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

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

Read more about her story below and shop her looks HERE

Follow Miracle Eye on Instagram: @MiracleEye

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

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

Dazey LA was launched exactly one year ago and wow what an amazing year it has been! Dazey has grown so much faster than I ever could have imagined thanks to all the amazing women who have supported me. It would not have been possible without all you Dazey Ladies! What started as a way to have freedom with my workday and designs has grown into so much more. Dazey has become a mission to empower women.

When I started Dazey I always planned on making positive tees with a feminist twist, but I didn't know it would become a company all about supporting fellow females. It started with my silly Instagram videos showing behind the scenes of building a business. I would share all my tips and tricks on design and photography. In the name of transparency I would even show the tough things, both the highs and lows of running a business. Out of that conversations started. I met other female entrepreneurs and we would collaborate and cross promote. People began to join me in my entrepreneurial journey, and a community formed around it.

After a while I wanted Dazey to be about more than just my journey, so I launched the Dazey ZINE. It was a way for me to shine a spotlight on girls who inspired me. I was also able to use it to go more in depth with my girl boss topics! Now I'm ready to go one step further and am so excited to announce: THE DAZEY LADY SHOP!

The Dazey Lady shop is a new section of our website dedicated to selling goods made by our favorite female entrepreneurs. We have curated only the best in girl boss goodies! I think it's an awesome way to further our community and mission. Not to mention a lot of them match perfectly with our Dazey tees ;) 

My goal is for the Dazey Lady shop to slowly grow as we discover even more inspiring brands. We will also be opening submissions! I want Dazey LA to be a one stop shop where you can easily browse and discover amazing products made by equally amazing girl bosses. We believe where you spend your money matters. By shopping with small, female-owned brands you are enabling women to follow their dreams have financial freedom while doing it. Forget the glass ceiling, we're over here building our own! On each product page you can learn about the Dazey Lady behind the brand and even find their ZINE features and social media links. You will know exactly where the goods are coming from and all the love that is put into each item. Purchase with purpose my friends! 

SHOP the Dazey Lady Goodies HERE!

Meet the Dazey Lady: Kailee

See Kailee's Dazey Lady Zine Feature Here!

I'm With The Band is a line of accessories by Kailee Steward. IWTB started with a vision to combine all the things she loves (music, fashion, health and well-being) and make it something rad and tangible. Kailee is super inspired by the music, culture, fashion and attitude of the 60s and 70s. A lot of the bands are named as a homage to her favorite rock stars, icons and muses. Her goal is to do what she loves and to spread light, love, positivity and good vibes while doing it. She carefully sources all of her fabrics for the highest quality and comfort, all with the environment and leaving the lightest footprint possible in mind. Many of I'm With The Band's pieces are limited edition, this is to make them special, unique and exciting for the babes that snag these pieces.

Follow Kailee on Instagram: @im_with_the_band_headbands 

Meet the Dazey Lady: Nikia

SHOP the Dazey Lady Goodies HERE!

Meet the Dazey Lady: Megan

See Megan's Dazey Lady Zine Feature Here!

SHOP the Dazey Lady Goodies HERE!

Meet the Dazey Lady: Julz

 

See Juliets's Dazey Lady Zine Feature Here!

Owner and designer Juliet Silva grew up in Los Angeles and is a true Southern California Native. As a young child she would do anything creative she could get her hands on. She is self taught in jewelry making and all items are made by hand in her home studio. What first started as a fun hobby has turned into a passion she truly loves doing everyday. She has learned the ropes from one of the best jewelry designers in Los Angeles, and thrives to become the best at what she does. Each piece is designed and created with lots of love and detail by Juliet herself.

Follow Juliet on Instagram: @julzjunkiejewelry

 

Meet the Dazey Lady: Dominique

Follow Doma on Instagram: @stone.and.spirit

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Last weekend we headed to Palm Springs to celebrate @officiallyquigley's bachelorette in style. I recently designed a bachelorette shirt for Troian Bellisario of Pretty Little Liars (you can see here!) and ever since people have been asking me to do custom tees for their own celebrations! Of course I had to make one for my good friend and blogger babe Quigley.  

