmed over and missed, so be sure to be determined to get your work noticed! At the end of the day, your determination will make others respect you, so believe in your talent and don't let it go to waste! Chrissy's job enables her to look out for upcoming designers and fresh talent. One of her favourite ways to do this is through social media. If you want your designs to be noticed then make sure you create an amazing online portfolio using Instagram, Twitter & Tumblr etc. This is will get people talking about your brand and word of mouth can go a long way! When interning for companies, such as Harper's Bazaar, it is essential that you prove that you have passion AND knowledge for the industry. Reading lots of fashion magazines and knowing the latest designers is key to impressing your peers. To make yourself stand out, you must show that you have a really deep interest in the field. Chrissy advises interns to express their passion by always approaching tasks with a positive attitude. When people ask you to do task, do it with a smile on your face! Chrissy's Triple Love Round Answers: A quote that she loves: “Think highly of yourself because the world takes you at your own estimate.” This was the quote Chrissy wrote in her senior year book! A blog that she loves: Intothegloss! Chrissy loves reading about what products people are currently loving. A woman she loves: Rihanna! Not only is the girl boss a style inspiration for Chrissy, but she also admires her confidence and ability to always remain fierce. Want to learn more about Chrissy? You can stay up to date with Chrissy's trendy lifestyle and upcoming projects by following her on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat! (@chrissyford) Oh, and Harper's Bazaar of course! What did you think of our convo with Chrissy? Let us know by leaving a comment below or tweeting at @gbemigirls!

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 8 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Sharmadean Reid, a London-based Creative Consultant & Stylist, and Founder of the ultra trendy business, WAH nails. Sharmadean is passionate about beauty, art and technology, and this is reflected in her self-made business! The visually creative and psychedelic nature of WAH nails reflects all things Sharmadean, including her taste in fashion and her personality! As a female entrepreneur, she has stayed true to her brand, and is the definition of a #girlboss! Here’s what we learned from Sharmadean: Before creating her own business, Sharmadean worked in fashion as a Stylist and Brand Consultant. She was surrounded by fashionable and creative influencers, and this inspired her to launch her own successful brand. She received great experience and picked up valuable skills that enabled her to make her creative vision possible. She learnt how to create a name for herself and how to market her brand!  From working in fashion, Sharmadean developed an appreciation for colour coordination and accessories. She appreciates prints, patterns and textures. She especially loves transforming her favourite art into unique nail designs. Sharmadean is fearless in her creativity; she loves to create new, innovative designs that no one has been brave enough to try before! Sharmadean encourages our listeners to keep talking about their dreams! Be excited about your brand, and other people will be excited too! By throwing herself into different work environments, Sharmadean learnt how to get influential people interested in her brand. She created a tight network of people in fashion, art and music, and was able to get everyone talking about her brand!  Sharmadean's entrepreneurial journey is one huge learning curve. It is both a creative and self-developing process! Being your own boss means teaching yourself whilst also teaching the people around you. It's a hands on job, but a completely worthwhile effort! Sharmadean's Triple Love Round Answers: A book she loves: Zero to One by Peter Thiel. This book gives great advice on how to start your own business, and is a must-read for any budding entrepreneur! A quote that she loves: ‘Sleep is for billionaires’. Sharmadean explains that business is a hustle and you must ALWAYS be proactive- you haven't got time to rest! A woman who inspires her: Lynne Murray, she's a businesswoman who works on projects surrounding augmented reality technology- such an innovative and exciting idea! With Sharmadean's passion for digital, it's no surprise that she finds Lynne inspiring! Want to learn more about Sharmadean? Check out the WAH nails website for awesome nail art inspiration! You can also follow Sharmadean on Twitter and Instagram! (@sharmadeanreid). What did you think of our convo with Sharmadean? Let us know by leaving a comment below or tweeting at @gbemigirls!

