Gals

Nadya Okamoto is the co-founder of August, a lifestyle brand focused on destigmatizing menstruation, the founder of PERIOD an organization working to end period poverty, and the author of Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement. Oh, and did we mention she's only 23? We braved a cold day in Williamsburg to discuss what habits she wants to leave in quarantine and what to take into the future.

How do you style your I.S. pieces?

Probably with a sweatshirt...in all honesty :) In quarantine, of course!! If i’m wearing jeans to an event or to hang out with friends, I really love crop top sweaters!

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

High waisted

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Pre-quarantine I was very much a skinny jeans person, but after loving the last year or so of wearing sweatpants every day, I think I may switch over to boyfriend jeans being my top choice!

IF YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE THING EMBROIDERED ON A TEE WHAT WOULD IT SAY?

I’m on my period.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m much more introverted than people think I am.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

Cook!

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?

Crochet and focus on my mental health

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’VE DONE IN COVID THAT YOU WANT TO STOP?

I’ve been pretty antisocial this year.

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU GOOGLED?

Why do people faint on their periods?

WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Cheese. All the time.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

Peggy Gou

Founder, Pretty Well Beauty

Jazmin Alvarez is a veteran of the fashion and beauty industries and the Founder of Pretty Well Beauty, a curated clean beauty marketplace. While sustainable beauty can be hard to navigate and understand, Jazmin has created an approachable one stop non toxic shop for your whole body. We chatted about why there are too many variables to pick her favorite jeans and taking care of yourself in the ‘self care’ business.

HOW HAS YOUR BUSINESS CHANGED SINCE COVID-19 BEGAN?

Pre-COVID half of our revenue was from popups. One of my goals for this year was to focus on e-comm so quarantine was actually a blessing in disguise because it forced me to shift my focus toward the website more. This plus the Black Lives Matter movement has actually benefited my business. People can’t go to the spa, they’re looking for self care, they’re considering the products they use, and at the same time they’re wanting to support Black and Brown businesses. Being Afro-Latina, many people and companies have reached out as they’re re-evaluating the products they use and partners they have. I hope this time makes us all better humans and better consumers.

DO YOU HAVE A STYLE ICON?

A mixture between Nicole Richie and Bianca Jagger. They’re both effortlessly chic in tees and jeans.

HOW DO YOU STYLE YOUR INDUSTRY STANDARD PIECES?

I’m not a hat person. I want to be a hat person but it never works out. If it’s a high waisted flare jean I do that with a tall heel. With skinny jeans and a tee I’ll wear a sandal. I don’t believe in kitten heels. If you’re going to do a heel do a heel.

MID-RISE OR HIGH WAISTED JEANS?

That’s an impossible choice. It depends on the shoe. So many different variables.

BOYFRIEND OR SKINNY JEAN?

Both.

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?

I don’t know if I have the attention span for whole movies. I have really been enjoying Queen of the South on Netflix.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I’m a science geek. I was a bio-chem major when I first started college. I also have a national medal in physics.

DESIGN YOUR IDEAL DINNER PARTY WITH ANY 3 GUESTS OF YOUR CHOOSING:

Maya Angelou, Madame CJ Walker, and Celia Cruz. I’m a vegan that doesn’t drink but I would break that for my Mom’s gumbo and really really good wine.

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs. My friend’s mom sent that to me. Also A Return to Love by Marion Williamson. And currently reading In the Flo by Alisa Vitti.

WHAT’S THE LAST THING YOU COOKED?

I made pasta with mushrooms, onions, organic sauce, and Beyond Meat Sausage. As a vegan, their sausage is the best.

WHAT DON’T YOU DO?

I don’t straighten my hair.

A LOT OF WHAT YOU DO HELPS OTHER PEOPLE ENGAGE IN “SELF CARE”, HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?

Work from home was less of an impact for me as a small business owner, but it’s still hard because I was used to breaking time up with meetings. So now I make a point to take Sundays off, otherwise I’d be working all the time. Instead on Sunday I do my hair. I’ve also really been taking care of my skin and increased at home facials to twice a week. Self care is not just about what's on the outside so I also have been meditating, and writing daily in my gratitude journal.