No Rain, No Flowers is the motto delicately inked on the wrists of Kiwi model, health and wellness advocate, and all around badass Jessica Quinn. It's a gentle reminder that beauty stems from gloomy times and if you're tough enough to withstand that bad, you will always be able to turnaround and see what's good. Jessica is a positive force with a heart of gold. Read through the interview to learn about her battles, see how she conquers, and the steps anyone could use to find strength & show up. 

Congrats on signing with Natural Models! They are a wonderful agency in the way they truly see women for who they are inside an out. They truly empower their talent by implementing inclusiveness and community in their approach. What do you think about your place in the agency as well as how it will push the envelope in the world of marketing?

Thank you! It’s really exciting. It’s been really great to get to know the team, some of the models and gain a broader understanding about what they’re all about. It’s already been hugely inspiring for me to be a part of a company who is so genuinely passionate about making change in the industry, and in the world. In a way, I bring something different to the agency in the sense that I’m the only amputee model on their books. In a big picture sense, I’m helping to normalize the scope of diversity. Natural Models represents girls wanting to push the boundaries in the industry and whether I have one leg or not I’m diverse, we are all diverse. I want to challenge the industry to use people like myself without having to make a statement about it. I’m just a girl, a model, a human and the more images of people like myself are used in mainstream ways then the more normal “diversity” will become. I don’t believe “diversity” is something that needs to be fussed over, it’s just become this way so I’m going to do everything I can to challenge people on this. We don’t need big “we support body image” campaigns to address this issue, we just need more and more people using everyday people in the their campaigns.

You also won third place in Dancing with the Stars NZ this past year! What a feat. Congrats girl! What is the biggest things you’ve taken away from that experience?

Thank you, that was a really life changing experience for me. One thing I learnt is that EVERYONE can dance because believe me, I never thought I would be able to and here we are, haha. Beyond that, Dancing with the Stars gave me a platform to show people (and myself) that we can literally achieve anything we set our minds to,  regardless of our circumstances. It’s inspired me to keep spreading this message!

You have grown into an influencer / entrepreneur because of your ability to show up with strength, inspiration, and light in whatever you do. Your taglines “Be Kind. Be You.” and “Showing cancer who’s boss since 2001” tell that perfectly. Could you share with others what it means to show up?

Aw thank you for the kind words! “BE” has always been a word I’ve loved, something I wanted to live my life by and something that I think sums up what it means to show up. I guess for me I learnt really young how short life is, so I don’t want to take anything for granted. I was one of the lucky ones to get a second shot and being here so I take every opportunity I can. Dancing with the Stars is a perfect example of that, I initially said no because I was SO scared of Dancing on national television but a huge driving factor that encourages me to “show up” is that I can have the opportunity to inspire people (we all can) so I keep that in mind with every decision I make. I go through two stages, 1. Will it better me as a person? 2. Will it inspire others?, if the answer for at least one of those questions is yes then I have to show up!

Quick tip on how to Hustle Smarter:

Something I learnt when I went out on my own is there is a huge difference between busy and productive. It’s easy to get the two confused. For me, being busy doesn't make me feel like I’m getting places unless I’m actually productive in what I’m doing. Everyday is different for me, but each day I set tasks or to-do lists that I want to get through. Sometimes these tasks take 10 minutes to complete and other times it takes all day, but it’s about focusing on getting the task at hand done and not faffing around feeling “busy”. Also, finding balance helps me a ton. This is important for me because as an entrepreneur, I can often just work, work, work because there’s always something to do. However,I find I’m much more productive when I am balancing my day with other things that are important to me like my friends, family and exercising.

I love that you mentioned your awareness between busy and productive, as well as the importance of making time for yourself as an entrepreneur. Do you have any tips or hacks on productivity? How do you keep yourself accountable on getting through your to-do list without getting sidetracked in “busy-ness”?

It’s definitely something I’m constantly working on, as it’s really easy to get distracted with exciting projects that steer my attention on current work. For me, I make sure I put a mixture of things on my plate each day. I put part of my time towards projects I really am excited about and small chunks of admin based jobs throughout the day to create a nice work balance. I’ve also found I’m very good at procastinating those niggly admin jobs, but I’ve started to just do them. That sounds silly, but I often put it off when it’s something as simple as an email or phone call and once I’ve done it I feel amazing and can tick that tiny thing off instead of “leaving it till tomorrow”.

Also, I've realized how important it is to step away. Sometimes I’m just simply overwhelmed and things seem more stressful then they are. In that case, I stop what I'm doing and walk away from my computer. I go for a walk or make a snack, take a breathe and then go back to it with fresh eyes. 9 times out of 10 everything seems a lot more achievable by then.

I also got to the point where if I’m putting of a really big task over and over again, then I realize that maybe that’s just not something I’m passionate about or the timing isn’t right. Halfway through starting my label (Be. Your Label) I was always making excuses. I’d put off sourcing fabric, production, and other mandatory steps for months until I came to the decision that maybe I just don’t want it bad enough to make the time for it. Soon after, I went on the Dancing with the Stars and forgot about it for awhile. Once the show finished all I wanted to do was launch my label and now anything related to Be. Your Label on my to-do list excites me SO much. As entrepreneurs, we need to listen to our gut instinct and realize that sometimes it’s just not the right time.

Majority of women encounter internal obstacles dealing with body image, self love,and mental health. Could you touch on one of these topics and give insight on how impacts you? 

For sure! I have struggle with all three believe it or not. It took me a really long time to learn to love the skin I’d found myself in, because at the age of 9 my identity was taken away from me. I lost a body part and with that I lost who I was physically, which created a huge mental barrier for me towards self love. I struggled for so long to ever see how I could be beautiful. One day I decided enough was enough. My beauty did not lay in my appearance and beyond that my worth did not lay within something I had ZERO control over. So I began to find ways to feel comfortable in my own skin. The main thing for me was showing my leg, I began to wear shorts and people began to ask questions and become interested in my story. Bit by bit the positives of my situation began to outweigh the negatives. That’s when I really began to love the skin I was in. And, overall it’s appearance never changed, but my attitude towards it did. I started to focus on what my body what it allowed me to do and who it allowed me to be. Whenever I start to speak negative words towards myself I remember that. Nothing I can say or do will change the fact that I physically have one leg, but I can choose to feel positive about the life I live because of it.

You know that feeling when it's been two months of summer and it's still hot for some reason and you kind of want it to end?! Yeah, I felt that way and was totally summer'd OUT. THANKFULLY, the lovely duo at TAMGA Designs rescued that summer drag and brought pieces that give me life and all the spice. With flowy pieces that will have you feeling like a queen, founders Yana and Eric, are stocking fresh pieces in our Dazey Lady Shop to keep the summer fun going!