The weekend was complete with poolside hangs, silly games, and crafting. The amazing Nikia of @madmavenstyle even taught us to make her @MDMVNX earrings (which will be available on our site come Thursday!) and we all went a bit crazy creating them haha. We stayed in an adorable mid century style Airbnb, so I couldn't resist taking a few outfit photos with some of the Dazey tees I brought along. Check out the fun photos below!

If you're interested in a custom tee design for your bachelorette or anything else you can contact me and check out some of my other work on @graphicteegirl and www.daniroxanne.com! 

Xx- Dani Dazey

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

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

Follow Megan on Instagram: @TheLittleAvocadoShop

How long have you been weaving?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What are your plans for the future and your business?

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

What does being a Dazey Lady mean to you?

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

Message from Dani Dazey:
I met Erin at the Gurl Museum Day event a few weeks back and loved her take on the exhibit, so we invited her back to give our Dazey Ladies some art tips! I'm currently in the middle of a big apartment redo (as many of you have seen on our Instagram Stories) so when Erin pitched the idea of how to start an art collection on a realistic budget we were so in! I'm excited to take my new found artsy knowledge and put it into apartment action, hope you all do too!

Find Erin:
@afinereye
afinereye.com

Thrift Shop Finds

Find your style

Fine Art v Décor

Size is Important

Invest in Artists

When Amari's agency contacted us about doing some test shoots I was immediately drawn to her adorable freckles and amazing hair! As a photographer shooting unique beauties is always a treat.

Amari shared with me her reason to get into modeling was to prove she doesn't have to fit into a mold to make it. I admire her drive and mission so much. I love that our society seems to finally be starting to appreciate all types of women, not just the stereotypical thin blonde models- who are also beautiful, my point being everyone is! This is a subject I broach carefully because I know it's a sensitive one, especially in today's politically charged climate. I have received a few messages saying we need to be better at representing diversity, and I totally agree and want Dazey to be a representation of all of us! I have also had messages about expanding our size range, and we are very excited to announce our next line will include additional sizes!

Dazey wants to be at the forefront of celebrating all women. We want to be very intentional and transparent about this, which is why I'm bringing it up. Clearly Amari is no far reach because she is in every way conventionally gorgeous. This should be the norm, and we're here to normalize it. At Dazey we want to promote and embrace women of all body types and skin color. Moving forward we will strive to be more diverse in our photoshoots so we can accurately represent the beautiful world we live in and the women in it! 

We would love to hear suggestions and feedback on how we can better represent YOU! We are listening, we care, and we love you. 

Xx- Dani Dazey

Festival season has arrived! I'm sure your feeds have been clogged with all the Coachella Madness, we're just here to add a little more ;) 

This past weekend I grabbed some of my favorite Dazey Ladies and we headed out to Coachella weekend one. Our boyfriends tagged along too and we all stayed together in my family's little condo, it was a full house for sure! Going with a good group is key to having the best time. These gals are so much fun and helped me shoot some amazing content for Dazey. Thanks so much @aldensteimle, @sarahloven, and @officiallyquigley! Also, major shout out to Sarah's Instagram Husband (hehe) Josh who is amazing and shot the group pics and this adorable little video :) 

I've been going to the festival since I was young and the last few years I've been going out just for the events and skipping the festival itself, too crazy to do both (and cheaper LOL). Coachella has become so much more than the music festival, the whole desert becomes alive and there is so much going on. Brands have huge events and it's a great opportunity to network and have some fun!

On Thursday night I had the opportunity to meet some boss babes who I hugely admire, Mandy Fry the owner of Amuse Society, and Dayna Mance owner of Prism Boutique. They had a collaborative dinner and pop up that was awesome. Friday we went to the Chiara Ferragni x Revolve event and then the Foray Collective party. Saturday was a lovely oasis hosted by The Zoe Report, complete with massages, hair & makeup stations, and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches. Sunday we attended the Revolve event where we finally let loose dancing and swimming. Such a good ending to the weekend.

Theres some photos below of the events, our group photoshoot, and more. Stay tuned for our second festival post featuring @danidazey's #dazeyeveryday Coachella edition!

