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"Self love isn't selfish, it's necessary." - Dani Dazey

Share your self love 

The theme of our most recent collection was The Summer of Self Love. Dazey's mission is to empower women, whether it be in their careers or everyday life. Empowerment begins from within and promoting positive self esteem helps with every aspect of your life.  

We started a challenge over Instagram asking women to share their self love by posting a photo of themselves and talking about their personal journey with self love, then tagging @dazey_la & #shareyourselflove. Whether you're head over heels in self love or still battling, it shows other women that they are not alone. It's a challenge that everyone has to face. The stories shared have been incredible and a true source of inspiration. Each month this summer we have been giving away a free tee to one of the brave babes who have joined the challenge. There's still a week left in August so we hope you share and win a free tee!  At the bottom of this post we show a few of the Dazey Ladies's posts who have joined the challenge. 

We made this video to highlight a few of the amazing stories and to continue spreading our self love message far past the summer! All the women you see in the video and photoshoot below were casted in one week through Instagram. We posted a last minute video asking if anyone was interested in sharing and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect diverse, dynamic, and inspiring group of Dazey Ladies! The girls gathered at a Downtown LA loft early on a Wednesday morning, got decked out in Dazey, snapped some photos, and bared their souls on video. Then something even more magical happened, they began sharing stories amongst each other, taking selfies together, and exchanging contact information. I received multiple messages later that evening saying they had never felt more embraced and empowered as they did that day. It really goes to show through openness, conversation, and community we can begin to build self love. Below are the faces and words of the women who joined us that day. Behind each beautiful smiling face there is a story.

We hope you share your self story love along with this video, we think the world need to see it :)

VIDEO BY: Marissa of @reelradfilms

PHOTOGRAPHY BY:  @danidazey of @dazey_la 

HAIR & MUA: Jessica of @bebeautybyjess

DAZEY LADIES PRODUCT INVOLED: @starkthelabel, @metalli_luna, @CBGems, @im_with_the_band_headbands

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Megan of @thelittleavocadoshop SELF LOVE

ADVOCATES & MODELS: Vanessa Acosta, Courtney Cain, Jeanette Ramirez, Alma Lake, Taylor Ulrich, Courtney Welch, Emily Kincaid, Chelsea Moon, Ruth Lanuza, Catrina Banci, Reid Cox Sarabeth Opplinger, Katelyn Suihkonen, Jess Dutkovic, Alexandra Tanner, Arlondriah Lenyéa, Sophia Carter-Kahn, April Quioh

 

"I'm always comparing myself to people. Wanting to be like they are or in the journey they are in. It's still something I struggle with" 

-Jeanette Ramirez (above)

"I do have a lot of trouble with fitting in with what society would describe as female. Having friends in the gay community embrace me allows me to accept that I can be both, and I can be myself."

-Arlondriah Lenyéa (above)

"Providing an avenue for all women to see themselves in the light they want to me seen is crutial, and that's why sharing your own self love journey is so important. Everybody out there is going through something similar or something different or whatever rendition of this they're going through. You have to share because you have to make sure everyone knows they are not alone."

-Courtney Cain

 

"Just because my struggle has lessened doesn't mean it's gone away. It is comforting knowing that probably every single person you encounter on a day-to-day basis is struggling with something within themselves."

-Emily Kincaid (above)

"For years and years I was having different types of eating disorders, I was trying to fill a hole with food. It wasn't until I actually started basing my worth on what's inside instead of what's outside, that's when I actually started to love what's outside!"

-Reid Cox (above)

"Crying actual tears right now because I have never felt so confident and empowered as I did after this shoot!!!" 

-Katelyn Suihkonen (above)

"I was the only brown girl in a private school that was not a size zero. I think it's okay not being 100% everyday. Having that self love mean that you're okay with not being okay all the time." 

-Vanessa Acosta

"One of my legs was shorter and larger than the other. I got made fun of in school as a little girl because it was obvious. After the birth of my son my heart started failing. I was dying. I wound up having open heart surgery. That put everything into perspective. I want to live. I've got one leg that's fatter than the other and you know what, I'm flipping gorgeous. I've got a husband who loves me, I've got beautiful children, and life is good."

