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Western Fashion Icons and Social Media Influencers, Marijka Hunsaker, Madi McCall, and Kendall Coon
214 Plays3 years ago
Uncover Western fashion trends with three of the best fashion influencers as they keep it real, speak life, and share their stories to success. Join in, as Marijka shares a raw and real story from her younger years, Madi gets vulnerable, and Kendall admits she was in high school when the world ran on Zoom. From rodeos, to concerts and everywhere in between, these ladies share about how to style your best Western outfits. For a full episode transcript, visit our website at https://www.justinboots.com/en/kick-your-boots-up.html
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Transcript
Introduction to 'Kick Your Boots Up' Podcast
00:00:03
Speaker
You're listening to the kick your boots up podcast, where we swap stories of the West, whether you're just waking up or getting in for the day, come on in and kick your boots up. Thanks for joining us on the kick your boots up podcast.
Meet Exceptional Women from Across the US
00:00:15
Speaker
Today's incredible guests are truly exceptional women. I'm so excited to be surrounded by a cowgirl corner of empowering women.
00:00:22
Speaker
They're from all across the United States, and that's what's going to be fun. We're going to be able to provide a lot of different perspectives on fashion, styles, trends, and even have some real talk along the way. Come on in and join us with Kendall, Maddie, and Marika.
Stories and Experiences of Maddie, Marika, and Kendall
00:00:35
Speaker
Thank you all three for being on our podcast. I just want everyone out there to get a chance to know you. If they're familiar with you already, they might learn something new. If they haven't even heard of you, then now's the time for them to learn. Maddie, let's start with you. Tell us about yourself.
00:00:50
Speaker
Hi, first of all, thank you so much for having me. I was really excited about this.
00:00:55
Speaker
I've never done a podcast with two other girls in it, so I think that's really unique and fun. I am from Southwest Texas. I call myself a first-generation ranch wife. I married a guy who was a fifth-generation cattle rancher. I was not born in the ag industry or Western industry, and I just kind of threw myself in full throttle and went for it.
00:01:23
Speaker
Now I help run a cow-caw operation. We have a beef business. I'm a Western fashion and lifestyle influencer. So I feel like I've really taken on the role of the lifestyle. Maddie, thank you for being on with us here on the Kick Your Boots Up podcast. I learned something new about you every time I think you post something about yourself. So thanks for opening up with us a little bit and let's move on to Marika. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Marika.
00:01:51
Speaker
Oh boy. Um, yes. Thank you for having me on the podcast too. I'm excited to be here. Um, I am originally from Utah. Um, two years ago I moved to Idaho with my husband and we just built a house. And, um, I wouldn't say that I was born into the Western lifestyle either. My mom is actually a fourth or fifth generation
00:02:14
Speaker
Rancher and then she married my dad who was a city boy and it was actually my oldest brother that got us back into kind of the ag industry so I grew up doing 4-H showing show steers and then me and my husband now we have two horses that are old and I'm learning how to ride he kind of grew up hunting
00:02:35
Speaker
and using horses for pack trips and so yeah we're kind of learning to homestead learning how to you know get into the cowboy lifestyle but um it's all all new to me but i love it i love that way of life um and i am a western fashion influencer um i specialize in modest western content and so kind of more conservative dressing um is my niche
00:02:59
Speaker
and I've been doing this for a couple years now and it's it's just grown from something really little to something really big and so I influence full-time online and that's my full-time job.
00:03:13
Speaker
Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. The lineup here is awesome. I can't wait to hear about our next girl, Kendall. Let's tell us, tell us a little bit about yourself. So that was both really tough acts to follow. Thank you all. Um, like they said, thank you for having me on. I'm so, so excited. Um, so hi, I'm Kendall. Uh, I'm 20 years old. I originally, and still live born and raised in steamville. And I'm still there now, um, against a lot of people's better judgment. Um,
00:03:39
Speaker
I actually come from a long line of ranchers and cutters and so that's kind of how I got into the industry. My grandparents showed horses and still show them now and then my dad rode Bronx. My mom though was born in Stephenville and not into the western industry and also I kind of got a mix of
00:04:03
Speaker
As city as Stephenville can really be, as well as my dad's side. So that's kind of where my style came from of a little bit of Western and a little bit of flair. I have been influencing for roughly four years now. I got into the industry when I was about 16. So I was one of the youngest. And so that, that was a big learning curve and all the things. So it's been great to be here.
00:04:28
Speaker
Oh, wow. Thank you all three. I'm sure everyone listening already knows all about you as UI, but I'm so glad to hear a little bit of tidbits every time.
Journey into Influencing and Branding
00:04:36
Speaker
And I think we should just go ahead and get started on the topic of how you guys got started influencing. Obviously social media was part of it. It was a big deal, but you guys were already living awesome lives and then now you're able to share your lives every single day. So I don't know who wants to go first, but let's just kind of talk about your journey of getting started influencing in the humble beginnings.
00:04:55
Speaker
I can go first, since I went first. Okay, how I got started correct. Yes, yeah.