The Root of TAMGA Designs

Dazey is always proud to support sustainable, female-owned brands that aim to create in positive environments and with positive missions. Yana brought TAMGA Designs to life while working in Bangladesh for a local NGO. Living in the hot, crowded city of Dhaka, fashion manufacturing was impossible to ignore. Over a two-year period, Yana started working with local tailors to make her own clothes, and learned first-hand about the impact that the fashion industry has on people and the planet. This experience led Yana to start TAMGA Designs with her fiancee, Eric, to prove that great fashion did not have to exploit workers or pollute the environment. Their journey took them to Indonesia, where they travelled the country partnering with artisans, factories and fabric mills that share their passion for a more sustainable fashion industry. Today, TAMGA Designs creates luxurious, bright and ethically-made clothing using the world’s most progressive eco-friendly fabrics and dyes. Through TAMGA, Yana’s mission is to create better fashion for a brighter future.

Confidence Boost in the Makala Jumpsuit

Jumpsuits make finding confidence and comfort a breeze. It's my go-to piece when I don't want to think twice about what to wear and let me tell you, this one is SO DAMN GOOD. Makala Jumpsuit is an eye-catching sustainable one-piece made for warm summer days and starry nights. This breezy number comes in two colors, green and pink, and features button up details, playful side leg slits and a removable belt. An invisible back-zipper makes it a breeze to step in and out of! This piece is as versatile and comfortable as it gets. 

Pairing the Mila & Karina

Pairing the Karina Maxi skirt with the Mila Off the Shoulder top is the easiest bohemian meets sophisticated look I've ever worn! 

The Karina is a dreamy panel skirt with a sleek A-line fit. Made with lightweight Micro-TENCEL®, the fabric flows with you while the split panel cuts add a feminine touch. The Mila is both classic and playful, featuring a dramatic ruffled front and side-ties for an adjustable length. Fixed underarm cuffs prevent the top from sliding up, keeping you comfortable and confident.

Boho Leisure Queen Vibes in Frida Pants & Zane Kimono  

Feel the breeze while feeling like a queen in the Frida pants and Zane Maxi Kimono. These pieces, like all TAMGA Designs, can be dressed up or down for any occasion. The Zane Kimono is perfect for layering and a staple in transitioning your closet from summer to fall. Statement bottoms keep outfits fierce and the Frida pants go the extra mile in flattering your curves.

Spice up your summer, shop the Dazey Lady Shop, and keep the fun going in these pieces! Lots of love to all these female-owned brands who keep us fresh ♥ ♥ ♥

Dazey ladies, listen up! We are so excited to finally start hosting events, meet ups, and contests that involve YOU. As you may know, Dazey is all about creating conversations on topics of importance such as environmentalism, feminism, unity, and self care. While it can be fun to engage in these topics online, the real progress starts when you put in work in real life . We’re trying our best to encourage you ladies to log off, unwind, and cultivate a Dazey community in your free time. So far the Dazey community has shown nothing but LOVE & FUN. We are stoked to hit the ground running with these events and meet ups. Let me show you a little bit of what it's like: 

Beach days, Photoshoots, and Sharing truths
The first meet up was hosted at Baker’s Beach, a local’s beach in beautiful San Fransisco. There was a crisp breeze and the skies were covered in a mellow gloom, but Dazey ladies @carolinemoira and @anamariecampos_  brought great warmth and full hearts that morning. We walked along the shore, through old military territories, took photographs along the way, and stopped for some self care conversations.  
 

Pop-Ups, Neighborhood Walks, and Supporting Local Babes
The week after, we had our second meet up and pop-up at The Canyon with fellow boss babe and vintage queen Cynthia. Talented babe Michele Chung brought THE BEST cookies, Dani made a fun Instagram backdrop, and the neighborhood was full of local gems and photo spots. We talked empowerment and action for hours, Dani styled Dazey babes, and the floor was open for conversation and community all day. 

Real Talk, Real Thoughts
At each meet up, we hit Dazey phrases through conversation cards. To us, #dazeydialogue is about connecting with your community IRL and truly creating conversations on topics that give you passion and make you vulnerable. At the end of the day, we're all human experiencing such similar emotions. If we share, we're that much closer to understanding ourselves and learning how to help, grow, and educate our community. Check out how some Dazey ladies dig deep and relate to Dazey phrases.

Show Up, Make Change, Have Fun
Stay tuned for events, meet ups, and other fun IRL happenings to come with the Dazey team! Share how you resonate with Dazey phrases through this graphic and join the conversation. We are SO GRATEFUL to see such strong women come together through this community. Scroll through for more photos of the meet ups!

Charleston: What to Do, See, Eat, Drink, and Shoot

While these aren’t always my most popular posts I love having them as an excuse to travel and get inspired! Shooting in new locations is always a fresh breath of air and keeps our content creative and unique. I was invited to Charleston to speak at a conference about social media called SMAD-CON. Public speaking is something I'm working on getting better at so it seemed like the perfect excuse to check out a new city at the same time! Despite my initial reservations about visiting not so liberal states and the biases that come along with them, I had always heard it was a really beautiful city with a lot of history. Below is a post from when I was there about the panel I was on and a bit of what I talked about:

Peace out California ✌️☀️ @danidazey has offcially left the sunshine state (sun included) and is in rainy but beautiful Charleston SC speaking at @smad_con 🎙 It’s all about social media, SMAD literally stands for “Social Media ALL DAY” lol. Instagrammers are know for sharing their “highlight reel”, a collection of perfectly curated moments made to look like their life is flawless. With self care being the theme of our new collection we’ve been unpacking how social media and comparison can effect your mental health. Dani will be speaking about a topic not often brought up in the insta-world, authenticity 👊 Dazey is all about sharing the highlight REAL. Life is full of ups and down for everyone, so why shouldn’t our digital self’s share that too?! We’ve been inspired by the recent vulnerability movement going around on the gram and all the brave babes leading it 🙌 As women we have been told softness and vulnerability is a weakness, but we believe it’s a strength to create change and connection 💪 Our company and tees encourage women to create real conversation both on the internet and IRL. Connection and community is so much more than the perfect photo ✨ Join the REAL talk below and let us know how social media has effected you, good or bad👇 #highlightREAL #dazeydialogue #danidazey #createconversation #selfcaresummer #vulnerabilityisstrength

A post shared by Dazey LA - Brand & Boss Blog (@dazey_la) on Jul 19, 2018 at 9:38am PDT

Here you'll find my best comprehensive guide to the city in the five days we were there. I got so many wonderful recommendations from both Instagram and people we met on our trip. Five days was great to get the vibe, yet we feel like we hardly scratched the surface of this foodie, picturesque town. We have a roundup of all the places we went below along with photos!