-Cristina Nagel (above, left) 

"Sisterhood was crucial for me feeling good about myself."

-Sarabeth Opplinger

"I was bullied at a young age. A lot of times for me it was skin color or my hair color. (Self love) is about learning to be okay with me every single day, good or bad."

-Courtney Welch

"I deserve to be happy in my body. Whether or not I want to change it in the future I think is beside the point. I deserve to wake up today and think I feel beautiful. Or even if I feel okay, or I don't feel okay, but that doesn't mean I'm going to punish myself."

-April Quioh

"Self love is great, if you can get there great. If you're not feeling it today you're still apart of this community, you're still here, you're still okay."

-Sophia Carter-Kahn

 

#SHAREYOURSELFLOVE

 Below are some real posts by some of the brave babes who shared their story via Instagram. Be sure to check out the hashtag #shareyourselflove to see everyone's journey. We welcome all to join the challenge this summer and far beyond that! 

 

🚨 The #SHAREYOURSELFLOVE challenge has been so impactful I've decided to keep it going all summer long 👊 We will give away a tee each month 🙌 June's prize winner is the amazing @ms_rains ⭐️ Her powerful words: "My journey to self love was long and physically painful. I had always judged myself the way we are taught to do. I could always loose a few more pounds, tone up, wear less makeup, wear more makeup, whatever. Then I was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer at the age of 26. Suddenly I no hair, I gained 50 lbs, and lost both of my breasts. I didn't even resemble what I thought a woman looked like. Neither did my husband. He left me right after the mastectomies & I was devastated. I hated what I saw in the mirror, but it got worse before it got close to better. Due to radiation therapy damage to my skin, I couldn't have implants. My only option for breasts was to cut off my bottom ab muscles and my tummy and turn that into breasts. 40 hours of surgeries, leech therapy, 30 days in the hospital, and one boob later, I was worse than when I started. One breast transplant hadn't taken so now I had tons of scars and only one breast. I had almost died. I had put my life in danger for boobs! How crazy is that? After the months it took to heal, I learned that cleverly designed graphic tees were a great way to distract from the imbalance in my chest. I lost all of my chemo weight and I noticed that people didn't look at my chest. They had no idea, unless I told them. My insecurities where mine, no one else saw them. They saw a warrior, a badass! They were right! So everyday I would look at myself in the mirror naked and touch my scars, there are many more now, and admire the fight it took to earn them. I remembered willing myself to get up, put my life back together, and I did it in a new body. The body of a someone who went into battle and won. How could I not be in awe of myself?" She is one strong and inspirational Dazey Lady 💪 I love how she specifically uses graphic tees to give her confidence ❤️ I can't wait to add one more to her collection ✨ #summerofselflove #howdazeydoes

A post shared by Art Apparel 👉 Shop Dazeyla.com (@dazey_la) on Jul 3, 2017 at 7:15pm PDT

I've been at war with my body for as long as I can remember. I always felt too fat, too flat, too blotchy and blemished. The world teaches girls from an early age to despise and abuse these vessels as loathsome works-in-progress. And if you ever do find peace with your body, confidence is often criticized, self-love is slut-shamed. Our society celebrates body-hatred disguised as modesty. . It's taken me about 26 years, but I am finally learning to love this body. With all its lumps and dimples, mysterious bruises and scars. While in Iceland, I had to shower naked in a room of other women before entering the hot pools. Maybe this isn't the biggest deal to other cultures, but in America, the only naked bodies we see on a regular basis are the ones deemed "desirable". Unceremoniously stripping down in a roomful of bodies of all shapes and sizes, and then going on about our business was strangely momentous to me. These bodies are incredible. They take us on adventures, conquer tremendous feats, bear life. And yet we spend most of our lives hiding and hating them. . I'm done doing that. I'm sure I'll lose some followers and get some flack from those who are more offended by naked bodies than our society's gross body standards. But I'm done trying to maintain the approval of those who'd rather see me secretly at war with myself than proudly loving my body. . Iceland, thanks for helping set me free. 🍑✨ . 📷 by my incredible Instagram husband @realdavegargula ;) . @dazey_la #shareyourselflove

