Poised, polished, and powerful—four Philadelphia tastemakers give a glimpse into their fashionable lives.
Beauty goes beyond skin deep for this former beauty queen turned wellness entrepreneur.
Désir debuted her dual wellness concepts Callowhill Greens Cafè and CALLO Skincare + Wellness in 2019 with a mission to nurture beauty from the inside out. It was a concept years in the making for the former Miss Universe Haiti contestant. Désir drew on her experiences traveling the globe for pageant appearances and growing up in Haiti to inform her holistic approach to health and beauty. Her Fairmount shop is home to signature skincare potions like an antioxidant-packed Beauty Elixir smoothie and Ashwagandha De-Stress Mist. Philly notables are regularly spotted at the shop’s daily DIY skincare sessions, Saturday Skincare + Sip Workshops and monthly Gua Sha master classes.
Wake-Up Time: 5:50 a.m.
Morning Skincare: Drink a glass of water and CALLO skincare routine
Beauty Essential: Ami Cole brow pencil and Bread hair gel
Signature Scent: Le Labo Santal 33 since 2012
My Aesthetic in 3 Words: Minimalistic, quintessential, feminine
Uniform: CALLO pink jumpsuit for work; tailored men’s Levi’s denim and an oversized white button-up shirt for after work
Shoes: Maison Margiela Tabi ankle boots
Bag: Black Celine Phantom
Jewelry: Tiffany’s stack of gold bracelets, diamond stud earrings, my engagement ring, and my gold “Christie” ring that I got in high school with my first check
Fashion Icon: Akilah Piper McCoy
Fashion Nemesis: None, just be confident in your choices
Favorite Hotel: Round Hill Jamaica
Candle: Ya Thamani SE23
Workout: Equinox
Movie: Love Jones
TV Show:Living Single
Mantra: Positive energy, good character, a kind heart, and forgiveness is the root to true beauty
Escape: Connecticut with my family
Weakness: Mangos from Riverwards Produce
Philanthropy: Haiti! Always, in all ways
The Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s president and CEO turns to smart wardrobe essentials to move effortlessly throughout her busy days.
While September is always a hectic time for Rodriguez, this month may be her busiest yet. In her role as president and CEO of GPHCC, she leads initiatives that bridge economic disparities for Latinos and advocates for 22,000 (and counting) Hispanic-owned businesses in the region. Many of them will be front and center during Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15-Oct. 15, with centerpiece programming like Dine Latino Restaurant Week, which features a Chef ’s Tasting Sept. 19 and the State of Hispanic Business’s annual event Oct. 30. She is also settling into her new role as the recently appointed chair of the board of trustees of the Association for Public Art, a Philadelphia nonprofit founded in 1872 that commissions, preserves, interprets and promotes public art.
Wake-Up Time: 6:30 a.m.
Morning Skincare: Just a cleanser, toner, and Glow Recipe moisturizer
Beauty Essential: Can’t leave the house without eyebrow pencil, Ilia Super Serum, and Multi-Stick in Summertime
Signature Scent: Pharmacia’s Fleur d’Oranger
My Aesthetic in 3 Words: Classic, colorful, urbane
Uniform: Blazers and A-line skirts
Shoes: D’Orsay heels, somewhere between a pump and a sandal
Bag: Leather tote
Jewelry: Apple Watch and hoops
Fashion Icon: Selina Meyer of Veep
Fashion Nemesis: Pants, because they gap at the waist
Favorite Hotel: La Fonda, Santa Fe New Mexico
Candle: Volupsa’s French Cade Lavender
Workout: Barre and gardening
Movie: The Big Short
TV Show: Succession
Mantra: In five steps or less
Escape: Podcasts
Weakness: French fries
Mentor: My partner
Best Advice: While you can do anything, you can’t do everything
Philanthropy: Hispanic Chamber
3 Desert Island Essentials: A flare, a wide-brim hat and my phone
The cofounder of lifestyle label Printfresh draws inspiration for her punchy patterns from an eclectic mix of stylish staples.
Philadelphia style mavens can pick out a Printfresh piece within seconds. It’s no surprise. They were among the first to embrace the homegrown boho-chic fashion brand that Voloshin launched in 2016 with co-founder and husband Leo. Originally known as Printfresh Studios, the line has steadily grown to include pajamas, bedding and even pickleball paddles. Printfresh is committed to sustainable and ethical manufacturing, uses only organic and eco-friendly fabrics, and is a member of the global social impact initiative Pledge 1%. This fall, Voloshin is focused on expanding her collection of signature prints with fall-ready pajama sets and a new equestrian-themed collection dubbed High Horse that’s sure to be spotted all over the Main Line.
Wake-Up Time: 6 a.m.
Morning Skincare: Splash water on my face
Beauty Essential: Merit Beauty 5-Minute Morning Set and Supergoop! SPF 35 powder
Signature Scent: Le Labo Santal 33
My Aesthetic In 3 Words: Southern, eclectic, feminine
Uniform: Anything I picked up traveling
Shoes: Birkenstocks or Golden Goose sneakers
Bag: Clare V. Grande Fanny
Jewelry: Beth Ladd
Fashion Icon: Jimi Hendrix
Fashion Nemesis: Amazon
Favorite Hotel: Villa Palladio Jaipur
Candle: Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle
Workout: Zumba
Book: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
Movie: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour
TV Show: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Mantra: Let the beauty we love be what we do
Local Landmark: Elfreth’s Alley
Weakness: Countless random notes on papers
Best Advice: Stay off your phone, pay attention
Philanthropy: Paws, William Way, Artists at Play, Fabscrap
Personal style is another form of creative expression for the City of Philadelphia’s first-ever Chief Cultural Officer.
This fall, Gay will kick off her new position leading the charge at Creative Philadelphia (formerly known as the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy) with a months-long listening tour to connect with citizens to talk about how arts and culture can lift up their communities. It’s a role that the Southwest Philadelphia native has seemingly been readying for her entire life, from playing piano at Girls’ High and working as a recording artist as a classically trained soprano to serving as Chief Experience Officer at the Barnes Foundation. Gay’s love of fashion, which centers around African prints and artisan-crafted accessories, inspired her to launch local denim label Fuse Vox. Touting themes of unity and diversity, the collection of jackets and vests have empowering statements printed inside every piece.
Wake-Up Time: 5 a.m–6:30 a.m.
Morning Skincare: Siggi Soaps amber soap and Naked Peach Fluid moisturizer
Beauty Essential: Red lipstick
Signature Scent: Creed Jardin d’Amalfi My Aesthetic In 3 Words: Eclectic, creative, playful
Uniform: African prints, especially from my Fuse Vox line
Shoes: My used-to-be metallic Doc Martens
Bag: Custom-made Alejandro Yeo leather bag
Jewelry: Artisan-crafted necklaces from Ghana and Nigeria, earrings by my daughter Nasya
Fashion Icon: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Fashion Nemesis: Hmmm, I tend to just look the other way
Favorite Hotel: Waldorf Astoria, Beverly Hills
Local Landmark: City Hall
Workout: Orange Theory
Book: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
TV Show:Sense8
Mantra: You can’t make this stuff up!
Escape: Playing the piano
Weakness: Linear time
Mentor: Several amazing women and men in different sectors, and a couple Gen Z’ers
Best Advice: Always listen to my daughter with open ears and remain open and responsive
Photography by: COURTESY OF RENNES; MESSINA MARTINEZ PHOTOGRAPHY; DASHA PARKER; BRANDON C. BALLARD