The Gang Instax style

With Alden & Quigley at the Amuse x Prism boutique event

Dazey every day at the chiara ferragni x Revolve party (left) and The Zoe Repost Oasis (right) 

Candid shot at the Amuse X Prism dinner

Dani & Sara ending the weekend with a SPLASH at the Revolve event!

Can't get over how Sara styled the dress with this belt, perfection!

Running into some of our blogger babes @trendychickadee & @savvyjavvy

With the girls out and about, so many events ahhh!

With Mandy and Dayna, the owner of Amuse Society & Prism boutique

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

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

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

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

Dazey has become a platform for women of all walks to share their journeys. Dazey ladies are everyday girls choosing to be brave and share their thoughts and ideas with the world. These girls are the fire and heart behind this brand and I'm so happy to share it with them!

A few months back we had our big #dazeyladycontest! To enter girls posted on Instagram sharing what they were doing to follow their dreams. It was amazing and beyond inspiring to see what everyone had to say. Our big winner was Juliet of Julz Junkie Jewelry. You can see her full Dazey Lady feature HERE.

There were so many beautiful and vulnerable entries I couldn't pick just one. I ended up choosing 10 runner ups and I'm so excited to feature them below! Their photos are shown along with their entry and/or piece of advice they wanted to give to their fellow Dazey Ladies.

If you are ready to get super emotional and want to see everyone's entries you can check out the hashtag HERE!

Xx- Dani Dazey

Rebecca Eichten
@rebecca eichten

"My advice is: take the leap to follow your dreams and passions! It will be scary, but that's when you know it's worth it. Allow the space between where you are and where you want to be INSPIRE you and not scare you! Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn from the people around you--share your skills and collaborate."

Her Entry:

"A little over a year ago I started my journey of ​turning art into to a full time job.

To say that I did everything right and made no mistakes would be a big fat lie - I had no idea how my dream would take shape, but I knew what I wanted to do, and that was make art. I quit my job, and hit the ground running. I said YES to every job that came my way - sign painting, graphic design, woodwork, florals, painting, calligraphy, installations, murals, photography--anything, you name it! I make mistakes and am learning every damn day.

More than anything though, the best part thus far has been meeting and working with so many creative, passionate, and supportive people.
My biggest piece of advice? Surround yourself with positive people, and don't be afraid to ask questions!! Collaborate with the people around you, be supportive, learn from each other.

I am so proud to be a part of a community of women & men who are following their dreams, inspiring and supporting each other along the way!"

Samantha Saverin
@samantha.saverin

"Live a life of uncharted adventures, you never know what the universe has in store for you. Embrace the highest frequency of yourself each and everyday, and find courage within yourself to lose sight of the shore."

Her Entry: 

"Feeling inspired by @dazey_la and the #dazeyladycontest to share a little bit about myself: I live by the mantra "live life uncharted," this is because when taking risks in life it is impossible to know how they will end up, but without them we can never embrace our highest frequency of ourselves. Recently I moved from Missouri to Los Angeles to follow my dream of becoming a Marine Biologist and Filmmaker. Ive always had an innate attraction to the ocean and all the surprises hidden beneath its waves, making my dream feel like a natural path. In the course of recent events I've realized how important this passion is not only to myself, but to the people and planet we all live on. I've realized I can make a difference and be a role model for girls aspiring to be women in science or those who may doubt they can change the world. I want to be a first responder in documenting the beauty and demise of our oceans. It is so crucial to protect our environment and if I've learned anything from many of my role models, it is that documentation initiates action. No matter how big or small your dream may be, it is important to take the risk and follow it. #dazeyla #dazeylady #empoweredwomen"

 

 

Shaiyanne
@bossladyshaiii

"When you start your own business, become the best resource you can possibly be. If you don't know how to do something, LEARN IT; and if you need help, COLLABORATE. Above all, create what you love and never loose sight of what fuels your passion. It's that passion that will help you overcome even the toughest of times."

