Style Story / LaTonya Yvette
6 years ago by
Originaire de Brooklyn, LaTonya Yvette incarne à la perfection l’esprit curieux, le caractère bigarré et la bienveillance de ce quartier. C’est là que vit cette styliste, maman et auteure, et là aussi que s’épanouit son sens du style, du militantisme, de la famille et de la féminité (entre autres !). LaTonya est belle et intelligente, et tout ce qu’elle véhicule en est le parfait reflet. On est ravis de pouvoir partager sa vision du style et de la vie avec vous aujourd’hui.
Ton style en trois mots.
Eclectique, confortable, changeant
Le plus important en matière de style : le confort, la beauté ou l’innovation ?
L’innovation.
Ta pièce la plus précieuse ?
Les manteaux vintage de ma grand-mère, que je porte rarement, mais que j’aime à la folie.
Une figure de référence pour le style ?
Ma grand-mère était vraiment ma muse. On la retrouve beaucoup dans ma façon de m’habiller.
Quand tu te sens à l’aise et heureuse… qu’est-ce que tu portes ?
Ces derniers temps, je me sens bien quand je porte un pantalon baggy d’homme, des boots un peu décontractées, ou une robe moulante avec des sneakers. J’aime bien les tenues contrastées.
Comment ton enfance new-yorkaise a-t-elle influencé ton style et ta vie professionnelle ?
Mes tantes et mon oncle étaient toujours très à la mode…ils avaient les dernières sneakers, s’habiller pour eux était un long rituel. Ça faisait partie d’eux, comme pour beaucoup de New-Yorkais, et ça m’a façonnée. On ne sortait pas si on n’était pas bien sapé, et j’ai grandi avec cette idée.
Le style, du point de vue professionnel, je vois ça comme quelque chose de naturel, qui me nourrit. Je suis tellement heureuse quand je peux m’amuser avec des looks et des vêtements. Ça ne m’intéresse pas forcément de voir ce que font les autres ou la façon dont ils le font, ce qui m’intéresse, ce sont les histoires qui font qu’ils sont eux-mêmes. Et puis ce sont les histoires des gens autour de moi qui ont fait ce que je suis aujourd’hui.
La maternité a-t-elle eu un impact sur tout ça ?
Bien sûr ! Mes enfants voient que je suis bien dans ma peau, dans mes vêtements, et ça me booste ! C’est vraiment important je trouve que ma fille puisse voir que je suis à l’aise avec moi-même, que j’ai confiance en moi.
Ta vie à Brooklyn en quelques mots.
Bien remplie, cultivée, aimante.
Beautiful photos and words! Wish there was a photo of LaTonya’s grandmother’s coats.
Dear atelier,
I ve noticed it a couple of times: it seems like you try to avoid the issue of racism.
I remember vividly the interview with Stella Jean, where she served some so very interesting key words but the conversation did not go there any further.
And here again. LaTonya talks about her influences – her family’s approach to style – and you leave at that. But style at its best is much more than putting on chique clothes, it is a projection of who we are (want to be) and who certainly not. So, especially when it comes to poc, please open up to one of the central problems in this world to the day. Thank you.
I disagree… this is a post about style… not race. Why would you burden this one individual to talk about race… when that’s clearly not the topic of discussion. Would you make this request from a white contributor… should they have to discuss their whiteness and white privilege and how it shapes their style???
As a woman of color it is nice to see another POC represented… who can speak about style preferences and influences that are specific to her as a person… not just as a black person. And you never know… her grandmother could be white?!?!
I disagree. As a woman of color, my experience has been that it can, at times, be exhausting to constantly be forced to portray yourself and your accomplishments within the context of your race. There is something very irritating about having to always be the « Black Influencer » or the « Asian Writer » or what have you, when white people are allowed to talk about their professions and accomplishments without any qualifiers.
If she chose not to bring it up, then it is not your conversation to demand.
Loving the vintage vibe to all of these pics! Oh and that yellow sweater is gorgeous!
xx, Olivia
https://www.on-mkt.com
Fantastic. Eclectic looks. Beautiful woman.
Yes! More like this please! I feel lately that many of the features are, dare I say it…. skewing unrealistic, unobtainable and not relatable. But- This woman! Would ?? to see more of her story and her closet!
I agree with Kate!! So great to see a real (i.e sized and styled), beautiful black woman on the site. I too want more like this. Thanks!
Loved this! She is so so beautiful. There’s just something about her…
Qui a peint ce magnifique portrait ?
I love her style. She seems like someone I’d want to be friends with.
*_*
I appreciate these style stories . Style is such a personal thing and pictures tell the story so much better than words ! Great shots .
Jandrew
Dress The Part
http://www.jandrewspeaks.com
I am from South Africa and I have been following your blog for as long as I can remember, its like my best friend that I go to draw inspiration from every single day. I cant go a day without it, because you serve such unique content.
I am commenting for the first time today because I am so happy to be represented more on Atelier Dore, as a POC. I know that probably the majority of your audience is non-POC, and it is understandable that more representation will be skewed that way.
Really excited about your last two posts, it’s like you have been listening to the yearning for more I have been feeling. Thank you so much! It is so beautiful.
Hear hear Sindie! As a black South African woman who loves your blog, I would also love to see more style stories like this.
Like everyone else here, I loved the post. As a POC it is great to see a post like this.
I love your work. I have followed your work regularly over the past 8 years and I love to see how it keeps evolving. I have you as an inspiration for my own work and I hope that you will keep on growing and evolving.
merci pour la story avec une belle femme noire.
son intérieur à l’air très chouette, dommage qu’il n’y est pas plus de photos !
That painting of her is amazing!
Awesome style :)
Beautiful. She’s one chic woman!
I’ve followed Latonya for a long time on IG and love her blog and all she shares and how she shares on social media. This is a great article and I’m so glad you featured her and I loved catching a glimpse of her beautiful home and learning about her influences. I love bloggers who truly inspire, and I like her style and unique way…She’s herselfz and she stands out as a blogger /artist/maker in a world where so many people are trying to be everything to everybody, that they’re nothing to no one.
I must echo Brizz’s observation. It was even more apparent in the Misty Copeland pardon my french interview. Misty was specific in her descriptions of the challenges she’s faced as black woman. She spoke of discrimation and the mentors that helped her survive but was politely (but repeatedly) dismissed. Beautiful website though. One of my favorites.