 SHOP: Cannon-borough Collective

An adorable shop co-founded by my amazing new friend, @charlestonweekender. She hosted the SMAD-con after party where we met and found we had so much in common! She's the one who gave us a laundry list of places we had to see! Her store is a collection of gorgeous goods made by local artists, mostly women too! Dazey can certainly get behind that :) The photos below are from the event. I also got to meet a bunch of amazing ambassababes at the conference shown below too! 

SHOOT: Rainbow Row

Probably one of the best known Instagram spots! Rows and rows of classic style houses line this block and are painted all sorts of different bright colors. As you'll see in one of my posts below there is no shortage of fun backdrops, but this is certainly the most magnificent and concentrated area. I was lucky enough to speak at SMAD-CON alongside some rad friends, @mvandersluis & @lisahomsy. They were sweet enough to model some new summer styles with me in this iconic area! 

EAT: Basic Kitchen:

Basic was started by two interior designers, which is easy to believe when you're there. Interiors are apart of the experience in my opinion so I always appreciate that! This place is mostly vegan/veggie with some fish options, yay! They had a ton of juices as well as a full bar. We went for lunch but I imagine it would be good for any time of day! The tacos with the peace sauce were a savory sweet dream. And don't miss out on the buffalo cauliflower.

See the City by Bike 

Charleston is a very beautiful city and you will want to explore it all. An awesome way to do that is by bike! Throughout the city they have bike stations where you can borrow bikes all day for only $12 per person. You can pick them up and drop them off as you go. I highly recommend them by the bay and pier downtown, gorgeous! Don't forget to ride through the neighborhoods as they are as beautiful as the main streets in downtown. The bikes are super cute and an awesome way to really see all Charleston has to offer.

EAT: Dabs

Easy American with a fun atmosphere and really good food. Maybe one of my favorite daytime meals we had! An order-at-the-counter spot with cozy booth window seating. We had brunch here and just kept adding mimosas as we went. A Dazey Lady happened to be working there and she was so cool, @beergirlmeetsworld, she's pictured below :) 

EAT: Felix

A new French spot by Cannon-borough with sophisticated decor and delicious snacks. We got our drink on with some killer cocktails and enjoyed a dinner with the surprisingly large petite entrees. The owner was super nice and came to chat for a bit. We also have a very kind and attentive server, Nixon, who knew the menu like the back of his hand! Great spot for a fancy night out with your SO or gal pals.

CAFFEINATE: Brown's Court

A local fav, this bakery and coffee shop gave us all the cozy cabin feels. So many of the shops and spots were homes converted to businesses and this is a perfect example. The croissants melt in your mouth and the coffee was great too. We posted up in their upstairs little attic area to get some work done. They also have a cute patio on the top! 

DO: Beach Day at Sullivan Island:

Across the bridge from downtown there's a sleepy little town called Sullivan Island. You will find a small street lined with little shops and restaurants as quaint as can be. Just beyond that is a walkway through a marsh that takes you to the beach! The water is warm and the waves are mellow. We spent hours playing in the ocean and it was amazing! 

EAT: Obstinant Daughter

Seafood as fresh as can be, literally right next to the sea! They also have a ton of options for the seafood prone, aka yours truly. They are great for lunch, dinner, and brunch. With a gorgeous ambiance, amazing decor, and hidden feel in up the trees. The food was AMAZING, we were not surprised this one was of our top recommended locations. 

EAT: Indaco

A Charleston classic. Good Italian bites and nice spot. Definitely enjoyed it but wasn't our favorite. Both our dishes were good, but one was a bit too salty and one too dry. A lot of people mentioned this place so we're thinking maybe it was an off night or we ordered the wrong things? Either way a decent spot if you're craving Italian and want to hit some bars up after. 

CAFFEINATE: Second State Coffee

We like to switch up our coffee spots when on vacation but ended up going here twice because we liked it so much! Not to mention it's a great spot to hunker down and get some work done. The work never ends when you're running a small biz! We sat at the window and felt inspired looking out on the streets as we typed away!

Wall hunting - EVERYWHERE YOU GO

Backdrops everywhere you look, perfectly painted to match those colorful Dazey vibes! Walking around Charleston feels sometimes felt like we were in some quirky European town or perhaps even Amsterdam. There is no end to the amazing doors, facades, and perfectly painted walls. We stopped at SO many just to snap pics because there's nothing like it in LA.

CAFFEINATE: Kudu Coffee

Got tons of recs for this place and I see why. Relaxed vibes, fun location, good coffee, and a pretty courtyard to enjoy it in. They also serve food and beer if you're looking for a quick and easy meal. Solid place for a good latte before hitting the city!

EXPLORE: The Downtown Market

Okay yes, this is undoubtably a tourist spot. Nevertheless it's fun to see and shows a little bit of Charleston's history. Located in the middle of the French Quarter it's a multi-building massively long hall filled with gift shops and local artists. They also have a bunch of traditional basket weavers making and selling their woven art, a big part of the history of the city. A bunch of those horse drawn carriages are around here too. I don't find them ethical towards the animals, but they do give you a feeling of what this area may have looked like back in the day. This town is all about history, both the good and bad.

EAT: Millers All Day

Cutest food spot in the whole city!! Feels like a 50's diner perfectly modernized and hipster-ed out. We got some mimosas, pancakes, and enjoyed the break from the humid east coast summer day. Great for a midday pick me up or brunch vibes. Or to get that super cool gram of course!

Go Far By Car

Charleston is a small city, but it can be a bit spread out. We loved being able to borrow this car from Toyota and really get a locals feel for the town. A car was a great way to go back and forth from the beach to downtown. It was also cool to just take a drive to find cool neighborhoods we hadn't seen when biking or walking around. This cute and colorful C-HR Toyota was a match made in heaven for Charleston.

SHOP: Candy Vinatge

Right down the street from Cannon-Borough collective is an adorable vintage shop called Candy! It's a dreamy curated collection or your grandmas most glam and funky jewelry and accessories. Everything from the outside to the wallpaper is perfection. I'm a sucker for sparkles and glitz so I had a lot of fun shopping here.

EAT: Stella

HOLY MOLY. We were transported from the east coast to the Mediterranean in this lively location. This gem was actually found via Yelp, with hundreds of reviews and five stars - a rare feat. We sat at the bar that wrapped around most of the restaurant where we could see all the action from drink making to kitchen flames. We ordered the Santorini drink to start, made of muddled blueberries, vodka, ginger, and lemon. I think this was the best drink I've ever had in my life, we each ordered two! Then we did some shared plates that turned out to be massive and filled with flavor. This is such a fun spot and I really can't say enough good things!

