By Kristin Detterline By Kristin Detterline | September 20, 2023 | People, Style & Beauty, Feature, fashion, Women of Influence Latest,
Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—these Philly trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
Grant Blvd’s Kimberly McGlonn takes a seat in one of the brand’s satin unisex looks at Fitler Club.
KIMBERLY MCGLONN
Fashion as a form of activism isn't just a business plan for the owner of West Philly's Grant Blvd—it 's a way of life.
It’s been a year of major moves for entrepreneur and community leader McGlonn, who relocated her lifestyle shop Grant Blvd (grantblvd.com) to Penn’s campus and reimagined its original storefront as BLK Ivy, a vintage-and-thrift concept filled with fashions inspired by leaders of the civil rights movement. One of McGlonn’s most impactful projects is set to begin in January with “Fashion the Future Forward,” a workforce development solution in collaboration with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative. A $250,000 grant has jumpstarted the 14-week paid sewing instructional program for women whose lives have been impacted by the criminal system to make a living wage all while growing the city’s manufacturing capacity.
WAKE-UP TIME: 7:00am
MORNING SKINCARE: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purflying Foaming Cleanser and Cetaphil Face Moisturizer
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Brow brush and pencil, jet black liquid eyeliner & clear lip gloss
SIGNATURE SCENT: Tom Ford's Oud
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Bold, bright, composed
UNIFORM: Monochromatic looks
SHOES: 3-inch heels
BAG: Vintage clutch
JEWELRY: Gold chains, gold hoops
FASHION ICON: Issa Raye, Audrey Hepburn, Solange Knowles
FASHION NEMESIS: Kim Kardashian
FAVORITE HOTEL: Kripalu Wellness Center
WORKOUT: 20 minutes cardio, 20 minutes toning
MOVIE: Everything Everywhere All at Once
TV SHOW: Insecure
MANTRA: Forward is the motion
ESCAPE: Laughing with my 15-year-old daughter
WEAKNESS: Agreeing to heavily scheduled days
MENTOR: Natalie Nixon
BEST ADVICE: Eat well. Rest often.
PHILANTHROPY: Supporting the currently and formerly incarcerated
APP: Insight Timer
SOULMATE: Not yet
BEDTIME: 10:30pm
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: My journal
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: As by Stevie Wonder
LOCAL HAUNT: Fitler Club
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: Spiritual philosophy, lined journal, materials for painting
YESTERDAY: Spoke at Black Tech Week on radically inclusive hiring
TOMORROW: Taking a long weekend away in Quebec
ZODIAC: Libra
Win Signature Restaurant’s Pearl Somboonsong enjoys the calm before the storm at The Blue Elephant.
PEARL SOMBOOMSONG
The new mom and Win Signature Restaurant 's director of development takes it all in stride—just as long as she's wearing her favorite Prada boots.
Wayne’s Blue Elephant (blueelephantbar.com), a sister concept to the Pottstown original, was one of the most anticipated restaurant openings this past spring. It’s no surprise why—the dreamy interior design and unusual mashup of Japanese- and Thai-inspired Italian plates tempted influencers and gourmands alike. The woman behind it all is Pearl Somboonsong, who sits at the helm of her parents’ Win Signature Restaurant collective. Naturally, her love of all things beautiful extends to her wardrobe, brimming with designer labels and vintage treasures.
WAKE-UP TIME: Definitely a morning person. Lately at 5am when newborn Baby Finn gets up.
MORNING SKINCARE: iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+, Biologique Recherche Creme Hydravit'S
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Biologique Recherche P50
SIGNATURE SCENT: Chanel Chance Eau Tendre
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Make it loud
UNIFORM: Classic black and gold, vintage finds
SHOES: Prada brushed leather and nylon combat boots
BAG: Boy Chanel
JEWELRY: Cartier Juste Un Clou bracelet
FASHION ICON: My mother
FASHION NEMESIS: Dry Clean Only
FAVORITE HOTEL: Four Seasons Chiang Mai Thailand
WORKOUT: Walking up and down the long staircase at our latest restaurant project, The Blue Elephant Wayne
MOVIE: Everything Everywhere All at Once
TV SHOW: The Bear! They absolutely nailed restaurant life.
MANTRA: What would you do if you weren't afraid?
ESCAPE: My family's boutique hotel in Nan, Thailand, Nirvanan
WEAKNESS: Good food
MENTOR: My parents
BEST ADVICE: It's not what you cannot do, but what you can do, so go for it and figure it out
PHILANTHROPY: Philabundance
APP: Resy
SOULMATE: My dearest husband, Kieran Murphy
BEDTIME: What is that?
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect, Will Guidara
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: The sound of one of our Win Signature Restaurant's dining rooms on a busy weekend night filled with wine glasses clinking and guests sharing lthe stories
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
LOCAL HAUNT: Rachelle Boutique and Designer Consignment, Redecor and Jinxed for furniture
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: La Roche Posay Anthelios Sunscreen, Harmless Harvest Coconut Water, Tub of Capri Gelati Water Ice
ZODIAC: Aquarius
Jane Winchester Paradis of Jane Win Jewelry is readying to open a new Main Line flagship.
