MAMA FEATURE : LAURA + MATTEO

PHOTO BY ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI

THIS MONTH’S FEATURE IS @LAURAFERRARANYC, A STYLIST WHOM I WORKED WITH MANY MOONS AGO IN NEW YORK CITY. IT WAS AN HONOR TO RECONNECT 20 YEARS LATER & CHAT ABOUT HER ITALIAN HERITAGE, HER STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER & HER OWN JOURNEY AS A MOTHER TO HER SON MATTEO.

IN WHAT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER LIFETIME (20 YEARS AGO), I WORKED FOR A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER & WAS LUCKY TO CROSS PATHS WITH HER AND I GREW TO ADORE HER. I WAS IN MY EARLY 20’S, VERY MUCH LEARNING THE ROPES & HER DOWN-TO-EARTH PERSONALITY & TALENT GAVE ME THE FEELING I COULD FIND MY OWN WAY IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY WHERE I VERY MUCH FELT OUT OF MY LEAGUE.

I ADMIRED HER NATURAL & TIMELESS SENSE OF STYLE, WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TOMBOY MIXED IN. I KNEW SHE WAS ITALIAN, LIKE MYSELF, & RAISED IN BROOKLYN (AN INSTA VIDEO OF HER DOUBLE-DUTCH ON THE SIDEWALK IN THE CITY WITH SOME HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INSPIRED MY DAUGHTER GUS TO GIVE IT A TRY & I’VE LOVED THAT FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT).

SHE HAS AN INFECTIOUS SMILE AND EASE ABOUT HER THAT SHE BROUGHT TO EVERY SHOOT. IT’S HONESTLY AN HONOR TO FEATURE HER THIS MONTH - SHE IS SOMEONE I LOOKED UP TO WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO NY AND SHE QUIETLY ENCOURAGED ME TO FIND MY OWN SENSE OF STYLE AND FOLLOW MY OWN PATH TOWARDS WHAT I LOVE.

WHEN OUR PATHS CROSSED 20 YEARS AGO, I MET YOU AS A FAIRLY NEW MAMA TO YOUR SON MATTEO.

TALK A BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS LIKE AT THE TIME, WORKING FULL-TIME IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY WHILE BALANCING NEW MOTHERHOOD.

I HAD A CONTRACT AS AN EDITOR WITH A FASHION MAGAZINE AT THAT TIME & I REALLY DEBATED TELLING THEM THAT I WAS PREGNANT AND EVEN HESITATED SIGNING THE CONTRACT. IT WAS A WOMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS PREGNANT, SHE SAID YOU DON’T HAVE TO QUIT, JUST DO YOUR SHOOTS AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE ALL THE TIME. (IN THE 90’S WE WERE GOING INTO THE OFFICE 5 DAYS A WEEK, VERY DIFFERENT TIMES).

I DID 2-3 MONTHS LEAVE AND THEN STARTED BRINGING MATTEO TO SHOOTS WITH ME ALONGSIDE MY MOM AND SISTER SO THAT I COULD NURSE HIM ON BREAKS. AT THAT TIME, NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY HAD KIDS AND NOW IT’S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUT FOR ME, WHEN I GOT PREGNANT I HEARD ALOT OF ‘WOW WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?’ IT WAS JUST A VERY DIFFERENT TIME IN THE INDUSTRY AND I ACTUALLY DID ALMOST QUIT BECAUSE OF THIS.

I HAD A SHOOT IN IRELAND EARLY ON AND MATTEO WAS NOT WITH ME. I BROUGHT MY PUMP WITH ME, BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, BREASTMILK IS LIQUID GOLD, AND I INTENDED TO SHIP IT BACK TO NY ON DRY ICE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PUMP BLEW UP AND WAS SMOKING AND I WAS LITERALLY IN A HOTEL ROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE WOMAN WHO OWNED THE INN CAME TO MY RESCUE, THANKFULLY SHE WAS A MOTHER OF 5, AND LOANED ME HER PUMP AND HELPED ME GET THE MILK SENT BACK HOME.

