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Bossy Brown Babe: Mikaela Pabon

showmedmani
Feb 14, 2017
5 min read

Okay, so let's admit it. We all have those couple of Instagram feed we stalk on a daily to weekly basis for inspo, right? Well, now that we've confessed @VetuDeJoy is one of those pages for me. I fell in love with the print fabrics, reminiscent of the islands, the fun and playful silhouettes and the overall uniqueness. As a woman of a darker complexion, I also couldn't help but notice how the vibrant colors and prints looked so beautiful against skin that looked like mine. It was love at first follow. Lucky for me, I got the chance to pick the brain of the brains and beaut behind the boutique, Mikaela Pabon. And yes, her personality is just as vibrant, sweet and demure as her style. As she told her story of her journey, I couldn't help but be inspired by her will to make her passion profitable. I also couldn't help but notice the love story doused in her journey to becoming a boss. Yes guys, in addition to an amazing inspirational story about this #BossyBrownBabe you will also luck up and smile from ear to ear when you hear how her now husband supported her through out. Enjoy!

Q. When did you start styling and when did you realize you had a nack for it?

A. I started styling about ten years ago and at that point, it was just, “I want to do something in fashion” and that was the only thing I could do that felt natural. I took classes at F.I.T., and I actually lost my job here in New York. I got very frazzled and frustrated with it, because that was the third time I lost my job that year, so I went back home to Chicago. I didn’t do anything with styling while I was there. I lived in Chicago for two years and came back in 2009. When I came back here, I didn’t really feel like styling was something I could make a living from—then I met my boyfriend (now husband) who works in fashion as well, he really pushed me and encouraged me in everything I wanted to do. Then I thought I could start my own store, which is something I always wanted to do.

Q. What's the meaning behind your shop's name?

A. My shop is called Vetu De Joy, it means dressed in joy in French and I chose that name for two reasons: One because the way I want people to feel when they wear the clothes is a walking personification of joy. And because I love prints and they make me happy; that’s dressing in joy for me. Apart of that is also being able to take someone else who isn’t also used to wearing prints, or color or standing out and putting them in something that makes them feel amazing! That’s apart of my styling style; to put people in things that they wouldn’t normally wear, but they still feel amazing.

"And yes, I felt absolutely amazing strutting the streets of Soho in this dress!"

-Mani

Q.What was that leap of faith moment for you? What was the make it or break it moment for you?

A. Because I didn’t feel like I was doing anything anywhere else. I worked at corporate company, sure I dressed cute when I went to work---I just felt like I wasn’t being creative, I wasn’t using that side of my brain. I just felt bored and I needed to be creative and he’s (husband) so creative-he’s doing photoshoots and creative directing and social media—I was just like, “I need to do something to!” and he was like “Go for it, if it’s what you’ve always wanted to do, then that’s what you’re meant to do?”

“Get someone to push you out the door, just push you!”

Q.When I look your stuff it makes me feel like I’m on vacation. You said you travel a lot, does that inspire your aesthetic?

A. Big time! Like I said, I lived in Hawaii for a while and that’s a huge inspiration for me. I’m also a dancer, I did Hawaiian dance; so from the age of 8 until now, all I was seeing in costumes were these vibrant colors; all of these palm prints and these floral prints. So I just kind of fell in love with that and it’s just become apart of my style and aesthetic. All of my experiences are kind of rolled up into the shop.

Q. To gain inspiration; I know there’s a battle a lot of people face as far as being true to themselves and keeping up with what’s trendy. I notice a lot of boutiques are going a fast fashion route, so to not get consumed in what everyone else is doing what do you do to stay in your lane?

A. Let me tell you, it’s been hard because there have been plenty of times I was like, “I know that will sell, I need to just but it so it can sell,” but it’s not me and I have to be true to me and true to my ideal client. My ideal client is not wearing what everybody else is wearing. I have to keep my ideal client in mind all the time when I’m shopping and think, “Would she wear this?” And really I have three ideal clients, based on three of my really good friends—so I keep those people in my head when I’m shopping and it keeps me from just buying something because I know it will sell.

Q. What does a day in your ideal client’s life look like?

A. My perfect client is a creative but in the corporate world. She loves to travel, but maybe she works in Human Resources at Kenneth Cole, where she doesn’t have to wear s business suit everyday, she can be a little casual but still get funky with her casual because she works in a bit of a creative environment. She takes a trip every few months, whether it’s to Iceland or to Paris or to Florida, she’s going somewhere all the time. She’s not necessarily looking for pieces for the season, she’s looking for pieces to make a statement.

Q. If you had to pick three celebrities to dress who would they be?A. Yara Shahidi. I know she’s young, but she slays all the time. Tracee Ellis Ross for sure, I’ve been obsessed with her since Girl Friends and Maybe like the three years ago Solange, because right now she’s into monochrome and one-tone colors; one more, June Ambrose! She wouldn’t need me to dress her, obviously, but those are like my ultimate faves.

Here are a few more pics of me sporting Vetu De Joy and looking like JOY personified thanks to Mikaela!