I’ve always loved vegan fashion. Alongside food, dancing like a fool, and a deep love for animals, clothes were one of my first passions. Every weekend Nana and my mom would let me rummage through their closets and play dress-up. I would drape myself in long dresses and pile on hats and high heels, then put on a private fashion show for my audience.
My aunt Anna kept boxes of fashion magazines that I loved to flip through, studying colors, shapes, and textures. She also had boxes of sewing supplies—thread, fabric, buttons, zippers—and I would spend hours picking through them, imagining new garments and learning how clothing comes together.
Living in a house full of women made it easy to fall for fashion, especially with Nana as my style mentor. She sold clothing in Philadelphia before moving to Atlanta and always shared tips on finding the right size and assessing quality. Nana taught me that how you present yourself affects how the world perceives you and what opportunities come your way. It’s a pragmatic view of appearances I’ve carried with me.
Fashion also became a way to express who I am. Growing up in a style-conscious family—even my dad appreciates great clothes—I moved through many fashion phases: afro-centric natural looks, short-skirt bravado, preppy ensembles, laid-back yoga gear, and periods when I didn’t care about fashion at all. These days I’d describe my style as fond of black, interested in unique silhouettes, and often accented with a bright pop of color.
I’m sharing this background because I was truly delighted and honored when Refinery29 and TJ Maxx invited me to participate in a career and vegan-fashion feature for R29. I trusted the stylist to put me in looks I might not have chosen myself, and those outfits made me feel fantastic. The experience encouraged me to experiment more with how I dress and inspired me to share my love of vegan fashion with you.
Below are a few favorite images from the shoot and feature. Check out my interview and additional photos on the Refinery29 site to learn more about the styling and the story.
If you’d like to see more vegan fashion on Sweet Potato Soul, let me know—I’d love to share more looks, tips, and ideas for compassionate, stylish dressing.
