Daily Inspiration: Meet Tiara Chameleon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiara Chameleon.

Hi Tiara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My fashion journey began when I was scouted out at 13 years old, in a mall with my family and a basketball in my hand. Unaware of what my future would be, I learned what it meant to overcome the unknown, to embrace my fears, and how to take a leap of faith. Today, I celebrate making the right decision! I became an award-winning model and pageantry winner, acquiring 16+ trophies & ribbons. This was a result of my opportunity to compete in Hilton Head, FL, Cleveland, OH, and travel back and forth to NY while in high school. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Marketing & Management from The Art Institute of Chicago.

While there, I went to Italy for a semester to study International Fashion. These precious moments shaped the woman I am today. I come from a world of understating the fashion and beauty world from multi-dimensions, which makes me very knowledgeable and outstanding in this field. It was in my modeling career where I soon discovered that I had a greater love and joy of working behind the camera instead of in front of it. With years spent chasing a modeling career, going to “Go-See” after “Go-See,” “Fitting Sessions,” and more, the light clicked for me over time backstage, where I would find myself constantly feeling insecure with my look or being underwhelmed with the process. I would try to find creative ways to consult and collaborate with the designers. But let’s be honest, designers do not want to hear what any model has to say. You are simply to stand, walk, be pretty, and be mute. I got suffocated in this role and began using myself as a mannequin to market my own styles.

I would style myself on my college budget with exclusively vintage clothing, just like my adolescent years of hand-me-downs from my sis and consignment clothes. I would create the most unique and unexpected looks that were loved and reproduced by other classmates… starting a “Fad”. My studies abroad awakened my strength in styling, as the Italians gravitated to each of my looks. They loved my original and authentic style aesthetic. I then created a formula; wear what you want! If it makes you feel good and you look good, you are sure to produce good results! It became a limitless mindset for me that I still carry on today, in my 30s! Life took me further and further around the world in many facets, and my style evolved. The more my feet traveled, the more I felt fly. It was clear that I was inspired by my travels, both domestically and internationally. It is in the travel that I am enlightened and inspired to create innovative fashions, along with appreciating different cultures.

Today I am living my purpose on purpose as a Fashion Stylist, Vintage Connoisseur, Artist, and Entrepreneur. I have paid my dues with over 20+ years in the Fashion Industry, and I am walking upright in my truth; Black, Bold, and Unapologetic! With a vast and diverse background ranging from wholesale, fast fashion, contemporary to luxury fashions… I have built a vintage-style brand, 1984V, that encompasses all things from my upbringing. And, I apply all the knowledge I’ve acquired along my journey! I am living proof that applied knowledge is POWER!!!! Check out my brand at www.1984V.co. We are your style destination for vintage lovers and fashion leaders of the new school.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Absolutely not. My journey has been quite challenging, but I still rise. At times, I have wished for things to be easier and smoother, though there is much appreciation for every step of my journey. I am tenacious and resilient to this day because of it. The journey has had it’s ups and downs consistently. Coming from humble beginnings and not having the initial finances needed to fund my dreams has not been easy, though it has taught me a lot about money management and investing in myself. As independent artists, everything we do daily is funded out of our own pockets. From buying the clothing, cleaning each item, traveling from pop-ups in different cities, paying the vendor fee (required to participate), to staging the events, and more! All of these costs can pose challenges along the journey, and they have!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My professional journey has been truly diverse and lengthy. It all started when I began working at a local clothing store near my home in high school. It was from this job that my fashion foundation was built. At a mere 16 years of age, I knew how to order clothing from different vendors, how to perform operational tasks, manage the entire store, create store layouts, handle merchandising, and steer personnel development. Akin, my boss and mentor at that time and still to this day, has truly taken time to train me with full details of the business. He taught me how to run a business as if it were my own. And, with that frame of mind, I was propelled further than most at an early stage. I did not let my age or lack of years in the industry define me.

