Head of the Class

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As high school friends, Kate Welsh and Rachel Bell were already rolling around the idea of eventually embarking on a joint career endeavor. Fast forward 15 years and they are now smack dab in the middle of their fifth year as The Hat Girls, designing and creating custom one-of-a-kind hats and headpieces for women across the country to wear to the races and other special events. Both Louisville natives, the girls explored their fashion interests in various cities – New York, Las Vegas, Chicago – before landing back in Louisville in 2013 with a plan to make their mark on the heads of the Bluegrass State’s race-goers.

According to Rachel, “Our new showroom and studio gives us the opportunity to connect with our clients throughout the entire design experience and to make our brand available to a wider audience by offering a comprehensive range of styles at an expanded price range,” she says.

While custom-created orders are still a major pillar of The Hat Girls’ business, their retail shop has seen booming success since their opening in mid-March in Norton Commons. Upon a single step into the beautifully appointed space, it is easy to get a vibe of both the eye for style The Hat Girls bring to their designs as well as the wide range of what their skills allow them to offer patrons. Fascinators, wide-brim Southern-style floppy hats, structured sinamay headwear and feather headdresses are only a few of the unique styles that grace the shelves and hat stands of The Hat Girls’ first shop. If you can dream it, they can do it.

But the commitment is major and the hours are long for the girls. One of the things that helps balance the endless days they spend designing, sewing and constructing their pieces is the immense satisfaction that comes from presenting a client with a come-to-life version of exactly what they had in mind for her headwear.

Presently, Kate and Rachel are spending their days between the retail side of their shop and the myriad events they are involved in leading up to the Kentucky Derby. But they spend their nights creating. Now you might be wondering: When do they sleep? Ask either one, and they will tell you, “Sleeping is for after Derby.”

In addition to the one-of-a-kind orders they are fulfilling, and a gorgeous shop full of every topper you can imagine, the girls also have hats available for purchase in several local boutiques (including Rodeo Drive), as well as at Von Maur in Oxmoor Center. This year, they are offering a selection of men’s fedora and boater hats as well, adorned with custom trimmings.Read more at:grey prom dresses

Can I continue exercising after a C-Section

“I’ve just had a baby, an operation too! Will I ever be able to revert to my previous body structure? Can I exercise after a caesarian?” These are the woes of a new mother, though gone are the times when a new mother would be disbarred from all other activities other than feeding the baby and allowing the body to recover.

For 40 days she would be told to remain indoors, as the immunity would be at its weakest and both the mother and child would be cocooned till they were ready to face the world. Let me tell you, I’ve been there and done that for my firstborn and believe me it did actually help. I was barely 20 and I had absolutely no clue what I was supposed to do or eat or exercise and had nobody to guide me. I blindly followed my mother-in-law. Yes, I did put on weight and the loose fat on my tummy took a lot of hard work to go, but my weak bones, low blood pressure problems and the constant faints were gone forever.

However back then the idea of a perfect figure wasn’t a benchmark of 36-24-36 that had to be achieved. The perception of beauty was more realistic than the willowy photo-shopped frames we see in every Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter or FB post. But that apart, personal health and beauty standards weren’t even defined for individuals to fit any prototype. It was what each thought best for themselves. However the world has changed and women today are equipped for more, or maybe they want it all and can work hard enough to get it too. So let’s get down to basic facts that can help a new mother.

Though the scientific technology sped the healing and recovery time post an operation, it still doesn’t allow you to be lax or careless. The C-section delivery definitely requires some healing time before you can start putting pressure of a rigorous workout on it. What you can safely begin with is walking. After a 2 week absolute rest, allowing the scar to heal, the internal changes to restore strength to the body and pain to subside, a 20min easy paced walk is what you can start with after a fortnight. As doctors always advice, take 6/8 weeks of total recovery before you begin any full-fledged workout. Urinary incontinence can happen post-delivery due to loosening of the pelvic muscles. The Kegel exercises taught to you during pregnancy are the best to begin with. They will help in strengthening the core and your pelvis. These help in combating that loosening that you are worried about.

These are the exercises you can gradually you can start with

1. Hip raises to strengthen your abdominal without pressurizing your back.

2. The Bird Dog will help tighten the sagging tummy that is a problem with most new mothers. These exercises will also help elongate the spine and ease out the stiffness.

3. Side leg raises done lying down will activate the hamstrings and glutes while increasing mobility in the hip flexors. They also help tighten the core.

