My Story

 

When was the last time you were complimented by another woman?

I don’t care if it was your nails, your hair, or your bag… how AMAZING did that feel? I’m sorry, but there is no drink, drug, or dude that gets me higher than getting a compliment from another strong female, am I lying? Ishq Boutique was created to be a collection of compliment magnets. I want you to get stopped every time you wear one of my pieces and feel like you’re floating when you wear her. 

 

I remember the first time I received a compliment from another woman that I truly felt was mine. I had just bought myself my first “big girl bag” to celebrate my birthday and my new independence after getting my first fulltime job after graduating. I had butterflies in my stomach from the excitement of the handbag mixed with a knot in my chest from the price tag as I walked out of the store. I didn’t even notice I was walking next to anyone and jumped when I heard “I LOVE that bag, she’s GORGEOUS…” Almost paralyzed by embarrassment from being startled, I managed to force out something like “Thank you. I just bought it. I…” “HER”, she correct. “You just bought HER.” She said with a smile and a wink. “I’m guessing that means you haven’t named her yet?” At that moment, the embarrassment and the knot in my chest evaporated, and I giggled like a little girl gushing over a new crush. (If I could blush, I’m sure I would have).

 

We ended up talking for 45 minutes about everything from handbags to my new job and the challenges of my 20s. Even though it was brief, those few moments chatting with a stranger about handbags was so much more than small talk to me. She was my mother’s age, but I felt she was speaking to me like an equal. While she was telling me about the importance of naming bags and how to treat them gently, I was learning lessons about honoring, respecting, and taking care of myself. When she complimented my handbag, she was acknowledging me as a woman, a fellow goddess, and I felt accepted into womanhood for the first time in my life. The bag I bought that day (Louie... ya, not very creative... I had a lot to learn) was the first step towards me becoming my own woman.

 

You have to understand that didn’t always look the way I do now. The highlighted hair, edgy cut, colorful nails and attitude weren’t around for the first half of my life. As with most immigrant parents, mine pushed to me fit in and be conservative with how I dressed and behaved. There was no concept of "self-expression" in our household. Until that point, 100% of my clothing, accessories, and decisions were either chosen by or approved by my mother. I didn’t use nail polish until my 20s, for God’s sake! That handbag wasn’t just a splurge, that was a declaration of my own identity. For as long as I could remember, I felt like I was maintaining a long-distance love affair with fashion, always dressing this vogue-rockstar version of myself (in my head) with what I saw but could never have. That one experience lit a fuse inside of me. From there on, I decided to create the woman I wanted to be. 

 

Growing up in a small town in Connecticut, I never felt I fit in. Miami seemed like the center of everything I wanted… beauty, fashion, art, culture, acceptance, excitement… the perfect place to be reborn as the woman I knew I was. So when I was 24, I mustered up the courage and moved to the 305 to claim my future. 

 

Miami turned out to be exactly what I expected (and more). The range of fashion made my head spin (as did the prices of some of the brands in trend). While I could scrape and save to make the occasional purchase of a “big girl bag”, I soon learned to combine the thrifty habits from my upbringing with my fashion instincts in order to find my treasures on clearance racks and outlet stores. Finding great deals became my new challenge. It wasn’t about being cheap, it was about being creative and having an eye for value. Don’t get me wrong, I still have Louis and Coco in my collection, but I’ve got pieces that cost me a fraction of the price that attract 10,000% more compliments. You know what I’ve found to be the most important thing? Uniqueness. Sure, everyone can spot a Gucci or Chanel from across the room… but sometimes that iconic look just makes you a chick with an expensive bag (which is assumed to be a knock-off half the time anyway). Unique is unique, regardless of the price tag or logo, and the eye to find a garment or accessory that’s different enough to be intriguing yet familiar enough to be loved… THAT’S a golden gift I take great pride in.

 

My handbags tell stories about the women who wear them. Personality bags that can express the inner diva, queen, rockstar, superwoman, girlboss… whoever you want to be depending on your event, environment or mood. I hope you enjoy my collection and find pieces to add to yours that make you smile (and float) for years to come.

I believe…

I believe investments in happiness always pay...

I believe every woman is prettier when she smiles…

I believe feeling beautiful is the only requirement to being beautiful...

I believe we should worry less about money & schedules and focus more on the value of our time...