A post shared by Corinne Alexandra (@stuckwithpins) on May 21, 2017 at 7:55pm PDT

I thinks it's pretty obvious that I am an open book! This year isn't even over yet & it has been one hell of a roller coaster. What happen to me in December is old news to some folks but it is still very relevant & real to me! Everyday I wake with it weighing heavy on my chest and every night I go to bed with flashbacks. I don't expect anyone to fully understand how that incident has changed my life. Yet, I do expect consideration, compassion & love. Sexual assault, verbal, emotional & mental abuse is NO JOKE! It hurts in every way imaginable! I am always on high alert. I still have fear of walking or driving alone since it happen. I still struggle with men looking at me or even complimenting me. When I smile or when I laugh know that it is genuine. When I am quiet & closed off ... please don't judge me! Know that I am still healing. I mean no harm & I do not mean to offend anyone when I choose to hide out or not speak. This road to healing & recovery has been very difficult. I don't know when I will be back to "normal." Yet, I do know that I am able to do small things for myself again & that to me is victorious. My attacker changed my entire outlook on life. I do forgive him though and I STRONGLY encourage who ever has endured any sexual violence or abuse... regardless if it is a stranger, family friend, sibling, family member or partner. If it is WITHOUT your consent ... Please speak up! Go to your place of safety and get therapy! Believe me, I neglected therapy for as long as I could after my incident. Feel down inside I was hurting in every way. I was scared of everyone! I struggled silently feeling like I was robbed of my purity for my fiancé. I still struggle daily with my body too. Always feeling like "someone wants to hurt me or take advantage of me." Indeed it is a shitty feeling but it has been much easier to process w/therapy! After several months of therapy, I understand this! YOU ARE NOT DAMAGED GOODS! YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH! YOU ARE WHOLE AND BEAUTIFUL! YOU ARE WORTHY! & " IT IS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY" Believe me, it's hard but it gets better.

A post shared by #becomingRamirez (@desiraeramirezz) on Jul 23, 2017 at 9:33am PDT

 

Growing up, I was very self-conscious about being tall and curvy. Most of my friends were shorter and thinner, and I wasn't confident because I was different. Now that I've grown up, I realize how crazy that is! There are so many women built like me, and so many other beautiful body types! There is no "right" body type. We're all unique, and we're all beautiful! With all the negativity that there can be on social media, I think it's important to empower each other. @dazey_la has created a great community across multiple social media platforms for women to share their stories, and for all of us to support each other, which is truly inspiring! The tee says it all: love more. #shareyourselflove #dazeyla #dazeylady

A post shared by Lindsey Livingston (@thelindseylook) on Jul 1, 2017 at 12:08pm PDT

I recently saw @dazey_la post about #shareyourselflove and I thought it was a way to share this message and get this new account started. Whenever I go to a new place people always notice my eye. One is a lot smaller than the other because it's a glass eye and I can't see out of it. In a new place I'm always reminded that I'm different because of the weird stares I get. As I get ready to go to a new country for gap year I think this message is important. I need to remember that the things that are different about me are what make me unique and totally unlike anyone else and I should be proud of that and so should you! #shareyourselflove

A post shared by @mayatakeschile on Jun 17, 2017 at 10:34am PDT

"Body confidence does not come from trying to achieve the perfect body, it comes from embracing the one you've already got." || Shorts or skirts were never really a part of my wardrobe. I would always try to cover up as much as possible because I despised my wide hips and thighs. When we live in a society that profits from our self loathing, it's very easy to succumb to their beauty standards while accepting ourselves is considered a rebellious act. Shopping for pants or jeans were and still are a pain. But, it wasn't until recently that I began to embrace this part of my body. #shareyourselflove @dazey_la | If you haven't already, check out my recent blog post. Links in my bio 🤗

A post shared by D C A D (@intodeeseyes) on Jun 30, 2017 at 3:25pm PDT

When I was younger you would never see me in a photo standing up straight with a huge grin 😁 I hated my smile, my glasses, my flat chest, my scrawny body that made me feel more like a little boy and not a woman coming of age. I created the @dazey_la #shareyourselflove challenge to helps girls of all ages realize we are way too hard on ourselves 💕 As I get older I learn to appreciate the things that make me ME 🤗 I used to be self conscious and shy. Now I love being bold, unique, and standing out 🦄 Last day to enter the contest and share your story ✨