A FEW MONTHS LATER, I HAD TO GO TO MILAN AND PARIS FOR SHOWS AND ONCE AGAIN MY SON WASN’T WITH ME. I WAS STILL NURSING AND I REMEMBER SITTING THERE AT ONE OF THE PARIS SHOWS LATE IN THE DAY, FEELING DRAINED AND NEEDING TO PUMP, THINKING TO MYSELF ‘WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING?’ I JUST FELT SO EXHAUSTED & MISSED MATTEO TERRIBLY. TOWARDS THE END OF ONE OF THE SHOWS, THE LAST EXIT WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL INUIT FAMILY ALL WRAPPED IN SHEARLING AND I STARTED HYSTERICALLY CRYING WHEN I SAW THE BABY ALL WRAPPED UP. MY BOOBS WERE LEAKING AND EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS CRYING BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SHOW (WHICH IT TRULY WAS) BUT I JUST KNEW I NEEDED TO BE HOME. SO I WENT BACK TO MY HOTEL, PACKED MY BAGS AND FLEW BACK TO NY TO BE WITH MATTEO.

PHOTO BY ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI

DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL VINTAGE PIECES THAT ARE TRULY SPECIAL TO YOU?

I HAVE MY MOTHERS SUITS THAT SHE MADE WHILE SHE WAS IN CAMPAGNE IN NAPLES. ONE IS A BEAUTIFUL BURNT ORANGE WOOL SKIRT & JACKET WITH A NAVY BLUE KNIT TANK UNDERNEATH AND THE BAG THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. I ALSO HAVE MY FATHERS BROWN POLO FROM THE 1960’S THAT MATTEO HAS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MEAN MORE THAN ANYTHING TO ME. BUT MY OTHER VINTAGE FAVORITES ARE MY WRANGLER JEANS & DENIM WORKWEAR/JUMPSUITS. ALONG WITH A VINTAGE FLORAL EMBROIDERED KIMONO WHICH I ADORE & SAINT LAURENT TUXEDO PANTS FROM THE 70’S.

I HAVE LOVED THE INTIMATE LOOK AT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOM (‘NONNA’) THAT YOU HAVE SHARED OVER THE YEARS. IT’S VERY CLEAR THAT YOUR ITALIAN HERITAGE & BEING RAISED IN BROOKLYN IS A HUGE PART OF WHO YOU ARE. CAN YOU CHAT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOM & HOW THAT INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE & WHO YOU ARE.

MY MOM WAS A TAILOR & SHE MADE ALL OF OUR CLOTHES FOR US GROWING UP. THE THINGS SHE MADE FOR US WERE INCREDIBLE BUT AS A TEENAGER ALL I WANTED WAS WHAT ALL THE OTHER GIRLS WERE WEARING - SERGIO VALENTE & GLORIA VANDERBILT JEANS.

SHE TRULY EMBODIED SUSTAINABLE LIVING OUT OF NECESSITY. WE MOVED FROM ITALY WHEN I WAS 4 AND CAME RIGHT TO PARK SLOPE. THE TINY TOWN WE WERE FROM WAS VERY NOSE TO TAIL AND THERE WAS NO WASTING, WE WERE ALWAYS REUSING. SO SHE SIMPLY USED/REUSED EVERYTHING OUT OF NECESSITY BUT SHE DID SO CREATIVELY AND THAT TO ME IS AN ART FORM. SHE WAS SUCH AN INSPIRATION BECAUSE SHE COULD CREATE USING ANYTHING THAT SHE HAD ON HAND. AND EVEN IF SHE DIDN’T HAVE IT, SHE WAS ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING TO MAKE IT WORK.

SHE WOULD BRING BACK LEFTOVER SCRAPS FROM WOOL COATS THAT SHE WAS MAKING AND MAKE SKIRTS & COATS OUT OF THEM. AT ONE POINT SHE MADE THIS AMAZING WOOL A-LINE SKIRT THAT SHE WORE WITH LITTLE BOOTS. AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING AT HARPER’S BAZAAR AND BUMPED INTO A COLLEAGUE WHILE I WAS OUT WITH MY MOM AND SHE WAS WEARING THIS OUTFIT SHE HAD MADE. MY COLLEAGUE LATER ASKED ME IF MY MOM’S SKIRT WAS COMME DES GARCONS. MY MOM WAS JUST INCREDIBLY STYLISH AND TALENTED.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS MY MOM THAT WAS MY STYLE INSPIRATION BUTI’VE ALWAYS ADMIRED MY FATHER’S SENSE OF ELEGANCE AND WAS ALSO A BIG INFLUENCE FOR ME. HE CAME FROM THIS TINY TOWN IN CAMPANIA OF MAYBE 200 PEOPLE AND HE WOULD WEAR SILK SCARVES, COOL SWEATERS AND CONVERSE-LIKE SNEAKERS. HE WORKED IN FABRICATION AS AN IRONWORKER, BUT HE STILL WORE A SUIT EVERYDAY AND WOULD GET HIS HAIRCUT AT MY UNCLE’S BARBERSHOP ON KING ST. HE HAD HAND-SEWN SUITS MADE BY MY UNCLE LUCA, WHO WAS A TAILOR IN NAPLES, THEN IMMIGRATED TO HELLS KITCHEN & BECAME ONE OF THE HEAD TAILORS AT BROOKS BROTHERS FOR 30 YEARS.