Her Entry:

"@dolkii was a blog i launched while living in brooklyn in 2014 which turned into an online shop a year later and has since blossomed into my passion project and outlet of creatively to escape from the many pain points that come from working my 9-5. my sister, business partner, and sometimes biggest thorn in my hip @yasmindar (🤣😘❤) and i didn't know what to expect when we launched the store. we launched carrying brands we loved and soon realized that the pieces dolkii girls gravitated towards weren't always available at the showrooms. when i would go on buying trips i found myself buying to fill minimum order guidelines rather than to fill the needs of our girls. for a little bit, i felt our brand identity was starting to get lost in the random pieces we bought and for a few months it not only reflected in our sales, it reflected in the content we created and started affecting yas' and my relationship. we were always frustrated with each other and for a solid 2 weeks i remember thinking 'this is it. i tried the whole start your own business thing and it's not really working so i quit'. SO THAT WAS YEAR ONE 😳. thankfully, my biggest flaw is my biggest strength, in that im insanely stubborn. quitting, although it felt super easy, felt 100% wrong. so we went back to the drawing board. in the midst of this happening i decided to move back to LA and yasmin had her second baby, zoya. i spent weeks searching for new brands to carry, doodling ideas for a new creative direction, repinning boards of inspiration, studying the IG accounts of our dolkii girls to get a better sense of their lifestyle, and studying our best selling styles from year one. i started realizing that no brand out there is gonna fully satisfy what we want dolkii to represent, and by early 2016 it became clear .. we needed to launch our own collection 💪. so with an opportunity to host the june 2016 honolulu night + market fashion show and DTLA right in my backyard, we got to work. lemme just say that NO AMOUNT of fashion school or experience as a buyer will ever prepare you for creating your own line 😂 it took us 6 months to design and develop what became our summer collection of simple dresses, rompers and graphics tank tops. it was in these months of r&d that i stumbled upon a rad IG account by the name of @graphicteegirl and discovered dani's work as a freelance graphic designer and mega boss of 🌼@dazey_la🌼. for those of you who don't know, dani is the creative genius behind our best selling 'ALOHA VIBES' graphic (coming back in stock next month!).. but she's become so much more than that. she's a mega inspiration to our brand and (thru her IG stories) has taught me how to develop dolkii's voice and teach myself skills needed to accomplish anything from graphic design to photography and post editing. since following her journey, and the journey of other girlboss owned small businesses, ive learned to turn myself into the best resource i can be for dolkii. if i don't know how to do something, I LEARN IT; and if i need help, I COLLABORATE. so since revamping dolkii and launching our own label, we've basically sold out of almost everything lol 😅🤘because we create what we LOVE. and now we're teaching ourselves new skills like how to keep up with demand and work with proper production calendars! we're continuing to find our brand's voice and thru the content we create will always proudly represent our home state of hawaii, the aloha spirit, and girl power attitude as muslim-american daughters of hard working immigrant parents. 🌴🌺 MAHALO @dazey_la for all your guidance and positive spirit.. i might be breaking the rules with this one, but this #dazeyladycontest submission comes with two girlboss sisters for one 😉👯💖✨ #dazeyladies"

 

 

Tori Hinshaw
@torih8

 

"My passion is music history, and I'm not going to compromise that for other people's vision for my life. Music History sparks excitement in me like nothing else. I want to know who Muddy Waters was and how this Mississippi Delta native connects to a scrappy Englishman named Mick Jagger. Even though I'm only 19, I want to show people that no matter your age, you can do anything you set your mind to. I stand for the women who were told they couldn't do something or be who they wanted. I see you and I support you. Follow your dreams. Be your authentic self."

Her Entry:

"I was told to be a doctor. I was told to be an engineer. I was told to do all the things that were sure to make me money, but sure to make me unhappy. One day in high school, something just clicked. I knew immediately. My passion is history, and I’m not going to compromise that for other people’s vision for my life. Currently I am pursuing a double major in American Studies and Music. Music History sparks excitement in me like nothing else. I want to know who Muddy Waters was and how this Mississippi delta native connects to a scrappy englishman named Mick Jagger. I want to work to preserve the history of music so other people can enjoy it. Though I'm still in undergrad, I want to do all that I can to push me in the direction of success as a historian. Last spring, I was one of the first students to give tours at the seemingly lost to history site of the Highlander Folk School. I couldn’t imagine how a site that trained strong women in the Civil Rights movement such a Rosa Parks, Septima Clark, and Zilphia Horton could be virtually ignored by those living around it. I couldn’t imagine how a site that developed music like We Shall Overcome could ever be forgotten about. That’s why, this semester I am event coordinating An Evening At Highlander: a night of music, food, dancing, and awareness of the past. I formatted it as a historic re-enactment set in the 1940’s so maybe people will be able to see it as it was and connect to it in a way they otherwise couldn’t . Bringing together multiple departments across campus and several groups across the state of Tennessee is not proving to be easy, but I’m so happy to have the support of some amazing people. Even though I'm only 19, I want to show people that no matter your age, you can do anything you set your mind to. I stand for the women who were told they couldn’t do something or told they shouldn’t be this or that. I see you and I will support you. Follow Your Dreams. Be Your Authentic Self. #dazeyladycontest"