A post shared by Danielle Roxanne Nagel (@danidazey) on Jun 29, 2017 at 9:56am PDT

Fighting for Equallity

Growing up in left-winged California around so many different cultures and people has somewhat shielded me from the bigotry and racism that still happens today. With the current politically charged climate and hate crimes happening all around us, racism in America has become alarmingly apparent. I am shocked and ashamed that in 2017 this is still happening in my country. After the most recent attack in Charlottesville we wanted to use our platform to stand up to violence and racism. I choose to peacefully make a protest against hate using what tools I have, artwork and photography. Dazey firmly believes in equality for all and wants to give marginalized women (and men) their power back.

After the recent attacks my Facebook has been filled to the brim with articles and comments on the matter, but one status stood out to me in particular. A friend of mine, Gleeven (@afro.vogue), posted a status saying how heartbroken she was and how she didn't feel like her friends and family were safe in her own country. That really hit a cord with me. There is zero difference between Gleeven and I, and yet she fears for her life just because of her skin tone? It made me feel even more upset, I had to do something! By chance she reached out to me that same day asking to shoot. We had been trying to shoot for awhile and toyed with the idea of a protest-style shoot before, but now the timing was perfect. She helped me come up with some great signage, grabbed her gal pals, and we took to the streets!  

Gleeven is a model, stylist, influencer, and huge advocate for racial equality. She has incredible creative vision and a strong voice. She wanted to go for a very 60's style shoot which I thought was appropriate because it was in this era that people had to fight for their cilvil rights. I could not think of a more perfect person to collaborate with on such an important shoot. Below you can see the photos as well as some amazing words of wisdom from Gee herself in an open letter.

"I believe one of the most important first steps is realizing that when an issue affects any group, it affects the entire country. Many people go through their daily lives with a privileged perspective, ignoring issues that don’t affect them directly. They don’t speak out on injustices or bat an eyelash on plaguing issues simply because they are not suffering from these problems. If we start to become allies and speak out on behalf of one another in solidarity, I infer that we will start to see changes for the better." -Gee via galore 

Models:

@afro.vogue
@loveebonique
@iamlindaelaine

Photog:

@danidazey

"The United States is seeing hate crimes at an alarming rate. Black men are losing their lives because of the belief that their life is not worth as much as yours. Are you that filled with hatred that you would rather see another man slain than to change your heart." -Gee

"This country was founded on the belief that all men are created equal. If so, why do you perpetuate an idea that in order for this country to thrive, we must rid ourselves of minority groups..in particular; the blacks. Are we not all equal? It took leadership like Martin Luther King's to shape this country. Was he not as important as his white counterparts?" -Gee

 

"I was birthed by an incredible black woman, Davreen McBeth, who taught me the importance of self love and I hope to serve as a reminder for black women across the globe that black is strong, beautiful and resilient." -Gee via Galore

"I implore you to look into your heart and try to empathize with minority groups that fear for their lives because of the agenda you fuel. Imagine yourself in their shoes. How would it feel being hated for things you couldn't control like your skin color? Would you think America is great? How can you help to combat the racial injustices in this country?" - Gee

 

 

 

New the the Dazey Lady Shop

At Dazey our mission is to empower women. We love working with and promoting fellow female entrepreneurs through our Dazey Lady Features. At the beginning of this year we took it one step further and began carrying a curated collection of girl boss goodies on a section of our shop called the Dazey Lady Shop!

We are always looking for ethically made brands owned by inspiring women. Today we are are excited to add a bunch of new stuff to the shop. Many of the women we feature in our shop reached out to us via email or Instagram. If you're interested in joining the Dazey Lady Shop email collab@dazeyla.com! 

