Back to Consult CHiC Pros Main page

sQin: Brand New Flava In Your Ear

Earrings Designer Quisha Saunders

You can't seem to lose those last ten pounds, you're hair frizzes, and your makeup isn't quite right — what's the Cocoa Chic to do? Why not flash some ear candy? The new jewelry line sQin by Quisha Saunders offers an array of charming pieces. The designs are super chic and trendsetting with names like 'Dew-licious' and 'Brazen Bird', made of elements such as leather, feathers, sequins, lace, and lightweight metals. All eyes will be on your ears; everyone will be looking at your beauty enhanced by the jewelry, not your flaws. At Quisha's Q&A session, she did what she does best, she gave us an earful!

CHiC: You are an actress — why take on the role of designer?

sQin: A genuine, innate love for fashion. From early on in my youth I was constantly altering clothes and jewelry in an effort to design my own individual style. With regard to accessories, altering progressed to pure design. I just started doing it, with no training under my belt.

CHiC: How long did it take for your jewelry to take off?

sQin: Windows of opportunity with regard to jewelry design began to open for me with relative ease right from the start. Wearing my earrings and receiving numerous compliments was all the push I needed to give marketing them a try. I started out selling my earrings on consignment and soon after I was accepted into the FORWARD designer fashion incubator (www.forwardnyc.com). I am currently giving the world of online boutiques a try. I hope the momentum of success keeps moving in a positive direction.

CHiC: What influences your design choices?

sQin: The wide range of skin colors and hair textures that represent the multitude of beautiful individuals on this planet. As a woman of color I feel that it's my responsibility to create designs that don't exclude against any social group based on skin color, social identity, or body type. The accessories I design are accessible to ALL women and navigate well from street, to glam, to Cocoa Chic!

CHiC: Do you feel that it has been harder to succeed in design as a woman of color?

sQin: Thus far, being a woman of color hasn't played a greater role in the design world than it does in my every day life. Obviously, different individuals with varying mentalities will have personal responses to my skin color, but overall business is business. The designed product is what's being sold, not the designer, so skin color and looks play less of a role, than say, in the entertainment industry.

CHiC: Any style tips?

sQin: Don't shy away from bright colors, they look amazing against all shades of brown.

CHiC: What's your forecast for fall accessories?

sQin: For fall, I'm predicting that bigger will be better when it comes to accessories.

CHiC: What are your accessorizing tips?

sQin: Don't overdo it. Wearing too many accessories is like wearing too much makeup - it's garish if anything, and definitely not pretty. If the accessories are modest, you may be able to get away with more, but if your accessory of choice is very bold in texture or color, do yourself a favor and allow that to be the central accent that compliments your outfit. It's never chic to look like you tried too hard by putting on every cool accessory in your collection.

CHiC: What are your thoughts on trends?

sQin: I think trends are quite boring if you follow them too strictly. Trends are unavoidable, especially if you shop in any major department store. The key is to take small elements from the current trend and use them to accessorize your own unique style. For example, the cowboy boot trend seems to still be holding strong — so if you're going to stick with it, at least make an effort to find a pair that no one else has. Search thrift stores or your grandmother's closet, but don't buy a brand new pair from some trendy shop in Soho. You want to look like a confident style vixen, not a boring copycat.

CHiC: Any current pieces you consider c'est COCOACHiC?

sQin: All sQin designs exude a delicate balance of grace and flair that every modern fashionista aspires toward — especially the Cocoa Chic woman.

CHiC: What must every Cocoa Chic have?

sQin: Self-confidence and a pair of earrings that go with EVERYTHING!

Quisha Saunders' sQin designs honor the feminine spirit with unique, decorative accessories.

By Ellen Rosner Feig

Back to Consult CHiC Pros Main page