Caroline and Anne reached out to me awhile back to do a post on how they each styled a Dazey tee differently! They are working on a little series together called #twogirlsonekit where they explore how two different girls can style things differently to reflect their personal style. I loved their blogs and was stoked for the Dazey tee feature! Upon further inspection (aka Instagram stalking) I found out these were some major bad ass Dazey Ladies!! The list of talents they each have goes on for days. These women are living proof you don't need to choose just one career path or passion to pursue. 

One of the things on their serial entrepreneur list is @lightlab. This airy space with fun pops of pink is a studio & event space they co-founded. I had been seeing pictures of it pop up all over the internet! It is beyond beautiful and I knew I had to feature these two talented ladies in their space. 

Xx -Dani Dazey

You guys have created a truly gorgeous space! Why don’t you describe Light Lab to us and the purpose behind it?

Light Lab is a creative studio that is a space for us to play + use our imaginations, as well as enable others to do the same. 

I understand that you both fully renovated this space yourselves! Please tell us a little about that process.

It was an 8 month process that really took a lot of commitment from us! We gutted the space and slowly built out the bathroom, kitchen, and lounge in stages. We learned a lot in the process!

You have killer taste in interiors! What are some decorating tips you have for other Dazey Ladies?

Anne: My main tip is patience! No space comes together overnight -- or rather, the ones that do look like they did! Let your home evolve over time and it will be a true reflection of you.

Caroline: Don't be afraid to really reflect your personality and the season you're in. Interiors are just another accessory! If you grow out of something and decide you hate it, it can be changed easily. So don't hold back, and have fun!

You both are creatives of many talents! Please tell us all the different things you guys do :)

Anne: I am a lifestyle blogger, stylist, writer, occasional photographer, and sometimes interior designer. 

Caroline: I'm a wedding photographer (@woodnotephotography) , a commercial photographer (@echoandearl), a carpet importer (@cococarpets) and a social justice advocate (@cmonteam). also an Instagrammer / traveler / wife, also light lab. the list goes on. :)

What would you consider your “main gig” out of all these amazing things!?

Anne: Right now my blog is my main gig, but my plan is to transition that to doing mostly writing.

Caroline: Oh jeez. Advocate? I hope everything that I do is centered on human dignity, equality and justice.

What does an average work day look like?

Anne: There isn't an average day! In a given week I might be shooting a cute shop in my neighborhood, meeting prospective renters at Light Lab for a site visit, styling a photo shoot for a client, and running around town taking meetings with colleagues.

Caroline: My days range from being in the jungle in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa (what I'll be doing later this month), to writing emails at a coffee shop in LA (me right now). There is no 'average' :)

Let’s rewind things back a bit! Did you guys attend college? What did you do career wise before becoming creative entrepreneurs?

Anne: I have a degree in English from Stanford University and prior to starting my blog, I worked as a consumer strategist in Manhattan.

Caroline: I went to school for art history and film studies -- and I saw myself doing music! Who knew :)

What are some of the ways you guys have promoted your work to get clients?

Anne: In the early days, blogs were king. Then it was Twitter, and now it's Instagram. Who knows what's next?!

Caroline: Meeting lots and lots of people, being kind, making friends that become business partners / collaborators. (Like my story with Anne!)

Caroline tell us a little bit more about your rug business! How long have you been doing it? Would love to hear all about it!

Coco Carpets is almost three years old, I think? Or maybe almost two? I can't remember.. but it grew out of my love for art history (each rug is one of a kind!) and my love for color and incorporating other cultural traditions into my own life and home. I couldn't stop buying Cocos for my own house, so I just started making them available to others to buy, too.

Anne! It is SO cool that you have a book published! Please give us the scoop on whats inside and how you created it.

Thanks! My book explores the cross section between interiors and personal growth. It showcases the homes of people who designed their spaces to support the direction they wanted their lives to head, and tells the stories of how they did so.

Caroline, as a photographer what is your inspiration and favorite thing shoot to do? 

I love shooting PEOPLE! They're my inspiration. Each human and their unique stories and characteristics.

Anne, I think it is beyond cool that you work a lot with creating food content! What are some tips on taking the perfect foodie photo?

Personally I like a lot of negative space so that the food really pops from the frame! And of course any smudges or crumbs should be intentional, so make sure your plate and utensils are spotlessly clean and then add in a few drops or spills where you want them for an "effortless" look.

What are some of the most notable (or favorite!) clients you each have worked with?!

Anne: I've worked with plenty of big name corporate clients but my favorites are always the small, independent ones. For example, I adore some of the indie fashion designers we got to work with when Caroline and I were doing our fashion series together: Dazey LA of course, and also LACAUSA, The ODells, and Thacker NYC.

Caroline: Oh man. That's a tough one ... I shot a really fun campaign with keds + Create & Cultivate in November that featured 100 influential women... that was my dream gig. Rad brands and really rad gals!