Meet the Dazey Ladies:

TAMGA Designs - Gorgeous Dresses, pants, kimono

Yana emailed me awhile back and sent me a few of the items from her shop. I loved the bright colors, loose fits, and playful patterns. I wore them a few times on the story and I began to get questions. The only logical thing to do was add her to the shop :) We love that all of their clothing is ethically made and environmentally friendly. TAMGA started with two simple questions - is it too expensive to produce a socially and environmentally responsible piece of clothing? Does style have to be sacrificed for accountability? The obvious answer to them was ‘no’, and so they set out on a mission to prove just that.

Wyeth Eyewear - Handmade sunglasses 

Stef has a background in fashion marketing and after watching all these brands grow over the years she decided she wanted to try it herself! She loves the bicoastal lifestyle and wanted to create a product that made sense in both LA and NY. She considers sunglasses a necessity to protect your vision, and enjoys being apart of that. Stef sent me a few pairs when she started out and I fell in love with both the quality and vintage style. They are designed in NY and handmade in Italy. I frequently see her billboards and marketing around town and am so impressed, this gal clearly knows what she's doing! 

Bohindie Stream - Earth inspired handmade jewelry 

Bri started Bohindie steam at the young age of 19. Proving it is never too early to start your entrepreneurial journey! She loves the free-spirited bohemian lifestyle and successfully captures that in her brand. Her jewelry has such a magical feel to it. Everything is handmade and most of Bohindie Stream’s pieces revolve around crystals. Bri sent over an email asking to be apart of the shop! I had been wanting to get some more fun and interesting earrings into the shop and hers are to die for. I'm a big advocate for just being bold and asking people for the things you want in life. Bravery is often rewarded. 

Model: Christine Barraco

Photographer: Dani Nagel  

 

From LA to Reno

I have been quite the traveler lately! Wedding season has me going all over the country and last week's destination was Reno, Nevada for my sister's wedding. I drove up from LA with a few of my best childhood friends and my boyfriend. We took the 395 N most of the way up and wow what a gorgeous drive. There were scenic views, vast and varied landscapes, and so many cute little towns!

I was both the maid of honor and photographer for the wedding so I brought my camera along. Luckily my bags were packed with Dazey so I could snap some fun photos along the way. Always a huge thanks to Phillip for being my "Instagram husband" and taking awesome photos :) 

There were so many cute motel signs, as a graphic designer heavily inspired by vintage type I could hardly keep it together! We snapped photos in front of a few as well as some incredible landscapes. If you're ever on your way to Reno or Mammoth be sure to stop by Red Rock and the adorable town of Lee Vining! 

 

 

Little Dazey Lady

Today's shoot is with this itty bitty cutie named Zahara. She is a mini-blogger with a not-so-mini following! Her mom, a fan and supporter of Dazey, reached out to set up a little mini shoot with Zahara. I usually shoot with an older age group, but this shoot really was the perfect opportunity to showcase that Dazey is for women and girls of all ages.

It's estimated that up to half of adolescents will struggle with low confidence levels during the early teenage years, so this is a very important time to teach young girls self esteem! Especially in this day and age of social media and comparison it's more vital than ever to spread the self love. No one is ever too young to promote and share the positive message we've got going on over at Dazey LA!

We receive a lot of emails from mother's thanking us for creating positive, feminist tees and buy them for their daughter's, so it made sense for us to highlight that with a rad, little feminist in the making! Scroll down to see all the pics from our day outside the Museum of Ice Cream, I just can't get enough of that pink wall! :)

This past weekend I flew out to Chicago for @officiallyquigley’s wedding. My boyfriend @phillipbutler and I decided we may as well make a mini vacation out of the trip! We love exploring new cities and I had never been. My dad lived in Chicago years ago when he first moved to America and always had great things to say about it. Other than him I really hadn’t heard a whole lot about the city, so I feel like I was able to go there with a clean slate and no preconceived expectations. Let’s just say it did NOT disappoint! Everything was incredible, from the gorgeous architecture, to the vast blue lake, and the adorable brick filled and tree lined neighborhoods like Wicker Park. This is one under rated city! I really fell in love with Chicago. If it wasn’t for the wild winters (so I’ve heard) I would move there in a heartbeat! 