00:05:06
Speaker
them. So I was actually in music school. I had this big plan to move to Nashville and be like a singer songwriter or director or something. I just knew I wanted to be in that world and I met my husband. I was 20 and
00:05:26
Speaker
I was not looking for anybody that knows me very well would be very shocked that I was married or met my husband at 20 years old. I just don't come off as that kind of person. But I just like I kind of had a little change of plans, obviously, with him taking over the ranch that we live on right now in Southwest Texas. And
00:05:52
Speaker
So I kind of was starting to think like things are getting serious. What can I do, you know, and like for a job and to like
00:06:04
Speaker
fill my time out in the middle of nowhere. This was kind of before I knew what my life would look like but we'll get into that later. And I saw like I followed a lot of the og bloggers like Amber filler up and Caroline like in the more mainstream worlds, and so I
00:06:23
Speaker
dating a rancher and a cowboy I started following a lot of girls like Marika which is one crazy for me like me and Marika are friends but to be on a podcast with her like life kind of comes full circle you know what I mean but I started following like her and Shaley and
00:06:42
Speaker
at the time like classic Concha, Hannah Ferguson was one of my favorite people. And I just literally it was back in the days where I was just gotten DMs was like, hey, I want to do what you're doing. Tell me what I'm supposed to do.
00:06:57
Speaker
And that always like mind boggles people when I tell them that they're like, really, that's what you did. I'm like, yeah, now they're all my friends. So I think the industry has definitely changed in that aspect, but I was lucky enough to come along where everyone was really welcoming. It was kind of new for everyone, I think.
00:07:17
Speaker
And so, yeah, I honestly just kind of I was like, well, I can take a good picture and I'm creative and I like fashion. And so and like I kind of started my whole thing on not knowing what I was doing. And I started with what did I used to call it? Oh, like learning how to be a ranch wife. Like I would make fun of myself and not knowing like how to ride a horse or a round of cattle. And so it kind of just took off from there.
00:07:48
Speaker
What a cool story. I have so many questions about that. Like, like now, do you feel like you're a pro? Do you feel like you're a pro cowgirl? I don't think that anyone in the Western world that's honest would ever say that they aren't always.
00:08:04
Speaker
Um, I always feel like an idiot. Um, there are some things, like I've graduated from like carrying a bucket when we worked. So like actually like cutting or, you know, like help. Like I've definitely graduated in areas, but if you ask me to name every part on a saddle, there's no way. So, I mean, I should know all of those and I don't think that I could, if it makes you feel better. Yeah, that does. It does. It does help me.
00:08:36
Speaker
Well, how about you, Marika? Let's just go ahead and keep the order. How did you get started influencing?
00:08:41
Speaker
Um, I started, I mean, I feel like it was only four or five years ago, but I guess we're coming up on six years. Um, after I got married, um, I was working at a title company and social media was kind of starting to take off. Like, like Maddie said, influencers started to become a thing, you know, people that you followed and looked up to.
00:09:04
Speaker
um and i remember seeing the coyote cowgirl they did a huge shoot out at some movie barn and they flew in girls from texas and oklahoma and california and they had these t-shirts and
00:09:20
Speaker
So I saw that and I was like, I want to be one of those girls. I want to wear the tall boots. I want to wear the shorts. I want to wear the jewelry. You know, I had gone to an agriculture school. And so I was swing dancing every Wednesday night in college.
00:09:40
Speaker
and so that's where I learned like about boots and the difference between fashion boots and work boots and blingy jeans and going dancing and so I feel like that really like influenced me you know kind of the college that I went to and then after I got married social media kind of influenced me more that I wanted to be a part of it saw the iconic uh the coyote cowgirl
00:10:03
Speaker
photoshoot. And then I had also been on Twitter back in the day. I'm not on there anymore. But like, that I feel like I got connected with a whole bunch of girls that way. Like, Abby, I cannot say her last name. Fogarty. Rock hard abs. It's Arnold. Yeah, there we go.
00:10:22
Speaker
Like I remember she was on Twitter, Brooke Juma was on Twitter, and so I kind of was starting to get to know some of these girls just over Twitter, sharing their style, Gypsy Jordy of course, and just all of those OG girls that I started to get to know on Twitter. I quit Twitter, Instagram took over, and I decided I wanted to be a part of that group.
00:10:47
Speaker
Well, I'd never owned a piece of turquoise. Turquoise, that was a whole new area to me. And so I was intrigued by it that I wanted to wear turquoise jewelry, but I couldn't afford the real stuff. So I started making it myself and I ordered in a whole bunch of turquoise beads and I sold jewelry for when I first got started into the industry. And I called myself Hunsaker Handmaids and I would make all sorts of different jewelry.
00:11:15
Speaker
um lots of just turquoise beads that you could buy from Joann's or uh I don't know Michael's and I did that for a long time and then I kind of got into it and I did it and I decided okay I want some of the real stuff you know because you see a tweet or two that's like if you don't on the real stuff.
