“Society prospers when unconventional thoughts flow into mainstream society.” – Ashley Coffey

“Being fashion means being inspired by the beauty of life and be able to empower others.” – Simonetta Lein

Fashion is a way to take note of who you are. Your style can impact others only when you are true to yourself. You are your story and you can show it, so that people can take note of you. I brought a special woman onto The Wishwall project. Her purpose is taking note, she thinks that life is made up of stories which have to be noted. Ashley Coffey is dedicated to what is unconventional, undiscovered, untold, and sometimes discriminated. The Wishmaker is about stories that empower, and Ashley’s story is a magnificent example. Just like The Wishwall gives a voice to the voiceless, Ashley takes note, helping people to dare being who they really are.

Who are you and what is the name of your business?

So excited to be doing this interview with you Simonetta! As you know, my name is Ashley Coffey. I’m a conscious creator who co-founded We Take Note. We aim to share the world’s stories in an effort to make the world a more understanding place. Collaborating with you and The Wishwall Foundation has been an amazingly organic way to do that. Together we get to hear from people around the world and help to heal their wounds. I feel like a doctor that heals its patients by prescribing a daily dose of story sharing. It’s proven to be such a cathartic release of people’s emotions. I’m so thankful to be able to impact the world in this way.

What is your brand about?

We Take Note is all about your story and your experiences. They matter to us and we want to be the ones to help share your unique mission with the world. Our site, www.wetakenote.com , is still in the research phase and we have learned a lot about the collective consciousness of our society. We are learning a lot about the discrimination many people in the United States face. But, we are also learning a lot about positive thinking & reinforcement as well as the beauty that begins to take place when communities come together.

** While we study people’s stories as well as their wishes, we can understand the world and better learn how to make an impact. Only by taking note of others can we improve our soul (that so needs to learn and improve).

What is your mission?

We Take Note’s mission is a lot like my own personal mission: make the world a more understanding place one story at a time. Our hope is to do this in written, audio and visual formats. We’ve learned in our research as well that everyone absorbs information differently. We don’t want to discriminate against those who prefer to read an article instead of listen to a song. Everyone deserves to know about all of the great stories this world has to offer in as many mediums as possible.

Are you a Millennial? What do you think about Millennials?

I am a Millennial and have recently been working alongside nothing but Millennials and there’s nothing like it. Before my time at We Take Note, I was a part of a more corporately structured job that provided me with the type of monetary satisfaction that a good paying job can bring, but I felt as though my soul was missing something. And I didn’t realize what that something was until I started to collaborate with my friends. Some I met at Chapman University, others I met through networking, but the one thing we all have in common is our creatively fueled drive to transform the world in a way that only we know how: with passion. This passion fuels every fiber of our being, it’s the reason we wake up in the morning and continue to persevere in this world. My friends and I are illuminated and we hope to pass the torch on to the generations that will come after us simply because that’s what we do – that’s what our generation is meant to achieve.

** I understand you so well my sister; we crazy, innovative, unconventional Millennials. This generation is bringing energy and fresh ideas for the next generations to come. Millennials feel passion as a fundamental factor, without passion Millennials cannot breath – but who really can?

If you are here it means that you love fashion. Why?

I do love fashion, but not in the sense of following trends. I more so love fashion for the innate ability it has to allow me to express myself. I’m the type of girl who has a different outfit for every mood. And with each outfit, I have grown to love myself even more. Through fashion I have learned to become more self-confident and self-assured. Because to me, it doesn’t matter what someone thinks of my outfit. As long as I vibe with it, I wear it unapologetically. They call it a fashion statement for a reason, right? Lol.

** Here is my “Empowering Style” collection inspired by Ashley. The words eclectic and unapologetic can inspire your style to dare to be you, and only you.

I learned through my good friend and publicist Tracie May Wagner and the amazing actress Adina Porter, how important it is for African American women nowadays to show their natural hair look as a statement that screams: I am who I am and I don’t have to pretend to be anyone else. It is a style that expresses a deep concept, and can be applied to anyone of us. Love the motorcycle, do you really drive that thing?