 Marisa Foley
@tothewandershop

"The number one thing I hear when people come into the shop is 'This is so inspiring! I WISH I could quit my job and do something' and I always tell them 'Go out and do it!' Don’t be afraid to feel the fear and do it anyway!"

Her Entry:

"Exactly 1 year ago today, I did a thing and bought an Airstream. In light of today and the #dazeyladycontest, I want to share my story! Nearly 2 years ago, I bought the domain www.thewandershop.com. I wasn’t sure exactly what it was going to be, but I knew I needed to get out of my corporate cubicle. After a couple months of brainstorming, I pulled the trigger, I quit my job and concentrated all of my efforts into creating a dream. Inspired by my love to travel, I knew The Wander Shop was destined for life on the road. After a few months of pop-up's in a tent, I found the perfect home for the shop, in a 1963 Airstream Overlander. She was run-down and worn-out, but she had character and most importantly, she was mine, a classic Americana. It took 63 long hardworking days, but thanks to family and friends we removed 53 years of dirt and brought her back to her prime. We opened the doors in April of 2016. The mothership is stationed at our homebase at Eucalyptus Gardens in Wilton Manors, a beautiful diverse community. We’ve also welcomed a new ship to the fleet, Vagabond, our wandering Airstream. I’m inspired by everyone who walks in and all of the makers and shakers. Listening to your stories gives me a purpose to inspire more. The Wander Shop has become more than just a boutique. It's an experience, a journey and a place to discover passion. I like to work with local artists because I believe in pursuing passion and supporting small!

I recently discovered @dazey_la and fell in love with her work and what she stands for. I knew The Wander Shop would be a great home for her designs. She spreads positive vibes and inspiration. She has inspired me to be more outspoken to spread the message that as women, we need to stand together and support each other! We need to love more and do more.
And most importantly, we need to keep each other going, we got this ladies!!!"

Lisa Prang

@lisamarieprang

Her Entry:

"Entering the #dazeyladycontest ⭐ Within the last few years I've really found my niche and haven't looked back since. I'm 21 years old and live in the heart of Michigan. I started fashion blogging three years ago and have never thought it would reach as many people as it has. I may not have 100k followers, but to me the 11k I do have, is so beyond amazing. My goal moving forward for my blog is to reach even more ladies in the future. Whether it's for fashion, positivity, confidence, or motivation. Along with blogging, I finished my bachelors of fine arts in graphic design degree in three years instead of four. I skipped out on many summer breaks so I could complete my degree and focus on my dreams. So now that I've been graduated for less than a year, I pursue graphic design both as a freelancer and contractor. --- Not only do I do graphic design, but I've been doing some marketing work on the side for an awesome shoe brand based in California! Even photography is a love of mine! I do freelance photography as well because capturing the littlest and biggest moments life has to offer is my favorite keepsake! • I've meet so many people along my journey and each person has inspired my life in many ways I never thought were possible. My boyfriend also is a huge supporter, we do long distance so he can pursue his dream of becoming an eye doctor. Although our passions are different, we are each other's biggest supporters. He is usually the one behind my camera for tons of my blog / Instagram posts 😉 So besides all that, I'm training to run a marathon 🏃🏼‍♀️ & I spend all my free time dedicated to my blog. My blog is my true passion. I'm working hard day by day to turn that passion into a living. Some may think I have too many things on my plate, but I absolutely love it and wouldn't change a thing for the world! ✨ #dazeylady #dazeyla"

Gabrielle McCarthy

@gab.mccarthy

"Be your own hype man, always. Nobody supports you better than you.
Some important advice.. Never give up. No matter how tired, how many times you've failed, no matter what anyone else is doing/how successful anyone else is. Even if you're starting off slow & rocky NEVER give up. The journey isn't always easy & that's okay. Just never give up. Work hard and stay humble."