00:11:33
Speaker
you're not cool and i took that to heart and i was like i want to be cool i gotta have the real stuff and so i remember buying my first pair of turk or silver earrings and they were 95 dollars and they were three huge conchos i think uh i saw jenna noels wearing them and i was like i want those earrings and so i bought those and i was like i can't believe i just spent 95 dollars on these earrings that was absolutely insane um but that was beginning to the start of
00:12:02
Speaker
me being turquoise and jewelry obsessed with western fashion and and I decided okay these girls are posting on social media I can do the same thing and so I started by brand wrapping for a handful of companies and little by little they'd they'd send me a piece of clothing I post a selfie in it um
00:12:24
Speaker
And little by little, I've been able to grow my brand where they'd send me a shirt or an outfit and I book a photo shoot and I do photos, post it to my social media, tag them, buy this. And I was living just kind of paycheck to paycheck, you know, here's this, uh, let's spend all my money to do photo shoots, buy the turquoise, buy all of the clothing. Um, and after so long, this hobby got more and more expensive that I was just like, okay, let's, it's time to make some money doing this. Like I can't keep doing this out of my pocket.
00:12:53
Speaker
And so little by little, I said, OK, can you pay for my photo shoot to the brands that wanted to send me something? Yes. OK, can you pay me for my time and my photo shoot? OK, now pay me for my time, my photo shoot, and for me to post on my social media. And I've been able to grow my brand that way, but that's kind of how I got started into it all.
00:13:10
Speaker
And you mentioned Twitter, the early days of Twitter. I think, Kendall, you kind of got your start with Twitter, right? Was that? Yes, actually. Well, do you have any I don't want to cut her off. No, that's that's it. Yeah. Yeah. Tell us about it. So this is funny. Sorry, not to fall off, but I literally just posted a story like an hour ago. Should I get my Twitter back? I was like, I feel like everybody is going back to Twitter. Should I do this? So sorry. Anyway, no. So I.
00:13:40
Speaker
So my first actual influencer thing was from Twitter, but we're jumping ahead just a little bit. So I have always been, my mom was, is to this day, she's gonna listen to this, don't let me discredit her, always very, very into fashion. And so since I, I mean, there's pictures when I was little, little bitty and I'm in a fur coat like the one I had on and I've always, always been into it. Well, coming from Stephenville, there's a lot of influencers that are there now, but when I was like,
00:14:08
Speaker
12, 13, 14, obviously I didn't know any of them and no one my age was doing it, but I followed Cheyenne Swoop, now Cheyenne Good, one of the OG, OG's. And when she was in high school, I think I was probably going into middle school and she would always wear these like full Western fashion outfits to high school. And I was like, well, she can do it, I can do it.
00:14:32
Speaker
And so I like the picture if you scroll far enough on my Instagram, the pictures are still there. But I was like 1314 and I would get all dressed up for eighth grade freshman year and make my mom take my picture. On in front of our red door our front door was red and I wear all her old jewelry and all this stuff.
00:14:53
Speaker
And so that's, I remember like posting every single day. I was like, I have to post, I have to post at noon. I have to post. And all my friends were like, I really don't think it's that serious, honey. And I'm like 14 years old. Like, no, I have to get my Instagram right now.
00:15:07
Speaker
Um, I kept doing that. And then, um, just for like the fun of doing it, I never really thought like, Oh, I want to be an influencer. Cause I didn't, back then that wasn't really like a, like a coined term. Um, but I like shoots like the coyote cowgirl one. I know exactly which one you're talking about. Um, stuff like that. I was like, I just want to be one of those girls. It was never a money thing. I was like, I just, I just want to be there.
00:15:31
Speaker
Um, and so when I was 16, I used to have 22 inch extensions of jet black hair. Um, I am a natural strawberry blonde. Um, when I was 16, I woke up one day and I said, I want to be red hair to guy. I want to be a redhead again.
00:15:46
Speaker
nobody else does that um but I did and so I booked a hair appointment and I went from 22 inches of jet black hair to short red hair and um some girls were not being so nice on twitter um so it kind of drew attention to the fact that like oh she had this like dramatic change and at that point I I've always had quite a like a pretty decent little twitter following
00:16:10
Speaker
um and so at that point it like just drew more attention to it and um riley j photography actually ended up reaching out to me for it was a shoot with her bees distress tease and um
00:16:26
Speaker
Highway hippie jewelry. And that was my very first shoot I got spoiled that it was Riley J my very first photo shoot. And so that was the summer when I was would have been summer 2019 I believe, if I'm not that my math is right.
Reflections on Influencer Beginnings
00:16:43
Speaker
And so that whole summer, I was going all over Texas all over Oklahoma.
