We love collaborating with local creatives and picking their brain on their success and style. This week is definitely no exception. Her story speaks for itself, and to be a recent college graduate - her wisdom is beyond her years. While we casually talked about life and the journey of discovering who she has become, I found myself taken aback. Amidst the light hearted conversation were strong, bold, and confident statements that most people don't fully realize until much later in life. Coincidentally enough, strong and bold were exactly how she described her personal style. It's refreshing to meet people that are so sure of who they are, and how they came to be that way. When it translates to what they are wearing, it's encouraging to anyone to stay true to who you are in all facets of life. The most authentic you is the best you.
Without further ado.... meet Briscoe.
HJ: Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?
MB: I’m from Denton, Texas. Which is a smaller town, but it’s a really creative town in Texas. I think that always made me want to express myself and be creative. I did a lot of painting in high school, and then I just finished up my Communications degree. I like hearing how people talk, and understanding the meaning behind the words people say. It’s really interesting to see how people convey that. People that intentionally craft speech are fascinating to me. That’s why I chose that as my degree. And now I’m job hunting in the nearest big city that will take me.
HJ: The first question I have comes from your blog. Tell me about the transition of your mindset of “fitting in” to the creative life you live now..what did that look like?
MB: I think for me baby steps are everything - you know? So I guess it was first getting to do a photo shoot with someone for fun, like your friend. And realizing oh I really like that. I went to a private school, so my whole life I wore uniforms. I was literally 18 and in college the first time I was able to pick out my own outfits. I waited a long time for that. I think that’s the whole thing with early 20’s - it's the becoming you phase. And you see all of your friends going through it, and it’s very collaborative. People are so eager to fit in, and I think that’s where the whole cloning effect happens. There’s just that want to be accepted. I guess that’s where it is a transition, because you have to decide that you want to live creatively, you want to be intentional with your outfits, and you want to pursue things that expand you as a person.
HJ: In your blog you say that travel is fundamental in who you are - how is that?
MB: I think that...you don’t know what you don’t know. Right? So you don’t know what’s different until you go out and experience it. My dad didn’t travel a lot as a little kid, so that was super important for us. Even what I was young, we had gone to Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, I’ve stayed in Barbados for awhile. My dad and brother are in Tanzania right now hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. Travel is symbolic of my dad’s sacrifice for me because he’s never been to Europe, but he’s sent me twice now. And then I think it’s also because he wanted me to grow as a person. They do studies about the more collaborations people have, and why we need women in work force and why we need different types of people in the workplace. It's because without those other mindsets you can’t know what you don’t understand. The point is that the layering makes a stronger bond. When you layer new experiences, and you layer different cultures and new ideas, you can more strongly know what you do and don’t want - because you are building into the things that you really are and helping see what else you can be.
HJ: So what is some advice you would give your everyday girl boss?
MB: Dream big, but start small. You can have the dream, I wanna have a blog. You can achieve any goal, but it’s through small intentional steps. Like with the blog thing, first get the domain. Get something you really love and will always love. Then, just do one set of pictures and get one blog post written. I think so many people get discouraged because they look at where someone is at, not the steps that they took to get there. And that keeps me grounded, but at the same time inspired.
HJ: So what are some things that help you with Instagram as far as the mindset goes and then developing a visual representation of who you are? What are some things that you find helpful?
MB: Don’t be afraid to express who you are. I think the more unique you can be the better. I think expressing who you are through the little things and not being afraid to post that makes you more authentic and real. You’ve have to find your audience. And you don’t have to be appealing to everyone, but you have to be appealing to the people that get you. Those are the people you want to be your audience.
HJ: For you - how did you target that?
MB: It’s definitely a learning process. I try to just take a look at who I’m with, where I’m at, and who I want to be with. And so for me, I want to follow women who are into fashion and are in there twenties. That way I know what I need to produce, and I can be inspired by that.
HJ: What has been your favorite thing about starting a blog?