What are your guys future plans for Light Lab and other endeavors?

Anne: When it comes to Light Lab, we'd love to host more workshops and events ourselves! As for other endeavors, I've already mentioned writing more, and I'd love to cover the health and wellness space more than I already do. I'm passionate about fitness and mindfulness practices!

Caroline: We're hosting some workshops this year that I'm really excited about! I love using the space to bring people together in freedom, creativity + community.

What does being a Dazey Lady means to you?

Anne: Being a Dazey Lady means having the courage to use your voice, and the compassion to speak up for others! 

Caroline: It means thinking of the greater good, and loving everyone -- beginning with myself! 

I have been following Miracle Eye for years because of their amazing clothes and impeccable 60s/70s aesthetic. All this time I had no idea there was an amazing story and Dazey Lady behind the brand! When I was shooting a collab with Nico & Bullitt boutique I spotted some of her pieces and mentioned that I followed her! Glen, who works at the boutique, said she was a friend and began to tell me her amazing story. I knew I had to feature her and carry her pieces in the Dazey Lady Shop! Badass female owned brand with a 70s vibe?! Doesn't get more Dazey than that :) 

I met up with boss babe Larissa at their showroom and studio space in Chinatown for the shoot. I felt like I had entered a time machine! The room was filled old school memorabilia, quirky furniture, her amazing clothes, and a ton of the most incredible hand picked vintage. I wandered into their production room and found her adorable mother cutting out pattern pieces and her aunt sewing away! Later her dad even came in too! That's when it dawned on me that this label Larissa stared when she was 15 was now supporting her whole family six years later. I almost got choked up talking to her about it haha. Larissa is so humble I don't think she realizes how incredible it is :) you can tell that they all love each other so much and love what they do.

Read more about her story below and shop her looks HERE

Follow Miracle Eye on Instagram: @MiracleEye

So you were only 15 years old when you started Miracle Eye, so amazing! How did it all begin? 

Miracle Eye kind of came about as a result of feeling very anti-social topped with a passion for vintage and handmade clothing and entrepreneurship. I’d actually had 5+ years of experience in running a business by the time I created Miracle Eye. This was made possible because I was never much of a social butterfly (had tons of free time!) and experienced an extreme case of bullying. Those two things are what led me to take the business route. At 10 years old a family friend introduced me to the concept of selling on the internet which completely blew my mind. What do you mean you don’t have to talk to a customer in person? I can work from my laptop and not have to face anyone or let them hear my voice and still make a sale? I can ship the items and use a tracking method to trust that it will arrive on their doorstep on the other side of the country??? This almost seemed too good to be true because it was hard to get anyone to take me seriously in real life, whereas the on internet I was just an anonymous entity. On the internet, I was a 30 year-old confident business owner, but in real life, I was an awkward and shy 10 year-old girl. eBay for me was love at first sight and a dream come true!  

A little run-down on the businesses I ran before Miracle Eye: When I was a tiny lil gal, I was selling gum to my neighbors on our block and painting my parent's friends’ nails from age 5-10… And from 10-15 years old, I re-sold clothing from thrift stores on the internet. I purchased these items with the money I had saved up from those two previous businesses. At 15 years old, I decided I wanted to design clothing, and it was just my luck… I happened to be born the daughter of the best seamstress in the world aka my darling mother! I grew up in the fabric stores, always accompanying my mom when she was commissioned for a custom job through her freelance work, so all the fabric store owners knew me from a wee gal. By the time I was 15, I knew the fabric stores like the back of my hand. And I later realized it was just a matter of time until I had put the pieces together, since it happened subconsciously for me. Nothing was ever consciously leading up to it, nor did I ever think this is what I’d do full-time for the rest of my life. I just woke up one morning and asked my mom if she would be open to creating some samples of some sketches I had and she was 100% fully on-board! All those little business endeavors I had experienced were real-life training, filled with plenty of trial-and-error, for creating a company (Miracle Eye!). 

How did you promote your brand as a young designer without a huge budget? What were some of the mediums you used?

I kinda hit the jackpot timing-wise because a few months after I created Miracle Eye, Instagram came out… So I’ve been using Instagram since its conception, and haven’t looked back! It’s free and the best marketing tool out there if you know how to post engaging and captivating content. It’s also how I discover all my favorite brands and vintage shops, so I’m both a content-creator and a consumer/fan, which is nice, because I’m living on both sides of the coin. I’ve given it so much thought, and really, because of Instagram, I am able to support myself and my family. I can afford to lease out a brick-and-mortar studio space because of Instagram. So wild how an app can really rule your life! And before Instagram came out, I was promoting Miracle Eye primarily through my blog (when I used to blog six years ago and was just a wee lil teenage gal!). I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for that app (wowee!).

So you were doing all of this while in high school, was it hard to balance both? At what point did you go full time working for Miracle Eye?