4. The plank….you can begin with the regular one and then gradually do the various variations.

The body has undergone lots of changes to prepare you for the birth of your young one, do not rush it or torture it into getting back into its previous shape sooner than it’s prepared for. Take it slow and easy, build up your strength, endurance and then drive it to do better. There are loads of workouts that can be your playtime with your child, while helping you to lose weight and recover while you enjoy motherhood.Read more at:green prom dress | MarieProm UK

Decoding the secret language of flowers

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Do you give flowers to your loved one on holidays and birthdays? Flowers are a great way to communicate your love and affection, and some can convey a specific message, according to a horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension.

“Flowers can represent everything from friendship to true love,” says Rhonda Ferree. “For example, chrysanthemums show friendship. Gardenias represent secret love. Give a primrose to say, ‘I can’t live without you.’ Lilies, a traditional wedding flower, convey chastity, innocence, and purity, while Stephanotis shows happiness in marriage. Tulips are given to the perfect lover, and a red tulip declares your love. Orchids are commonly given as corsages to show love and beauty.”

But, Ferree says, no other flower shows more meaning than a rose. All roses symbolize love, but certain colors of roses have special meanings. “What’s more, when several colors in various stages of bloom are combined in one arrangement, your floral bouquet can speak a whole sentence instead of just one thought!”

Here are some of the most widely accepted meanings for different rose colors, blooms and arrangements:

• Red roses show love, respect or courage.

• Yellow roses represent joy, gladness or freedom.

• Pink/peach roses exude gratitude, appreciation, admiration or sympathy.

• White roses demonstrate purity or secrecy.

• Two roses joined together display engagement.

• Red and white roses together indicate unity.

Additionally, rosebuds say, “you are young and beautiful.” A single rose stands for simplicity. In full bloom, a rose means “I love you” or “I love you still,” and a bouquet of roses in full bloom signifies gratitude.

If you receive fresh flowers from your loved one, follow the following guidelines to ensure the longest vase life. Add water containing floral food to the vase every day. The best flower food can be obtained from your floral retailer.

Once the flowers are past their prime, discard them or make the memory last by creating a potpourri out of your rose petals. You can also press and dry the flowers for your memory book. “The uses of flowers are endless,” Ferree says.Read more at:cheap prom dresses uk

Making works of beauty

Architect Tony Joseph is dressed in a laid-back manner: a loose black shirt, black jeans and shoes as he walked on to the stage at the Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, on March 31.

But the award he received was anything but laid-back. Tony received a prize for being among the 50 most influential architects and designers in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

A week earlier, Tony’s firm Stapati had also won a national award for excellence in hospitality and recreation by the Indian Institute of Architects for their work on the Xandari Harbour hotel in Mattancherry.

At the old town of Mattancherry, with its run-down godowns and narrow streets, Xandari fits in seamlessly. This is, no doubt, helped by the unobtrusive entrance. It is a large wooden door, which had belonged to one of the traditional houses of yore.

We wanted to retain the colonial fabric of the area,” says Tony. “However, we did not want a project that was all about restoration. We wanted to use the materials of today, like steel and glass.”

So, in the large restaurant, which is actually a converted warehouse, a lot of steel and glass has indeed been used. “We used bigger spans, so that the view of the harbour could be wide and clear,” he says.

The Xandari Harbour is one of the numerous projects that Stapati has done.

The others include the still-famous Kumarakom Lake Resort, Rainforest at Athirapally, Vythiri Resort, Wayanad, Brunton Boatyard at Fort Kochi, the Enchanted Island Resort in the Seychelles, and many others. Thus far, the firm has executed more than 200 projects in India, the UAE, and the Seychelles.

And he has some ardent fans. Says leading international architect Christopher C. Benninger, “Stapati’s creations are spiritual precincts, not mere locations or destinations. They are catalysts for self-discovery, not canned products like a ‘five-star hotel’. Each design derives itself from its natural context. Each retreat is inspired by its organic setting, from which it emerges from the earth.”Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/prom-dresses-2016-2017 | green prom dresses

Wedding beauty: get prep underway a month before the big day

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Marriage season will soon be upon us. When planning a wedding, it's important to set aside time for hair, makeup, beauty treatments, and hair removal. Ideally, preparations should start at least a month before the wedding. Here's a look at what brides-to-be should get on their beauty schedules to make sure they look their best on the big day.

