Fabulous & Friendly - Caroline Vazzana

Welcome to the Women Who Shine Brightly Series - a group of amazing women who brighten my life and the world.

Caroline Vazzana aka
CVazzana

Living her own Carrie Bradshaw fashion life - Caroline is always fabulously dressed

Has an Instagram feed ever stopped you in your tracks? Well, @cvazzana stopped me in my Kate Spade kittens!

Caroline Vazanna has the most colorful feed I have ever seen with enough Manhattan vistas to make this short time NYC resident a little weepy.

Happy Fashion, Happy Life

The feed is curated to high-fashion gloriousness, but wait before you run away in fear of yet another “Do this, do that” fashion blogger, she’s fun! And friendly. And absolutely approachable. No Devil Wears Prada initiates here! In fact, despite being crazy busy with her business, and planning a wedding, she was kind enough to share her time here with me. So, may I introduce Caroline.

From your book, Making It in Manhattan, it seems you were already shining bright as a child. How did the support you received early on influence you? Do you feel that it gave you more confidence to pursue your passions?

Definitely! Growing up my parents were always so supportive when it came to my big dreams. They always encouraged me to go after what I loved and I definitely think that gave me the courage I needed throughout my career to feel as though anything is truly possible.

Below is a link to the book. Full disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, so if you click through, I may receive compensation. I have received no compensation for this article. All opinions are mine, It is my Universe, after all.

You reframed your dreams, but not your passions more than once. That has been part of my journey, as well. I am moving into my second act and shifting gears back into second. Whether realizing painting or designing was not your true calling, you seemed to accept that and move forward with relative ease. What gave you such forward-focus as to not have your cart upset over the change?

I think what I've realized is that life is constantly changing and as people we are always evolving and growing and creating new passions. Even when I ultimately ended up leaving my job at InStyle to become my own boss, that was extremely scary because I thought for the longest time that my end goal was to work at a fashion magazine. But, then social media came along and everything changed!

Not faking, Definitely
Making It in Manhattan

From your book, I know you lived the, "fake it until you make it" mantra. Can you share a story here and how would you say that applies practically to women looking to forge their own paths?

It can honestly apply in so many fields and in so many different moments in life. The whole thought behind it is that if you, for example, act as though you are already the fashion editor, ceo, etc, and start dressing for the part and believing you can achieve it, eventually others will start to believe it as well.

When you put that energy out into the world it will come. It's sort of like manifesting your dream life in a different way!

The thing that drew me to your feed initially was the color. You have built a distinct look around a bold and playful use of color. Please share what you love about color and especially its use in fashion.

When it comes to fashion, I've always been an emotional dresser and color truly makes me happy. I feel as though wearing a bright, bold look can instantly boost your mood and make you feel more confident and pulled together.

Wear What Makes You Happy!

Photo Credit: Getty Images; Dimitrios Kambouris

How did IG become an artistic outlet for you?

2016 was when I quit my full-time job to become my own boss, and it was a time when Instagram and social media just started taking off. I began sharing my daily outfit photos and adventures around NYC and the rest is kind of history!

I love that you challenge women to wear what makes them happy which is how I came to follow (read: stalk LOL) you. Often women outside the industry feel that there are rules to fashion that can exclude them because of age or size or pocketbook. I love, Love, LOVE fashion but I am a more suburban mom wearing JCrew, Lilly Pulitzer, and Coach (all thrifted, BTW) fashion girl. Your philosophy, however, made me feel welcome. How do you see fashion's role? Do you see it evolving?

Fashion is the ultimate form of expression for me. My outfits speak before I do and make people feel something. I'll be walking down the streets of NYC and people will run up just to ask where I got my look from. Fashion makes people happy, excited, and hopeful in a way. Everyday we have to get dressed, so we might as well make it fun, no? After the past year we've had there has definitely been a rebirth when it comes to fashion and dressing outside of the lines, so I feel like for the next year everyone is going to be bringing out their maximalist side a bit!

What are your goals going forward?

I just hope to continue inspiring people to dress outside the lines and to wear what they love. I feel like so often people don't dress the way they would like out of fear or judgement from others.

My goal is to always inspire my community to not care what others think and to dress how they want, because at the end of the day no ones really judging you as much as you think!

YESSSSS

Anything to add? Any advice to share?

This industry is such a crazy, beautiful place, but never forget to stop and reflect and make sure that you are truly happy amongst it all!

Because at the end of the day true happiness and fulfillment is everything :).

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I chose Caroline because she makes me feel happy. Full stop. Her feed is a scrumptious delight that is 100% calorie free. She is generous, as well, and that is NOT always a given in the 3-picture grid world. So, a big thanks for her time and her kindness and the many hued smiles she brings me on the daily.

You can find her here and at makingmanhattan.com.

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Thanks for continuing. to shine brightly!

The Face of 50 Women Shining Brightly- Caroline Vazzana