Yes, I was! It was very difficult to balance both, and I found myself prioritizing Miracle Eye above schoolwork, which in the end totally worked out! I often felt guilty for not putting in as much time as I wanted into schoolwork, but Miracle Eye just required all my attention, everyday. I went full time schedule-wise the day after I graduated high school since I no longer had an eight hour long commitment Monday-Friday, but my brain/thoughts went full-time Miracle Eye at 16, in the beginning of my last year of school.

Did you go to college or take any classes in fashion design or was it more of a  learn as you go thing?

By the time I graduated high school, I already had the business for two years and was ready to lease out a studio/work space as nothing quite fit in our tiny apartment at that point! I had an interest in attending a fashion design/business school here in Los Angeles, but after going to see a panel of their most successful graduates who were all in their late 20’s/early 30’s, I felt unenthused about attending. They were either an “assistant designer” or “head in marketing” for giant brands and companies, but I realized that’s not what I wanted at all. I wanted to work for myself and never accept payment from someone else for my ideas and give them permission to sell them as their “vision”. They were nearly 10 years my senior, and just now reaching a point in their career where I was at, at 16. This was about a week before applications were due in. I ended up skipping on college applications, and two months after graduating high school, leased out our brick-and-mortar shop/studio space in Chinatown, Los Angeles. So crazy how everything truly happens for a reason. I was 99% ready to submit my application and hand over a giant chunk of my savings to attend, but decided to opt out… It was the greatest decision I ever made! 

This has always been a family oriented operation, which we love. Your business now supports your mom, dad, and aunt! How long have they been working with Miracle Eye full time? What roles do they play? What did they do before?

My mom and dad have been a part of Miracle Eye since the day I mentioned the idea of creating my own clothing line! My mother immigrated to America and worked in a sweatshop factory in Los Angeles from the second she landed here up until the day I was able to get Miracle Eye big enough to have her quit, and work full-time for me. She speaks no English, which stopped her from finding a better job. But by working at these factories for over 15 years, she learned so much, and by the time Miracle Eye came into fruition, she was a magic seamstress. Pattern-making and grading patterns, the works basically, were no big deal for her. So essentially, all those years trained her to become the master seamstress she is now. The day she quit working at the factory was the happiest day of my life! My aunt is now the other part of the business, sewing for me, as well. My dad has helped me make wise decisions throughout the years and keeping our shop clean and tidy, as well as helping with shipping orders! The business is basically 90% them and 10% me just keeping things going. I would be nothing without them and I owe them everything!

As a fashion designer what is your biggest inspiration? You as a person have such a distinct 70s vibe and have captured that era like no one else! Have you always been a fan of this decade?

Aw shucks! Thank you! My biggest inspiration comes from vintage photographs, films, but more specifically, from my favorite musicians ranging from the early 1960’s to early 1970’s. I haven’t always been a fan of this decade, but only because I was never exposed to it. I wasn’t sure what I considered my style to be beforehand, and I did know that I never felt too comfortable in it. But all that changed one day when I was visiting a friend, and her brother, who I had a giant crush on, wasn’t home. So I snuck into his room to learn what kinda stuff he was into, so I could study it and like all of that too, and become his dream girl. Logical, right? Well, to my surprise, I found a bunch of records, posters of the Beatles, Janis Joplin, The Kinks, and all the greats hanging in his room. I remember being speechless. It just wasn’t what I was expecting, but also, I had never seen anyone look like the people in these photos. So I wrote down a bunch of the artists’ names, went home, looked up photos, listened to their music, and completely forgot about the boy… And fell in love with Jimi Hendrix and Paul McCartney! My new dream guys! From that moment on, I started thrifting clothing similar to their styles and it kinda just never ended, haha! Funny how that worked out!

At Dazey we believe women are capable of amazing things and deserve respect! As a 21-year-old designer running a successful clothing line have you faced prejudice and/or jealousy regarding your age?

I’ve experienced both of those things so often that I’ve lost count. There have been so many times that I’ve been ignored or disregarded due to my age versus my gender, especially in the first couple of years when I was 15-17. It was constant, and I remember convincing myself that how vendors, sellers, or leasing agents treated me didn’t matter, and I had what it took to do “blank” thing. I felt like my “growing up” stage was forced to be put on hyper-speed just so I could keep up and not let anyone shut my vision down. My parents constant flow of support and kindness allowed me to never crash and burn, because I knew I always had them if things went awry. 

It’s been six years since you started! What are your plans for the future?

I hope to continue to grow, and at some point be able to hire several more employees. When ever I take days off to relax at the park or shop at the farmer’s market, it feels like heaven! Having some more help around would allow me to have another day or two like that a week. My goal has always been to keep spreading colorful, stylish, and comfortable clothing in the most ethical way possible. I hope to be able to do it forever, and anything else that comes along is just a bonus!

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

Being a Dazey Lady means wanting to spread love and positivity everywhere you go, and supporting all folks of all genders, sizes, and ethnicities. I’m honored to be a Dazey Lady!