One month before: makeup trials and face treatments

The venue, the caterer and the dress are booked, now it's time to take care of the bride-to-be so she can look her absolute best on the day. As she will be the focus of attention, a degree of organization is required to polish her appearance and avoid any last-minute problems.

Wedding beauty preparations should start around a month before the event (even longer for the more anxious or impatient types), with hair and makeup trials to avoid any last-minute problems on the big day. Once the hair stylist and makeup artist has been chosen (some professionals offer both services), you need to find a look that goes well with the dress. These trials can be repeated a week or two before the wedding, as the bride's skin tone could change (after a vacation, for example).

Another important step is prepping the face. Skin should be healthy and glowing on the big day. This requires deep skin cleansing to remove any imperfections. The only downside is that small spots can appear a few days after the treatment. One more reason to start preparations early!

Two weeks before: relaxation

Brides-to-be should take some time out from the mammoth task of preparing for a wedding with some precious pampering. Why not make a day of it by inviting a bestie or a group of friends to chill out while prepping the body for its day in the spotlight?

A spa day should start with a trip to a steam room to relax and unwind, while also cleaning and purifying the skin. Then, try an exfoliating treatment to slough off dead skin cells and ease tension in the body. Round things off with a full body massage to relieve all the stress built up over the last few months of wedding preparations.

One week before: final preparations

With a week to go before the big day, brides-to-be could find it useful to list all the beauty preparations left to do before the event. A strict beauty routine should be followed in those last seven days (removing makeup and cleansing the skin every evening).

Waxing should be done two to eight days before the ceremony to reduce the risk of red marks on sensitive skin. Eyebrows, legs, armpits and bikini line should all be done.

Hands and feet shouldn't be neglected either, meaning a pedicure is required (to remove dead skin cells) as well as a French manicure, as the hands will be the center of attention when it comes to exchanging rings.Read more at:royal blue prom dresses

HOMAGE TO HISTORY

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Walter & Herbert has launched three new ophthalmic frames and six new sunglasses in its vintage-inspired Made in England eyewear collection.

The brand pays homage to the 70 years of experience of the company behind it, The Optoplast Actman Eyewear Company. Walter & Herbert is named after the company’s founders, Walter Conway and Herbert Thorn.

Each style in the collection is designed, made and tested in England. The frames are named after historic English figures and have been created to reflect a contemporary English aesthetic.

The new styles for spring in the ophthalmic range are ‘Astell,’ ‘Carter’ and ‘Lowe,’ while the new sunglasses are called ‘Collins,’ ‘Fry,’ ‘Gielgud,’ ‘Taylor,’ ‘Tennyson’ and ‘Tolkien.’

In the ophthalmic styles, ‘Carter’ in maple horn is a statement style. The oversized eye shape is complemented by an engraved metal nose bridge creating a vintage look, with the frame featuring adjustable nose pads for a more comfortable fit. The horn acetates are set to leave a lasting impression, according to the company.

Another highlight in the new ophthalmic launches is ‘Lowe’ in ‘crystaline tort.’ It combines a classic 1940's shape with vintage detailing and striking colours.

A high fashion look in the new sunglasses is ‘Taylor’ in ‘crystal maple.’ The sunglasses are clear and have an unusual shape that mixes curves with bold, straight lines.

For a more classic look, ‘Tennyson’ in ‘charred whiskey’ is a bold new take on the popular aviator shape, combining acetates with a hint of metal. The combination of shiny and matt finishes creates a sleek, contoured look.

Chief executive of The Optoplast Actman Eyewear Company, James Conway, told OT: “The new models have been very exciting to develop. We’ve really pushed the boundaries with shape and colour to achieve some very striking styles.”

Mr Conway added: “The response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding our most unusual style ‘Taylor’ (pictured). I think it’s important we keep having fun with the designs, all the while making sure they fully reflect our brand.”Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/prom-dresses-shop-in-manchester

Kendall Jenner opens up about her anxiety

Kendall Jenner insists she has 'never been a yes person' and will say no to someone if she feels it is right to do so.

The 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' beauty isn't worried about constantly having to please people and would much rather put herself first.

She said: 'I've had those moments where you kind of need to just take care of yourself and say no to a certain thing. I think that's key... I've never been a yes person. If I don't want to do something I probably am not going to do it.'

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old model previously opened up about suffering with anxiety.

Writing on her website KendallJ , she said: 'Anxiety was a huge hurdle for me to deal with this past year (and security concerns didn't help), but I think I'm finally learning how to cope ...

