
 
 
 Picture: Courtesy of Hannah Eko
 

 Hannah Eko
Hannah Eko is a author and educating artist. Her guide Honey is the Knife, “an eclectic therapeutic essay assortment rooted in satisfaction, compassion, and the Divine Female,” will be released on Wed., May well 5.
Explain to me what you’re sporting?
I am wearing a sequin costume from Eloquii, a as well as-sizing retailer, copper boots from Lonia (sweet, actually fashionable shoes up to dimensions 15!), a gifted malachite ring, and earrings I acquired from the Santee Alley in Downtown LA. 



How would you explain your all round design and style?
I would explain my type as sensual, highly effective, colorful, with a hint of glam. My sister calls me a “broke Tracee Ellis Ross” lol. Tracee Ellis Ross is definitely a vogue inspiration, so I will just take it! I am also motivated by Selena Quintanilla, Diana Ross, Grace Jones, Phyllis Hyman, Gwendoline Christie, Bianca Jagger, and about a dozen moreover-size models to include Denise Bidot, Valuable Lee, and Philomena Kwao. 


Is there one thing you don each individual day or generally that is a particular gift to oneself? When and why did you get it, and what does it mean to you?
I don a number of of my rings every day. I stated the malachite one which was gifted by a person I will always recognize. I also have a white buffalo ring I acquired for myself in Reno, Nevada, and a bumble jasper ring I purchased for myself as a present for ending the final draft of my e-book, Honey is the Knife. Rings are an quick way to decorate, and I love the total mystical styling of a whole lot of rings. Several of the rings are tied to a exclusive memory or a specific man or woman, and putting on them grounds me in the present.



In addition to my rings, I am a lover of perfume and transfer in in between scents. A lot of of my perfumes are items from my mother, sister, or 1 of my aunties and so sporting them reminds me that I am loved. 



What brought you to Pittsburgh and how very long did you reside here? What took you out of Pittsburgh and in which are you positioned now? What are the pros and negatives of both of those spots?
I came to Pittsburgh for graduate college, especially to satisfy a Resourceful Composing in Fiction diploma. I was in Pittsburgh for approximately four and a fifty percent many years. I am now back in California, my residence state. I would been feeling a pull to California for a although and skipped my loved ones. Then, COVID strike and properly, right here I am. I miss my buddies and local community in Pittsburgh. I liked being ready to run into people waiting around for the bus or likely to Total Foodstuff. I overlook looking at audio videos with my crew in my condominium and the art local community I was in. But, as as well a lot of of us know, Pittsburgh is not an straightforward location for a progressive, Black lady artist. In California, I truly feel there is house for my knowledge and my art, in addition I am around relatives. And as considerably as I like rivers, I was truly missing the ocean. 



Has your fashion of gown modified as a end result of the transfer. If so, how?
My design and style is a ton far more pleasurable now. I sense like I generally go into fashionista mode when I’m back again house (for much better and for even worse). I feel like I wear more colour, additional makeup, and, of program, the sunny times mean I wear less levels. No a lot more burly wintertime coats and snow boots, which is a excellent transform. 


Your reserve Honey is the Knife is coming out quickly. What item of your clothing or look would describe as Honey, and what would you say is a Knife?
Fantastic dilemma. I’m really digging suits these days a la Julia Roberts for the 1990 Golden Globes. I appreciate the inherent masculinity of satisfies, the boxy shoulders and the sharp lapels. I would describe this as Knife. But I also like femme-ing up fits by having my hair down, my make-up completed in a sensual minimalist form of way, and I have two pink suits. The slouchy consolation and slightly really hard femme glimpse feels like Honey to me. 



How has COVID-19 transformed the way you costume?
Sweats in matching hues definitely became a regular component of my wardrobe. I appreciate, really like staying at the same time sexy and cozy. I also dig Gen Z and their perseverance to outsized T-shirts and athleisure. I have turn out to be fewer tolerant of binding, tight clothes. If I have to wiggle into a piece of apparel, it is really not occurring. I have never been great at remaining unpleasant, and these days I am even a lot more about comfort: silky mumus, cream lipsticks, and puffy sneakers. 



What are you hunting ahead to this spring and summer?
I am hunting forward to having my guide out in the planet! Lord, it can be been a lengthy time coming. I also am thrilled to vacation a bit much more, to reconnect with close friends and relatives, and to check out the seashore. Also, I want this to be the summer time I truly get started brushing up on my Spanish. 



Anything at all else?
I know it can be really hard out there for women of all ages and femmes who are tall AND mid-dimensions/furthermore-measurement AND want to dress stylishly. Fortunately, there are far better choices out there than when I was a teen and resorting to men’s cargo trousers. Certainly verify out models like Nineth Closet, Prissy Duck, and Design Atelier. They are brands established by tall women of all ages for tall girls. I also have experienced very good luck with ASOS and Boo Hoo Official, which both have fairly respectable tall traces. These days, I like to make men’s garments operate for me (primarily big blazers) and most of my clothes are thrift shop finds. Possessing accessibility to an reasonably priced tailor has been a goddess-send for producing as well-quick sleeves and hemlines do the job. For shoes, Smash Shoes, Lonia, and Torrid have some excellent possibilities for the significant footed lady. Will not be afraid to experiment and locate out what works for you!
Hannah Eko
hannahoeko.com and instagram.com/hannah.eko
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