Kai Avent-deLeon, 26, grew up in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn, so when she felt ready to open her own boutique, it seemed like the perfect location. Sincerely, Tommy, which opened in early fall, is a minimal shop accented with marble and metal that reflects Avent-deLeon s personal aesthetic. Turning her eye into a brand is something she s been working towards since she was a teenager (she cut her teeth as a manager at Aritzia and Chanel stores), and here she discusses what she wears to work now that she s finally the boss.
We ve officially been open for seven weeks. I always knew I wanted a store since I was about sixteen. My first job was ten years ago at a small boutique in Fort Greene. The store I worked at was innovative; they were there right when the neighborhood started to change. The owners took me under their wing. From then on I knew I was passionate about it. Every job that I took afterward was with the intent of learning as much as I could about running my own store. I wear a lot of pieces from Sincerely, Tommy. It works out because when I m buying for the store I gravitate towards things I would pick out. That s something that most buyers do the opposite of, but I think it s more fun to pick pieces that tell a story and look like one collection after you buy them. It s also cool for customers to see how they look on someone else because they are a bit daring. Without fail, every time I wear something that I m selling, someone buys it on the spot.
I always dress for comfort. I wear a lot of oversize pieces and a lot of neutral colors—beige and grays. My favorite thing in the world is to wear a dress with some cool sneakers. There s something feminine and classic about it, and because I m on my feet all day I want to make sure that I m able to function and not have to worry about being in heels. It s not practical. Even just being in the space, you want to have a presence. Because we re so new I have a lot of customers who ask me questions. I try to show that I know what I m talking about and that I understand what I m selling and that there s a purpose behind it. To me, especially nowadays, there s something very special about a woman who can pull off the oversize look. Women tend to go for fitted, low-cut pieces. They feel like they need to show something off. I try to show women the beauty in an item and how much more special that is. I do that when I m dressing. I wear a lot of turtlenecks! They always make me feel powerful. It s like the pieces a man would find unattractive, I find attractive. I like pulling off an androgynous look. I do a lot of metallics. I love a metallic shoe with an all-black outfit and a funky coat. That s what you ll see in the shop too.
My hair is usually out big and curly, which is an important part of my style. I try not to change it. I stay true to myself even if I m meeting with a brand or showroom. I want them to know who I am and what I represent. I m the girl with the crazy big hair. I don t wear heels. I don t wear a lot of makeup. I think it stands out. For me, believing in my vision and paying very close attention to my generation and seeing what s out there and feeling dissatisfied motivates me. Seeing this store from start to finish was a personal accomplishment. As a 26-year-old, you can work your ass off and create something like this and have a vision that s completely your own. Knowing that keeps me going.
I actually got written up once when I was working at Chanel because they asked me to straighten my hair and I wouldn t do it. That was probably the downfall of my job there. They re a lot more corporate and even as much information as I learned—and I m very thankful for my time there—I m still not one to compromise to change the way I dress or look, because I really believe in it. I ve worn my hair natural for my entire life and to me it represents more than just “This is my hair.” I got a lot of advice when I was opening up my store. The most important thing is to have laser focus in every decision I make, whether it s taking on a new brand or putting together an event. I am very careful about how everything is curated. I really want to create a brand here versus just being a store. Everything that s chosen is done with a purpose.