00:16:49
Speaker
on the weekends to these different shoots and the way that I would get into the shoots um is that and I don't see them as much anymore um but people used to do model calls all the time and so I like followed the hashtag model call and anytime I saw a model call whether it was a brand or photographer or anything I messaged them and I was like wherever you are I will go and I cannot tell you how much money I spent that summer
00:17:13
Speaker
traveling in gas and I was not I got some products but like there was no monetary like Marika said like all of it was coming out of my pocket um and it didn't dawn on me until like almost like six months later then I was like you know
00:17:28
Speaker
There's a lot, I'm giving a lot of money to this and I'm not really getting anything back. And so about six months later, I did my first shoot with Hannah Ruhl, West Moon Photography. And it was actually a wedding shoot. I was a child bride at 16 years old. It was great. It was actually so much fun.
00:17:48
Speaker
But after that I started consistently working with her. She had a whole team of us models that she hooked us up with brands and did all the things. And so that's how I got started into it. I was 13 in front of my mom's front door and then I was getting picked on on Twitter and then it just kind of just then I was a child bride and here I am.
00:18:13
Speaker
I love that you threw the child bride in. That was very necessary. When my mom posted the behind the scenes photo of me and my husband, fake husband, getting married, she said, child bride on her Facebook. So my mom did it first.
00:18:31
Speaker
And you know, interestingly enough that you brought up, you're considering getting a Twitter again, Maddie. Um, I, I grew up one of the OGs like following all of them on Twitter as well. And then yeah, same thing. Where is my Twitter? I think it's inactive and I don't even remember the password. So I think that's really funny too. In high school. Um, some girls, a lot of girls used to make fun of my voice in high school because it was a lot higher than it is now. And so they were tweeting about me and I just like,
00:18:59
Speaker
you know, 16, I like went off and it was like a Twitter, what do they call it? Like a, I don't even know. Like this time. Yeah, I don't know. I just decided it wasn't for me and I never had one sense. So, but I thought- You're better than me. I did not clap back. I actually still have Snapchat memories of me crying the day after I dyed my hair red. And then the next day I am getting packed to go to a Riley J shoot. So it all worked out.
00:19:27
Speaker
Yeah. It's kind of fun to go back and relive the humble beginnings, but do you guys ever go back and think about what, um, how you used to do things to now? I mean, granted, you guys kind of touched on it a little bit where you used to spend more. Obviously now your goal is to make more, but even just like the energy or the, I mean, like the OG Instagram was like, you barely put any words and it was all hashtags. And then now it's kind of not. So let's talk about the changes over time. Like.
00:19:54
Speaker
What you guys used to do when you started out, that could be with anything makeup. What, what were your signature things then to now? I know Maddie, you touched on it a little bit, but let's hear more. Like, um, I'm just genuinely curious. And a lot of people out there are probably are too. They, they remember the original days of influencing of like, nobody really knew what it was yet. And you guys kind of helped pave the way. So tell us about that.
00:20:18
Speaker
What? My eyebrows have made an improvement since the old days. I hope everyone has right like trends have changed there. Like obviously we've shifted into more of like I think ebbs and flows for sure but like right now like when I first started it was I remember being so stressed out that I couldn't have a I didn't have a photographer and like I couldn't take like a
00:20:45
Speaker
like a posed picture like you know what I mean now it's like who cares like everyone wants disposable picture looking stuff um I think that there's a place for both because I appreciate both for sure but um
00:21:02
Speaker
It's not so much like having a perfect feed. I remember I bought a Tezza book. If y'all want to know who Tezza is, I use all of her filters for all my stuff and I bought her book that literally teaches you how to have the perfect Instagram feed. And now no one looks at that anymore. I don't know.
Shift Towards Authentic Content
00:21:21
Speaker
I there's things I miss about it too like um when I first started follow Fridays were a huge thing and that's literally how I got started like Hannah Ferguson shared one of my pictures and then all these girls started following me that had huge followings and um I missed that aspect for sure I think that the it's not as like
00:21:45
Speaker
helping each other out anymore. But as far as posting goes, it's definitely more like people just want to see the real you and in a way that's really nice, but in another way, it's like, okay, well, I'm actually really boring. Like I live on a ranch with my husband and I was like, there's only so much I can show, you know what I mean? And
00:22:05
Speaker
So I feel like sometimes the creative stuff gets taken for granted nowadays, which kind of sucks for people like us. I feel like who really take pride in putting together a shoe or an outfit and taking a lot of time to do that. And it's just like more and more, it seems like people don't
00:22:24
Speaker
really want to see that anymore and it's frustrating, so I guess there's two I don't know if I answered the question at all. Yeah, you did oh yeah. No, it definitely feels like stuff now.
00:22:37
Speaker
It's almost fast. Like it's all like, you know, I remember, and I know we still do it, but planning out the elaborate shoots and the elaborate outfits and everything and putting so much time into these posts. And it is, it feels like the like quick snappy, Oh, here's a selfie, like does so much better. And it is a little disheartening of I'm like, put so much work into whatever it was. And I'm like, y'all like the selfie that much so much more. It just, it does feel, it feels just faster, I guess.
00:23:08
Speaker
It makes me feel like we should go back to what was not Twitch. It was the one where you made collages and it was really artsy and creative. I can't even remember what it was called. Oh, I don't either. It'll come to me later. Oh, it definitely will.