We were only in town for about three days so we were scrambling to get everything in! Wicker Park and Logan Square were adorable and the ultra hip parts of the city, so we spent a lot of time eating, drinking, and shopping in that area. We love to ask the locals where to go so we can see the city from their perspective. We always play the “what if we lived here” game in all of the places we visit :) Phillip and I normally shy away from the touristy stuff but actually had an amazing time seeing the landmarks and just being in awe of Chicago. Seeing everything from the Sky Deck was so cool, the buildings and lake just went on forever. The city planning, overall organization, and cleanliness of the streets was unlike any city I’ve seen before. It seemed like every building, bridge, and art installation was so thought out and made with intention. I highly recommend visiting if you haven’t, I’ll certainly be back soon! 

Below are some of the photos we took around town at some of the magical places we found. We also have some snaps of the gorgeous blogger wedding! Of course I was wearing Dazey Everyday (aside from the wedding night lol) so there is some fun outfit inspiration there too!

Spots to check out as shown in photos:

Doves in Wicker Park - Amazing dinner, 70’s style diner 

The Violet Hour in Wicker Park - Tastiest Cocktails, cool cozy chairs

Lula cafe in Logan Square - Brunch, sit outside by the planters and enjoy a mimosa

Estero in Logan Square - Coolest Cuban inspired bar, great for day drinks

Passion House Coffee Shop in Logan Square - Good lattes and plant wall for insta pics

Giordano’s - Classic Chicago deep dish Pizza

Millennial Park - Ultimate tourist spot, but gotta get that Bean pic

Goddess and the Baker by Millennial Park - Quick and yummy lunch, cool chairs for photos

Lucy’s in the Chicago Athletic Club Hotel - Drinks and an amazing view

Fairgrounds in the Chicago Athletic Club Hotel - Cute coffee shop for a pick me up 

Chicago Sky Deck - Lines for days only made worth it by views for days and the ultimate city-top Instagram

The River Walk - So gorgeous you will think you’re in Europe 

Navy Pier - Grab a beer and walk the pier, the lake seems like and endless ocean

Best Boutique Lineup 

Here is an awesome little line up of our favorite LA based boutiques. You can also snag Dazey goodies at a few of these shops which makes them pretty cool in our book! I love gorgeously curated stores. As a clothing designer nothing beats the feeling of browsing through a truly inspiring boutique. Of course the shops we have featured below are ran by equally inspiring women. When I support local businesses like these I know my money is going towards a hardworking entrepreneur who's adding value and a special touch to the city. It literally feels GOOD to spend money lol. 

This article was written by our awesome contributor Shiloh C. She is a forensic psychologist and travel blogger, basically a badass Dazey Lady. She wrote an article when we first launched the Zine on the 10 Best Coffee Shops in LA you can see HERE.

The Canyon

5911 1/2 Franklin Ave.

Franklin Village

This cute shop is brand new to the neighborhood, but already looks like it's been a staple for years! Decorate with big beautiful cacti it definitely fits it's cool, SoCal feeling name. Set up right in the front of the shop is a table with a bunch of Dazey tees, so you know they've got good taste! Mainly an apparel shop with a range of super charming accessories and home decor too, this place is a one stop shop to find your new favorite, bohemian style outfit.

 

Friend Mart

970 N. Broadway #105

Chinatown

Friend Mart lies in the center of Chinatown in a shady little courtyard. But the neon logo sign hanging on the wall is like a ray of sunshine once you step foot into this cheeky shop. There are virtually endless rows of patches, enamel pins, and apparel adorned with cool pop culture imagery.  You can also find hotel room keychains, hair clips shaped like dogs, and butt-printed socks. But the real highlight of this unique shop is the embroidery station. You can bring in that boring denim jacket (or whatever) and get lettering and graphics embroidered right there in the store. 

Nico & Bullitt

2205 W. Sunset Blvd.

Silver Lake

Entering Nico & Bullitt is like stepping into a rad time warp where you want to try on everything and just kind of hang out for awhile. There so much to look at that it's difficult to keep focused! The decor is amazing, and the fashion is exceptional, especially for ladies who love the Dazey look. Aside from some great graphic tees, I had my eye on the candles and ceramic mugs; the necessities of life!