'The hardest part about my job is being away from home so often. I miss my sisters, the rest of my family and my friends so much when I'm away. But, it makes the time we have together that much more special.'

However, Kendall has a lot to celebrate including her Vogue cover, the Victoria's Secret fashion show and jet-setting across the world.

She wrote: 'The fact that I was on the cover of any Vogue was mind-blowing, but the September Issue was beyond anything I could've imagined! I can't wait to see where 2017 takes my career, but I know I have big plans!

'Rome, Paris, Turks Caicos, Cannes, Vail, Barcelona and more - this year was such a whirlwind of travel it's hard to keep track of it all! I'm so lucky that my job takes me to all the places I want see.'Read more at:cheap prom dresses | cocktail dresses

Master hot cloth cleansing

Hot cloth cleansing has so many benefits if done right and will leave your skin feeling super clean and smooth - but only if you use the right tools and techniques.

We're going to give you a step by step guide to mastering this beauty method, before listing the products to try out.

1. With a slightly damp face, apply your chosen cleanser and gently rub into your face and neck ensuring all areas are covered with the product

2. Leave for a minute or two so it soaks up all the dirt on your skin's surface

3. Using a cloth (muslin ones are highly recommended) dampened with warm to hot water, run it over your face and neck to remove the cleanser. Rinse in between wipes if you need to. If you have time, you can leave the cloth resting on your face for a few minutes for an even more thorough clean

4. Once finished with the cloth, rinse your face with warm water so all the excess product is washed way to leave a smooth and silky complexion

5. Before your skin dries out, apply moisturiser and allow it to sink in and nourish the face and neck

When it comes to picking the right cleansers and cloths to use there are so many options on the market that it's hard to know where to begin. One that has earned a reputation in the beauty biz is Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, winner of countless awards including 2016's InStyle Best Beauty Buys. With a subtle sweet scent and ingredients including cocoa butter and chamomile, both of which are known to soothe, it's a great option for your face.

There's also REN Clean Skincare's Rosa Centifolia Hot Cloth Cleanser that will clean and firm up your face without leaving it feeling dried out and tight. Or you can push the boat out with Lancome Hot Cloth Cleanser Confort Kit which comes with a mousse cleanser and muslin cloth - perfect!

Muslin cloths are easy to get a hold of and are great for those with sensitive skin, but if you're looking for a slightly rougher scrub try a terry cloth; a fabric with a plush texture which allows gentle buffering.

You must ensure all make-up is removed beforehand as although hot cloth cleansing is designed to remove dirt, it's only the excess you want to catch with the material.Read more at:http://www.marieprom.co.uk/prom-dresses-shop-in-liverpool | http://www.marieprom.co.uk/long-evening-dresses

Beauty in scars

Whisman-Osborne explained that spina bifida is a birth defect in which a baby is born with a hole in his/her spine. The Spina Bifida Association explains that the defect occurs when the spinal column does not close in the womb. The condition causes issues with mobility as well as bowl and bladder complications.

Whisman-Osborne’s parents had no indication that she would be born with spina bifida. Though testing for can be done while in the womb, Whisman-Osborne explained that she had skin covering the hole in her spine, so the defect did not show up during prenatal tests. That piece of skin gave her an advantage over most people with spina bifida, preventing her from leaking spinal fluid. Unlike many people suffering with the condition, Whisman-Osborne explained that she has always been able to walk.

At just 6-weeks-old, Whisman-Osborne had her first surgery to close the hole in her spine. Throughout her childhood, she would have repeated surgeries and medical stays. Because of her first surgery, scar tissue would build up on her spine and need to be surgically removed every couple years.

Whisman-Osborne continued by explaining that, though she could walk, her right foot was smaller than her other.

“I wear a 7 ½ on my normal foot,” Whisman-Osborne stated. “My other foot was a 4 1/2-5, and it turned in. It made me limp really bad. So, because it dragged and didn’t get good blood flow, it got diabetic sores.”

In addition to surgeries to remove scar tissue from her spine, as a child, Whisman-Osborne also had numerous surgeries to try to strengthen those parts of her body most affected by spina bifida.

“They (doctors at Children’s Hospital in Columbus) would take tendons from my good foot and put them in my bad foot to help strengthen my walking,” Whisman-Osborne commented before adding, “They took a piece of my bowel to make a stronger, bigger bladder.”

