philly lady you'll love

August 8, 2018

5 of my Favorite Philly-Area Lady Grammers

In the land of grammin, it’s so easy to have your feed overrun by posts you passively scroll by on the search for something you connect with. I follow QUITE a few of Philly peeps over on my Instagram, but I always look forward to posts from some specific accounts. My favorite Instagrammers wisely use bio.fm to make sure transitioning between their different social media profiles is very seamless. Today, I wanted to share with you 5 of my faaavorite Philly Instagram accounts (all run by amazing women, of course!) that always get me to double tap. They all have so many followers, which is what everyone wants! You guys should consider using instagram tags in your posts in order to get more likes and followers, maybe one day you’ll be on my top 5 favorite accounts!

Did I miss one of your favs? Let me know in the comments below which grammers you love! xx

October 20, 2015

{Philly Lady You’ll Love} Meet Yasmine Mustafa

I am pretty excited for this post, so let’s jump right in. The first time I heard about ROAR, a fashionable safety wearable made to empower women (to put things simply), I was first, very thankful that someone had come up with this, and second, knew instantly I’d be a customer. When I realized that this project was coming out of Philly, you guys know it was all over.

Yasmine Mustafa is ROAR’s co-founder & CEO, and we first connected on Twitter. We’ve been emailing back and forth for a number of months now (I won’t divulge the exact number for both of our sakes, Yasmine!), and with ROAR’s launch on the horizon (aka, today), I decided to bring back one of my old features and interview this Philly lady you’ll love. Ladies, if you ever walk alone in this city, you’re going to want to read this.

Meet Philly lady Yasmine Mustafa of ROAR

Images via @myasmine on Instagram

December 4, 2013

{Philly Lady You’ll Love} Meet Allison Heishman

I love hearing about all of the amazing women we have living & working in Philadelphia. For this addition of ‘Philly Lady You’ll Love,’ I got the scoop from theatre maven Allison Heishman. After seeing her new play, No Reservations, I couldn’t wait to hear more about the woman behind the scenes. Allison is doing big things in the Philly theatre scene, and she has some great picks for her favorite Philly spots. Let’s meet Allison . . .

HP: Hi Allison! Can you please introduce yourself & tell us what you’re all about?
AH: I’m the Artistic Associate at Azuka Theatre (1636 Sansom Street) and a freelance director here in Philly. My current project is directing the World Premiere of No Reservations, a holiday farce written by Josh Piven, the author of The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook Series. I spend most of my time in and around the incredible theaters in Philly, but I also enjoy hosting house parties, watching the Phils, camping when I can, and, if I’m really lucky, finding time for a good book and a good bourbon.

HP: What Philly neighborhood do you live in?
AH: South Philly. When I first moved to Philly I lived in Queen Village, then moved to Newbold, and now am one of the many artists who own a home in South Philly. I have a bright orange house a few blocks off of East Passyunk Square.

HP: What are some of your favorite Philly spots?
AH: I see a lot of theatre, I’m a Nominator for The Barrymore Awards so I get to experience all kinds of work, near and far. I try and see as many shows as I can, I’m a big fan of The Wilma (265 South Broad Street), Brat Productions (2040 Christian Street), Inis Nua (1636 Sansom Street), Simpatico Theatre (850 South 2nd Street), Theatre Exile (340 South 13th Street) and of course Azuka Theatre. If you’re not aware of the great and really affordable art that’s happening here in Philly, you’re missing out!

My favorite places to take visitors are The Magic Gardens (1020 South Street), The Mutter Museum (19 South 22nd Street) and The National Constitution Center (525 Arch Street) – all three speak to the uniqueness of Philadelphia and offer so many different and wonderful experiences. I discover something new each time I visit.

My two addictions right now are Underdogs‘ (132 South 17th Street // 1205 South 9th Street) My Thai Veggie ‘Haute Dogs’ and Honeycrisp Apples from Beechwood Orchards – you can find them at a number of Farmer’s Markets and they seriously have the best apples I’ve ever tasted.

I’m so lucky to live near the amazing East Passyunk Avenue! I hit nice things handmade (1731 East Passyunk Avenue) whenever I need a gift for someone.