Us ladies know that empowered women, empower women. With fearless attitudes and a serious love for food and architecture, Natasha Case and Freya Estreller joined forces to develop a business that would excite the community. They spontaneously launched Coolhaus during Coachella 2009 in a renovated postal truck. Their aim was to create ice cream flavors that captured familiar experiences and memories, which you can see through signature blends such as Milkshake and Fries.

We are stoked to dive deep with a fellow proud, woman-owned business that blends innovation, curiosity, and heart so effortlessly. Read on to learn how the founder, Natasha Case moves her business through leadership, team building, and how she balances work and life.

Tell us about your transition from graduating architecture school to starting Coolhaus. What inspired this jump into building a business?

My partner, Freya Estreller and I started baking cookies, making ice cream, and combining them into “cool houses” in 2008. With mutual backgrounds in the design and real estate fields, we began naming our ice cream sandwiches after architects and architectural movements that inspired us – and eventually decided to take our new found passion (dubbed “Farchitecture,” or Food + Architecture) to our hometown streets in Los Angeles.

After a few days on Craigslist (and some time convincing their families they weren’t crazy), we found and bought a beat-up old postal van, trekked out to the world-famous Coachella Valley Music Festival with our ice cream in April 2009 to make our debut, and, well…the rest is history.

Why ice cream?

Not only is it delicious, but it’s a great canvas for experimentalism. There are so many options with flavors, textures, ingredients that you can really create almost anything.

What influences your eclectic assortment of flavors?

I’m a foodie, so I’m inspired by real-life, every day food experiences.  I can be eating something delicious and think, “Wow, that would be a great ice cream.”  We are also driven by our clients – we want to offer them delicious and exciting options.

What has been one of your biggest challenges as a businesswoman?

Money is always challenging. Learning how to get raise and how to spend it the right way. Also, building a good team around can also be a challenge, you really have to rely on instinct and intuition.

Yes, totally. Learning how to professionally handle money and build a team are definitely real challenges. Let’s dive into the topic of team building a bit more. Is there a rule of thumb you’ve developed or resource you use when it comes to knowing who to collaborate with and who not to?

As far as team building, the biggest keys are sharing a vision and being an inspiring leader beyond the day to day tasks of the business are. It's possible to drive your team to kick ass and have a great time doing it. For collaboration, consider the shared equity and the effort that is going into you. Before initiating a business collaboration ask yourself these three questions:

1. What kind of outcome are you going to get and vice versa?

2. In what ways will it move the dial?

3. And most importantly, is what you are achieving together truly original?

If you could offer one tip to someone starting a new venture, what would it be?

Think BIG and walk through a wall when you don’t know it’s there….

Could you tell us about a time you had to brace yourself and walk through a wall?

Everyday! It's a constant. At Coolhaus every day is innovation, pushing the edge, working up against deadlines, fine tuning product and packaging. There are so many battles, but I truly love problem solving battles that are all about ice cream and cookies!

We love that Coolhaus embraces being a certified women-owned business. Why is this aspect of your business particularly important / special to you?

This is such an important cause, overall, and has been a challenge our World faces, and particularly in the food business.  Many don’t expect a woman to be the owner, so to change this you have to lead by example…..

To us, no matter what type of work you do it’s important to balance your work load with self care. What has been your experience in creating this balance?

Take advantage of the flexibility you can have in your schedule as an entrepreneur.  Don’t work nonstop, don’t over do it – allow yourself to take breaks and enjoy some of the freedoms associated with being the boss.

I will love more by…

Recognizing the meaningful contributions that the people around me are making to our World.

What are you excited about for Coolhaus?

Continuing to innovate the category and gain notoriety for being a women-owned business.  We also have some exciting varieties coming including a Holiday collection, which will launch in the Fall.

Shop Dazey in person at any of these amazing retailers

We get questions all the time asking where you can get Dazey IRL so we decided to do a boutique round up to let you ladies know where to head for your Dazey needs!

If you’re a boutique who’s interested in carrying our goods email collab@dazeyla.com and we will set you up! 

Shop the Canyon

Our flagship store is in the heart of Hollywood at the foot of legendary Beachwood Canyon. Inspired by Los Angeles’ 70’s Canyon counter culture and music community, we celebrate natural forms, native cultures and the fusion of folk music and rock n’ roll with our mix of Urban Hippie, Bohemian, Southwestern and ethnic styles and a cool, casual California contemporary look. Our vibe is expressed with women's and men's contemporary apparel with coordinated vintage for casual wear, work and evening, with accessories to match and related lifestyle and home products. Most of our products are made in the USA and all are offered in a relaxed, friendly shopping environment.

Website: shopthecanyon.com
Instagram: @shopthecanyon
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Moorea Seal

In 2013, cousins Moorea Seal, our namesake, CEO and Creative Director, and Reed Wasser, our CFO and Business Development Director, decided to make their life long dream of starting a business together a reality. Within two weeks, they knew they needed one more person to complete the leadership trifecta that would launch our company which brought our COO Jenette Donovan, to our team. With Moorea's previous experience as a social media influencer, jewelry production and design, and involvement in the handmade community on Etsy combined with Jenette's experience in operation management and online retail, and Reed's experience in traditional marketing and business strategy, and our common desire to support non-profits and create positive change in the world that our company was formed. Not soon after, core members to our operations team, Tram and Jessie joined to build our company from the ground up. In the years since, our original group of three, then five has grown to many more, but the core five still remain, five years later. 

In 2014, due to outgrowing our first little studio, our swift growing online community, and in desire to connect more deeply to those within the city we live in, we decided to start our first storefront. The first Moorea Seal shop opened in May of 2014 and within six months, we had to expand our offices and storefront again to meet the engagement level of our online and in store customers! We fell in love you YOU as you fell for us too.

By early 2017, we came to realize again that the little space in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle had become to small for our growing company. So we took on the exciting adventure of building out a storefront and offices from scratch in the historic 125 year old Standard building in the heart of downtown Seattle. And that is exactly where you will find us today, at the official flagship Moorea Seal store at 1012 1st Ave, Seattle WA 98104.

Website: mooreaseal.com
Instagram: @mooreaseal
Location: Seattle, WA

Girl Tribe Co.

