Story & Lesson Highlights with Mrs. De’Andria of Atlanta

Mrs. De’Andria shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

De’Andria, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day realistically looks like sleuthing into the bathroom without waking my toddler, so I can start the day smoothly!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m De’Andria, and I am the owner and creative director over Love, D. Jeneé a wellness resort wear apparel brand and LDJ Style, an authentic style community. My dedication is to learn and educate my community on the process to connecting closer to ourselves and our personal expression through mindfulness and intentional dressing. This creates a unique approach to the realm of fashion where micro trends tend to rule conversations and conscious or even unconscious thoughts and value patterns. I am currently building out programming for LDJ Style’s first ever style retreat coming in 2027 and working on a styling methodology that keeps mental wellness at its core.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
The world often tried to tell me to be a specific type of woman, fashion designer and artist. I have been pushed and pulled in so many directions. I was taught to dress and act like a lady, but I tend to have a conscious, rebellious streak. Some were concerned that my designs were ‘too niche’, others questioned the value, and mostly, just haven’t given it a chance. However, I have always been interested in the human condition and how what we choose to wear informs our emotions and/or our intentions for our lives. Also, how it offers our own love language to the world outside of us.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me so much more of myself than my successes. In 2019, when I found out after years of aggressive and disruptive cramping pain, that I had massive tumors on my ovaries, I was taught to never ignore my body again. Suffering has taught me to trust myself. I had spent so many years trusting people to tell me about what I was experiencing, without realizing that my experience and expression was all that mattered. No one else lives in my skin. This, too, taught me the importance of my perspective, my fingerprint and ultimately my purpose. If I continued to allow others to speak up for me, their interpretation taking the space of my truth; I couldn’t carry out the vision LOVE put on my heart.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I would say that the public version that most see is as much as I’ve been comfortable with being scrutinized. I am an ambitious, loving and open-hearted person. I am a Christ follower, who practices yoga at church and at home. I find astrology fascinating (I am an Aries sun, and so many other things), dislike organized religion and am a lifelong learner. I don’t cuss much online, but if you know me, it’ll slip when I feel passionate. I have so much grace for myself and others because God has so much grace for me and that’s love, unconditionally!

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Just be yourself, fully. Like, do you, people will always find things to complain about! Don’t be afraid to fail, we all do it, it’s so important to our personal development and growth. Accountability to yourself and others pays you back so much joy and peace!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lovedjenee.com
• Instagram: love_djenee

Image Credits
Photos by Khayla Williams (@arkane_mediaandstudio)
Photo by Colin Maloney (@sasastudios)