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 7 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Allia Al Rufai, a Fashion Stylist and Consultant based in India. From working on a Bollywood Movie set, her skill and passion was instantly recognised and she soon started working as a Fashion Assistant at Harper's Bazaar India! She has since worked her way up the ladder, working impressive roles as Chief Stylist and Fashion Editor, whilst simultaneously managing the Magazine's Mumbai office! Here’s what we learned from Allia: Don't give up on your dream. Although Allia was passionate about fashion from a young age, she never studied fashion. Instead she completed a Masters degree in Commerce and an International Understanding Course in India. An opportunity came along to intern for a Bollywood movie, and Allia decided it was the right time to pursue her true passion. The movie was about the fashion industry. Not only was Allia exposed to the world of fashion, but she got to work with the best models, photographers and designers in India. Although the hours were long and the work was hard, Allia always worked with a positive attitude and a smile on her face. This resulted in Allia being recommended for more brilliant job opportunities!   Always work with a positive attitude and be willing to adapt to new situations and environments. Soon after Allia's costume design internship, she was approached to work for Harper's Bazaar. She worked her way up from a runner, to a fashion editor to a fashion stylist! Naturally, this involved a variety of roles and challenges, each of which Allia accepted. She valued the different learning experiences that each role offered!   Always be a step ahead of the game! Allia discusses the competitiveness of the fashion industry and how you have to make yourself really stand out in order to get noticed. Allia advises girls that want to break into the industry to do their research and stay on top of the latest trends. Be attentive to relevant blogs and magazines to constantly expand your knowledge of the fashion industry!   Watch and learn from the people around you. Always look for opportunities to learn more and develop yourself into the best you can possibly be. Allia's Triple Love Round Answers: A blog she loves: Whowhatwear! A relatable blog that every girl can identify with. A quote that she loves: “I believe that you should give away everything that you know, and more will come back to you.”  Allia loves to share her knowledge and inspire people. She believes holding on to things doesn’t leave room for growth. The more you give away, the more you keep your mind open and free, and allow room for new knowledge! A woman who inspires her: Her mother! A key figure in Allia's life who has constantly guided, encouraged and supported her dreams. Want to learn more about Allia Al Rufai? Check out Allia's website to see her exciting work projects and advertising campaigns! You can also follow her on Instagram to see her own personal style, which we absolutely adore! (@alliaalrufai)

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 6 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Debbie Shasanya, who is an established magazine assistant at ASOS. Since joining the ASOS team in 2011, Debbie has starred in Coco-Cola print adverts for ASOS, and has modelled for brand campaigns. We LOVE Debbie's inspirational career journey- She started off working in a job that she wasn't passionate about and decided to pursue her dream! Debbie is currently living her dream and working as an ASOS insider, as well as building a successful following on her stylish Instagram!  Here’s what we learned from Debbie: Like many graduates coming out of fashion related degrees, Debbie struggled to find a career in fashion. It's a saturated and competitive industry, but you shouldn't let this scare you. Debbie advises our listeners to engage with social media platforms by establishing your brand, voice and identity on Instagram and Tumblr. It's important to make yourself stand out! If you are working a job that doesn't excite you, then ask yourself if it is the right career for you. Debbie found that working in the Police Communicator's Office did not satisfy her passion. She trusted her heart and followed her roots back to the fashion industry, and now she couldn't be happier! Seize the day and make the most out of opportunities. During Debbie's year of unemployment after leaving the police department, she secured herself an internship at ASOS within the fashion team. Her hardwork, passion and eagerness to help others resulted in her referral for more intern work, which eventually led to her being offered a full-time job. Be proactive and don't wait for opportunities to walk into your life! Go pursue them! An important thing that you can do while you are searching for your dream job is market yourself through social media. Connect yourself with other creative individuals, and surround yourself with industry-relevant people! Networking is so important as it makes people take you seriously. Treat your Instagram as a visual CV and make it reflect the type of person you are, and the work that you are passionate about. Debbie's Triple Love Round Answers: A magazine she loves: Magnify Magazine A quote that she loves: ‘Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.’ - Marilyn Monroe. Debbie believes that life has its ups and downs, but better things are always around the corner. Want to learn more about Debbie Shasanya? To learn about Debbie's style ('Solange meets Hillary Banks'), hear about how she changed careers at a crucial point in her life, and how she developed her intern experience to become a magazine assistant at ASOS, listen to the full #WearYourDreams episode! What did you think of our convo with Debbie? Let us know by leaving a comment below or tweeting at @gbemigirls! Want to learn more about Debbie Shasanya? Follow her on Instagram (@asos_debbies) and prepare to be in awe of her perfect style!

