Today we’d like to introduce you to Lala.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lala. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My story starts from all the way back to my high school days. I remember being a freshman in high school selling flower headbands to the high & middle schoolers on my lunch break. I’ve always had an entrepreneur and hustler mentality and being the fact my name is really Lauren Hill, I’ve always felt as though I had to live up the legacy to my name sake, my own legacy of course.In my early years in high school, I started my modeling career, way before being an Instagram modeling was a serious occupation, I was really full force in the industry. Back in 2013, I won a modeling competition and after that my career took off. I was booked and busy with this Photographer, that photographer, doing runway shows in NYC Fashion Week, teaching models how to walk and etc. All the while being very active in Dance because I went to a performing arts school called Cicely L. Tyson in East Orange, NJ. I was also very active sports like Basketball, Softball and Cheerleading which kept me busy ad focused to stay on a right path.Always having a “passion for fashion” and beauty as well I would dominate everyday school fits which landed me Best Dress coming out of high school in 2016. I was a well developed Makeup Artist in high school and by the time I got to College, at Berkley College in Newark, NJ I knew the focus for me was going to be completely fashion. Having the notoriety for being well dressed, I would often get asked to style people or asked where I get my clothes or inspiration from. This started the birth of my fashion blog called “Stylistlalatoodope” where I would post day to day content on everyday looks, fashion trends, fashion deals and secrets and styling tips. This started out being a personal thing and something to keep me inspired on my down time, but followers from main account “Lalatoodope” got hooked and attach and started to engage with the page more. They enjoy my aesthetically pleasing content, vibrant interesting Instastories as well as my testimonyand behind the scenes to my road to becoming a fashion stylist. During my early blogging days, I was still a semi-broke college student trying to make a mark in this world. For the most part, I kind of always knew what I wanted to do as far as being involved with fashion some type of way, I just didn’t know it would lead me to where I am today. I worked at every retail job known to man to fill my love for fashion. I honestly couldn’t deal with any other occupation if it wasn’t dealing with fashion. From Easy Pickins, Forever 21, Zara, BCBG, Nordstrom to Saks Fifth Ave, you name it, I’ve probably worked there. Through out my strong career of retail, I really started to blossom as a blogger and fashion stylist. I picked up other trades along the way like creative directing, designing all while still heavy modeling. In addition to me still being enrolled in school, I lost complete interest after my father passed back in 2017.That made a tremendous impact on my life because I was out of school at the time and I wasn’t working, I had to make all the things I’ve learned and the activities I was doing make work for me. From that moment forward college wasn’t an option for me because for one the school I was attending wasn’t putting me in a better position than I can do for myself. So I through all my chips in on myself and started to go full force with my blogging, styling, creative directing, makeup and retail skills. I’ve worked on music video sets, professional campaigns sets, my own photoshoots and etc. My blogging has grown into a steady audience which I call my “stylemates”. Stylemates are followers are who interact, support and follower my fashion blog. I have over 2500 stylemates and the number is growing by the day. In 2018, I gave my first ever Stylemates Picnic in my grandma’s backyard. The Stylemates Picnic is a picnic I throw in celebration for my followers and supporters, for us to get to know each other on a face to face basis, we talk to each other on the internet everyday anyway why don’t we all meet and vibe out. I have a lot of activities for them as far as vision boards, lanyard, ice breaker and trivia questions (Which I also give out prizes to the trivia questions) while we we talk, get to know each other, discuss random topics we talk about from my page or issues within our own community. Our first picnic started with 10-15 people in attendance to me having my 3rd Annual Stylemates Picnic this year with 50+ people! While still working in retail,2018 I landed a job with Nordstrom which grew my status as a stylist and sales associate to another level. I became one of the top sellers in my department and my clientele as stylist and now as personal shopper sky rocketed. I stayed with company for a solid year before I left to further my career at Saks Fifth AVE. Only being at Saks Fifth for only a solid two months, I was presented with the most life changing opportunity. I was presented and personally asked to manage the Black Owned Boutique Kali Kouture. They were about open their second location in the Mall and my new home.I left Saks Fifth Ave with the quickness after being presented that opportunity because this was not just another sales associate position, this was the start to my official career and testimony. Kali Kouture is a well known brand, company and fashion house in New Jersey, You’ve probably saw one of her dresses through the internet or going viral on TheShadeRoom. Not only do I manage the second location in Woodbridge Mall but I manage the first store front in Newark and oversee everything ! I oversee literally evrything, all inventory, our social media accounts, promotion, marketing, content while working and managing the store everyday from 9-9pm or with the new COVID hours 11-7pm. I hire, I fire, I’m learning, I’m experiencing and being a boss while under the most influential Black Woman, Kali Kouture (Sequoya Jones) herself. When reaching out to me for this position, she mention she’s been keeping a close eye on ever since I bought from her store a few times, while brining a new face to her every time.She told she’s watched me hustle and create a name for myself as well as my own platform that really sets me aside from everyone else around here. I just say that to say, you never know who is watching you so you must continue to do whatever it is you do, people always watching, give them a show. I’m only 22, and for how young I am I’ve already accomplished so much and I have a lot more to do. The grind never stops. My talents continue to grow. My experience is uniquely my own even with having a famous name like Lauren Hill lol. By the grace of God, I pray to continue doing exactly what I’m doing now and grow as the years pass us by.The goal now is developing my fashion blog to having it’s on mega platform and the many umbrellas venues I have under it. I can’t wait to see where my journey will take me.
Has it been a smooth road?
The constant struggle of surviving while jumping on a leaf of faith in life can be a scary thing that comes with more obstacles in life than accomplishments, but it is all rewarding in the end.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I’m a fashion stylist, creative director, manager and I have my own fashion blog. I’m most known for being fashionable, a model, a hustler, doing things in my community, my talents, my beauty and blog.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like nay place is a good place for business. It all depends on how much work you are willing to put in behind the scenes. Your consistency, your ambition and most importantly, your faith.
Contact Info:
- Address: 13 Warren Street, Newark NJ 07102
- Website: https://linktr.ee/lalatoodope
- Phone: 973-462-6973
- Email: stylistlalatoodope@gmail.com
Image Credit:
@picturesbykeith
@kalikouture_
@kali_kouture_woodbridge
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
