It’s unclear why I began, at an early age in Jamaica, to use fashion to live out my fantasies. Maybe it started as a rebellion against my elementary school uniform and the school’s otherwise rigid dress code—I had an eye for storytelling, for getting into character and for communicating vividly, and my uniform did nothing to further my creativity. Back then, it was not uncommon to find me reciting stories to visiting family, while using my mother’s high heels and lipsticks as props; or for me to show up, dressed for a family outing, in a creative outfit of my own choosing—resolutely resisting all suggestions to change. Even then, I realized that fashion is transformative; and that thoughtful styling could more closely align the reality of life with my extraordinary fantasies—vivid imaginings accompanied by elaborate story telling, featuring well-dressed characters in highly stylized settings.

Later, growing up in the Bronx confirmed my belief in fashion as a change agent. During that time I used fashion to facilitate my transformation into what I perceived it was to be an American; I learned the names of brands that represented Americana and saved up for Levi’s, Frye, Ralph Lauren, Reebok and Tommy Hilfiger. During that period I was also persuaded that one cannot live on dreams and fashion alone, and so I began the journey down a practical career path with its prerequisite education. It wasn’t until after college that I started StyleChile, a first generation fashion blog—right around the time when my dream to work as a magazine editor was fighting a losing battle against my plans to become a lawyer. Later, after law school and with the support of an emerging fashion blogging community, I began to integrate two competing interests: a preoccupation with fashion and a career as a corporate lawyer. Insert poignant saying about serving two masters here.

Today, I’m moving forward in the direction that I intuited as a child: still indulging in fanciful dreams, still using fashion to transform those fantasies into reality and still telling stories along the way. This third iteration of my blog is for the lovers of fashion, the dreamers and me; and for those women who inspire me every day—whose words of encouragement, enduring support and positive energy embolden me to go confidently in the direction of my dreams, to live the life I’ve always imagined!

Nakia works as a corporate lawyer for a global company, and as a lifestyle consultant — providing styling, lifestyle management, and concierge services for brands and individuals around the world, from her home base in New York City via Nakia Thomas Creative. Nakia also provides legal and advisory services to clients in the fashion, art, and entertainment industries via Stelle Legal, and appears in that capacity as a cast member in WeTv’s Money.Power.Respect., a docu-series focusing on lawyers in New York City. Nakia is a member of the Board of Directors of Brandywine Workshop & Archives, and Bronx Legal Services, and was previously an Advisory Board  Member for Moore College of Art & Design. Visit www.nakiapthomas.com for more information about Nakia and her services. 

Photo Credit (L to R):Ubara Weddings, Kesha Lambert, Ubara Weddings