00:23:34
Speaker
For me, when I think about when I first started and what I do now, as far as content goes, when I first started, I was taking a screenshot
00:23:45
Speaker
From a brand that I would rep for, I would take a screenshot of a product, like a t-shirt, and I would post that screenshot on my page to be like, go buy this. Use my code Marika10. Did anyone use it? I don't know why. I don't know. In my head, I'm like, well, if
00:24:11
Speaker
People follow a boutique and they post the same product photo and they enjoy that like then they can follow me and I can post the same thing and they will enjoy that too. That's where I came from. And even before like I started getting like a larger page. I went back and deleted all of that because I'm like, this is
00:24:32
Speaker
So fringy, like, let's just get rid of that. So I have no like trace of it. You can't find it on my page, but that's what I used to do when I
Fashion Trends and Influencing
00:24:40
Speaker
first started. I was like, yeah, let's just take a screenshot of the shirt from the boutique that I rep. And I'm like, go shop at this place. Discount code. I think I was, I don't know. So yeah, my content has changed a lot. You know, cause I like, let's buy the outfit, let's model it. And then let's post it. Let's be a little more professional.
00:25:03
Speaker
I love this little trip. This was good for all of us, I think, but we're going to go ahead and move on to the next thing. Just for time's sake, I could sit here for hours with you guys, but we got to keep the people wanting what they want. We've talked about the trends of influencing in social media.
00:25:22
Speaker
Let's talk about the trends of, um, the fashion trends that have changed and evolved around the time. Um, originally, I mean, every, I feel like every decade has something, but every year almost has something. So maybe think about back when you started what you were wearing to what you would wear now and maybe brands and things like that.
00:25:41
Speaker
Yeah. So when I, I used to wear headbands, like a freak, like with every single outfit, like I'm from New Mexico. And so Marika kind of talked about this, but like turquoise jewelry and like that Southwest feel was huge wherever I grew up.
00:25:56
Speaker
just maybe not in like a Western way. It was just like normal. Um, so I just wore headbands all the time. And it's funny because headbands right now are coming back and I hate them. I hate them so much. Like I like stare, I go to market and I'm like, no, like I have a huge forehead. I can't do that. Like there's no way. There's no way, um, that for me. And then, um,
00:26:22
Speaker
I've personally, this is probably going to upset a lot of people, but I've never been a bell bottom girl. Like they don't look good on me. I'm sure they make my legs look shorter. So that's just something I just can't get behind. They look great on other girls. I just can't do it myself.
00:26:40
Speaker
The and I was I was the one that wore bell bottoms like five, six years ago. And now I don't wear them anymore. Like I've had my time. Okay, ready for the next thing. I never got into the like
00:26:54
Speaker
super crazy bell bottoms like though like all the different patterns and everything but i had this one pair of just plain denim bell bottoms and they weren't too super wide they didn't have any rips in them and if i could find them today i would wear them today for the sole fact that they were the best jeans ever uh but i never got like super into all of like the crazy bell bottoms
00:27:17
Speaker
You know what I did wear though was plazo pants. You would cut the bottom off of them and make it into a headband from them. Yeah, like the silky, all the different patterns. Yeah, I did wear those, but I didn't wear bell bottoms at all.
00:27:35
Speaker
Yeah, I'm really happy. I'm such like a tomboy more girl and like casual. Like I love that like dad jeans are in and like oversized clothing and I love that. Like I just want to look like a hobo for the rest of my life I think. Let's just take a minute for the palazzo pants and then even the gauchos. Do you guys remember the gauchos? I'm just seeing girls wear those sticher and I was like that's so inappropriate. Why are you wearing this sticher?
00:28:04
Speaker
I don't know what those are. Is my age showing? What are they? Our age is showing. For sure. You'll have to look them up. They're shorter palazzo pants. My next question for you guys is, um, I feel like you're all original in your own ways, but is there a trend that you claim that you feel like you're the OG with and it's okay. You don't have to be humble. Is there something that you feel like you either think in your mind is cute and you want to keep it going or other people have started doing it that you've noticed that you've done first.
00:28:35
Speaker
Oh, my. Yeah, I think Maddie is the original comfy cowgirl. That's right. I was going to say, yeah, I would definitely say I made OG comfy cowgirl if you're listening and you don't know what that is. I really just like if you follow me, I wear like oversized t-shirts and I love baggy clothing, but I like to like make it cute. Like I'm not going to just show up somewhere and look like a hobo even though I joke about it.
00:29:04
Speaker
Like I just love to be comfortable and I'm not like a glitz and glam girl. Like there's definitely those moments where I am, but even whenever I am dressed up to the nines, I'm still like super comfortable. It's more of like a boho type feel. So I definitely have coined that. And what I love about that is I have a lot of stuff coming with that for this year also, but small plug.
00:29:30
Speaker
I love that like girls don't feel like they just have to share like their outfit that they went out in like they can share like their touring outfit like touring outfits can be cute you know or like your workout outfit can be cute like it's all about like any outfit can be cute and comfortable and functional and so that's definitely something that I've pointed in on personally.