MB: I think there’s such a fear of actually starting and you over think it, and it’s just nice to have done it. You can’t really do something until you just do it. My blog is still new. I only have 4 posts up, so I don’t have anything yet where I’m completely fulfilled, but just starting it is cool. And you know whenever you start anything - just the beginning of a creative process - you look back and the beginning was the best part. Just learning. I also think you have to enjoy the journey - or else that’s not what you’re meant to do.
HJ: So what’s been the most challenging?
MB: Also starting. Not knowing anything and also not having that community. I think that’s what people get really hung up on. They think, well I don’t live in a creative place or whatever, but I think you can do anything when you’re around the right people. I don’t think it’s the place. I think it’s the people. I think that’s where people get that confused. People think oh I have to go to LA. I think you just have to be around people that can make it work with you. Think of Utah for example. Utah has so many bloggers. I would never guess that. I mean it’s a beautiful environment, but also so many photographers live there. Which then led to so many bloggers being there. You know what I mean? You have to have that community. So I think the hardest part is the growth, because growing hurts. And it’s hard, and you want to stop. If you’re growing and it hurts - then it’s good.
HJ: How would you say your fashion has transformed over the years?
MB: I think through finding yourself you know what you want to do. And I’m still definitely in the process of that. Where a lot of people think fashion is buying whatever is trendy. Like oh what’s the new thing? What’s the coolest new piece? And they get it and think they are fashionable. And that’s really not it. I think finding who you are, and then always incorporating whatever trend it is into who you are. I think that’s really taught me what to do.
HJ: How would you describe your style?
MB: Very feminine. I love pink. I wish I was cool and edgy and only rocked goth things, but I really like feminine style. And I really like things that are comfortable, because I’m a messy person. So I think my style is very feminine, very bright and bold. Definitely not restrained. Also, anything with a good fit - I’m short and I have curves. So I think something that’s comfortable, feminine, girly, and also something I feel empowered in. That’s the whole point of clothing is to feel your best.
HJ: So why did you pick the outfits you styled for yourself? And what made you choose the pieces that you chose?
MB: I liked the Veda dress because of the fit. I knew that I would feel great in it, but also I liked it comfort wise because it was just one piece of clothing. I knew that I would feel really sexy in it, but also be covered. I also liked that it wasn’t just a plain black dress - I enjoyed the glitter - it made it more interesting. I liked pairing it with the Vince combat boots because you wouldn’t pair that normally with a fitted dress, so you masculine it up a bit. I liked the champagne color of the glasses because it brightened up the look. And then the beret was just fun.
And the second outfit... I really liked the denim because I usually go with a skinny cuff, and she showed me those and it was more opened on the end and I felt like it looked more modern, and again a good mix of masculine but feminine. The shirt was fitted, off the shoulder, and sexy. And paired well with a strong leather jacket that’s more masculine and edgy. I like the combination of the sweet and the edgy. Because I think you can be both. I like that I can be totally 100% woman, and be also like still be strong. Because I am both. That’s why I liked those pieces.
HJ: So who is your favorite designer?
MB: My favorite one that you guys carry here is Rachel Comey. I was listening to an interview they had with her and they called her the designer of the hip kids of New York. I like that she’s very into women empowerment, and she’s also very interesting
HJ: So who are some of your favorite people that you are following right now?
MB: I really like We Wore What with Danielle Bernstein. And then I like Hustle and Halcyon with Payton Sartain. I like her a lot. She’s the type of person where I feel like I know her personality. She’s really good for me to blue print stuff off of. We have a similar build and style ..and she’s really funny. I like Peace Love Shea. She has a swimsuit brand, but I also like that she’s not as planned - her feed. It’s just very much like here's me and Instagram and a crazy filter or something, and I like that where it's not so constructed. Because it’s really hard to not get caught up in the “lets be perfect” mindset on social media.
Get to know Briscoe for yourself on her blog, or check our her Instagram @mebriscoe.
SHOP THE LOOK
LOOK 1:
- BRIXTON AUDREY BERET
- VEDA ARMADA DRESS
- VINCE MONASTIR COMBAT BOOTS
- WOLF CIRCUS ROSE COIN NECKLACE
LOOK 2:
- PAIGE JACQUELINE DENIM
- VEDA SOLANGE TOP
- SCHUTZ GILBERTA HEEL