For these three fashionable females, style isn’t just a state of mind, it’s a lifestyle.
Luciana Sullivan in a look from her debut fashion label, Luciana Emilia PHOTO BY MELISSA AZIZ/AZIZ STUDIOS
After immigrating to the United States from South Sudan at the tender age of 12, Eyga Mojus forged a path for herself when she began modeling and competing in beauty pageants. After strutting her stuff on the runway for myriad designers and taking the crown in Miss South Sudan 2017, Mojus launched San Diego Swim Week (sandiegoswimweek.com) in 2020 and has been making a local splash since. Held at the end of July, the new summer staple event features three days of fashion shows, panel discussions and more. Ultimately, Mojus hopes to inspire others and challenge the beauty standard in the fashion industry. “Confident people can sell anything,” she says. “It has nothing to do with height and weight.” Now, that’s making waves.
**WAKE-UP TIME:
7AM**
**MY AESTHETIC:
WHEN IT COMES TO FASHION, I WANT TO DIVE IN AND LIVE IN A BRIGHT, LUSH, FANTASY WORLD.**
**STYLE CRUSH:
MELANIA TRUMP— EVERYTHING SHE WEARS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.**
**FIRST FASHION MEMORY:
SEEING AUDREY HEPBURN ON TV WHEN I FIRST CAME TO AMERICA HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON ME AND MY FASHION SENSE. SHE WAS SO ELEGANT AND GRACEFUL.**
**MOST CHERISHED ACCESSORY:
TIFFANY & CO. SIGNATURE PEARL EARRINGS**
**MY UNIFORM:
ANYTHING BY KAREN MILLEN, PAIRED WITH NUDE HEELS THAT MATCH MY SKIN, IS MY EVERYDAY UNIFORM FOR A LITTLE WORK OR PLAY.**
**IT BAG:
A CLASSIC BLACK CHANEL**
CURRENT OBSESSION:
WEARING BRIGHT COLORS BRINGS ME JOY AND BRIGHTENS MY DAY.
**ULTIMATE FASHION SPLURGE:
DRESSES BY KAREN MILLEN**
**DESIGNER TO DIE FOR:
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN**
**YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH:
NUDE HEELS. I GO THROUGH ABOUT THREE PAIRS PER MONTH.**
**SIGNATURE SCENT:
CACTUS GARDEN BY LOUIS VUITTON**
**BEST ADVICE:
“EVERYTHING IN MODERATION, INCLUDING MODERATION.” –OSCAR WILDE**
**THEME SONGS TO YOUR LIFE:
“BUSINESS” BY TIËSTO AND “BUGA (LO LO LO)” BY KIZZ DANIEL AND TEKNO**
**ZODIAC SIGN:
LEO, THE QUEEN OF THE JUNGLE**
**LAST MEAL ON EARTH:
STEAK FROM A THREE-STARRED MICHELIN RESTAURANT**
**BEDSIDE READING:
BOOKS ON PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT**
**BEDTIME:
BETWEEN 10PM AND MIDNIGHT**
PHOTO BY IRMA LOMIDZE
For the well-dressed Caroline Nordquist, a passion for fashion is an extension of her art-filled life. As the new director of advancement at Mingei International Museum (mingei.org)—a dream job that’s been eight years in the making for the longtime Mingei employee—Nordquist works to make the institution an accessible and welcoming place for all who visit. “I believe that museums and art can transform people’s lives,” says the dual citizen, who calls both San Diego and her native United Kingdom home. She also identifies with Mingei’s global approach to art as she’s lived in numerous countries throughout her life, from Africa to Brazil. “Mingei’s exhibitions featuring folk art, craft and design from its collection of 25,000 objects from 100-plus countries felt like a reflection of the experiences I’d had growing up,” she notes. “I really believe that if we all sat down and got to know each other’s stories, challenges, hopes and dreams, there would be a lot more empathy in the world.” Art and soul, indeed.
