The Essentials is a recurring Free Times series about creatives and changemakers in Columbia and their favorite things
The team behind Columbia Fashion Week doesn’t want to be boxed in. Whether that’s expanding programming and events beyond the annual seven-day fashion showcase or platforming more than just the well-known fashion voices in the region, COLAFW is redefining what it means to be a fashion and beauty creative in Columbia.
Owner and CEO of COLAFW, Juliette Muller, said the evolution of the brand has been intentional — she told the entire community the same thing last summer:
“I stood in front of everyone and I said I wanted to make Cola Fashion Week something that was year round … that’s what we do now,” Muller told Free Times. “The team, we are focused on community, we’re focused on making sure that we’re continually pushing fashion in the community on a daily basis.”
COLAFW Experience is a new magazine aimed at showcasing fashion and beauty creatives and professionals in Columbia, SC. (Photos by Jared Johnson/Special to Post & Courier)
Made up of stylists, hair and makeup professionals, models, event planners, photographers and fashion creatives, the team at COLAFW is highlighting the beauty to be found in the city, and focusing on highlighting diverse and marginalized voices, too.
But beyond their mission work to make fashion accessible and high-caliber in the Midlands, they know style. Free Times sat down the entire COLAFW team to get their wardrobe must-haves:
An oversized blazer
Muller’s wardrobe must-have is a “tried and true” classic, the blazer. She prefers it oversized.
Cinch the waist
Model and content creator Hirializ Ocasio loves to thrift, and sometimes things don’t fit right. To cinch the waist — which she said can pull an outfit together — she uses a shoelace. The cheap, multifaceted tool comes in handy a lot of different ways, she added.
“If I like a pair of jeans and they don’t fit me and I know they’re oversized. I know I could just use the shoelace,” Ocasio said.
Eyebrows and lip gloss
Beauty correspondent Shannon Simmons never leaves the house without her eyebrows done and lip gloss applied. “They must be done,” Simmons said.
Pumps
Model Coordinator Alicia Bouie knows a shoe can make or break a look. Her go-to shoes are a pair of pumps, but comfort is always key. “If they aren’t comfortable I might take them off,” she said.
A suit and a T-liner for facial hair
Chief Marketing Officer Darayne Ginyard is a sharp-dressed man. A classic suit and a well-groomed beard are the keys to his perpetually overdressed look. “I’d rather be overdressed than underdressed,” he said.
A pop of color
Stylist Bella Ngong is all about incorporating a pop of color into her look. Whether it’s a pair of earrings or a bold lip, Ngong said a touch of color can liven the whole outfit up.
Shapewear
Beauty coordinator Tuera Jacobs kept it real: “what’s essential to me? Good hair and a good smoother.” Jacobs said wearing shapewear under her garments helps her feel more confident and look more put-together.
Accessories
Stylist Bre Woods is known for her over-accessorized looks, and it’s a theme she carries through to her personal style, too. Whether it’s a big pair of earrings, stacks of bracelets or layers of necklaces, Woods believes “more is more.”
Comfortable heels
Jasmin Aldana is “short and loves to dance,” so an essential for her is a pair of short, blocky heels she can move and groove in all night long. “If they’re not comfortable then it’s not worth it,” she said.