ANYTHING THAT MY PARENTS BOUGHT WAS THOUGHTFUL - NOT LIKE THE AMERICAN WAY WHERE YOU JUST BUY A BUNCH OF THINGS…AND THAT’S WHY THE VINTAGE PIECES I HAVE FROM THEM ARE NOT TRENDY. THEY BOUGHT A SWEATER BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WANTED THAT SPECIFIC COLOR, IT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL. IT’S FUNNY THEY WERE SO CONSCIOUS OF WHAT THEY WERE WEARING AND EATING AS A NORMAL AND NATURAL WAY OF LIFE & IN ORDER TO NOT BE WASTEFUL - BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY A ‘THING’.

MY MOM WOULD CROCHET AND MADE A BEAUTIFUL HAND-EMBROIDERED BLANKET FOR ME WHEN I GOT MARRIED AND NOW THAT SHE HAS PASSED I HAVE IT ON MY BED AS A SPECIAL PIECE. IT WAS JUST HER WAY OF BEING ARTISTIC AND IT CAME SO NATURALLY TO HER. SHE WOULD EVEN MAKE HER OWN PATTERNS. SHE WOULD DRAW AND OUTLINE A PATTERN ON BROWN PAPER BAGS AND CUT IT OUT - EVERYTHING WAS USED AND I WISH MORE THAN ANYTHING I HAD SOME OF THOSE PAPER BAGS TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE TRULY PIECES OF ART.

YOUR SON HAS GROWN UP SURROUNDED BY THE POWERFUL, LOVING ITALIAN WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY. CHAT WITH US ABOUT LEGACY & TRADITIONS FROM YOUR OWN CHILDHOOD & HOW THAT HAS SHAPED WHO MATTEO HAS BECOME?

WHEN WE IMMIGRATED FROM ITALY TO PARK SLOPE, MY PAPA MADE SURE MY SIBLINGS & I EMBRACED OUR SOUTHERN ITALIAN TRADITIONS, CULTURE & VERNACULAR DIALECT WHILE BUILDING A LOVE FOR OUR NEW HOME. THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY AS MANY PEOPLE WANTED US TO CONFORM TO THE AMERICAN WAYS…INCLUDING MYSELF. HIS LOVE OF FAMILY, WORK ETHIC, MUSIC & RESILIENCE TAUGHT US TO BE INDEPENDENT BY GATHERING INNER STRENGTH TO NOT JUST FIT IN. MY PAPA ALWAYS VALUED FAMILY, COURAGEOUS SACRIFICES, INTEGRITY, GRACE & BEAUTIFUL DREAMS.

MATTEO WAS LUCKY BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED BY SUCH GIVING WOMEN INCLUDING MY MOTHER AND MY AUNTS CATERINA & MARIA . THEY SPOKE TO HIM IN DIALECT & HE TRIED HIS BEST TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE BACK TO THEM EVEN IF NOT PERFECTLY. THEY ADORED HIM BECAUSE WHILE HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEOPOLITAN DIALECT IS NOT FLUENT, THEY LOVED HIM FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND - WHICH IN ITSELF MADE IT FUNNY. EVEN WITH MY MOTHER’S DEMENTIA, ANYTIME HE CALLED OR CAME TO SEE HER, SHE KNEW WHO HE WAS. THEY HAD SUCH AN AMAZING RELATIONSHIP & LOVED EACH OTHER BEYOND.

