A Night of Fashion and Girl Talk: “The Ladies First Experience”

We Love Ladies First threw their inaugural social “The Ladies First Experience” Thursday night in partnership with Diane von Furstenberg’s New York City flagship store in the Meatpacking District.

For those who may not know, We Love Ladies First is a growing brand and website focused on women empowerment. Features on the website include fashion, entertainment, career, lifestyle, spiritual and love.

JENBKLYN, (Jen from BK/Jennifer Le) founder of We Love Ladies First and radio host of ‘BK Brunch’ on WQHT Hot 97,  recalls recognizing the lack of women in her workplace. She remembers how two years ago she was sitting at her desk when she noticed how there were so many guys walking in.

She said she asked herself, “Where are the women? I want to build a platform for women. I don’t know how, but I’m going to do it.”

From there, JENBKLYN  created the idea of the show “Ladies First”.

“From then on it just flew, which then extended into my ‘We Love Ladies First’ brand, the website, and I just saw a better vision for it,” she shared.

 Pictured: Delaila Catalino (PR/Branding), JENBKLYN (Founder/CEO), and Savannah Nicole (Creative Director) We Love Ladies First Executive Team

Every woman here at ‘The Ladies First Experience’ is both a boss and a visionary. Many have founded their own businesses, blogs, and non-profit organizations. They are self-starters and game changers working in male dominated industries.

One attendee, Marjoriet Matute, founder of The Real Urban Classy Blog, made it a priority to attend the event.

“We’re out supporting the ladies, anything that’s inspiring and brings women together, I have to be there,” she said.

 Pictured: Marjoriet Matute & Mirtha Carpio of The Urban Classy

Marlena Ortiz, founder of Beating Cancer in Heels and cancer survivor, was also excited for “The Ladies First Experience”.

“We love meeting empowering women and hearing their stories,” Oritz explained. “I’m always in need for inspiration, this is a great event to do so and be surrounded by beautiful clothes.”

  Pictured: Vanessa Richardson & Marlena Ortiz

The room was filled with women of diverse narratives and backgrounds. In the store, there was plenty of fashionable  clothes, makeup, food and drinks. Cocktails were provided by Jack Daniel’s, food provided by Fig & Olive.

Each woman who walked through the doors wrote down a question for the five chosen followers of We Love Ladies First who were chosen to be styled at the flagship shop. They were later interviewed on their new look by JENBKLYN.

Carolina Wang, one of the lucky five, won a makeup and styling session with personal stylists of Diane von Furstenberg. After her touch up, she said she felt great, beautiful and very powerful. Wang herself is a powerhouse, as an avid fashion professional and founder of EATGOODNYC.

Under one roof, women were having fun and feeling confident. Attendees arrived from the fashion, media, music, and tech industries to connect with other women.

Winners who were chosen answered questions such as what was their girl anthem was, what came to their minds when they heard the words “Ladies First”, and what success meant to them. The ladies chose songs by Beyonce, Rihanna, Lana Del Ray and Bob Dylan. Some described Ladies First as “authenticity”, and defined success when they truly listen to their hearts.

The event continued on with DJ Katrina B as attendees were chatting it up.

Creative Director of We Love Ladies First and Brooklyn artist and media content creator, Savannah Nicole, describes why they started The Ladies First Experience.

“We wanted to throw an event for women giving them an experience that we haven’t been able to get before,” Nicole said.

Sapphira Martin, founder of Sass Boxx and marketing project manager at Hot97, shared that, “When women can work together, in situations like this, we can definitely conquer the world.”

Pictured: Founder & Ceo JENBKLYN

Throughout the bustle of the inaugural event, founder JENBKLYN happily concluded that tonight will be one to remember. She left us with words of advice for women who want to make it in their respective industries.

“Do not give up, a lot of people give up because they hit a roadblock, doors aren’t opening for them, but you gotta keep on, gotta strive through and push through and worse case scenario, which is what I did, if doors aren’t opening for you, you open them yourself. You create your own brand, you create own movement, and eventually everything will fall in line afterwards.”

She also encouraged women to utilize their talents.

“Use your brain, your creativity, and it will take you far,” she advised.

JENBKLYN tells us that there will more experiences with We Love Ladies First, one already in the works. She hopes to continue to bring women together and eventually become a multimedia brand, the whole shabang.

Be sure to check out WeLoveLadiesFirst.com and the show produced on Hot 97.

All photos by Melissa Ly.