A few weeks back I finally met and shot with the Texas based musician Storm Calysta (see her Dazey Lady feature here) who told me all about her super rad and equally talented friend Darby Walker - seriously do all cool musicians just know and hang out together!?

After checking out Darby's Instagram (@DarbyAnneWalker), and Megan fan girling out a bit about how amazing she was on The Voice, I knew I needed to do a Dazey Lady Feature on this gal ASAP! Until meeting Darby for our shoot, I had no idea that she was only 18! Her presence and crazy full career resume so far (a Disney show, The Voice, a movie due out this year) definitely had me guessing she was way older! She is a singer, songwriter, actress and all around babe who at such a young age has already experienced such a crazy journey while following her dreams.  

So you started working in the entertainment industry at a young age! When did you start and tell us a little about your early journey.

Oh my goodness, what a journey it's been! I started working in the entertainment industry when I was six years old. Ever since I could remember its all that I've wanted to do. Little did I know, when I first started, how complex and dark this industry can be. I've made it a personal, moral mission of mine to be a light within the business and use my social influence to spread any sort of love that I can. At the end of the day I believe that everyone on this planet is just trying to figure this whole life thing out, and if I can make you feel something and make you understand that you're not alone then I can rest my head peacefully. 

What's it like working on a Disney show? What are some of the perks and downsides?

Well, working on a Disney show isn't like anything you'd expect. I learned so many wonderful things from the cast and crew that I was working with but also learned that network television isn't my cup of tea. I feel as though network shows, especially channels such as Disney, have amounted to watered down content formulated to get a couple chuckles every five minutes or so. There's not much depth to it and from the acting perspective working on a show like that doesn't give you too much room to explore and grow your skills. It was a beautiful experience that I wouldn't trade for the world, but you definitely won't see me working on a Disney show ever again, it's just not who I am. I'd say the best thing that came out of that period of my life are the fans and following it gave me. It opened up doors for me that I didn't think were possible. There's something really magical about being able to be anywhere in the world and have people that know your name and who you are, something remarkable and terrifying about having people look up to you. All of a sudden you have a social responsibility. Disney gave me that. 

Of course you are also an amazing singer and songwriter and was recently on The Voice. Tell us about the whole damn thing! 

What a WILD ride!!! To be very honest with you going on a show like The Voice was something I never really thought I'd do. But for some reason when the opportunity came up it just felt right. My mother had the idea, and I had this knowingness in my chest that it was the right next step. Going into it, I had an idea of what I was getting myself into since I've worked on television shows the majority of my life...what I wasn't expecting was the friends and family I'd make from it.  It was an absolute emotional roller coaster. I told myself right off that bat that my goal wasn't to win the show, but rather use that platform to spread messages that I believe in. I wanted to give America a nice healthy dose of Darby Anne Walker as unfiltered and honest as I could. I went in there and created magic, with the unbelievable friendship and support of my coach, Miley Cyrus, we really pushed the boundaries of what had been done on that show prior to my season. The best part was watching the reaction that we were getting from everyone. I gained more of a following than anyone else on the show, including the winner, which to me speaks volumes. People were resonating and connecting with my message. At the end of the day I'm not a singer, I'm not an actress, I'm not a pretty face...I'm a storyteller. 

What is it like being a female in the spotlight at such a young age? What are some of the pressures you feel and how do you cope with them? 

Being a female in the spotlight is a MASSIVELY rewarding position, one that comes with a very MASSIVE responsibility, and one that I take very seriously. I'd say the majority of my followers and internet family are girls and women, and I like to believe that I'm setting a good example for them. I believe in the power of individuality and unconditional love. We only get one life, it's up to us to create a masterpiece out of it. I hope that with my art I remind people to be themselves and walk on the wild side of life. There are so many strong women in the spotlight right now and I can only hope that I'm standing in line with them. There's a lot of pressure that goes into it. I have thousands of little girls direct messaging me every week, asking for advice, thanking me for teaching them to love themselves...I myself am only eighteen and am still figuring out how to be the best human I can be, I like to think that I'm growing and learning with my followers. So while I love having such a large platform and I enjoy the honor of being a role model, I'm learning more from them than they could ever know. 

Miley Cyrus took you under her wing on the show, we're dying to know what it was like to work with her!

Miley is a badass. Her and I hit it off IMMEDIATELY. I've never worked with or met anyone so like minded, which was incredibly refreshing and humbling. Our first conversations were about animal rescue, feminism, the animals we have on our farms, and what we believe in as artists. I mean we sent each other pictures of us with our dogs for crying out loud! We're both nature nuts who love our furry friends and are aware individuals who believe in equal rights! Working with her felt more like working with a friend. She's down to earth and really doesn't give a damn what people think of her and she's a thousand percent honest to herself, which in this industry is very rare. I admire her immensely for that and would say that's the biggest lesson she taught me. With my art, be it my music, acting, or poetry, I refuse to create meaningless commercial content, everything I put out has to mean something to me. Not only that but with Miley I got so much creative freedom, we'd be texting till one in the morning picking songs, designing sets, and just supporting each other through the journey. It's emotional on both ends and neither of us had ever done it before, so we really worked hard at being there for each other. 

