Stiletto Woman Magazine by Stiletto Woman

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1

Celebrating real women in business and life

www.stilettowoman.com

Mally roncal

from celebrity Makeup artist to International beauty Mogul KRISTIN HUBBARD //

Get to know this fabulous entrepreneur and see why she rocks

PUSHING

THROUGH THE PAIN:

Lissahn DeVance perseveres through tragedy to find success

Volume 4 Issue 1

WINTER 2012

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright ©2009-2012. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, online, or mechanical including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews. DISCLAIMER: Stiletto Woman and its editors have made every effort to provide accurate and timely information. The publisher, contributors, editors, and other related associates do not assume responsibility for information that is incorrect or omitted. Stiletto Woman disclaims neglect, liability, and damages as a result of erroneous information. We do not express endorsement or validity of any company, website, or blog. The content provided is solely for informational purposes.

GENERAL REQUESTS: info@stilettowoman.com PUBLISHING & WRITING OPPORTUNITIES: editor@stilettowoman.com ADVERTISEMENTS: info@stilettowoman.com ONLINE: www.stilettowoman.com Volume 4, Issue 1 (2012) ISSN: 1947-9999 (Print) ISSN: 1948-0008 (Online)

founder & PublISher edItorIal advISorS Karlena L. Wallace

ManagIng edItor

Janet Allebre T. Hardiman

Teresa Bowman

coluMnISt

creatIve deSIgn

Amy Barnes

Emma Looney

editorial/operations

Web tech & deSIgn

Natasha Cline

oPeratIonS/ adMInIStratIon

Maureen Francisco

Teresa Bowman Leslie Walker

Mally Roncal

Zoe (Chic & Sassy)

correSPondent on the cover

contribute to StIletto WoMan We’re looking for sharp writers and great photographers. If you have some experience, and would like to share your work with our supportive group of women, we’d enjoy hearing from you! Log on to our website at: www.stilettowoman.com to get information on how to submit your inquiry. If you have questions, please email us at: info@stilettowoman.com.

We look forward to your submission!

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STILETTO WOMAN

Mally roncal:

From Celebrity Makeup Artist to International Beauty Mogul

14 6

Mally roncal: International

beauty mogul

10 13

KrIStIn hubbard:

Get to Know This Fabulous Entrepreneur and See Why She Rocks

PuShIng through the PaIn:

Lissahn DeVance Perseveres Through Tragedy to Find Success

go after the bIg fISh! be unStoPPable! doIng good:

Feel Your Boobies

from the publisher So we’ve made it to 2012! What a wonderful feeling! We can’t forget about those everyday blessings. To be here—to be in business—to be doing what you’re passionate about is a gift, and I’m elated to be right there cheering you along the way. Stiletto Woman is evolving, but the core of what we do and who we are remains the same, and so this issue won’t disappoint. You’ll ﬁnd the strategy and inspiration you’ve come to expect—the great design and authentic voice that makes our brand unique. This issue I was privileged to have a candid conversation with Mally Roncal, an international beauty mogul that turned her dream into an empire. Additionally, women like Lissahn DeVance and Kristin Hubbard epitomize perseverance; each woman demonstrates fearless living, and encourages us all to do the same. As always, we bring you personal stories, professional proﬁles, and advice on solo entrepreneurship—giving you valuable content for today’s contemporary woman! Until next time,

Karlena L. Wallace 3

ROCK BUSINESS

YOUR WAY!

BOOK AVAILABLE NOW Stilettopreneurs Rock: Trading in Your Corporate Stilettos for the CEO Mindset

› by K.L. Wallace

A Stilettopreneur is a woman rockin’ business her way. She’s on ﬁre for her business, and not playing it safe!

StilettopreneursRock.com

See Why

Kristin Hubbard ROC KS!

“I believe my life itself is an accomplishment.”

I believe my life itself is an accomplishment. Raised in a blue collar family, we all worked together to live day by day. That experience gave me the fire, passion and determination to create my own future. And so I did. Supporting myself through college, I was the first in my family to earn a degree. When I stepped into the corporate world, I conquered. With no experience and limited resources, I created multiple million dollar accounts. Those successes gave me the motivation to establish my independence. Our DJ Rocks is an entertainment company based in Central Florida. Launched in 2010 as an independent DJ company, we quickly expanded to offer not only interactive DJ services, MC and event hosting, but also lighting decor and photo / video booth rental. With 8 years of experience in the male dominated entertainment industry, I took the leap of faith to fulfill a void in the market; the need for a modern and chic DJ and MC. As the only 20-something, female DJ in the industry, Our DJ Rocks bring into play the newest technology and latest music trends. I inspire with personality and energy.

Website: www.ourdjrocks.net

Favorite Indulgence: Nutella

Where to find her: Orlando, Florida Favorite Web site: Facebook, because

Favorite CD or Song: Firework

I am socially obsessed.

Favorite Getaway: Yoga

How do you define success? Having the ability to create my day, schedule my week, and mold my life to have balance. Realistically, success is a blend of time and income; the freedom to choose a game night with my family, lunch with the girls or beach day with my Aunt Lisa. What is one challenge you did not plan for, and how did you overcome it? If I had to make a list of every challenge that I might have encountered while launching my company, I would have never done it. It’s about being fearless. By investing my heart and soul into Our DJ Rocks, I did not account for how much time would be taken from my family. It’s a true compromise between my passion and drive versus my family’s support and understanding. Without that, I would not be as successful as I am.

by Katy Perry or Boyce Avenue

to complete. The ladder of success is best achieved one step at a time. Is there one woman who has influenced you? How has that impacted your life? Where my mother has been essential in teaching me independence and values; it is my Aunt Lisa who has taught me how to visualize, refine my focus, be fearless, and be a woman. She leads by example. Because of how she lives her life and how she overcomes her obstacles, it has influenced me to do the same. She has taught me that what you put into the universe is what you get out. And as my girls grow into women, I too will lead by example and teach them to be courageous and the power of goal setting. If I can influence their lives half as much as my Aunt Lisa has mine, I will have succeeded as their female role model.

