The Power of Meeting Icons

There’s something about meeting iconic people that has the power to stick with you when you let it. It’s as if their ability to channel that ‘star’ power oozes onto you.  It reminds you of your own dreams and values and shows that they are very possible and accessible.  You are reminded that they are also human, just like you, and therefore your ability to achieve your dreams is no different from theirs.

In recent weeks, I’ve had the privilege of seeing three icons in the fashion, interior design, and music industries. Not only was it exciting to see them, but also the fact that I saw each of them in a short span of time, made their impact greater. Being around such talented and successful individuals began to feel normal. Each gave me a gift that I will cherish.

My most recent meeting was with Barbara Hulanicki. I was quite starstruck like a teenager at a rock concert, barely able to sit still. A quick bio:

Barbara and her late husband opened a little shop called ‘Biba’ in 1960’s London. As she says “lads” like the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, along with Brigitte Bardot and Twiggy hung out at her shop. This was before they became famous, so it was all low-key and fun.  The shop offered clothing and accessories that were cheap, colourful, and different than anything else you could find at that time. Years later, after what was essentially a corporate raiding, she moved into interior design in Miami.  Today she has design projects all over the world and says she only goes home to do her laundry 🙂

She was so funny, warm, honest and down to earth. Yet, even at the age of 70, she held that rock star quality that I love. I hope I look that ‘cool’ at that age!  She looks vibrant. She dresses with attitude (likely without meaning to, which makes it more endearing), all the while being sincerely interested in talking to her fans. Here we are together…!

Her life story is quite the adventure, showing her resilience. She remains an individual and therefore, a sort of rebel, doing her own thing. That is not to say she doesn’t work with others. Her projects are notable and with individual venues (clubs, boutique hotels) as well as with large corporations such as Topshop, HomeSense, and Target. That to me is true success, an ability to ‘get on’ with the rest of the world while being you.  Watching her reminded me of the value of expressing and being yourself and how it really is the only way. In her own words, her advice was, “Listen to your psyche“.

I appreciated that she enthusiastically had a photo taken with me and took time to answer questions with true interest. Her curiousity and wonder are certainly qualities that have kept her vibrant and in the business for 50 years! That is meaningful. She isn’t just doing her job or trying to be ‘someone’. She is herself.  I have to say that I ‘fell in love’ more than I was before meeting her.

I’ll share stories of my other encounters in upcoming blogposts.  In the meantime, who have you been ‘struck’ by lately?

There’s something about meeting iconic people that has the power to stick with you when you let it. It’s as if their ability to channel that ‘star’ power oozes onto you.  It reminds you of your own dreams and values and shows that they are very possible and accessible.  You are reminded that they are also human, just like you, and therefore your ability to achieve your dreams is no different from theirs.

In recent weeks, I’ve had the privilege of seeing three icons in the fashion, interior design, and music industries. Not only was it exciting to see them, but also the fact that I saw each of them in a short span of time, made their impact greater. Being around such talented and successful individuals began to feel normal. Each gave me a gift that I will cherish.

My most recent meeting was with Barbara Hulanicki. I was quite starstruck like a teenager at a rock concert, barely able to sit still. A quick bio:

Barbara and her late husband opened a little shop called ‘Biba’ in 1960’s London. As she says “lads” like the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, along with Brigitte Bardot and Twiggy hung out at her shop. This was before they became famous, so it was all low-key and fun.  The shop offered clothing and accessories that were cheap, colourful, and different than anything else you could find at that time. Years later, after what was essentially a corporate raiding, she moved into interior design in Miami.  Today she has design projects all over the world and says she only goes home to do her laundry 🙂

She was so funny, warm, honest and down to earth. Yet, even at the age of 70, she held that rock star quality that I love. I hope I look that ‘cool’ at that age!  She looks vibrant. She dresses with attitude (likely without meaning to, which makes it more endearing), all the while being sincerely interested in talking to her fans. Here we are together…!

Her life story is quite the adventure, showing her resilience. She remains an individual and therefore, a sort of rebel, doing her own thing. That is not to say she doesn’t work with others. Her projects are notable and with individual venues (clubs, boutique hotels) as well as with large corporations such as Topshop, HomeSense, and Target. That to me is true success, an ability to ‘get on’ with the rest of the world while being you.  Watching her reminded me of the value of expressing and being yourself and how it really is the only way. In her own words, her advice was, “Listen to your psyche“.

I appreciated that she enthusiastically had a photo taken with me and took time to answer questions with true interest. Her curiousity and wonder are certainly qualities that have kept her vibrant and in the business for 50 years! That is meaningful. She isn’t just doing her job or trying to be ‘someone’. She is herself.  I have to say that I ‘fell in love’ more than I was before meeting her.

I’ll share stories of my other encounters in upcoming blogposts.  In the meantime, who have you been ‘struck’ by lately?