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 5 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Chelsea Matthews, who is the CEO and founder of Matte Black, a culture marketing firm based in Los Angeles. (She's also friends with our girl Puno!) Chelsea has been in social media marketing for over 5 years, and some of her clients include Corepower Yoga, TOMS, and many more. She was recognized as a Tastemaker to Know and has been spotlighted in the Huffington Post and YouTube's The Stylish. Here's what we learned from Chelsea: Network, network, network! It's super important to go out and make connections whenever possible because you never know when you'll need them. Chelsea made lots of connections when she worked in fashion, so when she started working as a social media freelancer, she already had a big network of people that she could reach out to! Even though social media marketing is super helpful when building your brand, you've got to use other forms of digital marketing too. So branch out beyond Twitter and Instagram! Try starting a blog or send out an email newsletter - just get your content out on multiple platforms. You're never too small to act big when it comes to building your team, so even if your team is small, make sure it has structure. It's also super important to support and empower your team because it'll only bring success and positive results! If there's something you want to do, tell the whole world about it! Talk about what you want to achieve because if you're not open about what your goals are, people won't be able to help you and connect you with helpful resources. Even if your project isn't perfect yet, just tell people about it! Chelsea's Triple Love Round Answers A book she loves: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon A quote that she loves: "There's no 'I' in success." Chelsea feels that success is never created alone - it comes when others challenge your ideas or add their creative input. An inspirational woman that she loves: Kelly Wearstler, who is an interior designer that started her own global lifestyle brand To learn about Chelsea's cool fashion background, hear how she started her own marketing firm, and be inspired by a total girlboss, listen to the full #WearYourDreams episode! Want to learn more about Chelsea Matthews? Check out the Matte Black website to learn more about their projects. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter at @chelseamatthews. Check out The Shape Shift Report, which is Matte Black's monthly digital trend and insight publication! What did you think of our convo with Chelsea? Let us know by leaving a comment below or tweeting at @gbemigirls!

This week, Alice has a chat with Natalie Joos, who is a Belgian-born writer, photographer, and stylist living in New York City. She's worked in the fashion industry for more than 17 years! In 2003, she established a successful casting company, where she has cast models for brands like Hugo Boss, Jeremy Scott, and Philip Lim. In 2010, Natalie launched her own blog called Tales of Endearment, where she shares her passion for vintage and fashion. Here's what we learned from Natalie: When starting your fashion career, you must have a positive energy and say yes to anything. Be confident in your abilities, and you'll go far! Be persistent, and don't take no for an answer. If you believe in something, keep going after it! It's super important to get an internship if you want to work in the fashion industry. Start by making a list of the people who you really admire and would love to work for. Then start applying for internships with them! It's also really important to go abroad when you're young. Not only will it boost your fashion knowledge, but it'll help with your growth and maturity. As fashion-obsessed as we are, the world doesn't actually revolve around fashion. That's why Natalie recommends studying broad subjects rather than fashion-focused subjects in school. For example, if you want to work in fashion marketing, studying marketing as a whole so you'll have a broader knowledge and understanding of the topic. Natalie's Triple Love Round Answers A place she loves: her New York apartment A magazine that she loves: Rolling Stone Magazine because she loves reading about politics and music, and it gives her lots of ideas about up-and-coming stars for her shoots! An app that she loves: VSCO Cam, an awesome photo-editing app NetSet, the Net-a-Porter app Raya, a dating app for creative people rewardStyle, an app that lets people buy what their fave bloggers are wearing Vogue Runway, an app that lets you see over 1 million runway looks To learn how Natalie got started in fashion, find out what she looks for in an intern, and learn what her ultimate dream is, listen to the full #WearYourDreams episode! Want to learn more about Natalie Joos? Check out Natalie's blog, Tales of Endearment, to see her amazing work, get updates on her travels, and shop in her cool vintage store. Follow her on Instagram at @jxxsy to see more of her colourful style pics. What did you think of our convo with Natalie? Let us know by leaving a comment below or tweeting at @gbemigirls!