What advice would you give about obtaining a goal?

What have you learned from your journey to share with others?

First, create a vision board of your goals. This will act as your motivator. Next, decide your timeline, I would recommend no more than 12 months to start. Once you create your long term goals, you’ll need a daily to-do list to manage your quick and easy tasks and a weekly list for projects that take more time and research

Dream Big. Envision Goals. Take Risks. Be Fearless. Get Organized. Make a difference and don’t forget to enjoy it. I challenge you to jumpstart your dreams. There are many roads that lead to your destination. The journey starts now, pick a road, no excuses, just do it.

❤❤ Made by Hand

❤ $

❤❤ Lori started making jewelry in 1990 when she became weary of paying so much money in the stores for cool styles. She is classically self-educated in the art of jewelry making through ferociously reading volumes of books on the subject and through the labor intensive method of trial and error. Lori’s sole intention is always to craft something that is so unique and so emotionally evocative that each woman who wears her jewelry would immediately catch Lori’s aesthetic vision and make it her own.

❤ $

www.etsy.com/shop/heartworksbylori Photos: HeartWorks by Lori

Business in stilettos:

Go After the Big Fish! Be Unstoppable! Today, I felt an overwhelming need to connect with you. I attempted to log on to Twitter, and the spirited little whale told me it was a bit overcrowded, so I took to the keys (keyboard that is). So what’s been up? It’s been a while. I have to say, so much has been going on in my neck of the woods. We have Stiletto

Woman Magazine, the flagship to all we do. I am ecstatic about our growth, as the publication expands in new and exciting directions. But there’s so much more. We’ve recently launched a few new initiatives to help women become stronger leaders to better conceptualize and develop sustainable businesses, which has been exhilarating. The SWIBA

Awards is a trailblazing effort that has grown to become a movement all its own. We even have an exciting new tour on the horizon, a social event like none-other; an opportunity for us to meet women entrepreneurs in various cities nationwide! So for the most part, my plate has been full. Right now though, I have many ideas swirling in my head and in my heart. For example, I have this burning journalism project that’s been sitting on the back burner, yet keeps surfacing as this rush of creative brilliance that needs to be explored and shared with the world. But there are many pieces to it. Do I have time? Will I be able to make it work? Will it be as brilliant as I anticipate? Truth is, I don’t know. Will I move forward and pursue it? Not sure yet. And the book; let me talk about that a second. My new book, Stilettopreneurs Rock! Trading in Your Corporate Stilettos for the CEO Mindset, has officially launched after much deliberation, enormous tweaking, and relentless vigor. I must admit, I’m exceedingly filled with joy and accomplishment, while being inundated with hesitance and anxiety. Will people get it? Will it resonate? For me, it’s not so much about making millions (though I wouldn’t shy away from more zeros in my bank account), but at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what the business is doing, or what I’m accomplishing personally—if the purpose is not fulfilled, it becomes a waste of

effort. And one thing I know for sure—that greater purpose is much bigger than me! Over the last few weeks, I’ve reflected on my nearly decade’s worth of entrepreneur experience, and I have to say I’m amazed at my own steadfastness. Have you done that? Have you taken the time recently to reminisce over your hurdles and accomplishments? It can either make you incredibly joyful or reluctantly sorrowful. I’ve found myself relishing in both emotions. When pitching a new idea recently, I began thinking “How could they NOT jump on this idea, its awesome!” In the same moment, I felt self-doubt creep in and I questioned if it could really be done, and if I was the right person to do it. Yet, there have always been, and I hope will continue to be this underlying perseverance inside that goes after the big fish—the fervor that makes the naysayers wish they had the same courage. In short, I didn’t want much today, except to purge a bit and encourage you to keep pushing. Winning and losing, joy and sorrow, confidence and fear ... Can I? Will I? Should I? is part of life. And you know what, it’s part of business too, even when you’ve been at it a while. You can’t let fear be debilitating. Just keep going. Be unstoppable!

Karlena 11

WWW.LULUS.COM

Photos: lulus.com

doing good:

Feel Your Boobies Feel Your Boobies® was founded in 2004 after Leigh Hurst was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33. She found her lump simply by “feeling her boobies”, not through a formal selfbreast exam. What originally started as a few fun t-shirts she designed to remind her friends to “feel their boobies”. She quickly realized that her mission was much larger than t-shirts alone. Since that realization, the Feel Your Boobies Foundation’s “Are You Doing It?” Reminder Campaign has become an international media campaign that focuses 100% on using unexpected & unconventional methods to spread this life saving message to young women.

through to young women. From this basic idea, Feel Your Boobies was born.

about the founder

To read more about Leigh’s story or to inquire about speaking engagements, visit www.saysomethingbig.com.

Like so many young women diagnosed with breast cancer, Leigh’s breast cancer diagnosis seemed to come from out of nowhere. Having been an avid runner and triathlete and having no family history of the disease, the words “breast cancer” rarely even crossed her mind. But after feeling a lump in her breast that was undetected by doctors and finding out two years later that this lump in fact was cancer (Stage 1), Leigh realized that truly anyone is at risk of developing breast cancer and that being in touch with your body can help ensure an early diagnosis and possibly save your life. She also wondered why, as a health conscious person, she had not thought more about breast cancer and came to the conclusion that the messages that are out there simply don’t get

Having spent her career focused on consulting in the area of learning theory, media strategy and behavior change, Leigh was familiar with honing messages to match her audience. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Ithaca College and went on to earn two Master’s Degrees (Florida State & Northwestern University) in the areas of Learning Sciences & Simulation Technologies. She worked for Accenture doing business consulting in the area of eLearning, and helped several small companies create and launch their eLearning product lines. This background helped her create a campaign that is not only spreading this lifesaving message to an underserved audience, it’s actually saving lives.