00:29:54
Speaker
for my brand. We all agree on that one. I was hoping you would say something about it for sure. You inspire me. I wish I could dress like you every single day.
00:30:03
Speaker
And then there's like Marika, I'll just like push it over to her. She's definitely like she said, the more modest fashion, but she always makes everything look so, I don't know, like classy. I was literally getting dressed this morning trying to figure out what pants I wanted to wear with my boots. And I was like, Marika can tuck, Marika's tall enough that she can tuck her pants into her boots and it looks cute and I just can't do it.
00:30:27
Speaker
can't do it. And every time I see you do it, I'm like, I could totally do that. That would be so cute. And then I'm like, she's five inches taller than you. You cannot do that.
00:30:39
Speaker
Yeah, I promote that a lot. I mean, I don't know if I would say I'm original or that it's an original idea, but it is something that I've taken on for my brand. It's kind of just the way that I grew up, a part of my religion and a part of the way that I just live. And so it's easy for me because I dress this way. And so that's what I share. And I get a lot of appreciation from people of all ages, which is nice that I don't just attain to one
00:31:08
Speaker
age group but I can attain to any age group um you know just depending on what their preferences are on how they want to dress but everything you see me wear is more conservative more modest you know it's going to work for for any age and if that's somebody's style then I'm the perfect girl and if it's not then you know that's okay too and and that's what yeah that's what I try and support and promote is you know just dress in whatever you feel comfortable in and that's why I think
00:31:36
Speaker
there, you may not be the original for it, but you're the first like modest dresser that you do it without being condescending or like aggressive with it or I don't feel condemnation or like, whatever, it's very inviting and all of this stuff. And that was why I was so drawn to it. Thank you. Yeah, no, I never want anybody to go ahead.
00:32:02
Speaker
Yeah, for me, I wouldn't I wouldn't even like when looking at your stuff and knowing you for as long as I have. I wouldn't even like be like, Oh, she wears modest fashion. I just be like, No, she just she's just classy. Like, Oh, no. Yeah, we know I never know the days I think.
00:32:19
Speaker
Yeah, and I never want anybody to feel you know, judged and I just whatever they want to wear in. And honestly, I'm probably jealous of whatever you guys are wearing. I was like, I wear that. It's so cute. You know, but it's just things that I choose not to wear. But you know, I admired on somebody else. I was like, Oh, she's so beautiful. I just love that so much. And, you know, it doesn't work for me, but it works
Adapting Fashion for Seasons
00:32:42
Speaker
for others. And, you know, I support you 10 fold you go girl. So
00:32:46
Speaker
I love how real you guys are. And I remember just the other day, Marika, you posted something where you're like, I'm going to wear this dress to the wedding. And then it ended up not fitting. And you were like, you know what? It's too tight. I'm going to change into something else. I love how real you guys keep it. All three of you. I feel like this was like a good group to have. Um, but kind of moving on, you talked a little bit about tucking your jeans in, showing off your boots, a little bit about that. If you guys could design your own pair of boots, what would they look like? Dream pair. Um, like we're talking endless opportunity wild. Let's get, let's hear it. Let's hear the crazy ideas.
00:33:18
Speaker
I love my name. Oh, I'll go ahead Kendall. So you probably have a more thought out, complete cohesive thought than I do.
00:33:28
Speaker
Um, no, I just, I love anything with a vintage like vintage style. So my boots would be a hundred percent like look like they came from the 1940s, probably, um, or 60s, 70s. And then I love earth tones. So anything in that like dark greens, um, like.
00:33:51
Speaker
just like sunset colors. That was literally what I told my wedding planner when I got married, sunset colors. And then probably some like Navajo conchos or something, cause I'm from New Mexico. So it'll probably be me, a thousand percent. Those sound cool. Those do sound cool. Mine, they're definitely going to my knee. I really, I love a really, really tall boot.
00:34:21
Speaker
Can I steal the rainbow stitching? Is that an option? Can I steal the rainbow? Sure. I think that is my idea. I don't know, maybe I would want them to be like a really fun color, like a pretty pink, maybe a pale purple with the rainbow stitching and a cutter.
00:34:43
Speaker
purple boot this year from someone. I just want like a straight purple, really pretty lavender boot. So I'm with you on that. Literally telling Emily today that I needed the purple rovers to crawl out of the archives. I'm here for lavender. I think there's a few girls on our marketing team too that are like, yeah, lavender. So we'll see what we can do. Rayka, how about you? What do you, you have a few things going on. So what, what would be your dream pair, dream pair boots?
00:35:12
Speaker
I do have a couple things going on. Um, I do have a boot coming out. Um, and it's a pink boot. And so that's exciting. Um, but I don't know when I think about a cowboy boot. I'm with Kendall. I want something that's really tall. Just cause I have, I have tall. I have really tiny little chicken legs. And so I like a boot that covers those and it, you know, you can't see that. And so I like a boot that's really tall. Um,
00:35:38
Speaker
And I don't know, I'm kind of the same way that I like something very traditional, something that's going to be classic, that's going to be around for a long time. You're going to buy this boot and you're going to wear it very often. And so that's kind of my thoughts behind a dream boot. I really liked Maddie's idea too with like conchos, having something that just as a statement boot has some unique features to it that, you know, it's a boot you wear and that's the piece.