What's your biggest inspiration when writing music? You mentioned putting out some new musical projects! Would love to hear more about that.

I use my writing as a way of trying to make sense of the world. I started writing music when I was 13 after my father passed away, it was the only thing that got me through that part of my life. I draw inspiration from the world around me, be it things going on in my personal life or things I'm observing in other peoples lives. It's one of those things that is as natural to me as breathing. Some people drink to numb the pain...I write. I have a couple really exciting projects in the works! I have a series of songs, not commercial enough for a label to touch, but real and raw enough that I think my following would like to hear. So hopefully in the next few months I'll be releasing those along with a couple short filmy-esqu type videos really explaining my journey and who I am. I feel as though everybody sees me as being this happy go lucky ray of sunshine, and as nice as that would be, it's just not me. This project is going to give people a first hand look at my story, unproduced, unedited, and raw...the songs in their most natural state. So I'm very excited to see how people react to that. I also have a movie coming out this year and I've recently started working on getting my first book of poetry published!!! A lot a lot a lot of exciting things are happening and I couldn't be more ecstatic and grateful. 

You're clearly a Dazey Lady of many talents. Moving forward do you plan on continuing to pursue all of them or one in particular? AKA what's next for Darby career wise?! 

I believe that the future is one big paradox, a figment of our own imagination that we use to create the illusion that we know where we're going. But if I'm to be very honest, I don't live my life that way. I like life to lead me where it needs me. So although I've got a movie coming out this year, am working on my music, am publishing my poetry, and hope to be launching my merchandise very soon here...I really don't know what's in store for me. All I know is that no matter what happens I'll always be creating art and sharing it, so there's new opportunities presenting themselves every day, and at this point I'm just riding the wind and seeing where it goes. I like you am a workaholic, so I'd say that plays into everything going on, but there are so many exciting things already happening that I'm trying to live in the present and complete all of these projects with a focused head space.

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

Being a Dazey Lady means being a beacon of light in an ever darkening world. Dazey Ladies are strong women who use their gifts and talents for the betterment of the human race. Its an honor that I take great pride in! I'm Darby Anne Walker and I'm a part of the collective badasses that are the Dazey Ladies!

This is Megan of @thelittleavocadoshop! She’s an amazing fiber artist and also helps me part time at Dazey :) When she applied for the position I creeped her insta of course and fell in love with her work and aesthetic, you could tell the girl had great taste! I love having someone at Dazey who also has a small business because she knows the struggles and daily ins-and-outs. We’ve been working extra hard on launching our upcoming “Dazey Lady Shop” and of course had to include her gorgeous work in it along with a feature. We shot these photos in her adorable Echo Park apartment which doubles as her workspace. Check them out below.

You will be able to shop some of these styles next week on our Dazey Lady Shop but for now you can find her here!

Follow Megan on Instagram: @TheLittleAvocadoShop

How long have you been weaving?!

I've been weaving since 2014 and then started selling my pieces through my shop, The Little Avocado, in early 2015. Looking back at my early pieces when I first started out is a bit cringe-worthy, I think the hours put into weaving over the years have definitely paid off!

What inspired you to start and why? How did you come up with your shop's name?

I’ve always been super DIY and into crafting and taking on new projects. I first began weaving and practicing macrame when I was living alone for the first time, and had full reign to decorate however I wanted. I needed more for my apartment than art prints and photos, so I took up weaving and the passion grew from there. I had more pieces than space in my tiny Koreatown studio so The Little Avocado was born. I wanted a shop name that was quirky, cute and had a SoCal feel– The Little Avocado checked all those boxes. I still love the name, luckily! 

Whats an average amount of time you spend on a medium-large sized weave?

This is such a hard question! It really all depends on the difficulty level of the piece, but I’d say 3-6 hours on average. Most of my woven wall hangings are made to order, so once I’ve made the same piece a few times my brain and hands can move quicker since I’ve began to memorize the pattern and steps. Patience and practice is key!

So you recently quit a full time job to focus on your business (and help out at Dazey of course!). Was that a hard decision? Walk us through your transition process.

Of course once you have a side business, the dream is to be able to quit the full time job and it’s pretty much something you think about at least once a day- or at least I did. For me, it was important to have a good amount of savings before taking the leap, in case things didn’t work out as planned- shit happens! Having a good support system was also really encouraging for me, my boyfriend is so logical and precise with all of his decision making so to have him say, “Go for it!” was such an awesome feeling. Once I left my full time gig I made a point of organizing a weekly to do list in my planner to keep on top of things. Every night I go over my weekly goals to make sure I’m keeping up orders, ship dates, email responses, etc.