www.feelyourboobies.com

Meet this beauty mogul up close and personal

Cover Story

Mally RONCAL Interview by Karlena L. Wallace

With an indelible charm and 1000-watt smile, celebrity make-up artist, Mally Roncal has turned some brushes and a set of pigments, along with an endless passion for beauty, into an enviable empire. Internationally known and revered, Mally’s innovative brand goes beyond her as a personality—it encompasses a successful product line as well as a cutting-edge web experience. Mally has an awe-inspiring ability to create a range of looks from au naturale, sexy-chic and girl-next door to ultra-glam, high-fashion and avant-garde. Her stunningly diverse breadth of work continues to garner her numerous prominent clients and gigs: her clientele includes Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Heidi Klum; her editorial portfolio boasts covers and spreads for Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, InStyle and Glamour; and her high-profile events include the Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammy’s, MTV Video Music Awards and New York Fashion Week shows for top designers, such as Tracy Reese and Isaac Mizrahi.

Karlena L. Wallace: Hello Mally, thank you so much for joining me. How are you doing? Mally Roncal: I’m doing great, mama. Thank you so much for having me. KLW: You are very welcome. You’re so beautiful, and I’m excited to have the opportunity to speak with you today. I want to get started by letting our audience know more about your background. How did you get started in the beauty industry? How did you know this career was for you?

MR: It was something I always wanted to do. I really wanted to be a dermatologist to start my own line of make-up. I kind of skipped over that med school part and went right into creating the make-up line. I was blessed enough to have a really great make-up artist career, which allowed me to segue into the Mally makeup line. It’s something that I didn’t necessarily plan. But I listened to where the universe was guiding me; the right time to strike and present my line to the world.

I want to empower women. I want to educate them and encourage them. I believe that your most beautiful days

are ahead of you.

MR: Well actually, I’m Filipino and a daughter of two doctors, so I wanted to be a doctor when I was growing up, because I wanted to be just like my parents. So in college I majored in pre-med, but I could not deny my love and passion for beauty and fashion; so during college I switched to a fashion design major. I ended up getting into the industry, knowing that I really loved being a make-up artist … so I didn’t honestly believe it was a real job, found out that it was, and just went to town. The rest as they say is history. I just have always joked that I was born with a mascara wand in my hand. KLW: Well I’ve seen some of your past clients—and they are beautiful, obviously, Beyoncé and J-Lo. I know in 2004 you created your cosmetics line … is this something that was always in the works or did this materialize over time? How did it come about for you?

KLW: Now what I love about you Mally, is that you have this signature look that is gorgeous. I see the look on you. I see the look on QVC, and your website—the smoky eye, the shimmer and glow look. That is what you’ve been known for. How did you define your own style? MR: I definitely saw a place for it. When I started searching out to create a signature look, it was a time of a lot of heavy, heavy make-up; lots of foundation—lots of heavy powders. I knew what the world needed was just a very breathable, sexy, young, gooey face, with great definition; a very warm look. Something that was natural, and fresh, but still fierce and fabulous. So that’s one of our Mally Beauty philosophies, aside from being a very serious professional make-up line with high performance cosmetics that doesn’t come off till you decide to take them off. It’s a powerful statement

in terms of how we want to look. I want to empower women. I want to educate them and encourage them. I believe that your most beautiful days are ahead of you, and with me on your side, and our amazing product, I just know that we can accomplish that for every woman out there. KLW: Absolutely. Tell us more about that transition. I think a lot of make-up artists want to work with A-list celebrity clients. How did you go from a makeup artist to being one of the top style makers today—one who has worked with some of the most famous and most beautiful people in the world? MR: I’ll be honest with you, my love, none of it was calculated. It all just kind of came to me. I was very happy being a fashion/make-up artist doing magazines and shows and working on models and as the world does, and how God sort of sends you where you’re supposed to be, my agent started calling me and saying

this actress wants to work with you, she seen your work in the magazines and blah, blah, blah, and it snow balled. It’s like when you work with one person, they get noticed, and they say ooh she looks great, I want to work with that make-up artist—next thing you know the other one’s start calling. Truthfully I didn’t plan it that way! I didn’t ask for it. I think why it turned out that way for me, my love, is because, beside the fact that I take my artistry very seriously and really do want women to look the best they’ve ever looked, but I also believe that I try to be a great cheerleader and an encourager, and someone who tries to make people feel comfortable in who they are. And all the while enhancing how beautiful they can be. So maybe that’s the reason why I got called to work with some of the most amazing performers in the world. KLW: Right! Well I can definitely see how … your personality is infectious, you have such great energy! I see you on QVC; as we’re talking, you can feel that energy, and it’s all part of your personality. You have a gift in that way. That’s fantastic! MR: Well my agents used to tell their buddies that working with Mally is like having your best cup of coffee showing up at your front door, and I believe that’s what it’s all about— that we’re so blessed to even just breathe this air that God’s given us; appreciating and being grateful does rub off on people, and I think maybe that’s why I have the blessing of working every day. KLW: Now to segue more into your product line, Mally Beauty has now become a staple on QVC. It’s in stores now like Henri Bendel. What has been the key to its success? Do you think it’s your personality