WE HAD 2 BROWNSTONES NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND MY FAMILY WOULD GROW EVERYTHING IN THE BACKYARD. I HAVE MEMORIES OF BRINGING MORTADELLA SANDWICHES TO SCHOOL FOR LUNCH IN THE 70’S AND GETTING MADE FUN OF. MY MOM MADE EVERY KIND OF OLIVE OIL CAKE, ALL BEFORE THESE THINGS WERE ‘TRENDY’ AND WHEN THEY WERE STILL CONSIDERED A BIT FOREIGN.

MATTEO IS NOW A PRETTY GOOD COOK IN ALL KINDS OF ITALIAN COOKING & STILL LEARNING. HE NEVER REALLY COOKED WITH ME BUT HE HAS BEEN WATCHING ME ALL ALONG. NOW AS AN ADULT, HE FACETIMES ME FROM LA WHILE HE’S MAKING MEATBALLS. I AM SO HAPPY THAT HE CALLS ME IN THOSE MOMENTS. IT’S THESE LITTLE PHONECALLS FOR NO REASON AT ALL THAT MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME AS A MAMA.

PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN KIM

MAMA FEATURE : SHEILA, LUCIUS + JUNE

THIS MONTH’S MAMA FEATURE IS MODEL & MAMA OF 2 BOYS @SHEILAMARQUEZ_

ORIGINALLY FROM SPAIN, SHE CURRENTLY LIVES IN OJAI WITH HER FAMILY.

SHE HAS THE KINDEST SOUL & A TRUE NATURE ABOUT HER AND I LOVED GETTING TO KNOW HER.

LUCIUS & JUNE’S OUTFITS FROM OUR SHOP @GUSANDWAY.

IS THERE TRULY SUCH A THING AS CAREER & MOTHERHOOD BALANCE?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOUR FAMILY?

THERE IS! THERE MUST BE! IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING ORGANIZED & HAVING A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM. AND OF COURSE BEING OK WITH CHAOS SOMETIMES.

IN MY FAMILY, BOTH MY PARTNER AND I ARE FREELANCERS AND HAVE TO TRAVEL DAYS AT A TIME FOR WORK. WE TRY TO NEVER GO AWAY AT THE SAME TIME SO THERE CAN ALWAYS BE ONE PARENT HOME WITH THE BOYS. WHEN THEY GET SAD ABOUT ONE OF US LEAVING, WE EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT MANY PARENTS HAVE TO GO TO WORK ALMOST EVERYDAY FROM 9 TO 5 AND WE GET TO SPEND EXTENDED TIME TOGETHER.

I HAVE HAD TO TURN DOWN WORK SOMETIMES BECAUSE I DO PRIORITIZE MOTHERHOOD WHEN POSSIBLE. IT’S DEFINITELY NOT EASY TO TRY TO BE REALLY GOOD & SUCCESSFUL AT BOTH….BUT WE ALL TRY, RIGHT?!

HOW HAVE YOUR VIEWS ON SUSTAINABILITY CHANGED SINCE BECOMING A MOTHER?

WELL, IT’S INTERESTING BECAUSE AS A NEW MOTHER TO LUCIUS I WANTED TO BUY ALL NEW CLOTHES FOR MY BRAND NEW BABY AND HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT OUTFITS AND CHOICES. YOU QUICKLY LEARN THAT THEIR LITTLE BODIES GROW SO FAST AND THEY DON’T GET TO WEAR MUCH OF IT OR WHAT THEY WEAR GETS PRETTY STAINED.

THAT’S WHEN I STARTED TO REALIZE THAT KIDS HAND-ME-DOWNS AND SECONDHAND PIECES ARE A WIN-WIN, SINCE MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE PRACTICALLY NEW AND HARDLY USED. AS WE KNOW, TONS OF CLOTHING ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS, SO BY EXTENDING THE LIFE OF KIDS CLOTHES WE ARE DOING OUR PART TO HELP SUSTAINABILITY.

THOUGHTS ON KIDS VINTAGE OR ANY FAVORITE PIECES YOU LIKE TO FIND FOR YOUR KIDS?

NOWADAWAYS FAST FASHION HAS TAKEN A BIG PLACE IN THE MARKET OF KIDS CLOTHING, BECAUSE THEY OUTGROW IT FAST, PEOPLE SEEM TO GO FOR CHEAPER ITEMS. BUT THE QUALITY IS JUST NOT THE SAME. I HAVE 2 BOYS AND I HAVE ONLY BEEN ABLE TO PASS DOWN PIECES THAT WERE VINTAGE OR FROM A SMALL BOUTIQUE.

