💚 A few months ago I was at Sephora Soho and an elegant woman came up to our Crown Affair display saying she recently heard about the brand and wanted to try The Renewal Mask, The Cleansing Scrub, and the Leave In Conditioner. As she filled her basket and was about to check out, her fabulous daughter walked up said, “Mom! This is the brand I was telling you about!” That’s when I met @faridaraafat and her mother, Dalya. They’re the type of women— and mother-daughter duo— that I built @crownaffair for: inspiring, intentional, kind, discerning women on their way. A few days later, Farida and I reconnected over Instagram and I learned that she makes the most beautiful custom-made clothing. She invited me to meet with her and design a Crown Affair-inspired suit. Farida studied at Parsons and designed for Tom Ford and Rag & Bone. After making clothes for men for most of her career, she decided it was time to take her expertise and finally give women the clothes they want, the way they want them. We met at my office in between my meetings, where she took my measurements and we went through beautiful books of fabrics and finishes. A few weeks later when I was back in NYC, Farida hand-delivered my dream suit and I was in awe. Her work is so intentional and I’m honored to have this suit as one of the most special pieces in my wardrobe. Her brand’s name comes from her mother. Farida describes her as a hard-working and professional woman, who like many women wears many different hats. She is a daughter, a wife, has a PhD, is a business owner, and a mother. To us, she is the symbol that women can do anything. So, this brand, @dalyanyc is for her, and all the other strong, determined, inspirational, badass women out there. Thank you, Farida for creating something so special for women like us. It’s why we do what we do — creating beautiful, intentional things that empower us to move through the world with more self-assurance. 💫