As a child, she averaged two surgeries a year, many of which were during the summer so she would not miss more school. With summers spent recovering from surgeries, Whisman-Osborne could not participate in sports or summer activities like her sister or be out playing in the park like her neighborhood friends.

“Children’s Hospital was my home away from home,” Whisman-Osborne said. “That was my normal. That was the only normal I knew.”

Though she knew she was different than other kids, Whisman-Osborne said she never really felt like she fit in with healthy or sick kids. There was a spina bifida summer camp each year, and Whisman-Osborne explained that she always wanted to attend. However, her family always told her that she did not belong with other children with the defect because she could walk. Still, when she was home, she felt like she was always trying to keep up with the normal kids. She tried so hard to be like healthy kids that she even learned to ride a bike.

“As soon as I would learn to do something, I would be back in the hospital to have another surgery,” Whisman-Osborne explained.

As a result, she never felt like she could keep up with the kids at home. She was always falling behind.

Whisman-Osborne added that everyone always treated her like the she was incapable of doing much.

“I never had to do anything,” she stated while explaining that people around her always assumed she couldn’t do things.

Even when she ran for Little League Queen, she was excused from walking in the parade without being given the chance to try.

“I never had to try anything, and when I did have to try, I would throw a fit. I was the baby, and they would call be the sick one,” Whisman-Osborne stated.

It was only she was at Children’s that people would tell her that she was able to do things for herself.

As a teenager, when most females already struggle with confidence, Whisman-Osborne had an even greater concern. When she was approximately 14, she developed a large pressure sore on her weak foot. The sore continued for five years. Adding to the hospital visits, Whisman-Osborne would have to have the sore cauterized every two weeks. Still, the sore continued to get worse and cause other problems. At 19-years-old, Whisman-Osborne had her first amputation. She lost her foot and half her ankle.

Though her doctor and mother cried because she would be losing her foot, Whisman-Osborne said she was relieved.

“I had that big sore for so many years. It was terrible,” she stated. “I had to tell my doctor and mother it was okay. It was time.”

Though there was fear, Whisman-Osborne says the fear was very personal. She was afraid of how she would feel about her appearance.

“People had always stared at me, so I wasn’t worried so much about what other people would think,” she commented.

Within two days of the surgery, Whisman-Osborne was walking on a prosthetic. She went home walking on it, and said that adjusting was rather simple. It helped that she had a friend to keep her in good spirits.

After having her amputation, Whisman-Osborne was visited by friend, Isaac Osborne, who hung out just to help her pass the time. He didn’t judge her despite the fact that she has just lost her foot. Rather, his only concern was for her well-being. Though he had to leave town for work, the two continued to talk on the phone. By the time he returned, the friendship had become a romance.

“I never had anyone who thought I was anything other than a sick kid,” Whisman-Osborne said.

Osborne had a confidence in her that gave her confidence in herself and encouraged her to try new things. He even took her canoeing, despite concern from her family. Whisman-Osborne explained that his support gave her the strength to try new things without being afraid.

“I’m afraid of different things than other people are afraid of,” she added. “I’m afraid of going into surgery, and it being the one I don’t wake up from.”

It was not long before Whisman-Osborne was marrying this guy who always seemed to see her as even more than she saw herself. Unfortunately, it also was not long until she was having another amputation.

Because the first amputation was only her foot, Whisman-Osborne was able to walk without her prosthetic. Doing so, however, led to another pressure sore. One year after her first amputation, Whisman-Osborne lost her leg from below the knee.

“It was a lot harder the second time,” she explained.

She had more pain than she did following the first procedure. She could not walk on her prosthetic immediately because she had to wait for it to be made and wait for her stitches to be taken out. Still, Osborne was always by her side, always saw her as beautiful and never saw her as a sick girl. Whisman-Osborne was always strong and capable in her husband’s eyes.

Overtime, Whisman-Osborne said she started to feel strong and beautiful in her own eyes as well. She says that she faked confidence when she was younger but always cared about how people looked at her. Now, she refuses to be that sick kid anymore.

“Only in the past year have I started to feel beautiful as a woman,” Whisman-Osborne stated. “I’ve always been cute – the cute, little, one-legged girl. Only recently, though, have I started to feel comfortable with myself.”

Whisman-Osborne explained that a year ago and 11 years after her first amputation, she joined a performance group and that has really helped her grow. She had never thought of performing before.

