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[bigletter]Halloween themes can get tricky the older you get and the more style, quite frankly, you have. Since I love an interactive dinner table I thought masks would be the easiest way to make it fun; a simple and an easy “costume” for guests. And so after pursuing all the generic options: animal ears, kitschy masquerade or an assortment of washed out celebrities, I decided to make my own collection instead.
And what could be a more perfect tablescape accessory given all the fanfare?
After all, I am a huge fan![/bigletter]
You know your girl loves entering into simple appearing DIY projects and then stressing over the minute details that remind me again why things are just better off being purchased by the pros. But an icon mask seemed simple enough with some index card printing, craft sticks and a 3rd grader’s level of scissor use. So I started creating my list of icons, of course my mind went to stylish women in history like Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Grace Kelly and Queen Elizabeth before starting to question some of the things that make these women iconic to me.
What I realize is there’s been quite a shift. Many of these people have been of public interest for qualities of their own but their stories were often told through the lens of someone else whether it be the media or “insiders” who did so by exploiting their privacy. When I think of the modern day women that inspire me more recently I recognize they have much more creative control over how they present to the world. I feel connected to the things they share, I feel inspired by their authenticity even though I am fully aware that they aren’t people I know on a personal level. There’s something so empowering about having control in shaping the narrative of who you are, in large part a result of the advent of social media platforms and reality television.
All this is to say that I decided to shift my focus from the traditional celebrity if you will onto the icons I feel connected to each and every day, the ones that inspire and provide so much so seamlessly.
the icons I am fan-faring over
N E L L D I A M O N D // Founder and CEO of the booming brand and business, Hill House Home, creator of the infamous Nap Dress and beyond with comfortable, grandmillennial-esque style clothing and home goods I just can’t seem to get enough of! Nell is the ultimate inspiration for female millennials having founded her own company focused on meeting the needs of women who want both comfort and style, from a company that promotes diversity in its sizing, branding and accessibility. All around I love seeing her snapshots of life with three young kids, a booming business and beautiful adventurous with family and friends. It also didn’t hurt that my guest of honor Brooke is her biggest fan and arguably her most significant costumer by ratio of nap dresses to non-nap dresses alone!
V E N I T A A S P E N // An influencer first, reality star second, you may be more familiar with her recent role on Bravo’s Southern Charm, which would make it more fun to watch for me if only they could just focus on how absolutely fabulous and deep the woman is! The show in my opinion does a poor job in representing her as many reality shows do, but Venita is hands down one of the most stylish southern women I follow on the gram and has an interesting perspective on everything. Her use of color, her connection to Charleston and her exquisite taste that ups the ante on “southern prep” comes off seamless and fresh.
H E A T H E R M C D O N A L D // Her podcast Juicy Scoop is the number one source of entertainment on entertainment. An exceptional comedian, wife/mother and avid consumer of reality tv, pop culture and true crime, Heather is the curator of juice. She’s hilarious, engaging and well versed in her “juicy scoop history.” She’s candid about both her professional life in Hollywood, without fear of retaliation, a quality not to be ignored by women these days. Her views on pop culture are always fresh and connect to deeper themes in an approachable way. It’s no wonder she has built a solid and respectable following on her talent and commitment to getting us the scoop, on her own and owned entirely by her!
R O S I E T H E L O N D O N E R // Arguably by favorite blogger, Rosie is British yet travels the world and takes us all along with her. She has true talent for storytelling through her content, her writing evokes the coziness as a cup of coffee on a chilly morning! The travels she embarks on and all the experiences of life that come with friendship, marriage, motherhood and being a woman in this world are told through warm words on her blog and photos that always tend to evoke a strong feeling of comfort wherever she lands. She has made clear that her work is about her life, not the other way around and that quote alone has resonated so deeply with me, along with many of her various thoughts on life as an influencer and self proclaimed “imperfect mother.” A fantastic follow and incredible female figure in the digital space.
M O R G A N S T E W A R T // I’ve loved her since her start on reality TV as the charismatic, self-deprecating “rich kid” who’s effortless style added so much depth and dare I say, relatability? Of all the reality stars I’ve ever watched she’s definitely my favorite, giving us authenticity and numerous laughs. But what’s more endearing is her non-apologetic attitude that I find so attractive in people, especially us women who tend to be socialized into politeness. Her strong voice as a mother, wife, millennial and consumer of pop culture is greatly appreciated and I can’t wait to see how she uses her voice next.
B R A D L E Y A G A T H E R // Living proof that some people are just born with good taste, Bradley (like her uber chic mother known as Safari Elaine on the gram) is unmatched in her penchant for color, distinction and utility in her style curation. She appears as discerning about her tabletop as she is a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and it shows in her work when you sift through the various archetypes of influencers. She seems to view her role more traditionally as an editor of high fashion but shares just enough of her daily life to make us feel connected to her vision; a bright and bountiful twist on the bounds of formality.
But regardless of who you choose to embody this Halloween or be influenced by in a dinner party conversation or who’s style you want to recreate, I imagine they are more than worth all the fanfare! xx
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