behind the brand? Or is it more of a product just speaking for itself? MR: I believe that although it’s a mixture of both, I think that the customer knows that my heart, blood, sweat, and tears, goes into the whole thing—into each product I make, but I also believe that the products speak for themselves. I am a nightmare in the lab [Laughs]. I’m so diligent. It’s funny because I love to have fun and laugh and carry on, but when it comes to my product and serving my Mallynistas—cause that’s what I am—I’m serving them; I take it very seriously. We bring them the most high performance bullet proof long wearing makeup … but not just long wearing as it’ll be on all day; long wearing in that it looks better than you’ve ever looked in your life. We want the makeup to look great in different lights, different situations. Therefore it might be a little mixture of both. I believe in my products, but there is something I have to say as well. If the customer gets the product, and it doesn’t work out for them, then they’re not coming back for more, and I know that. So I have to say it is the product that they like. KLW: And the Mally Beauty product line is great! I’ve gone out to read reviews about your cosmetics all around the world, and it does fit every type of woman. It’s definitely what we’ve been looking for. MR: Aw, God bless you mama! Thank you so much, and like I said aside from my children and my husband, this is why I breathe, this is what I do. To see the aha moment in someone’s face when they swipe on the glosser, and wiggle on the mascara. When I see the joy or the discovery in their face, I live for that moment, and I breathe for that moment. That’s why I’m so happy when someone says they like what we do.

KLW: Now, let’s talk more about what you have coming up, I know you have a new infomercial launching very soon! Will we get to see you in action?

of my friends: make-up artists, hair dressers, blah, blah, blah, always want to start a hair care line! Ok, so what’s so different about this line?

MR: Yes! Absolutely this is not going to be your typical infomercial. It’s very different; we purposely went away from the regular formula for an infomercial.

There are 10,000 shampoos out there in the world … why is yours so different? What is the story? How are you going to sell it? How are you going to convey that message?

We’ve really created a great way to connect with my Mallynistas out there—even the ones we don’t know we have yet, and the ones that’s been

How are you going to be different? What’s going to make that man or woman jump out their seat and say “I need that?” Know your meaningful

My one piece of advice, and it’s very, very powerful, is to know

your meaningful difference. with us for a really long time. You’ll see it all over very soon, and it’s really just a fun place for girls to be girls, and to believe that your most beautiful days are ahead of you. I get so sick and tired, my love, of women saying, that they used to feel pretty in their 20s, 30s, 40s. I don’t believe that, I believe that with my technologies, my education, and my application, that you can, and will be, the most beautiful woman you have ever been today. KLW: I for one can’t wait to see it! With all the wonderful things you’re doing, I know that it’s going to be the bomb! [Laughs]. Now switching gears, more on entrepreneurship, I’d like to know, do you have one piece of advice that you can give to women doing business today, or women that are looking to start their own business. MR: My one piece of advice, and it’s very, very powerful, is to know your meaningful difference. So many

difference, that’s my thing. When we started Mally Beauty I knew we had something different from anyone else out there, and I knew I could be the one to sell it. So there are lots of logistics in terms of how you’re going to sell it. If you don’t have good business sense, find a great business partner that you can trust, and that can see your vision. Make sure it’s not been seen before. Set it free! And you’ll see the magic happen. KLW: Beautiful! Great advice! It’s funny because it’s simple, but difficult at the same time. MR: It is very difficult! There’s a lot of stuff out there Miss Thing! There’s a lot of make-up. There’s a lot of clothes. There’s a lot of shoes. There’s a lot of handbags. There’s a lot of a lot out there. So what’s going to make you stand out from the crowd? KLW: Yes! What’s next for you as mommy, wife, woman, and entrepreneur? Because I know family is very important for you too!

MR: I’m very, very blessed to have this incredible husband, who is my heart and soul, and also I work with him. He’s my partner, so we’re always together, in terms of raising children, and being husband and wife, and being business partners, so I hope to always continue with that because we are best friends. Watching my babies grow up has been amazing, and the baby growing up is quite exciting. Not that I’m happy she’s growing up so fast, I

really enjoy this. But it allows us to do more, with all of us as a family. Were a normal family, yet were not normal. I call us the circus family, because we always travel as a big team and my family comes with me wherever I go. Now we’re really experiencing some amazing things—watching the children grow and seeing the world through their eyes is one of the biggest gifts I could ever ask for. We’re continuing on QVC and there’s always new opportunities coming. I’m very careful about deciding where to put Mally Beauty and where we’re going to put my message, because it is very sacred to me. Of course we have our friend Rachael Ray. I love to do makeovers on her show, so were working on things like that; and again kind of just fielding the ball. I have an

amazing team that really helps me decide what’s best for the brand— lots of development, of course. As my number one priority, I’m continuing my quest for finding and making the best and most amazing, brilliant products for my girls. KLW: Now if people want to know more about Mally Beauty, where can they find out about it? Or find out more about what you’re doing? MR: I’m a big, big, big social media girl! I’m on Facebook under Mally Beauty. I’m on Twitter under Mally Beauty. We also have our website, www.mallybeauty.com. You can also go to QVC.com to see videos of our presentations. So I’m always reachable, I always say “I’m just one click away.” You can always find me. KLW: Thanks so much Mally for sharing your story. It’s been a privilege speaking with you; from an entrepreneurial perspective and as someone who pulled themselves up by her bootstraps and made business work. You found a niche, have tweaked it, and turned it into something amazing. You are definitely helping women find their beauty, inside and out, and I wish you complete success in your future endeavors. MR: Aw, I love you honey! Thank you so much. It was such a pleasure talking to you; and to all your listeners and readers, I just have to say again, as women it’s very important that we support one another. We must stick together and empower one another. This is a sisterhood; I have to say I feel so blessed that I’ve been able to have this connection with so many amazing, amazing women. So thank you so much mama!