Upon graduating high school, I attended the Illinois Institute of Art in Chicago. There, I was immediately ushered into the wholesale world by my former boss Akin, and I was connected with Baby Phat & Phat Farm. I soon became the youngest top-performing Sales Representative in the Midwest Region, with over 100 accounts! While attending school full time, I also had the privilege of working in the fashion building full time. I worked for Baby Phat and Phat Farm for years. Due to that success, I was asked to assist in building and expanding the following brands: Enyce, Sean John, Avirex, and Fetish by Eve. Twice a year, we attended the MAGIC Trade Show that takes place in Las Vegas for a whole week, during their market. This show is parallel to New York’s Fashion Week. This is where I learned and mastered the art of creating strong rapport with clients. It was from those experiences that I advanced my expertise. Though the wholesale world brought forth much success, access, and respect in the industry, I wanted to try something new; take on new challenges.

Long story short, I went from Fast Fashion to Contemporary Fashion, to Luxury Fashion, to Custom Tailoring. Quite different worlds, to say the least. I have opened seven Global Flagship stores around the world and worked with some of the top fashion brands, e.i. Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Brooks Brothers, UNIQLO, Saint Laurent, Isabel Marant, Trunk Club, Alton Lane and John Varvatos. These are the brands that have helped shape, mold, and train me. I was either the top seller or Manager working for these companies. Each job elevated me to the next level. In addition, I worked alongside Ralph Lauren himself in the Hamptons, NY, trained, lived, and worked in Japan with Uniqlo, and was flown out to Paris with my top client at Saint Laurent for a private viewing of the Yves Saint Laurent Fashion House. It became clear to me along my journey that I had a gift and a purpose in the fashion world. With my acquired skills and my personal style of giving customized shopping suggestions to each and every customer, my success increased. As life progressed, I knew that it was time to build my business…my empire, and use all these years of knowledge to apply to my own business.

Today, I am an Artist/Entrepreneur, and Fashion is my medium. 1984V, my vintage clothing brand, is my creative playground. I specialize in curating unique and one-of-a-kind vintage items, ranging from adult clothing, shoes, and accessories. Soon, I will include children’s fashions and home interior designs. I take different pieces and put them into a cohesive collection that offers pre-styled looks. I shoot editorial content for each collection, as the brand is heavily based on the imagery. I create innovative concepts and I showcase how valuable vintage clothing is. What sets me apart is my life experiences, my inner joy, my life purpose, and my art. Everything I do is intentional and carefully thought through.

What you see in my work are years of fashion education and a mastering of my craft. I now have learned how to merge my experiences in order to give back to my audience the Ultimate Experience. Whether you are checking out my website, shopping with me at a pop-up, in a private style session with me, or exploring any of my other services, you are certain to have one of the most unique life-changing experiences and memorable moments. Other services I offer are Wardrobe Assessments, Personal Shopping, Photo Shoots (Personal, Editorial or Commercial), and Virtual/Personal Styling. I am most proud of my resilience. I have been through hardship after hardship. I have been told “no” over and over again. Even though rejected time after time… I stand here today strong in spirit, faith, and purpose… knowing that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I am here for the people and ready to dress and serve the world, one person and look at a time.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me as a proud Black woman is to showcase, highlight, and feature Black beauty, art, style, and culture at its highest level. This truly accentuates the core of my existence! For me, growing up with Black magazines such as Jet, Ebony, and Essence, it was uncommon to see an all-Black production or even to see Black models represented in all style variations, shades, and sizes. I choose to make this my focus and my legacy. I do this for my unborn children, who will have the opportunity to see firsthand what Black Excellence looks like through my efforts. I want to show what the mainstream won’t. I want to show my unique way of capturing Black Beauty. I want to take control of who we are and rewrite the Black narrative in fashion. In my work, I am committed to being the change I want to see.

Contact Info:

• Email: tiara@1984V.co
• Website: www.1984V.co
• Instagram: @tiarachameleon @1984vconceptstore
• Facebook: tiara chameleon, 1984V

Image Credits
My head shot photo and photos are provided by Braxton Carey. @Braxtoncarey