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 3 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Heidi Petitjean, aka Heidi Petite! Heidi is a folk and R&B singer and songwriter, and she also explores the world of art with colour, mixed media, and vinyl work. She is also the founder of Confetti Crowd, which is the UK's 1st official girl gang of creatives. With her friends in Confetti Crowd, Heidi has worked with cool brands like Nike, Schuh, and Lamoda, and she has been flourishing with the London music and fashion scene with her cool music & colourful style. Here's what we learned from Heidi: It's so important to be yourself. You can't please everyone, so don't be afraid to push the boundaries! Stop worrying so much about what other people think. You can't impress everyone, so try to do what makes YOU happy! It'll only ever make you a stronger person. If you have a dream that you're really passionate about, then it IS possible. Make that phone call, send that email, take that course - do everything you can to make your dream come true! We've said it many times before, but it's SO true: push past your fear to make your dreams come true! If you have an idea that you're really passionate about, you just have to go for it! Heidi said that her first musical performance was the scariest thing she'd ever done, but it was also the greatest thing she'd ever done. She pushed past her fear and took the plunge, and now all of her dreams are coming true! Heidi's Dream Moments When she performed for the first time and got loads of positive feedback! When she and her gal pals in Confetti Crowd shot a short film in London - it made them realize that all of their hard work was paying off! Heidi's Triple Love Round Answers A quote she loves: "Spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and a little less time trying to impress people." - Paul Gleeson in The Breakfast Club A book that she loves: Sweet Revenge: The Intimate Life of Simon Cowell by Tom Bower An inspirational woman she loves: Her mother, who is super talented and stylish! To hear about Heidi's musical journey, learn more about Confetti Crowd, and be inspired by a GBEMi girl with sassy style, listen to the full #WearYourDreams episode! Want to learn more about Heidi Petite? Check out her website to learn more about her creative journey. Follow her on Instagram at @heidipetite and Twitter at @HeidiPetite_ to see photos of her colourful style and get updates about her projects. You can learn more about Confetti Crowd by visiting their website and following the other Confetti girls - Helibells, Lulutrixabelle, Tigerlily, and Snoochie Shy.

Welcome to Season 2 Episode 2 of #WEARYOURDREAMS, hosted by Alice Oluyitan and featuring inspirational conversations with girls in business. This week, Alice has a chat with Katia Giorgino, the girl behind the colourful style blog Lazy Kat. Katia started blogging back in 2008 and has worked with cool brands like Skinnydip London and Kenzo. Today, she uses her blog to share her fun and colourful style pics and favourite beauty tips. Here's what we learned from Katia: Blogging isn't as easy as it looks. If you want to start your own fashion blog, it's super important to stay organized and be active all the time. Katia worked very hard to become as successful as she is, and you should too! When it comes to style, you have to stay true to who you are and what you like. Don't wear something just because other people will like it. Think for yourself and dress for yourself, not for other people. Fashion should be fun, so don't be afraid to wear something wacky or bold. Be true to who you are, and have fun with fashion. Katia sure does! Katia's Dream Moment When the Jean Paul Gaultier team asked her to do a photo shoot! We're so jealous!  Katia's Triple Love Round Answers An outfit she loves: her pink cat-print culottes with a matching cape from Paul and Joe Sister A place she loves: London - she believes that Londoners are more open-minded about style An inspirational woman she loves: Miley Cyrus because she doesn't apologize for who she is and she fights for feminism; Lady Gaga because she has such a bold style We also learned that Katia is super inspired by her friend's vegan blog, Il Sera Une Fois. It's helped her think more about what she eats and how she lives! To learn how Katia got the confidence to start blogging full time, hear the hilarious story of how she named her blog, and get great advice from this French babe, listen to the full #WearYourDreams episode!