Unapologetically Bold

This week we’re sitting down with Raina, a recent law school graduate who is launching a creative hub for emerging artists in Boston while studying for the bar and holding a full-time job. Learn how this educated, driven, future lawyer, and aspiring entrepreneur utilizes her creative energy for self-expression and community building.  

I HAVE A STRONG PERSONALITY AND I AM BOLD…MY MOTTO IS “BE UNAPOLOGETICALLY BOLD”

What is MademoisellePR?

R: MademoisellePR began as a fashion blog and after dabbling my hands into fashion PR and other creative projects, I decided to take my talents further and repurpose the brand. It is a digital community for creatives to meet and do business with their customers. Think of creative magazine meets staffing agency. At this moment we are in the process of developing a “creative hub” for emerging artists (musicians, photographers, designers, etc.) in Boston. I have found that there isn’t a central location for artists to get exposure and for customers to search for these services.

R: I call myself “The Creative Gossip Girl”- I will keep you up to date on all the best emerging artists in the Boston area. MademoisellePR will be run by youthful talent; they will be the editors, engineers, creative directors, etc. I’d like to leverage the knowledge that I’d gained in law school to create a company that will educate other on how to set up an LLC and its operations. They will take the skills and experience with them as they build their careers. I look forward to creating a space for creatives to be seen and appreciated while giving opportunities to today’s youth.    

How would you describe your personal style?

R: My personal style, oh my goodness, I always add a statement to my outfits- like a POP of color. I love to make a statement! Sometimes the statement can come from the patterns on my bags, or pop of color on my shoes, or a shirt with interesting sleeves and textures. I have a strong personality and I’m bold. Actually, my motto is “Be unapologetically BOLD.”

R: I enjoy neutral tones, earth colors- must be the “island girl” in me. I also love vintage pieces and adding a touch from the past. Fashion is timeless- it recycles itself. A lot of times I go into my mom’s closet and grab some of her pieces from the 80’s and I’ll remix them to fit my style. I like the exclusivity in these pieces and how I get to bring them back into modern fashion.

What does your style say about you?

R: I grew up with a background in theater. The question is, “Who will I be today?” My style represents what I feel at that moment. I can look corporate one day, be very hipster another day, and so many other styles come into play. I live in the moment and give myself flexibility with my fashion; I adapt my outfits to the vibe I experience at any time. I like to shift, and to convey my creativity through fashion. I can wear a dress in the morning, meet a street vendor by mid-afternoon and completely change the look by adding a new piece.

IT’S SUCH AN AMAZING FEELING TO MAKE ANOTHER WOMAN FEEL GOOD, ACKNOWLEDGE HER STYLE- REGARDLESS OF AGE, SKIN COLOR… FASHION CAN REALLY BRING POSITIVE VIBES TO THIS WORLD AND UNITE US.

How does your style contribute to how to show up in the world?

R: There’s no such thing as being overdressed. Sometimes, if you walk into a room and you’re the only one who’s dolled up, you’re shameful. Now I don’t apologize if I’m the best dressed person in the room. I like being different and standing out from the crowd. I’m a rebel and I don’t like to blend into spaces.

R: It also feels good to be able to communicate through style. I can walk down the street and women will stop to say something positive about my shoes or outfit. I remember going up an escalator and an older lady, maybe in her 50s, was going down. We were both caught staring at each other. It felt like a moment out of a movie and she said “Girl, you look so BADD” and I told her the same thing.  We were feeding each other words of affirmations. We made each other feel BOMB in 3 secs. It’s such an amazing feeling to be able to make another woman feel good, acknowledge her style- regardless of age, skin color, etc. Fashion can really bring positive vibes to this world and unite us.

Your favorite go-to pieces?

R: SHOES SHOES!!!  I love to accessorize- honestly, I love SHOES!! A girl can be happy with shoes- you feed me and give me shoes and I’ll be happy for days. There’s something about the details in a shoe that brings me joy. Walking down the street in great shoes; it adds power to your walk. You’ve got a longer stride, people notice you, your head is held high. Even in the fashion industry, Catwalk is everything.  

How has your style evolved over the years?

R: When I was younger, I didn’t have much say on what I wore; I just got dressed. Every day I’d have a different look. My mom would dress me one way and my sisters another, which is why I can now wear a variety of styles today. I would say that the evolution is more about blending eras; I can combine vintage pieces with sneakers and a blazer. There’s no rhyme or reason to it- I just don’t take myself too seriously anymore.

STYLING IS A PART OF MY MEDITATION, MY CREATIVE PROCESS, FOR ME, FOR MY ENJOYMENT.

R: In my teenage years, I was very rigid.  There was so much pressure on me to be successful, get good grades and to dress a certain way to fit into that image of “success”. It ran me to the ground being the person who tried to please everyone and I was exhausted. When I went to law school, I said “fuck it”. I now do what I want and it’s empowering. Today, I’m wearing shorts and my mom interprets this as “showing too much skin”; the old me would’ve gone upstairs and changed my clothes.

R: Now, I feel empowered in my choices; I’m not internalizing her judgement or that of anyone else. I never dress for anyone but myself. I lay in bed and I envision what’s in my closet and I connect with how I’m feeling. Then I create an outfit in my head before getting up to put it together. This is my version of meditation.  Styling is a part of my meditation, my creative process, for me, for my enjoyment.

What advice do you have for our readers?

R: Nike- Just Do it. You’re going to fail but that’s going to lead you to your success. Oprah was fired from a news station and look where she is now. Hillary Clinton failed the bar the first time and she’s had a successful career. None of your failures will define you; you set the tone for your life. You belong in the room and at that table. Just do it, you’re going to make mistakes but you’ll learn from them. Your hard work will also help you, stay focused and keep learning.

R: Another point I’d like to share is: our generation (Millennial) wants instant gratification and validation all the time. I love social media, but its so powerful in the best and worst ways. We show the success, the end product, but we don’t showcase the process, the grit of the work that was done to get there. A lot of young people want the “what” and they have the “why” but they don’t understand the “how”. They feel entitled to the “what” but the “how” is the process that will ultimately get you there. It takes time and mobility to get there. I’ve had people to show me the “how’ and by building these relationships and learning the process I have made it this far. You have to get up and step into the process. Go- Do it- then evaluate and pivot if needed.