Time for my favorite part of the week, ICYMI!!!

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ICYMI ₊♡₊˚ 🍒・₊✧ ₊

Happy Sunday Angels!!

Oooooof. This week has been pain. Like, five days straight of being comatose in bed, riding out my first elective surgery —the kind no one talks about because it looks so natural, that of course, I’m going to. I actually vlogged the process which I have yet to see someone do. I decided I’m going to dedicate a solo issue to it once I’m a few more days post-op to dive into all things about my decision, costs, recovery, etc. so let me know if you have any questions.

♡ Last Week: The week has been filled with trying a bunch of the therapies and methods found in Bryan Johnson’s documentary, Don’t Die, (that I quite enjoyed watching) including; hyperbaric chambers, lymphatic massages, red light therapy, and lots of sleep. I tried out this startup’s new sleep supplement that the juries still out on and this leg pillow saved me. Even post surgery I plan to use it daily. Being so vulnerable and focused on recovery, it made me take a hard look at the longevity startup market out there and I can’t wait to take you along on my Lifeforce journey now that my biomarkers are complete.

♡ This Week: But there’s no rest for the wicked and this week is busy. I’m interviewing the woman GP behind the world’s first ever $60M creator fund that is literally about to turn the creator and startup world on it’s head, hosting a full day volunteer day with Defy Ventures and then flying to London on Thursday to make my swelling and inflammation even worse. But for good reason!

Pray for me.

While I’m recovering, I’m turning it over to my other half, Katie, with an HSR Case Study that breaks down the hype, the hate, and the double standard in drop culture—and trust me, you don’t want to miss it. Katie is Mejuri’s former CFO who helped build a $1B business with a drop model and no extra inventory sitting on shelves.

We’ll be back with a special issue this week with Paige Rowin’s, Sr. Director of Marketing at BILT, ICYMI interview on how to nail Brand Events, Details in 2025 as a follow up to last week’s issue on the Price of Being Cool.

To enter this week’s giveaway, I’d love to know:

Okay, back to bed.

Love you all, mean it. ♡

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This Week’s Mood Board

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This Week’s Episode

Building a Multi-Million Dollar Fashion Startup as a Walking Red Flag Solo Female Founder: Kristine Locker on Reinventing Online Shopping and Betting Everything on What’s Next.

If you’ve ever had 100 open tabs while debating a purchase, returned a wishlist item you finally bought, or wondered why brands keep pushing affiliate links instead of listening to consumers, this episode is for you.

You can connect with Kristine on Instagram (⁠⁠@kristinelocker⁠⁠)or shop with Kristine on Locker.

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Consumer News

♡ the brands, people, places, things that have captured my attention ♡

♡ Women’s Health & Beauty ♡

• Huda Beauty sells its fragrance brand Kayali to co-founder Mona Kattan and General Atlantic, marking a return to full founder ownership - from Instagram.

• Sienna Naturals, co-founded by Issa Rae, expands into 178 Sephora stores, a milestone for the scalp-focused brand - from Instagram.

• Opulus, the single-serving skincare brand from Clarisonic’s co-founder, shutters after failing to scale - from Beauty Independent.

• Cecred x Ulta Beauty launches nationwide on April 6, 2025, further expanding Beyoncé’s beauty empire - from Instagram.

• Kosas lands a four-page feature in Vogue, showcasing influencers from their Hawaii brand trip - from Instagram.

• California considers banning anti-aging skincare for kids, raising concerns over youth beauty marketing - from LA Times.

♡ Media, Entertainment & Creator ♡

• Beyoncé’s new perfume photo sparks major fan speculation about the next drop in her fragrance line - from Yahoo Entertainment.

• Quinn, the audio erotica app founded by Caroline Spiegel, is changing the way women engage with intimate content - from WSJ.

• Paris Hilton partners with Vestiaire Collective, bringing pre-loved luxury into the spotlight - from Vestiaire Collective.

• 437 taps viral creator Manana Arakelyan as the face of their new activewear campaign, proving the power of influencer marketing - from Instagram.

• Halle Berry pivots to venture capital, investing in health and wellness startups for her second act - from LinkedIn.

♡ E-Commerce, Retail & Social ♡

• Nike x Skims launch NikeSkims, a body-sculpting, performance-driven collection dropping this spring - from Instagram.

• Heaven Mayhem Eyewear launches February 27, featuring new styles Vittoria, Sloane Black, Margaux, and Sloane Clear - from Instagram.

• Lancôme x Dairy Boy collab teaser drops via Paige Lorenze’s IG Story, sparking excitement for the upcoming release.

• Locker’s App is LIVE in the Canadian Apple App Store and world wide for iPhones as of Feb 21. Kristine was on the show this week and I also am an advisor and investor in Locker and the app is life changing.

♡ Tech, Business & Investing ♡

• Celsius buys energy drink rival for $1.8 billion, solidifying its market dominance - from WSJ.

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ICYMI: Female Founders are Under Fire

If you’ve been on TikTok lately, you’ve probably come across videos like this one where girls are crashing out after missing product drops from their favorite influencers. In Dairy Boy’s latest Valentine’s Day drop, the coveted Bubblegum Camo Collection sold out within literal minutes, sparking mixed reactions from fans. Founders like Paige Lorenze, Lindsey Carter, and Chelsea Parke Kramer have come under fire for supposedly “gaming the system” by using hypebeast culture to drive sales.

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So What’s Really Going on Here?

Launching a successful clothing line is about more than aesthetics—it takes sharp business instincts. With high upfront costs and long production cycles, profitability hinges on smart demand planning, strong margins, and brand loyalty. Let’s break down some key concepts: