Transforming Style From the Inside Out, Women of Style & Faith Series, presents Zaria Brown, Grad Student & Founder of the blog, "A Dose Of Fab"
Zaria tell our readers a little about yourself, what you do professionally, and about your blog. What about these things inspires you most?
I’m 24 years old, born and raised in South Carolina, (Gaffney.) I graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2015 with a degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice, and after that I began working for a year (hated it) only to end up back in school. Now, I am a full time graduate student currently pursuing my Masters of Human Resources.
I launched “A Dose of Fab” in March of 2015, so I’m almost at my two year mark. I knew nothing about creating a site, or blogging, but I’ve always loved to shop and put different looks together. I wanted to put myself out there and show other young women what can happen when you believe in yourself and take that chance whether you have the support of others or not. My blog was and still is my outlet to do what I love even if it isn’t my full time job or major of study.
How do you couple your faith with what you do professionally and as a blogger?
Being a full time student and full time blogger has to be the hardest things I’ve ever done. My faith is tested all the time, and there have been moments where school has been extremely stressful, and times where I felt like my blog may have been fading into the background. I always have to make sure I don’t neglect either one, because it’s a reason why I’m doing them both. I pray on both of them CONSTANTLY. I don’t know exactly where either one will take me, in the next decade or so, but God continues to bless me with the resources and support to continue both, and as long as He’s on board, there’s no end in sight for either one.
Please speak about the role of faith in your life. How do you manage and a maintain balance in the different aspects of your professional & personal life along with your relationship with God?
My relationship with God comes first. If I have time to spend blogging, hangout out with my line sisters and friends, or whatever else, there’s time for God. I’m a firm believer in you make time for who and what you want. Where I am today, what I have today, is because of God, period. That goes with school as well. I make it my mission to read and apply the Word just like I apply what I learn in my classes from day-to-day.
What advice can you give to others who have the same interests as you?
You can have all the dreams in the world, but you have to pray on it first. As I said before, you make time for what you want, and blogging in general is no easy task that you can just do at the last minute. People will say, “it’s so many people out there doing it already,” but I say yeah, true, but there’s only one YOU. Pray, plan, execute that plan, and make it happen. If it’s in you, it’s in you. I’m a full time student living off a refund check, and yet God is still making a way for my bills to be paid and for me to continue my blog. There’s always a way.
Tell me about the any challenges you’ve faced, how you’ve endured and what keeps you wedded to what you do?
Challenges I faced with both my blog and my studies were both very new and I had no clue what I was doing. If I’m ever struggling in the classroom, I’m getting tutored or always going to my academics advisors. When I started blogging, I had to learn how to write, network, master social media, get a photographer who could bring my vision to life, and stay consistent. Both were serious wake up calls. That’s why I have to pray, plan, stay organized, and execute what needs to be done. It’s what I love to do. I have to talk to God constantly about it all, and I get on His nerves because sometimes I’m like “now did You hear me?” I’m just persistent with Him even though He already knows what I need. The biggest thing too, everything happens for a reason, I may not know why, but it is what it is. I trust God and keep it moving.
What about fashion do you love most? Are there any new trends or any particular designers/stores/brands that you just love and even prefer when actually shopping for clothes or when reviewing certain pieces to blog? I hear a lot of times that bloggers review and post based on their commitments and relationships w/ brands, so I’m curious if your posts reflect your personal style 100% or a mix of personal and the business side of blogging?
What I love most about fashion is that I can do whatever I want to do with it. It doesn’t have to be a specific brand, and I shop EVERYWHERE! I love a good thrift store, I’m never against a trip to the mall, and online shopping is my go to because it’s easy and they have the best sales! I don’t have too many brands that I die over, but if I had to choose, it would be Boohoo, GoJane, Fashion Nova, Forever 21, and Shein, and Romwe. However, like I stated before, I will shop anywhere if that place of business has something to offer. These are my favorite because 9/10, I’ll find something that I may or may not need, but what I can use or what I want. Every outfit I post is a review for me. Whether I bought a certain piece or a company sent it to me, I’m going to be honest with my readers about it. It has to reflect who I am, and my style because I refuse to put something out there under my name because it was free.