I like to keep things low-key when I go out to eat or grab a drink. I love Watkins Drinkery (1712 South 10th Street) and Fergie’s (1214 Sansom Street) – not only does Fergus Carey serve up a spectacular pint, but he’s a huge supporter of the theatre community. And the Indonesian food at Hardena’s (1754 South Hicks Street) is the best kept secret in the city.

HP: Tell us about your current gig: what exactly does an Artistic Associate do?
AH: What doesn’t an Artistic Associate do? Truly it’s a little bit of everything, as a company member at Azuka Theatre, led by the incomparable Kevin Glaccum, I’m one of a mighty few that help keep the show running (yes, literally and figuratively). Right now I’m reading a lot of scripts for next season. We are committed to bringing new work to Philly Stages, we try and produce at least one World Premiere each season. The challenge is finding a fresh voice that also speaks to the work we want to do – our productions are usually centered around some really strange and quirky characters, the kids no one would sit with at lunch, because they’re always the most interesting!

HP: What has been your favorite project you’ve worked on?
AH: I’m really lucky that I’ve loved everything I’ve worked on. You put so much of yourself into each play that if you don’t love it, it just doesn’t make sense to go through that kind of insanity. One of my recent productions that holds my heart right now is Failure: A Love Story, by Philip Dawkins. Azuka did the East Coast Premiere and it was just such a special and beautiful play.

Josh Piven & Allison Heishman No Reservations

P l a t e | 3 Photography, Kate Raines

HP: What can we expect from No Reservations?
AH: This show is going to be a blast! We can barely get through some moments in rehearsal, we’re having that much fun with it. It’s smart and fun, I love what Josh created on the page, it’s a new, and I think welcome, alternative to the usual holiday entertainment. Pop-stars, partridges, Pennsyltucky . . . Twitter, TMZ and turkey dinner. There’s mistaken identity, scheming hostesses, and a band of Christmas caroling weirdos, all stuck at a B&B off the Turnpike on Christmas Eve. What could possibly go wrong?

HP: What advice would you give to young women pursuing their dreams?
AH: Go, go, go. Find what you love and figure out how to make it happen. I got started at Azuka stuffing envelopes because I lived around the corner from the office. I knew pretty quickly that it was where I wanted to be, and so I just kept coming back until I had made myself indispensable. Now it’s my artistic home. Find what you love, where you love to do it and then don’t give up til you make it happen. It’s hard work, absolutely, but dreams are worth it, everything else is second best.

HP: Anything else you’d like to share with the Her Philly readers?
AH: Come see No Reservations! You should also check out the Off-Broad Street Theatre App – it’s free and will make it super easy to access information about a number of the smaller theatre companies that are rocking the Philly scene. I’m also really excited about my next project – Skin & Bone, a World Premiere by Jacqueline Goldfinger, featuring three of Philly’s most dynamic actresses: Maureen Torsney-Weir, Drucie McDaniel and Amanda Schoonover (and the hilarious Nate Holt who holds his own ;))

A big thank you to Allison for her great insight into the Philadelphia theatre scene & chasing your dreams! If you’re interested in reading my last ‘Philly Lady You’ll Love’ feature, check out my interview with Luba Patlakh, creator of Fluff Apparel. If you know a woman you think deserves some Philly Lady love, email me! xx

September 8, 2013

{Philly Lady You’ll Love} Meet Luba Patlakh

We all know Philly is home to some fabulous women (all of you included, naturally), but how often do we take the time to recognize another woman’s awesomeness? Entrepreneurs, PR mavens and all-around-hustlers, we have a city filled with ladies oozing with inspiration. Intro, my newest feature, Philly Ladies You’ll Love! If you have a woman you adore and would like to nominate to be highlighted here, keep reading. Without further ado, meet our first fab Philly lady, Luba Patlakh!

HP: Hi Luba! Please introduce yourself & tell us a little about who you are.
LP: I am 26 years old, and I was born in Kiev, Ukraine. My family emigrated to the states to give me and my brother a better life, and now I’m taking the bull by its horns! I am a go-getter, a soft-hearted party animal, and a creative think-outside-the box-er.

HP: What Philly neighborhood do you live in?
LP: Currently I am living in the Philly Burbs, right outside of the city in Bucks County.

