For SHAVONE., staying creative and engaged on and off the clock is a way of life. It’s part of her career, yes—she’s currently a full-time technology executive—but SHAVONE.'s varied interests are all essential in what drives her and keep her feeling her best. For instance, the LA-based creative doesn't abide by a traditional 9-to-5 schedule as she also wears the hat of musician, model, (newly published) author, and masterful connector, particularly among underrepresented communities through her organization Future of Creatives.
Even with what seems like a full plate, however, SHAVONE. lights up when speaking about the mood board she’s put together for a new SOREL sport sandal style that feels authentically in line with her on-the-go lifestyle. After all, her colorful, statement-making wardrobe is always grounded in footwear that can keep up with all the facets of her passions, goals, and boundless inventiveness. Ahead, SHAVONE. tells us how and where her creative energy is flowing these days, and shows us four outfits that allow her to navigate every space it takes her.
As an executive at a huge entertainment company, what does your role entail on any given day?
“In a lot of the work that I do, there's a never-ending opportunity to serve our communities and users, so my day is geared around setting clear tasks in prioritizing where you can make the most impact. I’m always asking the question, ‘Why am I doing this? How is what I'm doing serving underrepresented communities?’ Day in and day out, we’re finding ways to amplify the stories of underrepresented creators and voices on and off the platform.”
You’ve been a multi-hyphenate creative throughout your career, always working on a few endeavors on and off the typical work clock. What fuels this schedule?
“Curiosity and staying inspired by my creative community—the biggest aspect of staying motivated to work that hard is to make time for all the things that serve me and keep me at my best.
“For me, self-care and wellness are being creative. It's finding time to do my community work and events. It's finding time to make music. It's finding time to create fashion content, model, and do these other things that enable me to show up as my best self regardless of what environment I'm in—whether at work or with friends or family. It's important not to water down who you are—instead, lean into what makes you special and unique and what diversifies your perspective.”
So how does your style support and reflect all your creative on-and off-the-clock endeavors?
“On a day-to-day basis, if I'm going to an event or working from home or being active, my clothes need to be functional. I like stylish clothes, but I also want my outfits to be wearable in all the environments I'm mixing in and out of, from a creative perspective and a work perspective. And when it comes to shoes, I prioritize comfort over everything. I will wear heavy shoes, but I will not wear uncomfortable shoes.”
Right! We know you love chunkier soles. Why are they so key for navigating everywhere you have to be?
“Yes. I love platform shoes because it naturally elevates an outfit. As a tall person, I think it's important to add some more structure to your clothes. I just love how platform shoes, whether sneakers or sandals, like the amazing SOREL sport sandals, really can upgrade an outfit. And when it comes to just functionality and moving around, I do a lot of walking. Being in LA, I'm in my car a lot, but I'm also walking around. I love to support small businesses, so I'm always on the move. And I go to New York a lot for work and creative projects, too, so a sandal like SOREL’s that's open, cute, stylish, but also functional and has grip in the sole, is essential. It's the minor things that enable better mobility so the last thing I have to think about is my clothes or my shoes. I can show up to a meeting or show up to my day ready for anything.”
Tell us about some of the community-fostering projects you organize.
“With my creative collective, Future of Creatives, our mission is centered around supporting underrepresented creators, amplifying those stories that need to be heard, and bridging the gaps when it comes to representation for us across the industry. We do a lot of different inclusive-themed community meetups and collaborations and currently, we're working closely with Soho House, The Gathering Spot, and other membership-based professional communities to add more inclusive programming. Black Brilliance Brunch is a huge part of those efforts. We did our first inaugural Black Brilliance last year with Soho House in Los Angeles, and it was essentially a celebration of the next-gen and current Black creators who are shifting the narrative and pushing the envelope across the entertainment industry.
“Black Brilliance Brunch is all about acknowledging the brilliance of Blackness and we do it usually at the end of Black History Month—just as a reminder that, beyond the month, we have to keep pushing the envelope, keep fighting for equity across our industries, demanding nothing less, and staying accountable. A big gap we hope to help fill with FOC is to create more events to encourage conversation across the table and more peer-to-peer collaboration, openness, and transparency because that truly is the only way we get to a more equitable space.”
That’s incredible and such important work. For someone so busy, how important is something like day-to-night dressing? Are you someone who can wear the same thing from your 9-to-5 responsibilities to and 5-to-9 ones?
“I'm really excited about the style direction for the new SOREL sandals mostly because the sandals are so in line with my aesthetic. I love the different color variations, the pops of orange, and the versatility. One look is more of an athleisure vibe, which is my kind of day-to-day when I’m working from home, but also works if I need to run to a meeting or walk down the street to grab lunch.
“I like to add a little razzle-dazzle if I'm going to a new location. If I'm going out somewhere at night, I'll throw on a different coat or I'll change my top or bottom. I am more of a statement-piece-oriented fashion person, so I'll throw on a pop of patent leather, a little bit of shine, or velvet —I just think about ways to mix up textures and patterns.”
With all the projects you work on, how do you refill your cup when you have the time to be off the clock?
“I love writing, whether it's music or most recently I was focused on writing Black Internet Effect, which is the first book that I just released with Penguin. It was so fulfilling for me because, as a multitasker and multi-hyphenate, focusing on just one body of work was difficult. It meant having to sacrifice working on my album or other aspects of music or doing a shoot. I never really experienced having to pour myself into this body of work. It was difficult, but it was also super stimulating and it filled my cup creatively now that I can look back and see that it’s out in the wild for the world to consume.”