How important is social media when it comes to your business? Things like branding and curating your feed.

My business definitely wouldn’t be where it is without social media. Of course Instagram is the number one platform I use to promote my business. I love being able to interact with customers through the app, and the addition of Instagram Stories allows them to see their pieces being created in real time, it’s such a great tool!

You started on Etsy but recently got a domain name. What would you say are the differences between the two for other entrepreneurs to consider?

Etsy is a great place to start off with a new business, they have great forums and an awesome community aspect that help answer questions along the way. The downside with Etsy is that sometimes your shop can get lost in the shuffle, there are so many shops on the site that it can sometimes be chaotic to navigate if you don’t know what exactly you are looking for. Having a domain is definitely a better way to go when bringing in new shoppers that find my shop on Instagram, for example. They can click directly from the app and are brought to my website with a cleaner presentation than what they would see on my Etsy site. Although, I love both and definitely don’t plan to shut down my Etsy shop anytime soon. :)

What are your plans for the future and your business?

This year I started to focus more on wholesaling my work now that I’ve been able to dedicate more time to the business since quitting my full time job. I love the idea of having my pieces in physical brick and mortar locations where customers can see the work in person. And of course, I’m always planning new designs to create!

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

To me, being a Dazey Lady means going after your dreams and bringing those dreams to life in a positive way. Building a business, especially one based purely on selling your creativity to others, is hard work and having the support of other women in the Dazey community has been so helpful and encouraging! Since working at Dazey I’ve been able to really feel the ‘Don’t Hate Collaborate’ vibe all around and have loved connecting with new, awesome ladies out there getting shit done! Shop small y'all! 

I met Nikia (aka @madmavenstyle) soon after starting Dazey and she has become a close friend and constant collaborator! Nikia is a well known LA fashion blogger and she has style for days! We shoot for Dazey a lot and I love the way she styles the tees in eclectic ways you would never expect! That's what really makes Mad Maven Style blog unique and a great source for inspiration.

On top of blogging, Nikia recently started making these ADORABLE pom-pom ball earrings that go amaze-balls with Dazey (oh yes, pun-intended). I figured it was long overdue to feature this inspirational Dazey Lady and good friend :) Creep below as Nikia make's pom-poms and talks blogging in our feature video. 

And of course in typical Dazey-fashion, we accompany our video along with an epic themed photoshoot! The inspiration for this shoot hit me as I was walking by my house in Hollywood. I noticed the funkiest old apartments that have a very 60s/70s Miami vibe and thought I'd change things up from my usual nature or downtown city photos. I immediately texted Nikia because I knew she would be the perfect model and stylist for the job! I loved the colorful clothing mixed with the bright walls and worn down textures of the buildings. This may just be one of my favorite shoots to date! So expect more of this funky vintage vibes coming your way ;)

Xx- Dani Dazey

I have been Following Storm (@stormcalysta) on Instagram for a few years now and have always been a big fan of her eclectic 70s style. Her feed is filled with the most inspiring almost dream-like photos. I also knew she was a musician, but I didn't realize how incredibly talented she was until visiting her website and seeing her Fleetwood Mac cover. (be sure to check the Dazey edition below!!) 

When she reached out saying she was going to be visiting LA from Austin I knew I had to feature her as a Dazey Lady! We met up in my little Hollywood apartment and snapped some pretty magical photos. Having her styling help was key. Girls with mad style and talent just slay me!!!

Check out the amazing live show I got to see in my living room featuring Storm covering "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac. I also secretly filmed the performance on Instagram Live and people were loosing it!! One person even said, "Felt like I was just transported into the 70s, she is a young Stevie Nicks".

We have some fun Q & A's as well as the shoot all below!! Storm is currently working on some super top secret stuff, but for now you can visit her site (www.stormcalysta.com) and catch a few more epic covers.

How long have you been playing music? Would love to hear about your journey as an artist.

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations? 

You also model, blog, and style. Tell us about how you got into that and how it ties into your music career. 

You have a very solid 70’s aesthetic! What inspires your amazing style?

What is your five year plan in a perfect world?

This cute thang is designer & illustrator Wesley Bird (I know best name ever). She is the creative director at Society 6 as well as being a very accomplished freelancer. She regularly collaborates with large companies like Urban Outfitters on home good textiles, apparel graphics, and prints. She's also just begun exploring the fun world of pin & patch flair and is selling them as an artist under her name :) You can check it out here: http://wesleybird.com/shop

I met Wesley near the beginning of my design career and she has always been a huge role model to me! We both had the same "first adult job" designing women's graphic tees at a company called Jedidiah. I actually took her place when she left to design for Hurley. Of course I wanted to creep who's place I was taking so I found her on social media! I instantly became a huge fan and we started following each other's design journeys. A year or so after that we both ended up getting jobs in LA and moved up around the same time. We started hanging out and became good friends IRL. This girl is HILARIOUS and mega talented. I have loved watching her success and cheering her on. I am so proud to call her a friend & Dazey Lady!!! We did a little shoot and asked her some fun career questions.

