The TEll// By Thrift & Tell
Welcome to THE TELL//BY THRIFT & TELL: a celebration of fashionable women who dress as smart as they shop.
This week’s guest on THE TELL// is Aisha Fatima Dozie: founder of Bossy Cosmetics. I was introduced to Aisha via an Instagram live conversation with Fashionphile founder Sarah Davis. The conversation was thoughtful and inspiring to every woman considering leaving the “the golden handcuffs” of a corporate job to pursue her passion. I wrote down many words of wisdom, but one I particularly loved was in regards to fear. Aisha said that her friends always say, “you are so fearless”, but she always clarifies, “No... I have a lot of fear, but I also have a lot of faith. And I don’t let inertia get in my way.” There is no better proof of this than Aisha’s decision to leave her successful career in finance to start Bossy Cosmetics an affordable, cruelty-free, vegan, beauty brand. The company “was founded to ignite confidence in women who self identify as ambitious” and I love everything that this brand represents. I am thrilled to have Aisha be part of this series, and stay tuned for more interviews to come. Enjoy!
//Your style in 3 words: QUIRKY, CLASSY, FUN
//Staple Outfit: A LOOSE FITTED COTTON DRESS
//Style Icon(s): BEYONCE AND IRIS APFEL
//Your First Big Purchase: A MERCEDES BENZ
//Do You Still Have It? NO, THAT WAS EONS AGO
//Best Fashion Advice You Ever Received: BE YOURSELF, EVERYONE ELSE IS TAKEN
//Types of clothing you invest in: HERMES SCARVES
//Types of clothing you save on: LOOSE-FITTING COTTON DRESSES
//Your greatest extravagance: A REPTILE-SKINNED CHANEL BAG
//Brands That Will Stand the Test of Time: BOSSY COSMETICS
//Favorite High Street Brands: TARGET AND ZARA
//Favorite Designer Brands: BALMAIN BLAZERS ARE OTHERWORLDLY. I’M NOT MUCH INTO DESIGNER BRANDS ANYMORE. IT’S MORE ABOUT A LOOK AND LESS THE DESIGNER. MY WARDROBE IS NOW FILLED WITH ATHLEISURE FROM LULULEMON AND SNEAKERS FROM NIKE.
//Favorite High-Low Brands to Mix: TARGET DRESSES WITH CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN SHOES (BACK WHEN I WORE HEELS)
//Favorite Places to Shop Consignment: I’VE NEVER SHOPPED CONSIGNMENT
//Favorite Places to Consign Your Own Closet: I’VE BEEN PLANNING ON SENDING SOME ACCESSORIES TO FASHIONPHILE. I’LL DO THAT NEXT WEEK. I LOVE THEM.
//Currently Collecting Dust in the Back of your Closet: HIGH HEELS AND HANDBAGS
//Most prized possession: I DON’T REALLY “POSSESS” MY CHILDREN BUT MY FAMILY IS THE CLOSEST THING TO A PRIZED POSSESSION.
//Your Closet Tried and Trues: Ralph Lauren Cable Knit Cashmere Sweaters, Chanel Ballet Flats, Kule Striped Tees, Pamela Munson Woven Bags
//Style Choice From Your Past That Haunts You: NOTHING. I DON’T LIVE WITH REGRET.
//“It seemed like a good idea at the time” a.k.a Purchase you most regret: THAT SAME EXPENSIVE CHANEL BAG THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER
//Closet From Which You Would Like to Borrow: BEYONCE
//Last Time You Splurged? TWO YEARS AGO IN PARIS AT LE BON MARCHE
//Currently Saving Your Pennies For: MY BUSINESS – BOSSY COSMETICS
//A Deal for the History Books/Your T&T Personal Best: REALIZING THAT I AM ENOUGH AND DESERVING OF ALL OF MY DREAMS
//Advice to someone looking to define their own style: BE YOURSELF
//Trend you wish would go away? I DON’T FOLLOW TRENDS
//You feel great. What are you wearing? LULULEMON PANTS OR LEGGINGS AND A T-SHIRT
//Occasions when you splurge: FOR A WHILE, I WAS SPLURGING ON MY HAIR BUT THEN I SHAVED IT OFF AND GOT A MOHAWK.
//Occasions when you save: GENERALLY ALWAYS IN SAVINGS-MODE ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE TIMES WE ARE IN.
//Home Decor Style: ART-DECO. OPEN WITH TONS OF NATURAL LIGHT. ALSO MESSY BECAUSE I HAVE 3 SONS SO….
//Favorite place to hunt for home decor: WEST ELM AND HORCHOW
//Go-to for unique items, whether it be clothing, accessories, home or art: S I PREFER TO SHOP ONLINE. I SCOUR STORES THAT WAY. INSTAGRAM IS ALSO AN AMAZING LEAD GENERATOR FOR ME
//Your fashion motto: ALWAYS BE YOURSELF.
//Your life motto: ALWAYS BE BETTER THAN YOU WERE YESTERDAY UNLESS YOU’RE TIRED AND THEN YOU SHOULD REST.
Fill in the blank:
//A woman should invest in- WEALTH GENERATION OF ALL FORMS. //You’re never too old to—BE DAZZLING. //A woman can never have too much- LIPSTICK. // Bury Me In: COUTURE. //True or False: More is More- TRUE. //Fashion is- MEANT TO BE EFFORTLESS. //Style is: YOUR NATURAL STATE OF BEING.
Currently Loving:
//Music: JUICE BY LIZZO
//Food: MALVA PUDDING WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM
//Drink: RASPBERRY LEMONADE MIXED WITH WATER
//Film: USUAL SUSPECTS
//Podcast: HOW I BUILT THIS BY GUY RAZ
//Instagram Handle: @AISHETU
ABOUT AISHETU
Aisha has always described herself as a "lipstick junkie" and never imagined that she'd start a global beauty brand when she started her career in finance over 20 years ago. She worked for several years as an investment banker and finance executive in the US, UK, Central and South America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She's also founded a children's play and activity center called Paloo's Place and a media project which showcased successful African women called African HERstory.
She's always believed that women could and should strive for career heights on their own terms and wearing beautiful lipsticks was one of her signature ways of showing up as she navigated the tricky terrain of advancing in a male-dominated profession. She often characterizes her lipstick looks as her superpower ingredient that boosted her confidence though out her career journey of battling imposter syndrome.
As she worked her way up the ladder and achieved a considerable amount of success, she was diagnosed with severe hypertension and felt completely burned out. This was a wake-up call for Aisha and it made her look critically at how she defined success and whether her life goals needed to be redesigned. She moved to California, took a one year sabbatical, and came across a singular insight that legacy beauty companies were product-driven only and they only cared about how women looked. Aisha dreamed of creating a beloved brand that cared about how women felt starting from the inside and then moving outward. She thought it appeared to be a subtle difference but it made all the difference in the world to ambitious women whose ambitions could be ignited by their beauty provider.
FIND AISHA
Photos used courtesy of Aisha Fatima Dozie
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