00:36:05
Speaker
Um, so yeah, that's, you know, kind of my ideas, but then I have a pink boot coming out. And so that's really exciting to, you know, see that come alive. So you guys all do a very good job of, um, being different and setting the pace. And I see you guys reuse and re-wear and make them your own every time. So how do you think you guys will wear a pair of boots through all the seasons? You know, like if you get one pair of boots, that's let's say the sunset colors we were talking about, how do you make them look like a fall boot? How do you wear boots through the seasons?
00:36:33
Speaker
So I am a big jacket girl. That was one of the things that I was going to say for like, I didn't coin jackets don't let me get to ahead of myself, but that is something that's like very true to my brand I've always been a jacket girl. The collections a little ridiculous.
00:36:51
Speaker
I mean, even if you have like a bright purple or bright pink, like we were talking about boot, taking that into fall and into winter, I would do that with jackets and then taking it into summer and stuff. Um, like fun colored skirts and like just different patterns and stuff and tying it all in, but I wear pretty bright colors year round. So I don't have to mute my colors very much. I would, um, just to like go off of Kendall, I think.
00:37:19
Speaker
seasons like I kind of have a color palette like my colors are like blue green um.
00:37:27
Speaker
like, orangish, whatever. And I just, I personally just changed the tones of those colors. So like darker ones for different seasons, lighter ones for lighter seasons, brighter ones for springtime, but I'm still always in the same color palette. And so, I mean, I think everybody should own like a pair of black, white, and brown boots personally. That should just be, you know what I mean? Just to go with everything.
00:37:52
Speaker
But there's winter whites, and then there's whites for summer. I think it's more about just owning what you're wearing instead of making the clothes fit for different seasons. Obviously, don't wear a fur coat in the summer. It's hot. But as far as boots go, I feel like that's the great thing about them is they're so transitional. You can wear them with everything. Oh, yeah. I agree there.
00:38:20
Speaker
yeah and for me, same thing i'm gonna i'm gonna wear my boots all year long of all the different seasons, and you know, for instance, I have the color of the green Clara boot from you guys. And I love that that green is going to be perfect for fall and winter, but also you know it will pop with a spring dress during the summer, you know it's just a cute neutral green is a neutral to me, and you know it's just good to wear with anything.
00:38:51
Speaker
Oh yeah, you guys are all spot on I love the different insights there I always love to hear how everyone styles everything too so thanks for sharing that.
Fashion Trends Game and Closing Connections
00:38:59
Speaker
Okay, I, I know that we've had so much fun throughout this whole conversation but now we get to really have a lot of fun. I have a game for you guys to play. And it's called fashion, yay or nay.
00:39:10
Speaker
And basically what's going to happen is i'm going to say a term or a few words about something with fashion. And you guys can either say yay or nay and then, if you want to elaborate you can if not then that's Okay, to like if you feel passionately about it, and you need to speak up just speak up okay so we're going to get started with the first set of fashion do or don't and it socks and sandals.
00:39:32
Speaker
My personal favorite because i'm a grandma at heart. No. I would say nay as well, I mean, but sometimes like you have cute fashion socks like those see through ones with like a pair of like strappy high hills.
00:39:48
Speaker
I don't know. Yeah. And I respect it, but no. Okay. Well, let's move on. Neons. Yes. Yes. Like super neon. Yay. And they can I get, can I be an in-between? I will be like super, super neon. I can't go too bright. I'm really pale.
00:40:16
Speaker
I think one, one, one statement piece of neon with an outfit. Yeah. Don't worry. Don't just like rainbow it up, but. Cool. Right on. Low rise jeans. That's okay if you do.
00:40:38
Speaker
I used to have, they actually got snatched from me, I'll be quick. I used to have a pair of vintage Harley Davidson low rise jeans. They changed my mind on low rise jeans forever and ever. They were the best pair of jeans I've ever owned. They scampered off somewhere. But they changed my mind on low rise. Interesting. Yeah, I just can't do it either.
00:40:59
Speaker
You are 20. That's true. Well, we'll ask you in about five years, Kendall. Yes. Okay. Bell bottoms. We've already heard from Maddie about these. Back in the day. Yay. But now probably nay. They had their moment. It's over now. They'll come back. They'll come back again. But right now, I know.
00:41:28
Speaker
Yeah, so save them. It was the vibe for the day. It was the vibe back then. Save them because they will, like you said, they'll come back. But I just wish I would hope everyone listens to this because I just hate them so much. I am so passionate about the fact that I hate you so much. I just I'm kind of a tall girl, too, and I just don't like the way they make me feel. I just feel different. But anyways. OK, middle part. Yes. Yay.