3) What does your day-to-day look like as the art director of Society6?

 It's kind of all over the place and no day is alike. I spend a lot of time concepting and planning photoshoots, designing web pages for lookbooks and special projects, working with our designers on marketing campaigns, curating artists into our Art Quarterly Mag, thinking up ideas for catalogs...seriously it's all over the place. Lots of emails and meetings too haha. But my favorite part is getting to work on cool collaborations with artists. Recently we were able to go to SXSW to host an event with TOMS and Girlschool where we had an amazing gallery wall that featured artwork by female and LBGTQ Society6 artists and it was so rad! 

I am originally from Illinois and moved out to California with my childhood sweetheart of a husband. I was modeling in Illinois for a short time and continued to model once moving to California from time to time. After years of experiencing my own struggle with an autoimmune disease, my husband and I started our business drinkbar juicery. I discovered several years prior to our business juicing was my saving grace and my husband wanted me to have a way to share that experience with others who were also hurting. 

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1) What inspires you and get’s you excited!?

Health and feeling vibrant. The idea that there is so many people out there not feeling incredible and I can show them how. That gets me excited.

2) Where would you want to be five years from now personally and professionally?

 In 5 years from now I want to have my own ranch and potentially 2 babies. I want to live off the land, with as many fruit trees as I can fit into one small space. I want to have several recipes books on the market and show so many more people how much better they can feel. 

3) What does being a Dazey Lady (my term for self employed babes kicking ass) mean to you?

It means authenticity, It means WHOLE. Most self employed women make sacrifices to birth things that are deep inside them. They sacrifice "things" to create something that is not yet tangible. They don't buy purses and expensive hair care but they invest in ideas deep inside them and make them reality. A dazey lady pulls on that inner strength to create a path not yet paved, and is glamours while doing it. 

Mini Message from Dani Dazey:

When Sand Sisters reached out to me, I was instantly excited to work with them on a Dazey Lady feature! Tedi and Sonya, real-life sisters, created a Los Angeles based non-profit group aimed at empowering youth through rad, engaging activities all around the city! I love the message behind Sand Sisters and how inlined they are with our mission over here at Dazey, so it was the perfect opportunity to have them over to Dazey HQ to share their story with our Dazey Ladies! 

Find Sand Sisters:

http://www.sandsistersla.com/ 

@sandsistersla

 I have never been more proud to be a strong woman.

I have never been more proud to be my own boss.

I have never been more proud of the supportive group of women around me.

I have never been more proud to empower others and make them feel valued and loved.

Women of today across every race are still seeking equality by lawmakers, in the workplace and in social situations. Human rights and women empowerment marches, rallies, marketing campaigns, inspiring artists performances and installations, Girl Boss hashtags and social awareness are supporting this movement. We’ve all seen it and hopefully been a part of it in some way. Standing together, we’ve proved that our voices must be heard in a powerful yet peaceful way. Through it all, the quote that resonated with me the most during my daily instagram scroll was, “Be who you needed when you were younger.”

Oh, to flashback to childhood can either be a delightful experience or one you want to shut the door on. For me it was a mixture of both. My sister, Tedi, and I grew up as best friends. We are as close as two siblings can be and that is because we grew up depending on one another. Our single mother worked tirelessly to make sure we had the best upbringing. On school nights, 9:00pm was a standard time for me to see the light from the hallway spill into my room and then I’d feel my mother’s kiss on my forehead. My mom made sure Tedi and I had everything we needed, but what I always felt what was missing was the feeling of being seen and valued.

Tedi and I jumped into the roles of being “independent” and “adult” by the age of 12. We lined up neighborhood babysitting gigs for $4 an hour, worked countless holiday retail jobs, coached the swim team, worked on campus college jobs --- you name it, we did it --- and we had the lives we did because of two things, we believed in ourselves and we hustled.

Through all of our experiences we immersed ourselves in, we formed relationships with strong women in our community. We sought out mentors without realizing what we were seeking. My first mentor was my 3rd grade teacher, Miss M. She took the extra time out of her day to make me feel seen. She would let me read to the class every week (my favorite thing to do), invited me to church with her and her mother and sent weekly letters through the school post office years after I'd left her classroom. She was the first person to really see me and hear me without having to tell her a thing.

Tedi’s first mentor was her 5th grade teacher Mrs. McCune. She was an adventurous woman who would spend summers with her husband white river rafting in Colorado and bring back thrilling stories and pictures for her students. Mrs. McCune showed Tedi that there's a whole world to explore --- new people, unbelieveable cultures, delicious (and scary) food and other beliefs than what we were brought up to hold true. She saw Tedi’s desire for a colorful life. From elementary school on we met with so many wonderful women, who taught us life lessons, showered us with love and made us feel valued.