HP: What are some of your favorite Philly spots?
LP: Whoa! Where to begin. I love to go to the Ranstead Room (2013 Ranstead Street) for a speak-easy style night. They have lots of cool drinks. I like to smoke hookah and munch on delicious snacks at Byblos (114 South 18th Street). I am also super into anything rooftop related so I appreciate Vango (116 South 18th Street) and Stratus (433 Chestnut Street) in the summer months!

For good eats I love mussels at Monk’s Cafe (264 South 16th Street), an anytime meal at the Continental Midtown (1801 Chestnut Street), Steve’s Steaks (41 South 16th Street), and Creperie Beau-Monde (624 South 6th Street) … Crepes Suzette never fails!

For shopping, I love to hit the boutiques and brand names in Rittenhouse, but I also love some underground markets like PHAIR (23rd & Arch Streets) and cute boutiques on South Street. From a young age, I was inspired by South Street’s unique items, not-your-average dresses, and wild accessories!

HP: Tell us about your new business! What inspired you to start it?
LP: I have always been super interested in fashion. Before I even got into college, I commuted from Philly to NYC to intern at Miss Sixty (Sixty USA Inc.) where I first learned about what really goes on behind the scenes in fashion and in a showroom. I pulled looks, created look books, worked on compiling tear sheets, and put together my first line sheets. I later got to sit in on some fabric selections and I was hooked! Not only did I establish my own style by then, I was generally falling in love with the compilation of clothes and the process behind it.

I got my undergrad degree at Hofstra University. I was part of planning a bunch of fashion shows, mini TV events, and even hosted a radio show! When I graduated, I spent my time living in Manhattan planning events to learn the ropes of fashion planning.

After a whirlwind of events, media conferences, meeting cool known and up-and-coming designers, I found my way back to Philadelphia for a similar position. I threw a monster mash to host the launch of my website The Posh Review with tons of working parts: hair, makeup, models, and FASHION!

After that event and some not so exciting jobs, I found myself deciding on my next steps. Having always wanted my own fashion line, I decided this was the time! I made some connections overseas with manufacturers, digitized my drawings and style ideas, and voilà! Fluff Apparel was born. I have an eye for what’s going to fly and what’s not. I am a stickler for funky and comfy tops, so I wanted to create a line that was comfortable to lay in at home but cool enough to go out in as well.

HP: What is your favorite piece you’ve designed & why?
LP: Out of the Fluff Apparel eight piece original collection, I would definitely have to pick the Lucky Lucy Crop Top. I’m a huge hippie-vintage junkie and I love the retro style. For this top, I used an image that felt very sweet & would give good luck, the elephant, printed it on our super soft cotton blend fabric, and let the fringe hang! It’s a great top because it lets you show some skin without exposing too much. I am super proud of this item because it’s one of the first I came up with.

HP: What marketing techniques are you using to reach your target audience?
LP: I am a HUGE social media buff. I have been using Twitter since it first came out. I use all the outlets: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Wanelo, Pinterest, etc. I also love participating in events or putting on giveaway contests. People really respond!

HP: What advice would you give to women pursuing their dreams?
In life there will be ups and downs, good days and bad days, and times when you want to give up . . . but the best thing you can do is hang on! Keep your head up, keep working, keep networking, keep fighting essentially, in the best/strongest way you can! Working your hardest will always outweigh the thought of what could have been if you just tried a bit more! Never give up in what you believe in.

The Floating Face Tee by Fluff Apparel // Her Philly

My favorite top from Fluff Apparel!

HP: Is there anything else you’d like to share with Her Philly readers?
I’m so excited to bring Philly and all cities & countries alike a fresh outlook relating to style! Fluff Apparel is truly about being comfortable while looking great and most importantly being UNIQUE! We want all the ladies and men out there to be the best self they can be and stay true to who they are!

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A huge thanks to Luba for her great advice & awesome interview! I love her ambition and optimistic personality. Check out Fluff Apparel for some comfy & cute pieces today!

Karima from Skinny Minority once shared this quote with me: “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” Whenever I am feeling competitive or jealous of another woman’s success, I remind myself of this phrase and it puts things into perspective for me. As women, we should raise each other up and celebrate our successes, not sabotage & judge to bring each other down. If you have a woman in your life you think the ladies of Philly should know about, send me an email. I can’t wait to hear about her. xx