Shall we dance?

Here Ashley is with her friend Morgan Ryan. Do you guys see how every picture of Ashley tells a story? Her vintage style brings us into her eclectic world. What I would like anyone to take from Ashley, is the courage to tell a story about you in everything you do.

What can’t you miss from your wardrobe?

Jewelry & long, flowing dresses/robes are definitely two elements of my wardrobe that I have been loving as of late. I’ve been learning a lot about various goddess cultures for We Take Note because we are very interested in finding the best way to convey the beauty of all women. I’ve learned a lot from Amanda Young, an amazing teacher who has opened my eyes to the divine feminine. As women we hold immense power and our fashion can help express that power to the world. Goddesses like Aphrodite, Kali, Durga, Quan Yin, Hera, Isis (I could go on and on) carry themselves with grace in many different ways, much like the women of today. Their innate beauty is represented in so many ways and that’s what I love so much about each one of them.

Your favorite pair of shoes and why?

My favorite pair of shoes would have to be a pair of brilliantly blue  heels I got from Zara. I love how powerful I feel when I step into them – it’s almost like HELLO EVERYONE, ASHLEY HAS ARRIVED AND SHE IS READY FOR A GOOD TIME. I love to be able to bring that type of energy to any type of environment I’m in.

** I am in love with this outfit, can I borrow everything please? Pretty please? Definitely those shoes will make you feel in the mood: here I come!

What is your style and what you can’t you stand in people, inside and out?

My style is eclectic! I’m equal parts low-key tom-girl, mixed with a bit of goddess in training. Add in a dash of urban flair and 1970s funk & you have made yourself an Ashley lol. My style is eclectic because my life experiences have been eclectic. And through my life I have met and interactive with many people – some of whom I did vibe well with and others that lead their lives with nothing but hate. I despise the latter, but feel that with the right type of love, we can all come together. It’s difficult, but I try to treat others who I may disagree with, with the same type of respect that I would want to be presented with . That being said, I have no problem with expressing my discontent with anyone who disrespects me or those I love.

What is your fashion mantra?

My fashion mantra is, “Dress with your heart and make your soul dance to the expressive rhythm that only you can create.”

What is that magic word that speaks about you?

Well, its more than one word – it’s two! Hope that’s ok: abundantly manifesting . There is something so beautiful about the power we all have to create the lives we want to live. We are so abundant and hold great power, we simply just need to remember our brilliance and we will forever shine. I have recently transformed through a beautiful awakening and I’m vacating the cocoon as a newly-born butterfly.

What is a wish that you would commit to grant this year to someone paying it forward?

I would absolutely love to work alongside women who are facing self-confidence issues and through a photo shoot and video series, highlight them and their journey to joy. I want all women to be able to see how beautiful they are, no matter what society tries to tell them. I want their newly-found self love to radiate from all parts of their soul and propel them to then pay it forward to someone else. That’s just one wish I have, another is to create a series catering to males and their journey through life as well. Sharing is definitely caring and with the work We Take Note and The Wishwall Foundation does, I have no doubt that by the end of 2017, that we will begin (together) to make the world a more beautiful place. Thanks for the opportunity to allow me to speak my truth Simonetta! I really appreciate your spirit – may you forever succeed in all that you do.

**With all my heart and from the heart of fashion thank you Ashley. There is nothing better then fashion with a purpose, a style that empowers your life and others. An impact that can be created as soon as you look at a person. Please, when you go out into the world, remember that you are telling a story: dress for the occasion. Always.

“Photo Credit in the order the photos appear: Alexis Galmin of Blue Fever (IG: Bluefvr) | Andrew Bogart of We Take Note (IG: wetakenote) | Social Influencer Charisse Christine (IG: CharisseChristine) | Colin Young-Wolff of LA Weekly (IG: colinyoungwolff)”

The post Empowering Style. The Celebrity Wishmaker Simonetta Lein Meets Millennial Activist Ashley Coffey appeared first on The Wishwall.