00:41:58
Speaker
Yes. Right. Look at all. I'm a little lopsided. That's just cause my face is a little lopsided. So the part has to go with it, but it's mainly. And I just have to touch my hair at all times. So no one ever knows. Ooh, there you go. Hide it. I think I know the answer to this one. Pastels. Yes. Yes. Yes. Right. We were like the queen of pastels.
00:42:25
Speaker
All the spring. I just think springy colors. When I think of you, I think of long skirts and springy colors. Yep. It's almost springtime in Idaho. I'm looking forward to it. Actual seasons over there. We were talking about transitioning pieces and I was like, I don't have to transition much for winter in Texas. And I was like, Marika actually has like winter over there. I came from New Mexico and I have a whole coat closet that never gets used because like yesterday it was 80 degrees here.
00:43:02
Speaker
What do they say around here? If you don't like the weather, just wait and it'll change. Cause it's so true. I actually was just texting with Pam Minnick this morning and she, and we were talking about the weather from Texas, Oklahoma. And she said yesterday, bikinis today, snow suits. It was so glad about chili. I wanted to wear this new fur coat of mine that I.
00:43:22
Speaker
couldn't validate. And it was cold enough. Yeah, it's cold here in Texas. And then it was hot yesterday. Yeah, crazy. All right, back to our game. Back to our game. Fast fashion. Yay or nay? Nay. I probably shop it a little bit, but I tried to be conscious, but just depends on the brand. But yeah, usually nay.
00:43:47
Speaker
It does same I i'm a nay like if I could not there's like certain times a year, like in a far like i'll go to nasty gal and get like. Two or three like pieces are just like put my outfit together, you know what I mean, but for the most part my outfit is centered around not the fast fashion part of it, so I don't know it just.
00:44:08
Speaker
I definitely not like, so no, not Shane. Is Nasty Gal considered? I have to, I think like Sheehan, when I think of like fast fashion, like I got a lot of my NFR stuff from Nasty Gal, if it makes you feel better. Yeah. I think it is considered fast fashion. I just don't think, I think it's an actual, like Sheehan I think has a lot of shady stuff going on. So I think that, yeah, I don't know about Nasty Gal or like, I do pretty little thing a lot, just like it is cheaper, but
00:44:38
Speaker
A lot of them are also in Europe, so they're cheaper, but you pay for shipping just FYI. We have three more before we go. Let's move on to vintage items. 100% yes. Yay. Enough said. They stand alone. I couldn't agree more. Feathers? Yes. Feathers? Like feathers on your clothes? Feathers?
00:45:04
Speaker
Maddie says sometimes. And then last one, bows on clothing. Yes. Yes. I like them as like, um, like an, instead of a bolo tie, like I like them tied around like a collared shirt. I love that look for sure. I'm not a big bow girl. I don't like, I can't have things too tight around my neck. That's the only reason like you were talking about, like it's cute. Me personally, I feel like I'm suffocating. Even my wild rags really low right now. I can't have anything.
00:45:36
Speaker
Well, you guys are all super real, like I've said before, and I feel like you guys are open books. What you see is what you get. And I know that if anyone has any questions about influencing or becoming an influencer or how to get started, how to build a media kit, they can always reach out to you. So let's take the time now to plug ourselves. Let's, um, website, social media, whatever you're interested in, whatever you're promoting right now, feel free to speak up and tell everyone where they can find you.
00:46:01
Speaker
Yeah, so I'll go first since I, we'll just keep it in a row. My Instagram is Maddie McCall, it's M-A-D-I, and then McCall underscore. And that is like all around Instagram, Pinterest. I'm probably gonna get my Twitter back, so Twitter. On my personal Instagram, you can find our beef business and stuff like that, but Maddie McCall underscore is the place you'll find everything else.
00:46:32
Speaker
Um, mine on Instagram, my handle is Marika underscore dam. So that's M-A-R-I-J-K-A underscore B-A-M like a beaver dam. Uh, my maiden name is Dame, but when I made my username, dam was just cooler to say. So, um, Oh my gosh. I was just a little rebel when I was little, you know.
00:47:00
Speaker
I thought no way she would say damn. That's awesome. Very cool. And then on my Twitter it's Marika Hunsaker and that's my married name so I should switch it but everybody knows me as Marika. Damn, Dame, whatever. I always said damn. I was like Marika damn, you know.
00:47:29
Speaker
I think I pronounced it wrong for the longest time. I know I am the urban cowgirl with three L's for my personal account because Instagram would not let me only put one L and having to say with three L's in business settings is not super fun. And then my photography account is the urban cowgirl media with only one L this time.
00:47:55
Speaker
Right on. Well, I appreciate you guys taking the time out of your very, very, very busy schedules. And it's been so fun getting to know your stories. I've learned a lot about you and I feel like I'm leaving with a friend. So thank you for that. And thank you for always just shedding a light on each other and lifting women up. That's kind of what this podcast is about. So we appreciate you guys doing what you do. Thank you.
00:48:15
Speaker
Thanks for having us, all of us.