**WAKE-UP TIME:
5:30AM FOUR TIMES A WEEK TO WALK WITH FRIENDS; IT’S THERAPY! OTHER DAYS, 7AM.**
**MY AESTHETIC:
A LITTLE BIT BOHO, A LITTLE BIT GUEST AT AN ENGLISH WEDDING**
**STYLE CRUSH:
HELEN MIRREN, LOOKING STYLISH WHILE SHOWING HER HEALTHY BODY AND GRAYING HAIR**
**FASHION PHILOSOPHY:
AGE IS A NUMBER. IF YOU LIKE IT, WEAR IT!**
**MOST CHERISHED ACCESSORY:
SHOP MINGEI-SOURCED BANGLES BY RON BOYD**
**MY UNIFORM:
DRESSES BY ZARA IN BRIGHT PRINTS WITH HEELED MULES (YEP, ALSO ZARA)**
**IT SHOE:
CARIUMA SNEAKERS FROM BRAZIL—RECYCLED, ECOFRIENDLY AND LOOK GREAT WITH A DRESS**
**CURRENT OBSESSION:
THE HASHTAG #SILVERSISTERS ON INSTAGRAM; WOMEN CRUSHING BEAUTY STEREOTYPES, DITCHING THE DYE AND LETTING THEIR NATURAL GRAY HAIR SHINE**
**ULTIMATE FASHION SPLURGE
FARM RIO’S BRAZILIAN DRESSES IN LOUD ANIMAL AND BOTANICAL PRINTS OR A PINK HALEY HAND-DYED KIMONO ROBE FROM SHOP MINGEI**
**DESIGNER TO DIE FOR:
MISSONI—EVERY TIME I WALK BY THEIR STOREFRONT AT FASHION VALLEY, I LOSE IT.**
**YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH:
LAUGHTER**
SIGNATURE SCENT:
L’OCCITANE CITRUS VERBENA
BEST ADVICE:
DON’T STOP WEARING THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY BECAUSE YOU’RE WAITING FOR LIFE TO BE PERFECT.
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:
ANY SONG BY KATE BUSH. I STARTED RELISTENING TO MY ’80S KATE VINYL WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN AND NOW I CAN’T GET BY WITHOUT A LITTLE DAILY KATE.
ZODIAC SIGN:
TAURUS
SIGNATURE SIP:
A GIN COCKTAIL AT THE ROSE SOUTH PARK
BEDSIDE READING:
ANYTHING BRENE BROWN, IF I’M NOT BINGEING LOVE ISLAND UK.
BEDTIME:
10PM MOSTLY
PHOTO COURTESY OF MINGEI INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM
An entrepreneur at heart, Southern California native Luciana Sullivan launched her debut fashion label, Luciana Emilia (lucianaemilia.com), in March. Marked by her signature use of bows, couture detailing and premium fabrics, the luxury collection offers a classic yet modern approach to evening gowns and cocktail dresses. As she readies to reveal new designs for fall, Sullivan can also be found giving back at Rady Children’s Hospital, where she and her father have an ongoing partnership through their company AirFort, the first inflatable children's fort to hit the market, which she gifts to patients. “We love bringing a little joy during such a difficult time,” she shares. Here, the go-getter takes us inside her fashionable—and philanthropic—life.
WAKE-UP TIME:
5:30AM. I LOVE MORNINGS!
MY AESTHETIC:
CLASSIC AND FEMININE, AND I ALWAYS LOVE AN OVERSIZED BOW.
STYLE CRUSH:
JAMIE O’BANION, THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF SKINCARE BRAND BEAUTYBIO
FASHION PHILOSOPHY:
CUTE OVER COMFORT!
FIRST FASHION MEMORY:
MY MOM HELPING MY SISTERS AND ME GET READY FOR COTILLION. GLOVES, TIGHTS, DRESSES AND ALL!
MOST CHERISHED ACCESSORY:
MY WEDDING RING AND A CLASSIC PAIR OF PEARL EARRINGS
MY UNIFORM:
A BUTTON-DOWN, DISTRESSED DENIM, WHITE TENNIS SHOES, AND A POP OF NAVY AND WHITE, WHETHER IT BE A CASHMERE SWEATER OR A STRIPED TEE
IT BAG:
ANYTHING BURBERRY! THEY HAVE SO MANY TIMELESS STYLES AND I ALWAYS LOVE A CLASSIC CHECK.
IT SHOE:
MANOLO BLAHNIK LURUM EMBELLISHED MULES
CURRENT OBSESSION:
THE EFFORTLESSLY ELEGANT CLASSIC COLLAR GOWN IN MY SIGNATURE SOIREE COLLECTION
ULTIMATE FASHION SPLURGE:
A ZIMMERMANN DRESS OR JIMMY CHOO’S PEARL HEELS. TO DIE FOR!
DESIGNER TO DIE FOR:
EMILIA WICKSTEAD. HER PIECES FEATURE MODERN YET FEMININE SILHOUETTES AND CLEAN LINES.
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH:
WHITE TEES AND NO-SHOW SOCKS
SIGNATURE SCENT:
CURRENTLY, TIFFANY & CO. TIFFANY & LOVE EAU DE PARFUM
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE:
“MAN! I FEEL LIKE A WOMAN” BY SHANIA TWAIN
ZODIAC SIGN:
SAGITTARIUS
LAST MEAL ON EARTH:
A BEAN AND CHEESE BURRITO FROM ROBERTO’S TACO SHOP
SIGNATURE SIP:
WHISKEY SOUR ON THE ROCKS WITH A LUXARDO CHERRY
BEDTIME:
10PM
PHOTO BY SARAH NOEL PHOTOGRAPHY
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