Girl Tribe Co. began in November 2014 as a women positive graphic tee shirt company in Charlotte, NC by high school friends Carrie Barker + Sarah Baucom. Carrie is a graphic designer and Sarah has extensive experience in retail + merchandising - and the team loved the "project they created so much" and knew they were onto something. The brand organically grew through 2015 and they added Girl Tribe Pop UP, a one day experience featuring 60+ women owned businesses to great success. The brand kept growing and now the team has a girl powered storefront in Charlotte, NC and they sell over 50+ women-owned products!

Website: girltribeco.com
Instagram: @girltribeco
Location: Charlotee, NC

Rare Bird

Rare Bird is a boutique, gallery & studio in Oakland, California. We feature independent artists, brands, and makers from California & the U.S. Founded in 2010 by maker & arts educator, Erica Skone-Rees, Rare Bird's focus is on celebrating creativity and cultivating community.  Rare Bird is carefully curated with handcrafted finds for him, her, home and baby. We offer d.i.y workshops in our Makers' Studio, lead team building workshops and host monthly art shows. 

Location: Oakland, CA

Sapphires and Sagebrush Mercantile

In no time "S&S" became a business that moved across Texas. First down to Fredericksburg for a bit and then here recently we have found ourselves headquartered in the northern border town of Nocona where we plan on setting some roots! Currently our "storefront" operates completely online, giving us the freedom to take our traveling booth all over Texas to our favorite trade shows. Now the goal is to one day open our own brick & mortar storefront and increase our network. But we certainly would not be where we are today without the love and support of all of our friends and family. The best part is, it's all just getting started. 

Website: sapphiresandsagebrush.com
Instagram: @sapphires_and_sagebrush

Salt + Sirena

When I was 17, I was awarded a much-needed, full academic scholarship to an amazing university, and that scholarship changed my life. I am so grateful that because of this shop and my amazing customers, I am now able to give back by donating a percentage of all sales to organizations that provide scholarships to female, first-generation college students. I'm truly lucky to be able to mix my passion for supporting women with my love for fashion, and appreciate any support you throw my way! Follow us for information on our local pop ups in Escondido, CA!

Dishrags & Dustruffles

D & D opened its doors last December in a historical building in Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado, but had been an idea planted long ago in my head (Renee), I just hadn’t put together how to make it happen and what specifically it would look like. It finally came to a “do or die” moment and here I am today with a growing vision that is piece by piece coming to fruition, thanks to incredible brands such as Dazey. Early on I made a decision that I wanted the main emphasis to be on American made goods where quality + talent marry and the result is fantastically cool. It is amazing discovering and finding so many talented makers and shakers out there doing incredible things and getting to be a part of that, while introducing customers to products/items that they may not frequently see. D&D strives to have something for everyone but there are definitely always goods that will entail one or more of the following; humor, edginess, bad-assness and pure style without compromising integrity.

Website: dishragsdustruffles.com
Instagram: @dishragsdustruffles
Location: Fort Collins, CO

Stroll

Stroll is located in little Italy, San Diego CA. Stroll still specializes in supporting local vendors, boho fashion and a locals favorite gift shop. Stroll supports 10-5 local handmade vendors ...making your shopping experience always unique. Stroll expanded again last year and Stroll Home was created. Stroll Jome is our home store attached to our boutique Stroll. It’s vintage, brand new, handmade and a green thumb persons dream! We hope you all can take a Stroll.

Instagram: @sdstroll
Location: San Diego, CA

Malibu Fox

Coming from Florida, you might find the name Malibu Fox a bit strange. However, the name was inspired by my love of the bohemian & coastal California lifestyle. The two were brought together when I created my first clothing collection under the name Malibu Fox. In the summer of 2014, I opened Malibu Fox Boutique in Sarasota, FL comprised of clothing, shoes & accessories with a majority of the lines hailing from California & Australia. I find that it is important to take the time in researching new brands, especially ones that stand for something greater, a lot like Dazey LA.  

We first introduced Dazey LA to the shop in July of 2017, and it has been flying off the shelves ever since. I love supporting a brand that is not only made & created within the US, but also finds a way to empower women while shedding a positive light on today’s important issues.

I have been blessed to have one store, but I never like to settle. I am always thinking beyond the present. With that concept in mind, I plan on opening a second location in the Tampa, FL area. 

Location: Sarasota, Fl

Chris + Mary

We are a husband and wife duo striving to keep the art of handmade/small batch alive - a literal mom-and-pop shop in Santa Monica. We support and represent artisans, makers and designers near and far, sharing their stories and missions with our customers. We live four blocks from our shop and believe in supporting other local, small businesses and working together for the collective good of our community and world.

Website: shopchrisandmary.com
Instagram: @chrisandamary
Location: Santa Monica, CA 

Favor The Kind

Favor The Kind is a home, gift, and apparel boutique based in Dallas, Texas with additional locations in Houston, Austin, and Crested Butte, Colorado. We strive to spread the joy of the kind life by carrying homemade, sustainably produced apparel, gifts, and home items made by people and companies our customers can feel good about supporting.

Website: favorthekind.com
Instagram: @favorthekind
Locations: Houston, Austin, and Crested Butte

Wallflower Store

Wallflower Store offers a selection of clothing and lifestyle products with
an emphasis on slow fashion and living.

Owner run by locals Tikita and Sam, Wallflower Store aims to support
independent labels and makers from around the world creating an
eclectic mix of vintage clothing, handmade ceramics and jewellery as
well as many more independently sourced treasures.

Website: wallflowerfreo.com
Instagram: @wallflowerau
Location: Fremantle, Western Australia

Mondo Bazaar

Mondo Bazaar is a collection curated with passion and determination . And I am ever so grateful to all my customers and community for supporting my venture. I’m proud of the brand that I am building which encompasses a theme of equality and empowerment as well as ethically, and hand made “slow fashion” and female  entrepreneurs which  I feel very passionate about. Thank you to everyone for joining me on this journey, including my awesome brands! So happy to be working with and supporting other hard working and creative women in business!”

Website: mondobazaar.com
Instagram: @mondobazaar
Location: Australia

Bird Bee

Bird Bee began in 2015 by 25 year old owner and visionary, Taylor Bolleber. The boutique was created to offer a unique shopping experience for women who weren’t necessarily into “fashion", but wanted to explore their style and wear cool things that made them just…. feel good. After being exclusively online for about a year and a half, Taylor took Bird Bee to a brick and mortar location in the heart of downtown Detroit. Bird Bee is now one of the only women’s boutiques in the entire city and brings life to Griswold Street, which just two years back was not a place people even wanted to walk by foot. The shop is filled with accessories, shoes, apparel & lifestyle goods for the expressive and edgy soul. 

