Fashion Bomb Daily's Founder Claire Sulmers Is Making Her Mark One Red Bottom At A Time
Black women are bomb.
Period. Point blank. The end.
It's a sentiment that we as a culture will continue to shout from the mountain tops in the epitome of #BlackGirlMagic in an effort to reaffirm our sisters and ourselves of our inherent dopeness.
And Fashion Bomb Daily founder and EIC Claire Sulmers knows that.
Claire Sulmers/Fashion Bomb Daily
It's about noon when we speak. And right on the heels of her annual Conversations with Claire, her empowering and networking sessions with some of fashions influential people, namely Bevy Smith, Duckie Confetti, and Misa Hylton. She's calm, cool, and collected. Which is in stark contrast to bustling sounds of New York City where the event is set to take place.
It's a time for those who are in the fashion industry, or aspiring to be, to have their own seat at the table while gaining insight and education into a world that can sometimes be both intimidating and judgmental. And setting up that table for others seems to be the overarching theme for the Harvard graduate herself. Starting her blog 12 years ago, Claire initially began Fashion Bomb Daily as a way for her to showcase her latest fab finds. But it slowly grew to be even more than she ever realized.
Realizing that there was a need for platforms who had their eyes on the up and coming fashion icons and influencers in the making, the blog became a platform to shine a spotlight on designers, stylists, and celebs who didn't get the recognition they so deserved. And after seeing multiple websites embarrassingly refer to style aficionado Ty Hunter as Beyoncé's personal train holder, Claire knew that the purpose for her platform was tied to something deeper. "This man was the one creating this image of Beyoncé that we all know and love for years and he deserved respect. For me, it's about our history and documenting our history. We have to preserve our legends and tell their story in a way that gives a fleshed out full view of who they are and documenting that for posterity."
Claire Sulmers/Fashion Bomb Daily
So, it's no wonder that followers and fans were dismayed when they logged onto Instagram earlier this year to see that their beloved page had disappeared. Citing copyright issues as the culprit, Claire was now faced with a decision: give up or pivot. "I always try to look at things from a spiritual perspective and ask myself what lessons should I learn from this and what is God trying to show me? It's been a really tough year, but it's been great in a lot of ways. I'm looking forward to Fashion Bomb Daily coming back, it's important to the culture and all the people who followed and appreciated what we did."
And it's with that awareness that Claire has been able to position herself as a fashion mogul and media maven. Being forced to focus on building her personal brand and stepping more into the spotlight to increase and maintain visibility has taught her major lessons when it comes to committing to and investing in yourself. She knows the power of walking with integrity and just doing good business.
And while branding herself may have once taken a backseat to FBD, it's something she's been able to navigate successfully thanks in part to her live events and consistent social media presence. Though the shutdown was less than ideal, it served as yet another opportunity for Claire to draw on her resiliency. After initially being rejected trying to get her foot in the door of the fashion world and passed over for opportunities with some of fashions influential magazines, she's learned that sometimes those moments can be both testing and teachable. "I think it's about going back to the drawing board and seeing how you can elevate. Maybe you have to think things through differently. But you have to continue to persist. So if I have to bang on the door until it opens then I will."
Claire Sulmers/Fashion Bomb Daily
"I think it's about going back to the drawing board and seeing how you can elevate."
It's that resiliency and empowerment that makes Claire not only a beacon of inspiration but also flyness. Fashion Bomb Daily has its pulse on trends before most mainstream outlets catch on. It celebrates and appreciates the diversity, style, and flair that Black women bring to the table of fashion. It is the epitome of representation in an industry that oftentimes overlooks and undercuts women of color particularly. From crediting Kardashians for making cornrows cool and bringing big butts back to designers adorning "little mini buns" and baby hairs on their models. Fashion has a hard time giving Black women the coin and credit we deserve. But don't get it twisted. According to Claire, we hold an advantage: We have a larger worldview plus our ability to be chameleons. Black women are willing to take risks and SET trends whether people acknowledge that or not. "Black women always say and will resound that this has BEEN hot because WE made it hot FIRST."
And that's facts if there ever was one. For Black women, our aesthetic, our looks, how we choose to wear our hair goes deeper than just trying to look good on the 'gram. It speaks much like our beautifully melanated skin as soon as we walk into the door. It makes a statement declaring just exactly who we are, how we feel about ourselves, and how others need to treat us. For the culture, our fashion means so much more. It plays a role in the trajectory of our lives and longevity of our livelihood.
Due largely in part to respectability politics in this country, how Black women choose to go out into the world is both personal, political, and powerful. And while the industry holds its fair share of flaws, for Claire, it is something she's committed to making her mark on one red bottom at a time.