Shout and About

1547 Echo Park Ave.

Echo Park

I was pleasantly surprised to find this sweet little shopping district tucked into an Echo Park nook. Shout and About is distinctly Californian and makes you want to spend your pennies on adorable little cactus pendants and, "Oh hey these cactus dessert plates match!" There was an impressive selection of original artwork and beautiful wrapping papers as well as more functional items like water bottles and blankets, all in beautiful bold colors.

Shorthand

5028 York Blvd. 

Highland Park

This adorable store was like medication for my OCD tendencies. A place for everything and everything perfectly in its place. Everywhere I turned there was no shortage of colorful rows and containers of office supplies (another obsession of mine) and beautiful paper products. I love a place where I can indulge in all things girly and still feel like I'm purchasing items that will ensure my productivity, while promoting a sense of female empowerment. Shorthand was all of that, wrapped up in a very neat, colorful, perfectly-shaped bow.

Myrtle

2213 Sunset Blvd. 

Silver Lake

Located a few doors down from Nico and Bullitt, Myrtle is like the more responsible older sister. The shop is definitely a reflection of how I aspire to dress; classic clean lines with a sprinkle of patterns and charming details. The more you browse, the more you view the depth of the inventory here. Lovely printed dresses and funky neon jewelry feel quite comfortable next to each other in this sophisticated space.

 

 

So excited to release this collaborative design and some new exclusive items for the Dazey Lady Shop! Awhile back we featured Larissa, the boss babe behind Miracle Eye. She has an amazing story, company, and the coolest 70s aesthetic. Some may see us as completive brands, but we have decided to work together as opposed to against each other. :) We couldn't think of a more perfect partnership with Dazey! 

The Sunbeam Pinafore is a very special collab piece! Larissa and I got together and designed the dress inspired by both of our brands. Miracle Eye has always been know for their gorgeous handmade vintage inspired pieces and often use sunbeam motifs in their designs. After falling in love with their Sunshine Overalls I got the idea for a collab! I wanted a similar look in velvet, but something that you can easily pair with a graphic tee. We brainstormed and came up with this gorgeous design! It is a statement piece that will match almost every Dazey tee while still leaving room to show off the graphic.

Lovingly handmade in Los Angeles using top quality velvet. Perfectly paneled details in front, and clean brown velvet back with same cut as front. Creep below to see photos of all the new goodies! You can SHOP HERE.

Xx- Dani Dazey

Model: Allison of @butwhatshouldiwear

Dazey Lady Feature on Ali Hynek of Nena & Co.

I have been a fan of Nena & Co for a long time! Their bags and camera straps are just gorgeous, and the colors and prints they use are incredible. What's even cooler about Nena is it was founded by Ali Hynek, a mega boss babe and new mama of triplets! I had been following her along on Instagram for awhile and loved her sense of style in both fashion and home decor. Plus, adorable triplet pictures, are you kidding me?! I know firsthand running a business without kids can be hard, so I am beyond impressed and inspired by Ali! 

I was contacted by them for a giveaway and was stoked to collab with such an awesome brand. Around the same time, I attended an event for Show me Your Mumu and ran into Ali there! Of course I knew ALL about her life via Instagram and was borderline starstruck to meet her haha. Little did I know she knew about Dazey too and watched our Insta Stories! Of course I asked her if I could feature her as a Dazey Lady.

Up until now we have featured local LA ladies I can shoot myself but am so thankful Ali took the time to snap the photos below  :) She also really put the time in to thoughtfully answering our questions. She has built this successful business from the ground up and has some awesome wisdom to share! 

What did your life & career journey look like up to starting Nena & co?

I worked for big companies in the past in management and marketing and left knowing that I never wanted to work for a male dominated work space again.  When I married my husband Jeremy, I uprooted my life in Utah and moved back to California and was working at Restoration Hardware! It was part time and so I had some time to create Nena & Co. on the side.  

What inspired Nena & Co? What were your first steps in starting it?

