Just one short year ago, Brittany Carinci spent a large chunk of her downtime scanning and scrutinizing pages of fashion blogs with sorority sisters; dreaming of accessorizing her self-proclaimed “girl crushes” in baubles. She decided it was time to realize that dream when, at age 21, she became the co-founder of Armed & Readi, a…
Leading Ladies
Ashley Tarkington
When it comes to fashion, fit can make or break an entire outfit. And if you ask Ashley Tarkington, she might say the same thing about a job. What had at first seemed ideal working in production at “Access Hollywood” and later at celebuzz.com soon felt more like that pair of favorite—but no longer quite…
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Leading Ladies
Mandy Kellogg Rye
Most women will tell you that accessories totally make or break an outfit. In Mandy Kellogg Rye’s case, a simple accessory ended up not only making an outfit, but laying the groundwork for her career. Specifically, it was a bracelet produced from a bead store class and the inclination to pick up a new hobby….
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Leading Ladies
Amy Wingertsahn
Amy Wingertsahn won’t sugarcoat it: it can be really terrifying to launch your own business. And it’s especially true when you have a successful career in the corporate world. But Amy, a buyer for a lawn and garden distributer, had that entrepreneurial itch she realized couldn’t be ignored. So pairing that passion with a love…
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Leading Ladies
Suzanne Kopulos
Self-described “consummate fashion student” Suzanne Kopulos longs to learn every last detail of styling and fashion. What began as watching her mother in her sewing room turned into a curiosity about fashion and style. That curiosity eventually evolved into a runway show, luxury handbag line for mothers and now, a styling empire. From dressing Beyonce…
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Leading Ladies
Elizabeth Johnson
What started with a love of creating and a love of stationary evolved into a full-time job when Elizabeth Johnson left the corporate world after her first baby was born. Nearly five years later, Elizabeth now infuses her love of color, pattern and monogram into the designs of her luxury lifestyle brand, Pretty Smitten— from…
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Leading Ladies
Celeste Magdaleno
Celeste Magdaleno’s business started when she was just a little girl admiring her grandmother’s jewels—she just didn’t know it, yet. As a child, Celeste would take her grandmother’s necklaces apart and rearrange them, teaching herself to bead. When her grandmother, who worked at a belt factory, brought home different belts in extravagant textures and materials,…
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Leading Ladies
Catherine Cassidy
Her dream job secured, corporate fashion merchandiser Catherine Cassidy found herself looking up to two women she worked closely with: her creative director and her boss. But both were constantly working nights and weekends—even though they had kids—and Catherine just couldn’t see a future for herself where she surrendered so much of her personal time…
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Leading Ladies
Eleni Dermatas
[Editor's Note: Ansley's interview is the third in a series celebrating Southern Proper this week. Check back all week long to learn what it's like to work for the Southern fashion powerhouse.] Eleni Dermatas had admired the traditional charm of clothing brand Southern Proper before being hired by the company for her interior design expertise….
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Leading Ladies
Ansley Kuhlke
[Editor's Note: Ansley's interview is the third in a series celebrating Southern Proper this week. Check back all week long to learn what it's like to work for the Southern fashion powerhouse.] Southern Proper was built on the idea that every southern gentleman should know how to dress from head to toe. What began as hand-drawn neckties…