THAT’S WHY WHEN YOU’RE BUYING VINTAGE FOR YOUR KIDS, YOU KNOW YOU ARE BUYING SOMETHING QUALITY, MADE WITH MATERIALS AND FABRICS THAT LAST. YOU ARE ALSO ABLE TO FIND MORE UNIQUE PIECES.

MY FAVORITE WAS A THAI HAND-EMBROIDERED JACKET I FOUND FOR LUCIUS WHEN HE WAS 2 IN A SECONDHAND SHOP IN BROOKLYN. COOL VINTAGE DENIM JACKETS & VINTAGE TEES ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS TO FIND FOR MY KIDS. AND ALSO HATS!!

WE LIVED IN BERLIN FOR 2 YEARS AND THE SECONDHAND MARKETS ARE HUGE THERE. EVERY WEEKEND THERE ARE FLEA MARKETS ALL OVER THE CITY AND EVEN KIDS SETUP BLANKETS IN THE PARK TO SELL THEIR OWN CLOTHES & TOYS. IT WAS REALLY INSPIRING.

©GUSANDWAY 2024

mama feature : sam + MAKAIO

THIS MONTH’S MAMA FEATURE IS OAHU PHOTOGRAPHER @SAMANTHEEYO, MAMA & FOUNDER OF VINTAGE HOMEWARES SHOP @TWINURCHINSSUPERETTE.

HER SON’S OUTFITS FROM OUR SHOP @GUSANDWAY.

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY HAS A NOSTALGIA AND TIMELESSNESS THAT I ADORE..

I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE MY “AESTHETIC” IS THAT I WORK WITHOUT ONE IN MIND.

I’VE ALWAYS LIKE TO DESCRIBE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WORK AS HAVING THAT '“FOREVER HONEYMOON” FEELING.

YOU HAVE A GORGEOUS VINTAGE HOMEWARES SHOP, TWIN URCHINS SUPERETTE, CHAT WITH US A BIT ABOUT YOUR LOVE OF VINTAGE & SUSTAINABILITY

I’VE ALWAYS HAD THIS KARMIC SENSE ABOUT EVERYTHING IN LIFE.

I GREW UP BUDDHIST AND ALL I’VE KNOWN IS KARMA AND REINCARNATION. THE THOUGHT THAT THERE ISN’T JUST ONE SINGLE LIFE. THAT’S THE SAME WITH INANIMATE OBJECTS.

WHY IS IT THAT IT SERVES ONLY ONE PURPOSE? WHY NOT HAVE MANY LIVES AFTER? HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT?

WHEN I COME ACROSS PIECES DURING MY CURATION I CAN’T HELP BUT THINK ABOUT WHAT ITS PREVIOUS LIFE MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE - HOW THEY WERE ONCE SOMEONE’S FAVORITE THING OR AN HEIRLOOM OF MEMORIES.

AND HERE I AM AS THE BRIDGE FOR IT TO HAVE ANOTHER LIFE.

LIFE AS A MAMA AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER

GOSH, WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION, ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT WAS GIVING UP MY CAREER AND MY BUSINESS. I COULDN’T FATHOM A LIFE WHERE I COULD DO IT ALL.

ONCE THAT PPD FOG DISSIPATED, IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THE ONLY PERSON SAYING I COULDN’T DO IT WAS MYSELF.

I BEGAN TO BRING HIM ON MY PHOTOSHOOTS - HE DID GREAT, WAS ABLE TO BE OUTSIDE AND EXPLORE. I BROUGHT HIM TO THRIFT STORES AND DEEMED HIM MY LUCKY BABY. EVERYWHERE I BROUGHT HIM, I FOUND THE MOST INCREDIBLE VINTAGE!

I BEGAN TO BRING HIM ON MOST OF MY JOBS AND THOUGH NOT ALL OF IT WAS EASY, THEY WERE NOT IMPOSSIBLE AND ALL OF THE GOOD AND BAD MADE ME A BETTER MOM.

YOUR VIEW OF SUSTAINABILITY AS A NEW MAMA

WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT, ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I WAS BOMBARDED WITH “OH YOU SHOULD GET THIS” OR “YOU NEED THAT” AND I FELL VICTIM TO THE PRESSURE BECAUSE I WANTED TO BE THE BEST MAMA AND GIVE MY BABY WHATEVER HE NEEDED.

