Badass Ladies You Should Know: Kay Dupree
Tumblr has played a major role in the Badass Ladies project -- in helping each profile find a wider audience, but also in helping me find badass ladies who deserve the spotlight. One example is Kay Dupree, an indie fashion designer who recently came across my dash. Kay focuses on dressing plus-sized women like the queens they are, and with a tagline like "Where pockets are everything," how could I not ask her for an interview?
Kate: Describe your career(s) and/or current projects. What path(s) and passions led you there?
Kay: I am a plus size fashion designer. What led me here is seeing the state of the plus size fashion industry. While studying Fashion Design, I saw lack of diversity in the area of plus size fashion - there were no courses and literally just one lonely size 14 dress form. This was symbolic and it was at that very moment I realized that I wanted to change the face of fashion.
Kate: Do you have any (other) creative outlets? How do they influence/affect your main work (if at all)?
Kay: One of my biggest creative outlets is Twitter. I am able to talk directly to customers and potential customers. I can see how the plus size industry is reacting to certain issues and how I can improve as a brand.
Kay rocking the "Holy Curves" t-shirt
Kate: What's your biggest challenge?
Kay: My biggest challenge is being an independent brand in a field with majorly backed companies. Plus size women don’t have many options for finding great quality clothes and therefore we tend to shop at retailers and designers that we know. My goal is to be a first option for plus size women, somewhere they can shop for quality pieces that make them feel beautiful, confident and chic.
Kate: Tell us about a time that you bounced back from failure.
Kay: As an indie designer I am constantly bouncing back from failure. There have been minor moments that I’m not sure I can incorporate an artistic photo shoot in my budget and major moments when I’m not sure if I can financially afford to create the next collection.
Kate: What's the best compliment you've ever gotten?
Kay: The best compliment ever is when a customer tells me my clothes make them feel beautiful and they can’t wait to purchase something else.
Kate: What are the best ways to support other women?
Kay: The best way to support other women is putting your money where your mouth is. I strongly believe in helping someone that I believe in - if I know an easy route I want to guide and help. Also, always send words of support and encouragement.
Some of the styles available at Kay's website: kaydupree.com
Kate: Who are some other badass ladies we should know?
Kay: My inspirations are badass women such as Coco Chanel, Donna Karen, Michelle Obama, and Eleanor Lambert. These women have taught me to fight for my dreams, because no matter what obstacles may be in their way, they are minor. Keep pushing and fighting!
Kate: What is your advice to aspiring badasses?
Kay: Don’t worry about what the person in the next lane is doing. Focus on your focus. Pay attention to your path. Never let fear stop you from being amazing. When it gets hard keep pushing and remember nothing worth having comes easily.
Kay Dupree is an American clothing designer. A New York City native, Kay attended the Art Institute of New York City graduating with a degree in Fashion Design. While pursuing her degree, she realized that plus size women were not getting the love they deserved in the fashion industry and decided to make it her goal to change the views of plus size industry.
In 2007, she began styling and writing for online publications lending her voice to empower and educate plus size consumers. In 2011, Kay created Pockets Are Everything which quickly became a leading fashion website pairing her audience with her brand’s view – to dress women in pieces that add chicness, sexiness and fun to their wardrobe.
Acknowledging that dressing women in beautiful clothes is only half her mission, Kay took on a new challenge. In 2012 she published “10 Simple Rules to Being Stylish,” a personal pocket guide on the road to turning consumers into educated shoppers all while curating their personal style. Kay’s philosophy is simple: “In the fashion world we are normally rejected, pushed to the back and last to be noticed. We are beautiful and deserve to be dressed as such.”
kaydupree.com // @adoremycurves // instagram // tumblr
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