Website: shopbirdbee.com
Instragram: @bird_bee_
Location: Detroit, MI

Alé Katz Mobile Boutique

Dash~B

Dash~B is a boutique that believes in personal style. At our boutique we allow people to buy timeless bohemian styled pieces that they will have for a lifetime. We also believe in empowering small businesses and companies that give back and make a difference. We know the world is better when we put our hands together and love those around us.Being two hippies and mother and daughter duo we turned our styling passion that we operated out of our loft into a dream business! We opened our store front with the goal of having good quality items for an amazing price to allow women from all walks of life to feel empowered. So come join our Hippie tribe and hangout in our beach shack! Ps always dream big, love big and remember to love your quirky self because you are an original and that's dangerously priceless.

American Alchemy

Website: theamericanalchemy.com
Instagram: @theamericanalchemy
Location: Ripon, WI

Divas and Devils

Divas and Devils HOUSE of STYLE is a true specialty boutique. Beginning 21 years ago as a love story fueled by fashion and music, this boutique holds two decades of cherished memories and carries an air of immense value and rich history. Stevie Nicks’ vocals and Eagle’s guitar riffs float over you as you shop whispering tales of the past mixed with a vision of the future. The soul of this place lies within the heart of its creator Michelle Torregrosa. Her mission is to deliver an experience which provides a source of inspiration that is personable and memorable. She has an inexhaustible obsession for vintage clothing. She travels the US scouring for these authentic one-of-a-kind treasures from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Old graphic and concert tee’s, embroidered kimonos, vintage boots and wooden platform heels, fur, fringe, denim and perfectly worn in leathers are always on her radar. Each piece in her boutique has been carefully hand selected. She has curated a collection where about 60% of the boutique is dedicated to new design talent. Some well known larger brands like Free People, Blank NYC and Citizens of Humanity, some LA based brands like Dazey LA, Miracle Eye and Bandit Brand, then mix in handmade pieces from across the globe. 

The brand Michelle has created has an underlying feeling of love and acceptance. It’s for every woman.... the wallflowers and free spirits to the elegantly classic... from the romantics to the ones who like a little edge.... and the bohemians of the world. This is one of the reason I love Dazey LA so much. 

Website: divasanddevils.com
Instagram: @divasanddevils
Location: Tallahassee, FL

Fleetwood Collection

I'm Dan, a 44 year old mumma of two small children, running my own boutique in the Dandenong Ranges, one hour from the Melbourne CBD, Australia. A beautiful lush part of the world in the forest, we are an eclectic mix of creatives - musos, artists, crafters and open community minded peeps. Somehow I manage to juggle a busy business, feed two children and still keep my house clean! Fleetwood Collection was founded from my love of thrift shopping, market scouring, and treasure hunting! I have always loved finding that one-off statement piece that no one else would be rocking! An opportunity came for me to open up my own retail space, and although i had a chinese medicine background (so completely different!) I jumped on the chance to get creative and mould my own space for my own hills folk to love. And of course my devotion for everything Fleetwood Mac meant there was only ever one name the shop could have! Fleetwood Collection has been adorning hills people now for nearly 13 years, and the business has grown and evolved so much along the way. We focus on bohemian treasures - whether that be grade A hand curated vintage, eclectic tribal silver jewellery, eco friendly homewares, and of course our rad range of Dazey tees with meanings - which complement our pieces so well...... all things with that 60s/70s Woodstock vibe is what we are about! Our focus is on ethical fashion, eco-friendly shopping and EVERY choice I make on stock going into the store must meet this personal important criteria. I hand pick and choose every single piece in the store, keeping it eclectic and ever evolving. I absolutely love what i do and i love being a woman running my own business.

Location: Belgrave, Vic, Australia

Celebrating and Empowering Women Globally

After months of planning and sharing snippets of behind the scenes our collaboration with Known Supply is here! This is our very first collaboration with a Dazey Dude, Kohl, but he is a man who wholeheartedly believes in empowering women and shining a light on what they are doing. In fact it's the whole mission behind his brand, sharing the stories and faces of the women who make your clothing. They operate their own facilities in Peru, Africa, and India. These are places where garment workers are often paid pennies and forced to work in terrible conditions. Known Supply provides them with great wages, good working conditions, and actually empowers them as the artisans and makers they are.

Each shirt has a patch inside with the signature of the woman who made it. It adds such a personal touch and humanizes an industry that all too often tries to hide the people behind it. @danidazey and @kohlgreyson are also so excited to share the entire journey of their collaboration in documentary called @newbreedmovie. It's all about young entrepreneurs running their companies with social good in mind. We all got together at Biz Babez awhile back and began planning. We wanted a design that celebrated the hands that would touch and wear the tee, all over the world, and  Kohl came up with the amazing verbiage "She is We." It reminds us that even if we are worlds away, we are are human, all equal, and all connected. I drew this design by hand and documented the whole process on our story that you can see HERE. I wanted it to represent women from all over the world and center around the idea of unity. The design in a single line drawing, meaning everything is connected and made by a single line. It was also done in the shape of a globe. These two details really bring home the idea of connection and togetherness. I also love that this design was hand drawn in LA by a woman and the shirt was hand sewn in Peru, like a collaboration directly with the maker! We wanted to take the Unite Women Globally concept one step further and found a wonderful female screen printer, Deluxe, to fuse the art with fabric. The shirt I'm wearing as I type this is made and signed by Frida, designed by Dani, and printed by Elsie. 

10% of Proceeds to be Donated to Women's Refugee Commission

Originally Kohl and I talked about donating a portion of the proceeds to a charity but decided against it since there was already so much to explain about the design and our collaboration,  we didn't want to water down the message or confuse anyone. But given our current state of affairs in America with families being separated at our borders it felt wrong not to donate. This design represents equality and unity across borders and backgrounds. We believe everyone is equal and everyone deserves a chance to live a good life. Sadly in so many places this is not the case and people, women and children in particular, need our help. We've decided from now until our event on July 1st to donate 10% of the proceeds to the Women's Refugee Commission, an organization dedicated to improving the lives and giving a voice to  displaced women and children. Right now they are actively doing all they can at the Mexican border to provide relief to the mothers and children who desperately need it. 

Shirts are in super limited supply so grab yours now! We also hope you can join us at our big collaboration event, which also doubles as the Dazey two year anniversary party! All the details are below and we are so excited to meet and connect with the people who support our brands.

SHOP AND SUPPORT HERE

The Shoot

Below is a photoshoot I did with gorgeous model Kelsey! We shot the new tees along with some other new Dazey items in beautiful Chinatown LA. I loved the juxtaposition of cultures in the shoot. It is really celebrating all cultures and backgrounds with color, life, and compassion!  