Learn more at: www.mallybeauty.com

RECEIVE 15% OFF ANY ORDER! USE PROMO CODE STILETTOBIZ AT HIGHHEELJUNKIE.COM! Socialize with us: facebook.com/highheeljunkie twitter.com/highheeljunkie

www.maryjomatsumoto.com

Mary Jo Matsumoto Can you tell us about your first experiences with fashion? How did you go from an enthusiast to an expert? I’ve always been in love with clothes. I used to tell my mom what kind of dresses to make me when I was four years old. I’ll never forget the first time I had a real life experience with couture. I was nine years old and the elevators opened on the wrong floor of I. Magnin (sadly no longer in business). Before my mom could stop me I ran straight over to a chocolate lace dress with a pink silk rose at the waist—it was love at first sight! I remember looking at the tag, it was Valentino. I’ll never forget it. As I was dragged away, I remember telling my mom that someday I was going to have lots of dresses just like that. You have many luxury products such as handbags, home furnishings, and couture separates, do you have a favorite to design? When I’m designing something, I love it more than anything I’ve ever done, so whatever I’m working on is my favorite. Your designs have been worn by celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Joan Rivers. How have you been able to attract such a following? I’ve been lucky enough to have my bags in some nice stores and luxury destinations. Sometimes the buyer will call and tell me if a celebrity buys it. Other times a friend who’s in PR will offer to get it to them. Having accomplished so much in fashion, are there other creative areas you’d like to explore? Honestly I just feel that I’m starting in fashion, but thank you. Sometimes I fantasize that if I had it to do over I’d be an architect because the scale is so massive and I like to think big. Visit online: www.maryjomatsumoto.com

www.maryjomatsumoto.com

www.jessicaseatondesign.com

Jessica Seaton What was the inspiration behind the Brass and Bones collection? Brass and Bones is my first collection and I was looking for my place in the jewelry designing world. I believe I was trying to marry my ideas between sculpture and jewelry, and have something I actually wanted to wear. Bold yet streamline statement pieces that felt like ME. The collection holds a place for the fragility of life ... to be worn by the wild ones of this world. Why did you decide to utilize the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;lost waxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; method and where did you learn this technique? Lost wax is the only way for me. I do not think I would be designing if using any other method. It would just not be interesting to me any other way. My brain works threedimensionally and I can only imagine being able to hold and mold what I am creating.

www.jessicaseatondesign.com

How did you become interested in jewelry design? Almost two years ago, I came to a crossroads and decided to take a short sabbatical to Big Sur, California. I started working with an antler I had found on the property and began wearing small pieces around my neck. When I returned to Los Angeles, every day I passed a jewelry boutique offering lost wax classes. It felt like magic making the first few pieces. It still feels like magic. What are you hoping to convey with your next collection? The next collection carries most of the same elementsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;bold pieces to be worn by the wild ones. It pays tribute to the many lives we have lived before. Visit online: www.jessicaseatondesign.com

The SWIBA Awards!

The SWIBA Awards is one of the first comprehensive award programs to honor everyday women in the solo and micro business sector on a national level. The SWIBA Awards is a unique hybrid–a cross between a business conference, an empowerment workshop, and networking social to ensure a valuable experience for women in business. The speaker line-up includes thought-leaders and national personalities: bestselling author and NAACP Image award winner Shirley Strawberry of the nationally syndicated radio show “The Steve Harvey Morning Show”; bestselling author and Atlanta trailblazer, Robyn Spizman of A Legendary Event; Danielle Knox Ross, entrepreneur and host of Lifetime Television’s “The Balancing Act”; Stacie Francombe, creator of Get Married Media, past host of “Get Married” on WeTV and founder of Inspire Smart Success, plus many more compelling entrepreneurs.

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Pushing Through the Pain Meet Lissahn devance

With over 15 years’ experience, Lissahn took her knowledge and launched Wrapped Couture, a custom gift basket company where each gift is designed with the client in mind. From the theme of the gift basket to the contents within, each detail reflects your style and personality. As if that wasn’t enough, in 2011 she brought Enraptured Events to life, an event design company where she conceptualizes amazing events for her clients.

When you’re a woman entrepreneur that’s used to fighting her way to the top to make her business a success, what happens after a horrible car accident? The decision was an easy one. Believing that everything happens for a reason and that my life wasn’t spared for nothing, I decided very easily to keep fighting and live my mantra “push through the pain.” When my car flipped over three times, my life seemed to flip upside down too. I still had custom gift baskets to create, weddings to help plan, conferences I wanted to attend, and I had just launched Enraptured Events, an Event Design company. I had to figure out how to make it work and rather seamlessly. I couldn’t speak for nearly six weeks and I could barely move. I was able to communicate via email, text, and tweeting while on bed rest. My clients didn’t need to know, nor did they care. They just wanted their product or service when it was due. Gift baskets can be made anywhere, and most of the time, I had to make them while on bed rest and after physical therapy. After the initial consultation, making a gift basket doesn’t require much speaking at all, so I was okay. When it came to planning events; that was a different story altogether. Being an Event Planner and now Designer, requires you to speak and be on the go constantly. Whether

it’s a client meeting or networking function, it’s important to attend. I lost my car in the accident, so getting around was more than tough! I either missed out on the networking functions or rented a car to get around town, until I saved up enough money to get a new one. I lost so much personally, but gained so much professionally. As bad as the accident was, I knew that God didn’t spare my life for nothing. I knew that bigger and better things were in store for me and my career. Very few people knew that I had a full-time job while running one company, working as a wedding planner for another, and launching an event design company simultaneously. After the accident, I lost my full-time job, due to my lack of transportation. Quite frankly, it’s hard to be without a car and even harder to be in the wedding industry without one, especially if public transportation isn’t in your area of town. After losing my full-time job, my custom gift basket business has grown, my event design company has gotten off the ground with several clients under my belt, and I’m still planning weddings! I’ve always been told “When one door closes, another one opens.” I’m a fighter and an entrepreneur and I do it all in my stilettos! Visit online: www.wrappedcouture.com www.enrapturedevents.com

