Jessica Mole: Uplifting women through style
Gerry Cupido spoke to Jessica Mole, designer of the Jessica Anne clothing range
AS A young entrepreneur, Mole wants to contribute to the uplifting of women through the personal styling workshops she’s hosting this month. “Our workshops will celebrate who we are as individuals. We all have different roles and take on responsibilities and it’s great to take some ‘me time’ every now and then,” says Mole.
She adds that as a woman, it can be quite an overwhelming task choosing clothing items.
“I create clothes for women who are looking for beautiful, contemporary clothing that also have a classic element. I give you the tools and show you how to wear clothes in a way that is flattering to your body shape. As an experienced stylist I understand how a garment should be made and how it should fall on your body to be flattering.”
We speak to Mole about her clothing range and workshops. How would you describe your collection and what was the inspiration?
My collection is a mixture of classic silhouettes with fun, quality fabric that’s breathable. My vision in making clothes is for women to feel amazing wearing them. I focus on creating clothes that are timeless and also work for different body types. What are the challenges you face as a designer and entrepreneur?
Starting a business is often a “one man show” and as an entrepreneur you’re often required to wear many hats, which is tough and character testing; sometimes even lonely. But the joy of achieving a goal is one of the most satisfying things. I’ve learnt to avoid fear of failure and try my best to learn from my mistakes. From the stay-at-home mom to the woman in the workplace, what advice can you offer a woman on what she should have in her wardrobe?
Always have the basics. Basic, classic clothes are key because they are timeless and can be worn on many occasions. Basics include black tailored pants, black skinny jeans, dark wash denims, white collared shirts, a tailored blazer, a denim jacket. Once you have a good few basic items, you can build from them, dress them up or down and add trendy items that add personality to a look. What does Women’s Month mean to you and the brand?
Women’s Month is one of my favourite months, because I think women need to be celebrated.
Celebrating women is close to my heart because I know what it’s like to look in the mirror and not feel good about myself. I have learnt that inner beauty really is important and starts with you. Healthy living through relationships, eating well, meditating and spending time that’s good for one’s soul. Outer beauty is really just an overflow of what is happening on the inside.
That said, it’s as important to look after your outer appearance, because that’s how people perceive you; it reflects who you are to them in many ways. Always put that extra bit of effort into getting dressed in the morning, you’ll be thankful at the end of the day. What would you like to achieve through your personal styling workshops?
I want women to feel beautiful about themselves, to walk out the door in the morning and feel confident in who they are. It’s an amazing feat to feel comfortable in one’s skin and I hope to help women get on the right path towards that! How does the workshop incorporate the South African woman, who comes in all different shapes and sizes?
Every woman has a unique body type. In the workshop, you will learn what to wear for your unique body type and how to wear it. I think as a woman you know how hard it is to put an outfit together that works for your body type and that you feel comfortable in.
But what do you wear when? When should you wear formal attire? How to do your hair and make-up and what accessories should you have? We discuss all this with practical examples.
Mole hosted her first workshop in Johannesburg on Women’s Day and she will be hosting another in Cape Town on Saturday, August 26. The workshop covers practical and individual wardrobe advice; hair and make-up tutorials; manicures. Breakfast, tea/ coffee is included, “and of course, a little champagne” she says. As well as a gift from Jessica Anne’s store including an information pack. Visit the website for further details at www.jessica-anne.co.za