NEW MOM GUILT OF NOT GIVING YOUR BABY THE LATEST AND GREATEST IS VERY REAL!

WHAT I WISH I KNEW WAS THAT I DIDN’T NEED ALL OF THESE NEW THINGS. AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WERE JUNK. THINGS THAT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN SECONDHAND.

AFTER THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF HIS LIFE I SAW HOW MUCH WASTE I WAS PRODUCING. HOW MANY CLOTHES THAT WERE GIFTS THAT NEVER EVEN MADE IT ONTO HIS BODY BECAUSE HE WAS GROWING SO FAST. MAN OH MAN THE CLOTHES WE WERE WASTING.

WHY DIDN’T WE JUST DO ALL SECONDHAND? WHY DIDN’T WE JUST DO ALL VINTAGE?

ANY MAMA WISDOM YOU WANNA SHARE?

FORGIVE YOURSELF. YOU ARE DOING YOUR BEST.

YOU ARE THE BEST MAMA IN THE WORLD FOR YOUR BABY.

YOU ARE THE BEST MAMA IN THE WORLD FOR YOUR BABY.

ALL IMAGES BY @SAMANTHEEYO

©GUSANDWAY 2024

mama feature : ALLY, Jaya, jasper + marli

THIS MONTH’S MAMA FEATURE IS ALLY LOPEZ - MAUI NATIVE, MAMA OF 3 & FOUNDER OF @BANDOFMARTIANS.

A KINDRED SOUL AND FELLOW OLD-TRUCK LOVER, I LOVED GETTING TO KNOW ALLY BETTER AND SO GRATEFUL FOR HER SHARING HER STORY.

ALLY & HER GIRLS CLOTHES FROM OUR SHOP @GUSANDWAY.

AS THE YOUNGEST OF 3 GIRLS MYSELF, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON RAISING ALL GIRLS

RAISING GIRLS HAS BEEN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY.

I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM ALL 3 OF THEM AND HAVE LEARNED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY & THEIR DIFFERENCES. I ALWAYS TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE ALL SUCH A PERFECT BALANCE FOR EACH OTHER.

THEY ARE LEARNING TO APPRECIATE EACH OTHER AND KNOW THAT THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN GIFTS AND TO COMMUNICATE TO EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEIR COMMUNICATION STYLES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AT TIMES.

WHAT’S BEEN SO AMAZING TO WATCH IS HOW THEY ARE EACH WIRED SO DIFFERENTLY. THEY LEARN AND COMPUTE THE WORLD IN SUCH DIFFERENT WAYS AND WHILE THAT’S TOUGH AT TIMES, THEY CAN REALLY LEARN FROM EACH OTHER.

TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOUR SHOWROOM, BAND OF MARTIANS, CAME ABOUT AND WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

I STARTED BAND OF MARTIANS A LITTLE OVER 10 YEARS AGO WITH ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS JENNA.

THE WHOLESALE WORLD IN REGARDS TO FASHION IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND FROM SEASON TO SEASON THERE ARE NEW CHALLENGES AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES. IT’S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT TO STAY FLEXIBLE AND OPEN TO CHANGE.

I’M REALLY GRATEFUL TO WORK WITH SOME INCREDIBLE BRANDS THAT ARE RETHINKING FASHION IN HOW THEY APPROACH MANUFACTURING AND IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY. THEY ARE ABOUT LESS BUT BETTER. THESE BRANDS HAVE INFUSED A WHOLE NEW WAVE OF INSPIRATION.

THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TO PURSUE MY MASTERS IN ARCHITECTURE. IT’S BEEN ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING & FULFILLING JOURNEYS, SECOND ONLY TO RAISING CHILDREN.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REALLY TOUGH TIMES WITH JUGGLING TIME AND LEARNING NEW SKILLS AND FOR THE MOST PART I AM ONE OF THE OLDEST STUDENTS IN THE CLASS. IT’S A VERY LONG TERM GOAL BUT REGARDLESS IT’S GIVEN ME A TON OF SKILLS THAT I CAN APPLY TO MY CURRENT CAREER.

I KNOW YOU’RE A VINTAGE LOVER AND HAVE ACTUALLY GOTTEN A FEW SPECIAL PIECES FROM YOU FOR MYSELF! OUR SHOP SPECIALIZES IN VINTAGE LEVI’S & VINTAGE HAWAII TEEES…WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR PERSONAL VINTAGE FAVES?