www.sequoiaemmanuelle.com

Sequoia Emmanuelle Los Angeles based artist Sequoia Emmanuelle has a unique voice as a photographer utilizing her many creative talents together â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including fashion (As creative director of S&G Clothing), set design, painting, wardrobe styling, film and graphic design. How did you develop your technique and style? Early on as a child, my stepfather Phil was a photographer in Minneapolis, MN. He shot glamour, fashion, and belly dancers at the Renaissance festivals. Phil and I bonded through the years by going on adventures and doing photo shoots. I was the model and often times we would use clothing or costumes that were made by my mother, Julia. She was a costume designer at that time for the Renaissance fair, dance troupes, and theatre. Starting at the age of about four and into my teenage years, I was shooting and experimenting with photography, fashion, and editing film. I also got into styling hair, make-up, clothing, and even teaching other models how to work the camera. I loved it all. I went to Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2000 and became a photography major. I had spent so many years in front of the camera that when I stepped behind the camera it felt like a lightning bolt hit me and I knew this was my calling. I fell so deep in love with the whole process of photography and felt that it could capture all of my artistry in one. I developed my technical skills by many years of practice and by

experimenting a lot with lighting and Photoshop. I love them both and they are crucial for my work. I like to give the feeling that my images could be a painting. I love vintage imagery and old world portraits. There is something so amazing about the beginning of photography and the way it all started. Many of your photos depict theatrical scenes and backgrounds. Where do you turn to for inspiration to create a scene? I am inspired by many genres of art and design, so I like to go through all of my favorite time periods or styles to influence each different shoot. It all depends on what and who itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for. I like my clients to get something special that is based on them and bringing out elements of their personality or something that they feel inspired by. I like to talk with each person and develop a story. From there I let the process unfold naturally and add to things as I go during the shoot or in post production. I love to blend old Hollywood glamour mixed with dark, edgy, romantic, and avant-garde. Making sets for my shoots is something I love to do, but I also love finding locations that are already amazing and then just

www.sequoiaemmanuelle.com

adding to it with lighting and a great team of hair, make-up, and models. I’ve been working with make-up artist Kat Steinmetz and Hair designer Lorenzo Diaz for a few years now and they add so much to my shoots. I lived in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. I also travel to Bali, Indonesia a few times a year. All of these places are part of my path that inspire my work and shape who I am. There are a few key artists who inspired me through my life and have influenced my work. First I have to thank my parents for it all. I had a very unique childhood. You could say I was a gypsy baby raised by alternative artists that fed me a creative way to live life. I thank them for that. Others like David Lachapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger, Tim Burton, Andy Warhol, Frida Khalo, Maxfield Parrish, Prince, Madonna, Michael Jackson & Bjork to name a few. This world is full of people that amaze and inspire me. I love anything that evokes emotion, heart, and soul ... and love of course. Tell us about one of your favorite shoots. Why was it special for you? Oh my, this is a hard question. I think at the top of my head, there was a shoot I did a few years ago in New York. It was a punk rock, tribal, pirate theme! I was shooting it for my dear friend Lori Seliger who is the designer of Bootzwalla, featured in the shoot. It was great because I had a beautiful model from an agency named Yelena, who showed up natural and very innocent looking. I had my hair artist Dana Divine create this amazing hair piece that became a huge mohawk of colorful hair extensions. My make-up artist Kayla Jo did fierce looking make-up and transformed this model into a serious super hero warrior! We then walked through the streets of New York watching all the people point and stare in amazement! We went to the pier where there was a ship called “The Frying Pan”. The ship had been under water for about two years and was brought to shore and turned into an event space. Inside the

ship was rusted with old artifacts and jars of oddities. It was beautiful and bizarre, my favorite combination of things! So once we had our super hero join forces with the pirate ship, it was pure magic. Yelena was now in character and we rocked the photo shoot! It was one of those days where everything works together and feels meant to be. How does photography help you express your creativity? I have always been an artist who loves to do everything from painting, clothing, costuming, set design, sculpture, jewelry, film, make-up, hair, you name it! I have done it all and will continue to keep expanding my wings. Photography lets me blend all of my passions together and create stories that will last forever. Another thing that is huge for me is that photography is a way that I connect with people. It is a very intimate place between photographer and models. Sometimes more than others, but I have always really enjoyed the process of sharing stories of life with people who sit in front of my camera. Life is full of so many different and interesting paths and this inspires me greatly. I feel like I am doing my job by bringing beauty into this world and to make others feel inspired to live their lives creatively and follow their dreams. It’s the best feeling in the world to have people walk away from a shoot feeling beautiful about themselves and what we have created. I’m sure I will do this for the rest of my life. I live for it! Visit online: www.sequoiaemmanuelle.com

finances in stilettos:

Tips on C hoosing a Financial Planner A financial planner can be an invaluable advisor as you work toward your financial goals and dreams. A good financial advisor can act as the quarterback for your team of advisors, working with your tax advisor and insurance agent to make sure the different parts of your financial plan are working together. Most people could use some help keeping their financial house in order. When should you hire a financial advisor? Some people hire financial planners only when they need advice about a specific issue such as saving for college, paying down debt, or evaluating an early retirement offer. Others hire a financial planner to complete a comprehensive plan and monitor that plan on an annual basis. No matter what your reason is for hiring a financial planner, one of the greatest advantages of working with a financial expert is the added motivation youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have to achieve your financial goals. One concern with hiring a financial professional is that anyone can call themselves a financial advisor. Unlike lawyers and CPAsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;where you have to take an exam and have specific training before you can hold yourself out as a CPA or an attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;there are no such requirements before you can call yourself a financial planner.