I have a witty style question that I like asking all you stylish gals of faith, “What’s Your Style Innuendo” (the way you would like others to consider or view what your style is without you even saying a word when they see you)?
This is a different one. I would like for others to describe my style as eclectic and unpredictable. With every post I want to keep my readers guessing. So I try to incorporate the different elements of my wardrobe that are still “my style,” but also can be something that someone who has a totally different style can still be able to relate to.
Now, how would you describe your overall style (lifestyle) – dress, education, personality, things you do, your circle etc?
I personally would describe my overall style as just glammed up, super girly, heels, makeup, the whole works, but It can also be toned down (I wear sneakers too.) As far as my lifestyle, I’m just goofy, always laughing, trying to stay focused on my academics, while trying to balance family and friends, but my family and friends are busy as well, so we’re all supportive. I’m huge on family, it’s crazy. I wasn’t raised by my biological parents, so my godparents took me in, and I have a testimony with this. I am here and who I am because God blessed me with my god family. As far as things I do, I’m an avid reader! I’ve loved books since I was a kid, and I try to make time to read anything not related to my academics as much as I can, when I can. I’m an extreme introvert, and I embrace it. I love being around people, but when I need to decompress, I take my time with it, and I don’t come out until I’m ready.
When I say being raised by my godparents being a testimony, my mother has been a drug addict in and out of prison for most of my life. I've been living with my godparents since I was a child, and it was not the easiest thing to face not having my biological parents and being away from my younger brother and sister. However, I'm here today because of my godparents, and I am strong because God has kept me, and not only me, but my brother and sister as well. All three of us are college educated trying to make something out of ourselves in spite of what we've been through. Not having my mother around a lot has been very hard because there is a void, but that's where I lean on God. He's strong where I'm weak and He's who and whatever I need Him to be.
How has your overall style evolved in the past few years and why?
I’ve always been a girly girl, but when I first started high school, you couldn’t tell me I was going to be trading in all of my sneakers for heels. I went from a semi girly girl to a full blown fashionista by the time I was 17. Prints, heels, thrifting, I wanted to be fabulous, but in my own way. I keep with the trends, but I’ve always done it my way. It’s rare that I ask for the opinions of others when it comes to my blog posts or what I’m wearing because only I can be me, only I can dress me, and feel confident in what I’m wearing.
This blog series is about not only highlighting careers, businesses, ministry efforts and accomplishments, but transforming style from the inside out, therefore, how can one transform their style and faith in a positive progressive manner, and do so without compromise?
That’s a different question too. I haven’t had to compromise my relationship with God because of what I chose to wear or vice versa. Me personally, if I go out with friends, yes I may wear a dress, but it’s more midi style rather than a body con that ‘s going to ride up with every step I take. There comes a moment where we as women have to dress how we want to be addressed. Also, dress for where you’re going. When I got to college, I had to understand you can’t wear club shoes to church. Invest in your wardrobe, because what’s appropriate here may not be appropriate there.
As an added bonus question for our readers, I was curious to know how some of my interviewees, especially those of you that are a bit younger felt about tattoos. What are your thoughts as a believer in wearing tattoos- are they just like wearing an accessory and you do wear it as an accessory, or are you opposed to them because of scripture?
I have two tattoos myself. I got my first one when I was 18 and my second when I was 19. Both mean something to me, and though many are against them for different reasons, I don’t regret getting them. They were never an accessory for me because they hold value. (Though there are some out there that mean nothing.) I’ve even considered getting another one. Who are we to judge one another? Also, if we want to go down the route of being anti-tattoos, we have to be anti-earrings too, because our ears were made for us to hear, not to have pieces of metal hanging off of them.
What’s next on the horizon for Zaria, and A Dose Of Fab?
Well, I’ve started a Youtube channel (adoseoffab), and it is definitely different because I’m learning about vlogging and how to be behind and in front of the lens at the same time. I hope that it will give my readers/subscribers another way to get to know who I am.
Connect with Zaria and get your weekly dose of all things fab by visiting her here:
Instagram: @adoseoffab
Twitter: @adoseoffab
Pinterest: @adoseoffab
Youtube: adoseoffab