Fast forward to two sisters, post college living in Los Angeles, we were both young professionals, Tedi in elementary education and myself in advertising. Tedi began to take girls to the beach during the summer months. She taught the girls to connect with the ocean, surf, stand up paddle board and form friendships. In one summer the girls blossomed. They gained confidence, became strong water women and started a sisterhood.

After that summer I jumped on board and we grew to become Sand Sisters Los Angeles, a youth empowerment nonprofit taught as extended education in after school programs and of course, our beloved summer beach camp. Our 10 week program is designed to give children the tools to love themselves. It seems so easy to teach, yet it is something people spend their whole lives trying to do --- accept themselves, love themselves and care for themselves.

The success of our growing nonprofit is because of our authenticity for why we mentor children. We know what it’s like to need a strong female mentor in our lives who sees us for the individual that we are. We show up for the girls. We fill the room with love and laughter. We dance and sing. We hug and love. We create a positive space where the girls feel safe. And most importantly the girls learn that the best part about themselves are the parts that are unlike any other - confident, strong, smart and one-of-a-kind.. Our path led us to be the mentors we needed when we were younger.

Our program has been offered as extended education in over 15 independent schools and is a part of the CREST Enrichment Program, enrolling over 500 students in the Los Angeles area to date. We are spreading to New York City in the Fall and plan on taking over the nation in 2018. Check us out at www.sandsistersla.com and follow our story @sandsistersla. Connect with us as we are always looking for donors, volunteers, interns and partnerships.

I met Kailee of I'm With The Band Headbands a few months into Dazey. I spotted one of her bands on instagram and HAD to shoot them with the tees! We met up at a coffee shop so I could pull some pieces and ended up talking for hours. She's such a sweet soul and amazing lady! We have become good friends and help each others business out all the time. That's what female entrepreneurship is all about :)

A collab seemed necessary. We have been working on these babies for MONTHS and production was super tricky for these speciality prints. But it was worth it and they are finally out! Hand drawn with love by yours truly @danidazey and printed on Kailee's gorgeous velvet turbans. You can shop the collab pieces HERE.

Of of course in natural Dazey Lady fashion we had to feature the BABE behind the bands Kailee. She is a super girl boss who get's ish done. Creep her Dazey Lady words of wisdom below and our little magical shoot featuring all her bands along with our collab pieces!

www.im-with-the-band.com #BABESINBANDS

Huge thanks to Victoria lady boss of Wallflower SF for hanging during the shoot, styling, and snapping some BTS instax/duo photos :)

1) Dani - Tell us about your company! How did it start? How long have you been doing it?

Kailee - My company, I'm With The Band is a headwear company that creates amongst other things, headbands! It started with a vision to combine all the things I love (music, fashion, health and wellbeing) into one and make it something rad and tangible. My IWTB journey started 3 years ago.

2) Dani - What inspires you and gets you excited!?

Kailee - I get super inspired and excited by the music, culture, fashion and attitude of the 60s and 70s. I also get inspiration from all sorts of things like hand painted tiles, architecture, color, texture, other cultures and a little nature reset always helps!

3) Dani - What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced?

Kailee - As a small business you wear a lot of hats, so it can be a bit tricky to manage my time super well. Aside from achieving brand recognition, I'd say my biggest challenge is production and all the ins and outs of managing it whilst maintaining a product I'm super proud of and thrilled with.

4) What’s your #1 piece of advice you’d give to a girl trying to start a business?

Aim to do something you love and are passionate about and start anywhere. If you're passionate and believe in what you're doing it will keep you going and inspired through all the trials and tribulations of starting and running your own business. It's never going to be the perfect time to do anything, it just doesn't exist. It always sort of re inspires me to know that you can literally start anywhere... you can start in the middle, beginning or end, but just start and put one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you'll be somewhere you've never been and you're on your way!

5) Dani -Where do you see your company going the next few years?

Kailee - World domination? Just kidding... I see I'm With The Band growing into a lifestyle brand of sorts, with more and meaningful offerings that inspire people and more collaborations with authentic and aligned brands. My goals for the company are ever evolving but one thing I know for certain is that I want to grow my business into something that nurtures the human spirit, helps people and gives back to things I believe in.

6) Dani - What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

Kailee - Well first of all, it's a real honor! It means strength, independence and unapologetically reaching for the stars. Believing in yourself through all the peaks and valleys of owning and running your own business. Knowing there's a group of badass babes that have your back when the the struggles of entrepreneurship aren't always all daisies is such a gift... so grateful for my fellow lady bosses! Most of all, it means doing what I love, spreading love, light, positivity and good vibes, following my heart and working daily to grow it into all I know it can be.

SPREAD THE LADY BOSS LOVE!!

Xx- Kailee & Dani

You can shop the collab pieces HERE