Life and Work with Brandy Russell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Russell.

Brandy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My love for fashion runs deep. At the age of two years old, I had my first manicure and was adamant about having some type of jewelry that matched my outfit. I loved going shopping and getting all the “prettys”. My mom started taking me to the ‘Ebony Magazine’ Fashion shows when I was 12. From then on, I knew I wanted to be a part of something fashion/glam related. Fast forward to 2015, my husband and I were stationed in Tokyo, Japan. There, I attended my first ‘official’ Fashion show during fashion week which was then called the ‘Mercedes Benz Fashion week-Tokyo’, now it’s known as ‘Amazon Fashion week’. That fashion show was what solidified it for me in wanting to be a buyer for a company. My brand name ‘DamnCoaCoa’ came about as I began to showcase my outfits and how I style my vintage pieces on Instagram/Facebook. People started to say the phrase “damn coa coa” under my creations and me just kind of made it my own. Being a personal stylist/curator is something I thoroughly enjoy. It’s like an escape from reality being military. I enjoy putting smiles on peoples face and making them feel good about themselves.

Has it been a smooth road?
The journey to success is NOT easy, especially with me being military. With relocating as often as every three years, you could imagine the struggles of having to start over again with your personal life. On top of making sure my husband and son are taken care of and myself. Also, not to mention I have a full-time government job. So, working on my business is a MUST… whenever I can.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with DamnCoaCoa – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am a stylist/online shop owner. I specialize in prioritizing wardrobes based off of your own body type, not the standard ‘average body type’. My online shop has your basic everyday pieces but also has a vintage side where you can find hand-picked, by yours truly, one of a kind #popout pieces. What sets me apart from other stylist is I try to cater more towards women in uniform. Often times, women in a uniform kind of forget their identity when outside of uniform. I am here to make them feel a woman like again. I love making women who work hard feel good about themselves. Self-love is the best love.

Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
A lot of men UNDERESTIMATE the work ethic, strength, and AMBITION of women. I personally like to think that’s a barrier for men in the industry, not women.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.DamnCoaCoa.com
• Email: shopdamncoacoa.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/Damnthatscoacoa
• Facebook: fb.me/damcoacoa

Image Credit:
Brandy Russell @damncoacoa

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