Her Entry: 

"When i first heard of the #dazeyladycontest, i thought "What really could i write about myself?" Well I started my business @thistlesilverdesigns almost a year ago. If i said that silversmithing came naturally i would be a huge liar. I sucked so bad it took me a month to even successfully solder a simple ring - which totally looked terrible. I still have it to this day to remind myself how far i have come. I gotta tell ya, it isn't easy to do things with a 1 and a half year old little girl. Nap times turned into bench sessions. My house became neglected. Laundry and dishes piled high. The little sleep i was getting prior to taking on this craft became even less - late nights and early mornings were reoccurring. Trying to be successful AND being a wife and mother is not easy. I'm still constantly battling with how much i use my phone or spend my free time. I think anyone can agree - it's a battle just checking social media let alone social media as a business platform. I'm still constantly growing and figuring these things out as a business owner. April will be my one year anniversary and i cannot wait to see where i will be in another years time! .
.
I recently stumbled across @dazey_la and thought "wow.. what an amazing company" - A little side note about Dazey, the owner @danidazey is all about female empowerment, coming together in unity - rather than rivaling against one another. I dig that. I truly believe if everyone (especially women) worked together rather than competing, we would all be a little bit more successful. Don't get me wrong.. every company has to have that something that makes their company stand out and be successful. But spreading constant hate and negativity gets you nowhere real fast. i love everything that this company stands for and i would love to be featured as an artist on their blog. How rad would that be? Check out @dazey_la's website for some awesome apparel that'll remind you to keep the future foxy.. and to love more, already!
In the end I'm just a chick, who supports chicks (and dudes of course) and i happen to make jewelry. We are all just trying to make it out here, ya know!!?!?"

 

Stephanie Ringleb
@__nixks

        "Face that terrifying blank canvas and create a masterpiece from it."

Her Entry:

"I had a career. I had stability. I wasn't remotely happy. I was working 50+ hour weeks. Then one day, I woke up. I decided that day to quit my job. The next day, I bought the camera I had spent all my time drooling over. From there, I started something for myself. I started small, traveling all around my state capturing whatever inspired me. I grew from there, reaching out to models and aspiring models to collaborate with me. I started to make magic and now I feel an upward energy that I can pursue my passion of photography. I make a living by traveling around the state I love while meeting some of the greatest humans out there. I built my own studio under NIXKS photography and I haven't turned back since. I dropped everything to pursue this and not have any idea the outcome. But now I am an artist, a lady boss, a free and powerful woman."
 

Peyton Stilling
@peyton_stilling

 

"Being an Artist in the Music Industry has had its highs and lows, but I can't imagine doing anything else. Music brings me a joy like no other. Music has changed my life and I will continue to use it to give back to children with disabilities in every way possible. It's my responsibility to use and share my gift for the better! To all the girls out there, continue to build each other up and be supportive. Follow those dreams and take those risks. Following your passion will always pay off!"

Her Entry:

"Here's a lil about me: my music journey started almost two years ago, and I know this is just the beginning. if you know anything about me, it's that I strongly believe everyone is capable of accomplishing their dreams. that has been the fire that has kept me achieving my goals in the music industry. music has changed my life in ways I can't even describe. My main goal is to write and perform music that empowers others, and brings people together. Every part of this journey: writing music, to recording, playing a ton of shows, long nights, and rehearsals, has been worth it. I have been working very hard to raise money for various special needs non-profit organizations. I decided to combine my love for music and special needs care together. I have seen first hand how music can change and bring joy to special needs kids. I believe that everyone is given a gift and it's your responsibility to use it for the greater good. Special needs care has always held a special place in my heart and that's how that idea was sparked. I am excited for the future and what's in store. I am proud to be a #dazeylady"