However, there are some designations in the financial planning field that help distinguish experienced, trained financial professionals from others who may not have any qualifications. Some of the designations to look for include: Certified Financial Planner (CFP) To be a CFP, you must meet an education requirement which shows that you are knowledgeable in all areas of financial planning. You must pass an exam and have three years of relevant experience. CFPs must also abide by a Code of Ethics enforced by the CFP Board. Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) A CFA is a title given to someone who has passed an exam about investments and finance administered by the Financial Analysts Federation. Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) CPAs who have several years of experience providing financial planning for individuals can attain the PFS designation. CPAs who also have the PFS designation have extensive tax and financial planning experience, so they are a good choice for people with complex tax situations. You should contact and interview several financial advisors before hiring one. Some questions you

should ask include: How are you compensated? Do you have an area of specialty? Do you have clients similar to me? How long have you been providing financial advice? Working with a Fee-Only Financial Planner You don’t have to be rich to work with a financial planner. Many people hire financial planners to help them achieve their financial goals and dreams, whether they have a million dollars or just a few thousand dollars saved. You’d be surprised at the number of people who have turned to financial advisors for help with retirement

planning, investment advice, budgeting and debt management, tax planning and/or comprehensive financial planning. There are many reasons why you might want to talk with a financial planner including: • to learn how much you really need to save for retirement • to determine the best investments to meet your goals • to make sure you are getting all of the tax benefits you are entitled to • to understand how much and what type of life insurance you need

“Once you have a financial plan in place, you should review it periodically to make sure you’re still on track to meet your goals.”

What Should You Expect When Working with a Financial Planner? In general, a financial advisor will start by reviewing your current situation and helping you identify your financial goals. Once your goals and objectives are determined, a planner will prepare a plan that will help you achieve your goals through saving, investing, and budgeting. The plan should cover all aspects of your financial situation including cash flow and debt management, investments, retirement, taxes, insurance and estate planning. Other areas that may also need to be considered include saving for college, or business planning. Once you have a financial plan in place, you should review it periodically to make sure youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still on track to meet your goals. Your financial situation is always changing, so your plan should change as well. What to Look for When Choosing a Financial Advisor

There are many types of financial planners including fee-only financial planners, fee-based advisors and traditional brokerage firms. Each provides different services, and more importantly, each is compensated differently. Brokerage firms typically sell you a product for a commission and their main service is investment advice. Fee-based advisors will generally provide more comprehensive financial planning, but their main service is managing your investments for you, and they earn a percentage of the assets managed for their compensation. Fee-only financial planners focus more on comprehensive financial planning, including retirement planning, investment advice,

budgeting, tax strategies and estate planning. Fee-only financial planners typically charge an hourly rate or a project fee and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t earn commissions on any products recommended. In addition to services offered and compensation, you should also look at the advisorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience, qualifications, and their area of expertise before hiring them. While CFPs and NAPFA-registered advisors must have met certain education and experience requirements in order to use the credentials, other financial advisors may not have any experience or qualifications. Why Work with a Fee-Only Financial Planner? When you work with an advisor who is dependent on the commissions they earn from products they sell, there may be a conflict of interest. With fee-only financial planners, there is no conflict of interest because the financial planner is paid directly by you for the services they provide, not the products they recommend. A fee-only planner does not benefit economically from the products they recommend to you, so you can be sure that they have your best interests in mind when making recommendations. Kristine McKinley is a CPA, Certified Financial Planner, and small business owner. She offers financial and tax planning on an hourly, fee-only basis. She helps her clients with investing, saving for college, planning for retirement, and income tax planning. Learn more at: www.beacon-advisor.com.

A networking social and national search for the next face of Stiletto Woman Magazine Coming to a city near you in 2012! Next Cover Girl!

HER MODERN STYLE

this page NINI emerald green circle dress $595, Christian Louboutin Lady Daf, Chanel 2.55, vintage Chanel earrings and Melody Ehsani ring, Nars lipstick Schiap.

opposite page Chanel multi-color tweed skirt, Madewell long sleeve tee, Christian Louboutin Pigalle, vintage necklace from Paris, hoops earrings from H&M Images courtesy of www.ninistyle.net

this page H&M black shorts, Jean Paul Gaultier yellow hooded jersey, Margiela vest, Christian Louboutin Pigalle pumps, H&M hoops earrings and vintage ring

opposite page Celine blue cashmere sweater, Dries Van Noten Pants, Chanel bag, Melody Ehsani earrings Images courtesy of www.ninistyle.net

beauty in stilettos:

Radiant Skin the Real Secret

e don’t usually give much thought to the fact that there are two sides to our skin, an inside and an outside. We pay attention to the outside because that’s the part everyone sees, but the other side may be the real secret to radiant skin. Your skin is the largest organ in the body and it is the only major organ that is inside and outside your body. It is a porous barrier between you and the environment. You must cleanse, nourish and support both sides of your skin. True beauty radiates from the inside, out. How can you radiate beauty and confidence when you’re not healthy on the inside? There are lots of invasive and expensive “quick fixes” available today that can cause your body to go into “emergency” mode and may work temporarily, but at what price? The way to long-lasting, true beauty is by allowing your skin to repair and rejuvenate itself through a daily, synergistic approach of proper care and nurturing. This will give you a solid foundation of health and beauty that will last long after the “quick fixes” need more fixing. Let’s take a look at some simple, yet effective ways to bring a youthful radiance to your skin.

