Fashion has always sorta been around me. First I'm an African American woman born in the 90's and WE have always been fly. Younger Lotta is inspired by the Disney girlies of my time, That's so Raven, Hannah Montana and Teyana Taylor on "My Super Sweet 16", I only dreamed to grow and own closets as dope as theirs.
I'm also from Chicago and the girls that get it, get it. Being from Chicago we say "gym shoe" instead of "sneaker" and boy was I a gymshoe head. I'm the youngest of 4 and my aunt ensure my siblings and I were in the newest shoe without hesitation, she kept a shoe man on speed dial. Jordan ones were my favorite sneaker and when I got old enough to get my first job, every paycheck went to shopping sprees on Saturdays with my best friend Mia. We would meet up and take the Red line to the Water Tower in Downtown Chicago. My go to's included Akira (when it was a Chicago Boutique) The Gap, and any shoe store that had the latest drop in my size. During this time Akira was notorious for their buy 1 get one for $0.01 on their shoes and clothes so coming home with my hands full with bags was normal.
Having attended catholic school up until middle school and then charter schools, it wasn't until my junior year in high school, after transferring to my third high school, before I no longer had to wear a strict uniform to school. Previously I was use to changing my shoes when I got to school because at the very least if I HAD to wear a uniform, I was most definitely going to bring a change of shoes. After starting my junior year in Public school, it was when I really got to fully explore and play with my style.
For the last 10 years I have worked in education, from student teacher, to classroom teacher, to working in operations in various roles all the way up to a Director of Operations and working in school bus transportation vendor management, shopping has always remained my get away. Regardless of what time period I have been in my life, fashion has remained constant.
From Solemate Shoes to Lotta Looks
In 2020 I started "Solemate Shoes" a shoe boutique and it was really my first time getting my feet wet in building a brand. During that time, it was a way to use fashion yet again, as a way to escape from the reality of what we all were experiencing, isolation during COVID. While the business did not survive its first year in business, it opened my eyes to the possibilities of no longer having to escape my reality with fashion, but really leaning into the thing that I have enjoyed all these years and connecting with people through it. I knew that with more time to build resources, I could see myself operating my own business full time.
Lotta Looks is a women's clothing boutique where our goal is to help women lean into their love for fashion at an affordable cost. Our brand is centered in community and service and through vendor events, our online community and other curated events we plan to create and share space for women to recharge and be in community with other women. Whether it is in Nassau, Boston or Trinidad, Lotta Looks is a brand where you can always find an outfit for the occasion. I am super excited to be on this journey and is looking forward to connecting with you all.
Subscribe to our email list to stay in the know of what we have going on.
Best,
Charlotta Blackman
IG: whereslotta
TikTok: Lottatravels