Rep Spotlight: Featured Karmaloop Reps

April's Featured Rep: Vanessa Willoughby

How do you stay current on style, music and culture?
I’m kind of all over the place when it comes to curating inspiration. I look at a lot of blogs and websites like Refinery29, Into The Gloss, etc., for fashion and style. When it comes to culture, I tend to visit sites like Gawker, Jezebel, The Toast, etc. I browse the New York Times and New York magazine and newspapers online. I have to admit though, I get a lot of it from Tumblr. It’s just a great aggregator of everything I’m interested in.

 

What celebrity should you have been born as and why?
Can I take it back to the old school? I’d say Josephine Baker. Dancer, singer, entertainer, Civil Rights activist, WII hero and spy, BFFs with Princess Grace Kelly. She owned pet cheetahs! I admire the fact that she was unapologetically herself. Most people never step outside of their little bubble.

 

Which brands take up the most space in your closet?
Anything that’s both classic and utilitarian. I shop at H&M and American Apparel for the basics. I get my coats from ASOS. Some of my most treasured pieces are from eBay or thrift store shopping. I have this army jacket I got a thrift store for $20 and this really soft, plaid button-down, and a vintage USC sweatshirt that fits like a glove.

 

What do you think about most when you are alone?
The next steps in my career. How I’m going to move forward with my life. Assignments on a deadline. I’m never without a book, so I’ll be thinking about whatever book I happen to be reading. My mind is constantly thinking---it can be a pain when you’re just trying to fall asleep and you have all these thoughts running through your head.

 

Do you believe in magic?
Of course. Magic, karma, destiny, fate, faith; it’s all magic to an extent, however you want to label it.

 

Name and up and coming artist/musician whom you think everyone should get on board with?
Princess Nokia and Junglepussy! Two NY-born and bred female MCs that aren’t afraid to be who they are or emphasize the importance of self-love and the power of women.

 

What makes you get up in the morning?
Knowing that the only person responsible for my success is really me.

 

If you could move to any country, which one would you pick?
I’ve been to England and Spain and that’s about it---there’s so many other countries I’d love to visit. But after barely surviving this horrible New England winter, I think I’d move some place warm and near a beach, like the Caribbean.

 

What website other than Karmaloop do you spend most of your time on?
Oh No They Didn’t, for sure. And it’s not even the celebrity gossip that keeps me hooked, it’s the user comments! Some of the users on ONTD are hilarious, like literal laugh out loud funny. I’ve been a member of the site since probably early high school.

 

What fuels your passion for writing?
Being a writer is a great privilege because you never know who will be reading and take comfort in your words. The shape of my life has certainly been influenced and impacted by my love of reading, which was a part of my need to write. Without the presence of my favorite authors, I would not have seen that it’s possible to reach people through your words. I’m by no means a big name in the literary world, but it’s always nice to get feedback from people about pieces I’ve published. One woman contacted me through Twitter about a piece I wrote about online dating as a black woman. She thanked me for writing it because she felt the same way. Those are the people who I write for, the ones who are searching for some sort of connection with another voice.

 

Who or what are some of your biggest influences?
Writing: Sylvia Plath, Toni Morrison, Anne Sexton, Audre Lorde, Zadie Smith, James Baldwin, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mary Karr, Maya Angelou, a bunch of other people I’m probably missing.

I find the activism and legacies of Angela Davis and Assata Shakur as daily sources of inspiration and strength. Like everyone else, I’m in love with Rihanna--her style, her character, her music, everything she’s accomplished. When I get anxious and worry too much about what people would think of me, I think What Would Rihanna Do?

I love Nicki Minaj for devotion to her fans and her views on being a woman and the double standards that occur in not just the music industry, but everyday life.

I think the Olsen Twins are actually a great representation of women business owners at the top of their game. They were able to escape the “curse” of being child stars and parlay it into a wildly successful fashion and beauty empire. They’re smart and know what they’re doing. And I’ve loved watching their style evolve. If I were rich, I would totally fill my closet with Elizabeth and James outfits.

 

What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully a published book or two! I’d love to do some more travelling, too.

 

You can follow Vanessa on Twitter @Book_Nerd212 and be sure to check out her blog my-strangefruit.tumblr.com

Be the first to know about exclusive offers, new products and more...

Copyright © 2024 Shiekh Shoes LLC. All rights reserved.