JANE WINCHESTER PARADIS
The founder and designer of Jane Win Jewelry wins the day with a boho dress, layers of necklaces and an attitude of gratitude.
After a summer spent hosting trunk shows from Santa Monica to Nantucket, Winchester Paradis (janewin.com) is back in town and readying for a busy fall: a new fine-jewelry collection of Luck and Protect pieces, a collab with sleepwear brand MerSea and reissued coins in support of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month that coincide with events in Philly and across the U.S. Up next: A new flagship location on the Main Line is in the works for the Vogue-approved brand.
WAKE-UP TIME: 6:30am on weekdays, 8:30am on weekends
MORNING SKINCARE: All things Yonka
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Smith's Rosebud Salve
SIGNATURE SCENT: Aerin's Amber Musk
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Natural. Collected treasures. Happy.
UNIFORM: Dresses every day. I love to shop with Marla at Elegance by Edyth's and Joyce at Skirt.
SHOES: Gladiator sandals all summer, over-the-knee boots all winter
BAG: See by Chloe crossbody
JEWELRY: Jane Win of course, lots of layers of gold–a complete “neck mess" every day
FASHION ICON: 1960s Goldie Hawn meets Carolyn Besseffe Kennedy plus a little Harry Styles (for the butterfly love!)
FASHION NEMESIS: Ha! I don't think I have one. Everyone welcome.
FAVORITE HOTEL: Hotel Mamela in Capri, Italy
WORKOUT: Orange Theory or a very long walk with Mr. Jane Win
MOVIE: The Witches of Eastwick
TV SHOW: Sunday Today with Willie Geist
MANTRA: I want to look back and I know I handled it all with grace, made the most of my days
ESCAPE: Italy
WEAKNESS: Potato chips and wine (any color)
MENTOR: The gentlemen who ran Lilly Pulitzer when I worked there for 12 years taught me how to run a business with strong values. I will never be able to repay them (thank you Brad & Scoft!).
BEST ADVICE: Workwise? Don't play dumb. Educate yourself. Be prepared. Write the plan, set the goals. Personal life? Be present as a parent. Listen. Have fun. Choosing the right partner in your life is everything.
PHILANTHROPY: The Radnor ABC House and Girl Rising
APP: The Weather App
SOULMATE: My amazing husband and partner, Mr. Jane Win
BEDTIME: 9pm tub, 10pm reading
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: All Things by Fleetwood Mac
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: Love anything from the Fauvist Movement, led by Matisse.
LOCAL HAUNT: Anything from the Fearless restaurant crew
3 DESERT ISLAND ESSENTIALS: A big straw hat. A million Kindle books. My sketchbook.
YESTERDAY: Wasn't that fun?
TOMORROW: I plan to wake up smiling
ZODIAC: I am the most Capricorn of Capricorns you could ever imagine
Philly executive Bridgett Battles is breaking into fashion with a new accessories collection.
BRIDGETT BATTLES
From the boardroom to the ballroom, this Philadelphia executive and entrepreneur knows that confidence is a must-have accessory for every occasion.
By day, Battles works to build a more diverse business pipeline in her role as Director for Community Engagement & Supplier Diversity at thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health. By night, Battles juggles events and meetings for the many committees and boards she serves on, notably America 250 and the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia. In between, she draws on her decades of leadership knowledge and love of fashion for the Bridgett Battles Experience, a consultancy that helps companies and executives elevate their professional presence. This year, she’s taking the brand in a whole new direction with her first collection of branded accessories and bags.
WAKE-UP TIME: 6:30am
MORNING SKINCARE: Doss Skin Care
BEAUTY ESSENTIAL: Mac Lipstick Ruby Woo
SIGNATURE SCENT: Chanel
MY AESTHETIC IN 3 WORDS: Infectious, Confident, Electric
UNIFORM: Zara Blazer and Dress Pants, Chunky Necklace
SHOES: Manolos
BAG: Black Glamaholic Tote
JEWELRY: Rhinestone Hoops
FASHION ICON: Michelle Obama
FASHION NEMESIS: Crop Tops, improper mixing of patterns
FAVORITE HOTEL: Gaylord Hotels anywhere
WORKOUT: Cardio
MOVIE: The Devil Wears Prada
TV SHOW: Chicago Fire
MANTRA: You are One of A Kind
ESCAPE: Audio Books
WEAKNESS: Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale
MENTOR: Dr. Colona Roberts
BEST ADVICE: Be okay with you
PHILANTHROPY: American Cancer Society
APP: LinkedIn
SOULMATE: Waiting on him
BEDTIME: Scented candles
BOOK AT BEDSIDE: Rachel Zoe
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: My Song by Taylor Swfit and Confident by Demi Lovato
FAVORITE WORK OF ART: The Girl with the Pearl Earring
LOCAL HAUNT: Joan Shepp
YESTERDAY: I showed up and shfited the atmosphere
TOMORROW: Another day to showcase my brilliance
ZODIAC: Taurus
Photography by: FIDEL BOAMAH; CAROLINE BRAMLETT; TATE DIGITAL