I never focused on wanting to own a company, rather I wanted to surround myself with things that I loved and good people. I'm so in love with my heritage of being half Guatemalan and I was so taken with the talented artisans there and I decided I needed to fit myself into the equation. I started small and created my own logo, website and would use photos that I would take with my Iphone and use it for my product page cause I didn't have a camera! My mom had contacts in Guatemala that worked with artisans and so we worked with a liaison to get product. I used IG as my only source to sell and market Nena bags and just asked friends and family to spread the word for me! I remember getting my first order from a stranger! I couldn't believe someone placed an order that I didn't know. It was working! My business was growing!

Your bags are produced in Guatemala and made one of a kind, so amazing! What is the process involved in creating them?

Oh man...it is a BIG process! We have two main collections; The One-of-kind collection which is made up of "found" hand woven fabrics that we hand pick. The Artisan collection is made up of newly woven fabric which allows us to give sustainable work to weavers as well as leather craftsman. Because I believe in bring a fair trade company we decided the only way to truly know that the people making your goods are being treated and paid fairly is to manufacture ourselves. There is no middle man. We are it. So Nena & Co. has its own master craftsman shop in Antigua Guatemala where we make ALL of our bags. The fabrics are usually made in peoples homes by women and we make it as easy as possible for them to work with us. Everything gets shipped to our warehouse in Utah where we photograph every single item in-house and list it on our website. This is the REALLY simplified version of course!

Tell us about how you got Nena to where it is today.

Like most industries you have people that want to do what you're doing and so Nena & Co. has to constantly be evolving. We have to be more creative in our designs and marketing. We have to have better customer service and processes. So I try and set a high standard for myself and hire people that can do what I'm doing but better!  

What are some of the highs and lows of running a business?

Lows are always when things go wrong. I remember the first time I got a shipments of bags that were ALL made wrong. I had been trying so hard to set a high standard and the quality of these bags were not meeting it. But it was a good lesson on being creative. that's when I decided to have my first warehouse sale. It was the first time I had opened my doors to the public and I was so worried that no one would show but we literally had a line around the block! Women were even excited just to meet me and congratulate me on how far I'd come. Hearing people tell me they had followed Nena & Co. right from the beginning was so touching!

Okay so you are a new mama of triplets and run your company! SO IMPRESSED as is everyone else I’m sure haha. How do you do it?!

I'm not as on top of life as I wish I could be and it is definitely hard! I couldn't just abandon Nena & Co and all the people it now supported when my babies were born so I planned that I would have to let other people help me. We went through a lot of people in our office until we got the right ones and I was dealing with that right up until I had the babies. But lucky for me I work with my mom who never gave up on helping me create a good team. I was on bed rest for the last two months of my pregnancy and she would come to help me get things done around my house and then give me an update on people she had interviewed. She now manages all our Nena's manufacturing and has been a life saver! I also planned to hire a full time "house hold assistant" and she's been with me for almost a year! My number one most important role is to be a mother, so I'm with them every waking minute of their lives. But when the nap or sleep, i'm working and my assistant is helping me around the house or grocery shopping. My babies nap about 4 hours during the day and are asleep by 6:30 PM so that gives me time to get most of what I need to done at work.

What do you see for the future of your company?

I see us growing by adding more artisans from around the world!

What does being a “Dazey Lady” mean to you?

I think being a "Dazey Lady" means to stick to your values and your vision. There is something so pure about staying true to yourself and that is so attractive in a person.

 

Super excited to release this month's Dazey Digitals. For July we've brought back an oldie but goodie that you can download and shop IRL! Yes its true, finally the People for the Planet tee had been restocked! You can shop it now HERE. We also have a couple of our favorites from the new Summer of Self Love Collection. Below you'll find this months digital release with both desktop and mobile formatting. Just save right to your phone or drag and drop to your desktop. And of course, let us know what digital releases you'd like to see for August! 

Dazey Your Desktop "TROPICAL GODDESS"

DOWNLOAD DESKTOP VERSION USING IMAGE SHOWN BELOW

DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE VERSION HERE

Dazey Your Desktop "PEOPLE FOR THE PLANET"

DOWNLOAD DESKTOP VERSION USING IMAGE SHOWN BELOW

DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE VERSION HERE

Dazey Your Desktop "ONE OF A KIND"

DOWNLOAD DESKTOP VERSION USING IMAGE SHOWN BELOW

DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE VERSION HERE