“I always said I had stage fright, but I had never even been on a stage,” she joked.

After attending a performance, she wanted to be a part of the show. Soon, she was joining the cast and dancing on stage.

“It’s good to have people look at you for a reason other than to stare at your one leg or to check you because of a procedure,” Whisman-Osborne commented.

It no longer even bothers her when people stare. She explained that one day she was swimming in a public pool with her husband and noticed some guys smiling and flirting from across the pool.

“I’m real cute from the waste up, but I got out of the pool and could see them freaking out with the change in their expressions. So, I started putting my fake leg on seductively,” she laughed. “People think because I have scars, I should hide them. I like to show them off. I earned them.”

With her husband’s never faltering confidence in her, Whisman-Osborne now feels like she can be anyone and do anything, an important realization she has made as a mother. Whisman-Osborne has three children – an eight-year-old daughter, a six-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son.

“I don’t want them to ever be down on themselves because of appearance or anything,” she stressed. “They have their limbs, but I want them to also have strong females figures in their life, including me.”

No longer the sick kid, Whisman-Osborne is excited to continue acting and performing and showing her children than nothing will hold her back and nothing should have hold them back either.Read more at:vintage evening dresses | long evening dresses

Inside Popup Florist, Fashion’s Latest Favorite Flowers

A lack of any sort of training isn’t exactly a selling point for most entrepreneurs — but for florist Kelsie Hayes, it has become her calling card.

“The fact that I’m not a trained florist really works in my advantage,” says Hayes, from a table at Gansevoort Market. The 27-year-old is the founder of the year-old business Popup Florist, which she runs out of a window-facing slot at the Market, having landed there in June after a series of, yes, pop-ups.

Her training, rather, is in fashion design, which has led her to develop a client roster including companies like Barneys New York, Topshop, Baja East and Sandro, and individuals like Eva Chen and Emily Weiss.

Upon graduating from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, the Maryland native was quickly scooped up as a designer for the now-defunct brand Beckley, where she was given near-complete creative control. “It was sort of my dream job in fashion,” she says. “I worked with the owner really closely, we did three collections a year and we had our own stores to put them in, so it was amazing. We ended up closing in November, [the founder Melissa Akkaway] wanted to focus on her family and I think fashion is just really hard right now.”

Going from her dream gig to unemployed at 25 left Hayes wondering what the next step was — and what would top her previous gig. “I had a brief moment of ‘oh my God, what am I going to do with my life,’” she says. “And then I thought I should really start doing florals or events, something else that’s another passion of mine. So one night, in January of 2016, I was like, I should start something called Popup Florist because then I don’t have to have a permanent space. And I signed up for the Instagram right away.”

The social media app has been the main driver in her success. After her first pop-up at West Village coffee shop The Elk, for Valentine’s Day in 2016, she continued with small pop-ups before moving into Gansevoort Market in June. But Instagram word-of-mouth has been the biggest source of business.

“Eva Chen is probably one of my bigger clients; she’ll mention me in her Instagram story, and when she does, [I always] feel like someone reaches out to me,” Hayes says. “Emily Weiss from Glossier put [my work] on her Instagram story and then after that did another post of my business card. It’s gone exactly how I wanted to — I work with fashion brands and beauty brands, and I haven’t had to do any corporate work really. I’ve been able to work with my dream clients. Instagram has changed everything for all businesses, but for mine it’s [especially] helpful.”

In addition to such influencers and regular customers, who mostly find her in the market and through Postmates (where she is the only florist vendor), Popup Florist is becoming a go-to for a variety of brands looking for nontraditional floral arrangements.

“For fashion week I did Topshop’s dinner, and I also did a dinner for Baja East, at Kola House,” she says. “[For Baja East] we did little baby gold pineapples — very their vibe, supertropical. I think the best thing about working with fashion brands and coming from that background is it doesn’t take a lot of effort on the client part — they just tell me what they’re doing and they kind of give me creative control. My main thing with this, and my first thought when I started it with these brands, is that I want to send things out in a more thoughtful way than I think other florists do. I always think of how I can get the brand’s message across.”

Her lack of training and relative newness is one of her biggest appeals to such brands. “The one thing I always hear back from customers is ‘oh my God I’ve never seen this with this,’” she says. “I think my aesthetic is putting together interesting color or texture arrangements, instead of what’s ‘supposed’ to go together. I don’t think that people can get away with that in other industries.”Read more at:backless prom dresses | sexy evening dresses