Introducing our Self Care Summer Line

This is the Self Care Summer Collection. So often we are told that success will bring you happiness and this collection challenges that. With social media that pressure has only become greater. We scroll through our feeds and see people that appear to be wildly successful, traveling the world, and have the perfect happy family. We all know deep down this is the highlight reel and not the REAL. But at the same time it can be so easy to get lost in daydreaming about that greener grass. These designs serve as little reminders that success is not what brings happiness. Enjoying where you are and consciously going a little easier on yourself. Choosing to be grateful about every thing you do have. Learning what is worth your time and energy and funneling more of those precious resources into yourself. 

I’ve always been driven to a fault and sometimes will work myself until I’m sick. I set large goals and daydream about how different and more fulfilled I will feel once I reach them. Then once I do I’m onto the next, not even taking a second to enjoy my accomplishments. Sound familiar!? I hear the same story over and over again from my peers. Even accomplished women who I admire and aspire to be like often talk about being unhappy. I’ve noticed this is especially true for female entrepreneurs, trying to balance everything and be super women. Desperately wanting to prove that we can and will have it all, yet losing ourselves in the process. Society tells us over and over again success is happiness. Even in the small successes I have had I’ve come to realize that’s just not true. Working yourself to the bone will only burn you out, it’s simply not sustainable. I was doing everything I loved for a living, but somehow still started to feel tired. When I began to feel the burn out coming I started working with our Biz Babez community manager Kasey Dreier. She is a self care coach for boss babes. I have been learning so many things about how to better take care of myself, and in turn take care of my company. As a self proclaimed "Yes Girl" I'm learning to say "NO" more and conserve my energy. Spend more time doing the things that make me feel relaxed and sane. Happiness can be found in the little things. It’s about hustling smarter, not harder, surrendering what doesn’t serve you, and finding magic in the mundane. These are just a few of the lessons I’m leaning and phrases on our new tees! I designed this collection amidst the most stressful and busy month of my life and really poured by heart into it. I put a lot of thought into each design and personally found solace in the messages. Inspired by the laid back lifestyle and gorgeous design aesthetic of Palm Springs, our new home away from home @dazey_desert_house. We hope they make you feel like YOU ARE ENOUGH and that life can be pretty darn great when you slow down enough to enjoy it :)

A little about the collection:

We are so excited so be launching our very first Dazey brand non-graphic Cut & Sew pieces alongside the tees! For those that don’t know Cut & Sew is just an industry term for fully custom made garments. If you follow Dazey on instagram you know @danidazey is obsessed with overalls and jumpsuits so of course we had to include these with our first full line drop! Each piece has been small batch made in LA, garment dyed to match the tees, and enzyme washed to have a soft weathered feel. They were designed to be versatile and worn with or without our tops. The straps on the jumpsuit and romper are designed to tie up top, giving you supreme adjustability and options when wearing. They are intentionally made fit the waist slightly loose and hang from the straps to accommodate different body types. Our wrap dress is adjustable with a tie as well, and can also be worn open as a duster! It's a total twofer and looks amazing layered with our graphics! They are made from a rayon twill that is soft, slightly heavy, and wrinkle resistant. These are all super limited pre-order runs so order now :)

We are also stoked to announce our collaboration pants print with girl boss owned and Australian based brand @flarestreet. The velvet bells came just in time for launch, literally the same day as the photoshoot haha. We used our beloved Frida Flora hand drawn pattern for the print. Available in the classic pink and a fun new blue, orange, and yellow print I like to call POP. They come in two different fits as well, a regular flare bell bottom and a wide leg pant. Flare Street is a sustainably made brand that created all of their pieces in small batches in Australia. Dani met the boss babe, Nik, randomly at a coffee shop while she was visiting LA and they immediately started talking about a collaboration. She runs an amazing company and we love brining or two brands together.

And lastly as always we are adding new and amazing items to our Dazey Lady Shop, a section of our website dedicated to selling goods made by other female entrepreneurs. Some of the new items include Miracle Eye bells, The Little Avocado Shop earrings, and some amazing shoes from new lady-ran label Free Reign. Hand picked by @danidazey herself and all paired perfectly with out new pieces.

You can literally shop ALL you see in our lookbook! Since the collection was inspired by Palm Springs of course we had to do the shoot there. Lucky for us we had the perfect location, @dazey_desert_house ;) You can even find our little mid century home on one of the new graphics. The feel of this collection embodies that classic Palm Springs vintage vibe. A touch of color, quirk, and style. 

Models:

@heidiijane & @_gypseaa

Photography/styling:

@danidazey

Hair/Makeup:

@breezeblowouts

Location:

@dazey_desert_house & @calientetropicsresort

SHOP HERE 

Introducing Dazey Lightroom Presets 

We are so excited to release our first Lightroom presets! Designed to be as bold and bright as our Dazey Ladies. You ladies have been asking for them for quite some time and we finally decided to jump on the preset train! Dazey’s founder Dani spent months developing and perfecting these presets. Our brand is known for it’s colorful feed and with these filters you can get the same look! Not to mention make it super easy for us to repost :)

Our preset package includes 17 easy to use filters. The goal of our presets are to give each photo the same end result, helping you create a cohesive look! Each is named after what it does, for example "light & warm" will lighten and warm your photo. Inside your download there will also be a tips and information packet.

GET PRESETS HERE

Once purchased a download page will open right on your screen with everything you need! For further help email hey@dazeyla.com.

Don’t forget to use #dazeypresets and tag @dazey_la

Dazey Getawayz - Tokyo

Last month I went on a trip to an incredible city I have always wanted to visit, Tokyo. When my sister and I were younger we were obsessed with anime. From Pokemon, Sailor Moon, to every Studio Ghibli movie ever made. YUP, nerds I know. But there was something so magical about the way the stories were told that really pulled you from reality. Japan embraces that same dreamlike escapism in many aspects of life. Our little brother is now 13 and followed his sisters on the anime train! He was actually the one that really pushed for this family trip. We all happily obliged- my mom, sister, brother, and brother-in-law. Of course the reason I wanted to go as an adult was to see and wear the wild fashion! Lucky for me, my family is full of creatives and helped me snap cool photos along the way. My sister's husband, Sean, is also a videographer @39north.productions and got some amazing footage from our trip! Which is why it took me a month to get thus post up haha.

So as you may have imagined all the Tokyo rumors you have ever heard are true, it is a fascinating futuristic land with unique quirks up the wazoo! From the hot vending machines and amazing street food to the cat latte art and squirting toilets (AMAZING BTW). I could write for days about all the strangely wonderful things that make this city so special, but let me just show you :) Below I have my guide on where to go, what to eat, and where to get THE SHOT! 