"I love fashion and I will always show up for fashion."
Talk about #BombGirlMagic.
Keep up with Claire by giving her a follow on Instagram.
Featured image by Claire Sulmers/Fashion Bomb Daily.
Writer. Empath. Escapist. Young, gifted, and Black. Shanelle Genai is a proud Southern girl in a serious relationship with celebrity interviews, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and long walks down Sephora aisles. Keep up with her on IG @shanellegenai.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I Took Three Months Off From Work In The Name Of Radical Self-Preservation
In the fourth quarter of 2023, I finally did it. I pulled the plug! To be honest, it was a long time coming. I spent years juggling all of the balls in my life, and on October 2, 2023, I dropped every one of them and fell into surrender mode.
I couldn’t take it anymore - work, family, relationships, politics, death, the ramifications of COVID-19, and my fears creeping in. I had either put off dealing with these things, or I simply didn’t want to acknowledge them. Instead, my time, energy, and focus were on everyone and everything beside me. I pushed myself to the limit; then everything started to consume me. Burnout was swallowing me whole, you feel me?
All of this forced me to do some much-needed introspection which I turned into my self-proclaimed, "Fade to Black Season."
What is a “Fade to Black Season,” you may ask?
It’s a call to rest.
It’s a call to reset.
It’s a call to retreat into a deep, quiet space.
It’s radical self-preservation.
Deciding to step back from everything was not an easy decision for me. I contemplated taking a break from everything for many years until I couldn’t put it off anymore. If I didn’t take this time off, I knew I wouldn’t be able to truly show up for the life that I claimed that I wanted for myself.
I know I’m not the only one who has felt this immense weight on their shoulders. Why? Because I’m a Black woman. According to Every Level Leadership, 88% of Black women sometimes often, or always have experienced burnout. And let’s be honest here - Black women work harder than any other group. We are the backbone of our jobs, families, and community. Because of this, we must incorporate rest as an integral part of our well-being. In case there’s some pushback, I’ll leave this quote here for you to marinate on:
“If you are silent about your pain, they’ll kill you and say you enjoyed it.” - Zora Neale Hurston
The reality is that with piles of work and life obligations, many of us are walking time bombs. And, for me, two weeks of PTO/vacation wasn’t enough time needed to balance myself, so I took three months off. If you feel called to do so, let this be your inspiration to take your own “Fade to Black Season.”
Here’s what I did.
- Shadow Work: I became best friends with my journal and illuminated the things I hid from myself to heal. Shadow work consists of the things you don’t like about yourself, your conscious and unconscious fears, and other negative emotions that exist due to past experiences and trauma.
- Trigger Warning: During this time, I let my triggers become my wisest teacher. I asked myself why various experiences, news, or communications resulted in negativity. I observed them, listened, and learned why they took up so much space in my life. Then, I allowed myself to choose to be open to a different outcome or feeling moving forward.
- Get Back To Pleasure: I re-centered my pleasure. I had to remind myself of what turned me on. I allowed myself to take life slowly, engage my senses, and play. I signed up for every tantra workshop, went to art museums in the middle of the day, took movement classes, and went to dance parties. I moved all the stagnant energy out of my body.
- Let Others Lift You Up: I let my people love on me. I let my loved ones take care of me. This wasn’t easy. I was used to being everyone’s support system and soft space to land. However, in my time of need, I finally let my tribe show up and show out for me. My only regret is not letting them do this sooner.
- Social Media Break: I broke up with social media during this time. Reclaiming my time and attention was an integral factor in calming my nervous system. I put blockers on my phone, and when I felt the urge to swipe and scroll, I took a walk or picked up a book.
- Redefine Your Life: After doing this type of work, I knew that I would never be the same. In this new space, boundaries and balance are prioritized, and everything else has to fall in line. I now have the mental/emotional space and capacity to do my best work!
Best of all, during this time, I found God in myself, and I loved her, fiercely.
My “Fade To Black" Season allowed me to grieve in peace, rest, tap into unrelenting joy, and simply be. At this point, me and peace got a good thing going on. Nothing else will be tolerated!
For those of you who are nervous about taking the first step, use The Dufree Foundation’s DIY Sabbatical Guide to help you plan, prep, and prepare yourself for your sabbatical - this is something I wish I had done before I leaped. Consider going on a Divine Pause Retreat to learn tips and tricks to avoid mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual burnout.
For those who work in social impact, apply for The Durfee Sabbatical program, which offers $60,000 and a three-month sabbatical, so nonprofit leaders can be a lever for whole systems change.
The choice to take a sabbatical is up to you! Just remember to prioritize yourself and never pour from an empty cup.
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Featured image by Maskot/Getty Images