Jala Khateeb, 28, Cleveland
Teaching artist specializing in dance, fitness and environmental wellness, teaches ballroom dance to kids and Goddess Masala Bhangra dance. She's the CEO of the recently launched Love, Yoni, an organization to help women discover their divine inner-goddess.
How do you describe your style?
I'd say I'm goddess-chic. To me that represents something divine, mysterious and majestic with a modern day twist. I'm an artist, so I like to express myself through what I wear. My look is colorful and joyous.
Where do you shop?
Thrift stores are my favorite. Every time I walk into a thrift store, it's like walking into a magical candy land for a treasure hunt. I'm obsessed with treasure hunting. I love yard sales, too. It's all about finding things that you can't find anywhere else.
Where does your goddess-chic look come from?
My essence comes through what I wear. I love life and I like to express my appreciation for the people and cultures that have influenced me. It comes from my Islamic background. Islam is very diverse. I am influenced by many cultures and I take my experiences from them with me.
What is Yoni?
Yoni is a Sanskrit term meaning womb, a woman's sacred place. It's the gateway to our temple.
Do you have any fashion icons?
Not really, but I'm influenced by things I see. I saw a monk in the airport. I was wearing a mustard color scarf and he was wearing a robe in the same color. It was a sign. I get inspired when I see things that connect to me spiritually. This is how Love, Yoni came about. This is how the goddess idea grew and being aware of my own spirituality and being able to connect in an artistic and expressive way without being preachy about it. It's a way to spark conversation. People ask me what I'm all about.
Do you stick to a budget?
I work on a thrift budget. I like buying on sale or clearance, even at department stores. At the thrift stores, I look at clearance and only shop on half price days. I stick to those parameters, or I'll go shopping crazy.
Do you have any great fashion finds?
There are so many. Everything I find is a treasure. My goddess-sister friend LaToya says, "In order to get the next best thing, you have to be willing to give something away." I've been practicing letting go of some things; even things I really love because I know that the next great thing will come around. I donate back to Goodwill or I'll share them with friends.
Do you stick to any rules?
My biggest rule is to go with the mood of the morning. I don't really plan outfits because it depends on my mood. It's a part of color therapy. I've been learning about holistic wellness and color therapy. So, depending on how I feel, I might draw a certain color that I need to be in that day to help my mood. It's a visual thing, too.
What are your favorite accessories?
I'm musical so I like wearing stacks of bangle bracelets. I love the clanking they make, like a noisemaker. I also like earrings and I collect hats. My goal is to bring classics back and hats are classic.
If money were of no concern, what fashion item would you buy?
Oh, hard choice. I would buy a traditional hand-made silk kimono. It's regal, elegant and flowing.
Where do you get your sense of style?
I get my style from my mother. She wore more of an Afro-centric style. She wore very colorful stuff. She has a regal, classy style. She's changed a bit now and says that I inspire her. I mix those early influences with my Islamic influences to form my style.
How has your style changed?
I went to an Islamic school where we wore a uniform and had to be covered from head-to-toe. I wasn't sure of my style yet. By the time I went to high school, which wasn't Islamic, I tried to follow some of the trends and discover who I was, but my mom still influenced my look. Clothes were loose, nothing could be tight. I had to be mindful of what I wore.
Did you ever rebel and try more risky styles?
The rebellious thing for me was not wearing my headscarf. It's a choice that you don't get to make when you're a kid. When I made the choice, I enjoyed my hair being free. That was how I rebelled in college.
What's your best fashion advice?
Wear anything that makes you feel beautiful and sexy. Be goddess-chic, that's sexy and indestructible. Maybe people think I'm crazy in some of the things I wear, but my look makes me feel empowered. Own who you are and be true to yourself.
There's a real freedom in that. What else do you collect?
I love tunics. I love the embroidery and the cultural inspiration. I love pieces from India. When I see them I grab them and work them into my looks.
Are there any beauty products you can't live without?
Aloe vera gel and coconut oil are must-haves. I put coconut oil in my hair. I also use it for moisturizer and I ingest it. It's an anti-bacterial; it's good for everything. I put aloe vera in my hair and I drink aloe vera water. It's good for you.
How do you stay in good shape?
I dance and do tai chi and Shaolin Kung Fu. It helps me with my dancing. It helps with my balance and with staying in shape. I also teach the Masala Bhangra Workout. It's dance and fitness. (See Masala Bhangra Ohio on Facebook for info.)
What does style mean to you?
For me, it's a reflection of my culture. Style is the embodiment of all the parts of me. It's my upbringing and my ancestry. I get to be classy and modest. Style is my values and my culture.
What is too modest, what wouldn't you wear?
I have friends that wear burqa-style. They are veiled and covered from head-to-toe. I'm working on a photo documentary capturing friends and family who cover. It's my way of depicting the modern, conservative, classy Muslim woman. Sometimes, during traditional events I might dress traditionally. For my everyday look, I try to balance. If my legs are showing, I won't show much arm and vice versa.
There's nothing wrong with leaving a little to the imagination.
I agree. I hear that all the time.