“I’m over right here writing romance, which is a style that has been seemed down on for dumb causes, most of them rooted in misogyny,” says Shirlene Obuobi, whose second novel, Between Mates and Lovers, got here out final week. When she’s not writing, Shirlene works as a heart specialist (!) in Windfall and attracts cartoons. Right here, she shares 5 colourful appears to be like and tells us about writing intercourse scenes…
Gown: Bronzeville Boutique, comparable. Sun shades: Amazon, comparable. Earrings: Jess a Little Store.
“Solely 13% of cardiologists are ladies, and solely 4% of cardiologists are Black. In med faculty, I felt like dressing tremendous female would make individuals see me as someway much less critical than my male classmates. However after I grew to become a heart specialist, I used to be like, Screw it. I’m going to face out anyway, so I would as properly put on what I like.”
Gown: thrifted, comparable. Sweater: thrifted, comparable. Bandana: Magnificence Provide, comparable. Sneakers: Brooks. Bag: Aspinal of London, comparable.
“After I completed my medical coaching, I noticed I had no private type however wished to. I employed a stylist, and he or she took me to Nordstrom for the afternoon. Her companies had been costly, however price it. She taught me to drag colours out of patterned garments to create one thing cohesive. My closet is now an explosion of shade, and I virtually by no means put on black.”
“I wrote my first novel within the midst of COVID. I used to be seeing horrible issues on the hospital, felt exhausted and scared, and located myself escaping by writing fiction. If I’ve free time, I’m often drawing or writing. These are my main stress relievers.”
Two-piece set: ÖFUURË. Heels: Nordstrom Rack, comparable. Hoops: comparable. Purse: Brandon Blackwood.
“After I began writing Between Mates and Lovers, I knew that it was going to be steamier than my first guide. A lot of the protagonist’s growth is about studying to belief, and intercourse is a major a part of that for her. She doesn’t have points with exploring her physique – she’s like, ‘I’ve a vibrator that will get me off simply effective’ – however opening up sexually with another person is completely different. I edit my intercourse scenes quite a bit as a result of the additional I get in writing a guide, the extra I study a personality, and the extra I’m like, ‘Oh, perhaps this is able to truly be extra true to her.’ You may inform a lot about characters from how they’ve intercourse.”
“I discovered ÖFUURË on-line a number of years in the past. The type of print is named Ankara, which is a sort of African wax print. I’m Ghanaian-American, and I like how designers within the diaspora are utilizing conventional materials in items with up to date cuts.”
Reduce-offs: thrifted, comparable. Jacket: Kaiju66. T-shirt: comparable. Sneakers: “Nike Air Max 90 — Chicago Metropolis Particular,” bought out, however out there from resellers. Sun shades: comparable. Hoops: Amazon.
“I’m obsessive about Megan Thee Stallion, a lot in order that I devoted my second guide to her. She is each unapologetically attractive and in addition clear about her struggles with psychological well being. Two of my favourite lyrics: ‘Dangerous bitches have unhealthy days, too,’ and ‘Individuals say I’m means too stuffed with myself, you proper, and I haven’t even made it to dessert.’ I purchased this T-shirt at her live performance.”
“Many individuals will see this bomber and simply assume, That’s a really loud jacket. However a number of will acknowledge it because the jacket of a beloved anime character. I’ve beloved anime since I used to be a child.”
Blazer: comparable. Gown: By no means Totally Dressed, thrifted from ThredUp. Flats: Rothy’s. Peach earrings: comparable.
“I’ve this joke — however it’s additionally actual — that if I’m studying a guide written by a person and he describes a girl’s breasts, particularly as a technique to introduce a personality, I simply cease studying. They’re at all times teardrop-shaped boobs!”
“My good friend came to visit to my condominium the opposite day and was like, ‘You will have numerous fruit earrings.’ As a health care provider, I discover that sporting issues like peach earrings or Air Jordans humanizes me to sufferers and provides us one thing to attach over. I’m not an enormous sneakerhead, however my associates are slowly dragging me in that path, and my youthful sufferers undoubtedly discover.”
“I’ve a tremendous mentor who has been a trailblazer for girls’s coronary heart well being. When she was developing, numerous circumstances that disproportionately have an effect on ladies had been disregarded, however she knew they had been actual. Her work wasn’t revered for a very long time. She cemented my perception that forging a brand new path is an effective factor. Plus, at any time when I see her at conferences, she’s sporting some wild, colourful quantity — not what you’re ‘imagined to’ put on — and I adore it.”
Thanks a lot for being you, Shirlene!
P.S. Extra individuals share their weeks of outfits, together with a petite songwriter, who discovered the important thing to dressing her curvy determine, and a Manhattan girl with 5 nice workplace appears to be like.
(Pictures by Sarah Petrarca for Cup of Jo.)