Osaka

Okay yes the title of this post is Tokyo Takeover, but the very first place I’m sharing is an entirely different city haha. I only stayed here for a little over a day to explore before catching a flight, but got to see some really cool stuff. The shrine you see below is the Namba Yasaka Shrine. Easily one of the most awe inspiring locations of this trip! The photos don’t do justice. Osaka is the second biggest city and known for it’s foodie scene. I explored a cute little neighborhood called Nakazakicho tucked under the subway. It had a bunch of cute vintage shops and cafes scattered in between traditional buildings left intact after the war. It was saddening to hear how many of Japan’s traditional architecture and shrines were destroyed so it was good to see the few left in Osaka. 

Harajuku

Yes like the Gwen Stephani song. This is a neighborhood in Tokyo known for it’s funky and eclectic fashion. It is overwhelming in the best way. While there were certainly many funky and colorfully dressed Japanese girls there wasn’t quite as much as you’d expect. The fashion trend in Tokyo right now is super loose and simple pieces and neutral color palettes - I certainly missed the memo on my personal trek to embody Japanese style on my trip as you will see haha.

Harajuku is massive and offers so many different types of businesses and areas,  Takeshita Street being the most famous. It’s a tourist trap no doubt, but one you cannot miss! It is packed with people and colors galore, bright stores and cafes selling massive cotton candy and rainbow grilled cheese. If you turn right from there you are brought to a giant mall and an area filled with big fancy retailers. You can skip all that but don’t miss the Kawaii Monster Cafe! That place is wild and a seriously good time. It looks like a theme park and will blow your mind.

Past Takeshita and into the alleys is where you really want to go. Much of Japan’s best retail and food are located in alleyways! That’s where you can find Reissue, the coffee shop known for their amazing latte art. Not only are they perfect for a photo op, but they taste damn good! I recommend the honey latte with 3D cats, all you have to do is show them a photo and they can remake anything! They can even do portraits. My little brother showed them an image of the RIPNDIP middle finger cat and they replicated it perfectly, LOL. 

This area is full all the Kawaii, which means 'cute' in Japanese, places. Eddy’s Ice Cream is a must for tasty photogenic snack #2! There are also light bulb drinks and so many more. As you roam deeper you can find the hip local stores and cafes. Pastries are a way of life in Japan and the cafe simply titled, “Bread, Espresso &” is a great place to get your gluten on!

When you are tired from all the commotion you can seek peace and quiet inside Harajuku’s own Yoyogi Park. A gorgeous public park that stretches for miles. You can literally get lost in it…..we actually did haha. There are temples and trees as far as the eye can see!

Shibuya

This is the heart of Tokyo. Home of the largest intersection in the world! Crossing the intersection is literally a tourist must. It will blow your mind. I ventured here mostly in the evening to go out and get dinner so I didn’t get the opportunity to snap many photos! But you can’t miss this bustling and exciting area, it’s the Tokyo people talk about. We had dinner at Ichiran, a famous ramen spot where you first order through a vending machine and then they bring it to you through a secret door in front of your seat! It was an experience. Another super fun stop is Wired Tokyo, it's a bar and bookstore! We had so much fun sipping on cocktails while flipping through magazines and books. It was a perfect little escape right above the wild intersection! 

Shinjuku

As amazing as the street food is, I was very excited to stumble upon a vegan friendly spot that looked like it was plucked straight from LA! Mr. Farmer is a super nice spot with locally sourced organic food. It’s not super easy to be vegetarian in Tokyo (especially when you’re the only one in the group) so this was the perfect place to grab a killer veggie burger. This was also a great area to grab sushi pescatarian, standing self-corrected haha. Japan has sushi that can cost pennies or hundreds of dollars. We wanted to try a nice mid level spot where we could sit down and relax. Tsukijitamazushi was perfect. Nice ambiance, cool views, and great sushi! The city is crazy condensed so most places are located in malls, don’t let this scare you, it's normal in Tokyo! Next to the endless sky scrapers they have the most gorgeous parks, Shinjuku Gyo-en is a must see in this area.

At nighttime Shinjuku really comes to life! The photos you see of Tokyo with lights and signs filling the streets, that’s Shinjuku. It is also home to the world famous Robot Restaurant. Located about eight flights underground in the most insane arena. Dancers and performers do a full act with gigantic robotic machines and it will blow your mind. This was easily my favorite part of the trip! 

Shimo-Kitazawa

This is the hipster hood of Tokyo! A few stops outside the city and all of the sudden you’re in the most adorable neighborhood with alleys and alleys of coffee shops, vintage stores, and local boutiques. The area appeared super mellow and slow but as you go deeper into the center of this neighborhood it becomes a frenzy of young Japanese trendsetters shopping with fervor. We started off with lattes per usual at Usual. A super cute spot with a beautiful patio to people watch. Then onto the vintage shops, they are literally everywhere and people are obsessed. My boyfriend, Phillip, requested I get him a vintage Japanese tee, but I literally could not find any vintage Japanese items anywhere! They love American vintage and pay a pretty penny for it. New business idea haha?! Nevertheless I couldn’t help but grab a few pieces!

In Japan literally all the food is good, people said it but I didn’t believe it. We ate at so many random little places, you cannot go wrong. But yes sometimes you just want a little taste of home and Village Vanguard Diner was just that. Super tasty gastro pub with some healthy options too! Across the street be sure to get a taiyaki for dessert. These little fished shaped waffles filled with oozy goodness were to die for.

So amidst all the shopping and eating I needed another pick me up… Or really just an excuse to try another coffee shop lol. Bear Pound Coffee is for serious espresso snobs. The owner, Tanaka, is native to Japan but lived in New York for years perfecting the coffee game. He brought it back to Shimo-Kitazawa and people are obsessed. I had a really great latte and sat on the bench outside to do some more people watching in this amazing area.

Ikebukuro

Video game and anime lovers this is your neighborhood! My sister, brother, and brother-in-law are still very much in this world so they had to see it all. I had fun looking like a cartoon in this super fun overall outfit we carry in the Dazey Lady Shop! It was pretty fascinating to see all the super fans, they even have a name for them, Otaku! We ventured into 11 floor gift and action figure shops, six floors of  arcades, and more. At the Sega arcade one whole floor was dedicated to claw machines and looked SO COOL! As my brother was wasting all his money I took the time to do a photoshoot haha. On another floor there were rows and rows of old school video game machines, each with a player at them who was VERY into it. Up near the top was the 'women’s floor' dedicated to cosplay and photo booths. A line of ladies waited to pick out their costume and do hair and makeup for their photos. It was mind blowing and if there wasn’t such a long ass line I would have done it myself haha. Even if you’re not into video game culture, this whole area is a sight to see.