Inside 1 Make sure you are drinking enough

clean water daily. Water helps to hydrate your skin while carrying away impurities and flushing out toxins. This means WATER. Not diet sodas. Not juices. Not coffee … Water. Your body is mostly water and it needs steady replenishment. 2 Eat a well-balanced diet consisting

of mostly fresh fruits and vegetables (fresh means not canned, not frozen, not processed), fish, legumes, rice and fresh lean meats. Limit your intake of breads (white flour), fats, coffee, alcohol, and trips to fast food restaurants. The antioxidants in the fruits and vegetables will help neutralize free radicals and help repair your skin. Eat a variety of deep colored fruits (blueberries, strawberries, purple grapes, and raspberries.) and a rainbow of colored vegetables (carrots, broccoli, beets, green peppers, and spinach.) for their high antioxidant content and variety of tastes. 3 Exercise regularly, 3-5 times per week

for at least 30 minutes. Yoga, running, swimming, biking, walking, stretching,

dancing, whatever you like. The benefits are too many to mention, but exercise, along with adequate water intake, will help the lymph system flush out toxins and relieve stress. 4 Take high-quality nutritional

supplements. There is a lot of information about nutritional supplements everywhere you look these days. There always seem to be supplements that are “hot” at any given time in the media, however, the following are a few of the staples that have had long track records of proven results. These are Antioxidants, Omega 3,6, and 9, and CoQ10. Always buy high-quality supplements. 5 Get proper rest daily. Sleep 7-9 hours

in a quiet, relaxing environment. Sleep is the body’s rejuvenation time. Think of how much better you look and feel after a good night’s sleep. You will awake ready to enjoy your day. 6 Avoid stress as much as possible.

In today’s world, stress is almost impossible to avoid but you can reduce stress by doing some simple, enjoyable things like: taking a walk in nature, reading, visiting a friend, taking a drive in the country, listening to relaxing music, having a massage, going fishing … you get the idea. Notice that watching TV is not on the list. Television can fill your mind with negativity, bombard you with image manipulation via commercials and give you a distorted view of reality by showing you everything that’s bad about the world. Continually watching such things will cause, not relieve stress. Take a break from the tube.

OUTside 1 Here too, we start with water. Make

sure you cleanse your skin morning and evening using a gentle, organic cleanser or castile soap. The idea is to flush away dirt, dead skin cells, perspiration, and makeup residue. Without stripping the skin of its natural oils.

2 Take a relaxing warm bath at least once

a week and make sure you scrub your skin (gently) with a brush or loofah to get rid of old, dead skin. Try a refreshing, detoxifying facial masque to draw out impurities, deep clean the pores and even skin tone. Immersing in the warm water is a great stress reliever, too! 3 Make sure to use high-quality, natural

and organic skin care products. It will do your skin no good to do all of the above and then apply a lotion or cream to your skin that is full of cheap petrochemicals (mineral oils), parabens (waxes), co-polymers (used in plastics), harsh cleansers and preservatives. Organic and natural skin care will replenish, balance and rejuvenate your skin while giving it a soft, smooth feel. It will also nourish your skin back to health and healthy skin is beautiful skin. Besides a gentle cleanser, the three “must have” skin care products are a moisturizer to hydrate, a night repair cream (antioxidant) to rejuvenate and an antiaging eye cream.

When you think of skin care, always think about taking care of both sides: inside and out. By taking a systematic and synergistic approach you will begin to notice a difference in no time. Your friends and family will notice the difference, too. Having a bright, youthful complexion is possible at any age; it just takes a little planning.

Maria Tarnev-Wydro, HD is a Homeopathic Doctor and the founder and owner of Essona Organics, a company dedicated to providing high quality organic skin care, nutritional supplements, fragrances, aromatherapy blends, music therapy and beauty devices. Learn more at: www.essonaorganics.com

faShIon in stilettos:

Mom, the new Style Icon –

How to Get the Look Who says mom can’t be an icon–a style icon that is? Mothers today are busier than ever. And for that reason, we are taking trends to new heights. Why is this? Well, think about it this way. Moms represent every kind of woman. We are career-oriented. We are health conscious (at least we try to be). We love our children and families. We are creative and cultured. We live both lavishly and modestly. We are everything. We are experts at juggling tasks, and shaping style to fit our personal lives. So what is our Achilles heel – TIME; time that we don’t have. With our growing responsibilities, we don’t have the means to slow down, nonetheless think about the hours we lose in a day. Being fashionably aware is not just about the best shirt to choose or which pant makes you look svelte – it’s about confidence. Being comfortable in your own skin makes you attractive and energized to tackle the diverse tasks in your day. Perhaps you feel you only have a few moments in the day to devote to yourself, and those times may be bombarded with other priorities in your life. So how in the world can you be stylish, while being mommy, chef, housekeeper, executive, teacher, and financial planner at the same time? Easy! What you need is a few “all purpose” pieces. This means, clothing that can go from day to night in a snap. They can be interchanged. They are subtle, but can quickly make a statement. You can begin your new attitude with five simple wardrobe pieces.

Solid button down collar shirt

Neutral or basic color bootcut pant

2 4 5

Subtle pattern v-neck blouse or tunic Dark color flare or bootcut jean

Small collection of neutral accessories

But WAIT! Do not forget about your “all purpose” shoes! You have two quick solutions.

C hic flats or mules

A sassy peep-toe or stiletto slide

These items will give you flexibility and a good base to build upon. Each piece can be mixed and matched together. They can be coordinated with older items for an updated feel. To top off your fresh look, don’t forget your “finishing” pieces. In your arsenal, keep a few bangles, a pair or diamondlike studded earrings (costume jewelry works perfectly!), a chic scarf, and a charm necklace with feminine appeal. When you’re taking trips to the grocery store, your jeans, tunic and flats will give you a cool, polished look. When taking in a movie with friends, you can accessorize that same outfit and opt for the stiletto slides to upgrade your style. For an evening dinner out or music at a jazzy night spot, trade your jeans in for the bootcut pant and adorn your tunic with a classic scarf to give the finishing touch. And for the workplace, pull out that solid button down collar shirt for a professional appearance. The ideas are endless. Being in touch with your style is not so much about the clothes you wear; it’s more about how you take what you have to create a style of your own. It’s how you feel in your clothes. The idea is to keep things simple and comfortable. Personal style reflects who you are, and NOT what magazines define as trendy. With your fast-paced lifestyle, looking your best doesn’t have to cost a week’s paycheck, nor your precious time. While redefining your style, don’t be afraid to take risks. Don’t be afraid of change. You can be fashionably conscious. You ARE the new style icon.

WINTER2012