WHEN IT COMES TO VINTAGE I’M A SUCKER FOR VINTAGE LEVI’S. IT’S LIKE A NEVER ENDING JOURNEY TO FIND THE PERFECT PAIR. AND LATELY THEY ARE HARDER AND HARDER TO FIND.

I’VE LOVED VINTAGE FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, IT’S LIKE AN ADULT TREASURE HUNT WHEN YOU’RE VINTAGE SHOPPING.

MY DAUGHTERS ARE ALL INTO VINTAGE AS WELL. WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE SHOPS HERE IN OCEANSIDE & WE ARE REALLY CLOSE TO SOME GREAT FLEA MARKETS UP IN LA.

I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE LOVE OF VINTAGE HAS BEEN FUELED MORE AND MORE BY THE NEED TO SHIFT AWAY FROM FAST FASHION.

IT’S NICE TO REUSE SOMETHING FORMERLY LOVED BY SOMEONE ELSE. THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A PERFECTLY PRELOVED TEE OR SWEATSHIRT.

ALL IMAGES ©GUSANDWAY 2024

mama feature : michelle + CY

I’VE KNOWN MICHELLE VAWER FOR OVER 12 YEARS, FIRST THROUGH MUTUAL CREATIVE WORK AND THEN AS A FRIEND.

A MODEL (@MICHVAW90) AND DESIGNER, IT HAS BEEN SO SPECIAL TO WATCH HER STEP INTO THIS NEW MOMENT OF MOTHERHOOD, WELCOMING HER SON CYPRESS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO.

CY’S OUTFIT FROM OUR SHOP @GUSANDWAY

WHAT DID YOU FIND MOST SURPRISING AS A NEW MAMA?

THE DEPTH OF LOVE. LIKE NOTHING I HAD EVER KNOWN.

THE JOY OF EVERYDAY MOMENTS.

AND ON A PRACTICAL LEVEL, HOW MUCH I WOULD LEARN TO DO WITH ONE HAND.

ALSO JUST HOW MUCH MY EMOTIONAL LANDSCAPE AND MINDSET HAS CHANGED. SO MUCH OF MY BANDWIDTH GOES TOWARDS THINKING ABOUT MY BABY AND FAMILY, SO I’VE HAD TO GET BETTER AT SAYING NO TO OTHER THINGS. IT’S REALLY CLARIFIED AND SOLIDIFIED WHAT’S TRULY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SIMULTANEOUSLY FORCED ME TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR MY OWN LITTLE RITUALS THAT CALM & GROUND ME. IT GETS SO CHAOTIC FEELING SOMETIMES SO THOSE PRACTICES NOW FEEL VERY NECESSARY.

ON VINTAGE

I DON’T THINK I WILL EVER NOT FREAK OUT OVER FINDING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN A VINTAGE SHOP OR RECEIVING SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT WAS PRE-LOVED.

THESE OVERALLS WE GOT FROM YOU @GUSANDWAY IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT ON A RUSH OF NOSTALGIA FROM THE OVERALLS I WORE AS A KID AND JUST FELT SO SPECIAL WITH HIS NICKNAME ‘CY’ EMBROIDERED ON THE POCKET.

I PLAN TO HOLD ONTO THEM FOREVER.

MEANING BEHIND HIS NAME, CYPRESS OPUA

HIS DAD CHOSE CYPRESS. ARI AND I MET IN CALIFORNIA. WE HAD BEEN ON THE CENTRAL COAST NOT TOO LONG BEFORE CY WAS BORN AND THE MONTEREY CYPRESS THERE ARE SO BEAUTIFUL. NOW WE LIVE IN FLORIDA, CY WAS BORN HERE, AND THERE’S ALL THE FLORIDA CYPRESS TREES HERE.

CY TWOMBLY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PAINTERS SO WHEN ARI SUGGESTED THE NAME I IMMEDIATELY LOVED IT!

I CHOSE HIS MIDDLE NAME. I LOVE CLOUDS AND I WANTED HIM TO KNOW HE HAD A BIT OF HAWAII IN HIS HEART. OPUA IS A SHORTENED SLANG VERSION OF BIG FLUFFY CLOUDS IN HAWAIIAN.

PHOTOS @ITISCHAD

ALL IMAGES ©GUS&WAY 2024