A MANI F E STO

F RO M 2 0 YE A R OLD M E
TO 30 YE A R OLD M E
My name is Laura Fama I am a fashion designer based in downtown
Los Angeles, California. I have immersed myself in the industries of
fashion, music, and art for a decade. I express myself through apparel
and use clothing and design as a medium to communicate modern
culture through my perspective.
In 2007 I co-founded wholesale and retail brand, Dimepiece Los
Angeles, with my best friend and business partner. In 2009 we
penned the phrase "Ain't No Wifey", which has since become a part
of pop culture and has gone on to sell over 50,000 units of clothing.
What started as a spare room at my mother's house has grown into a
2,000 sq ft headquarters and retail concept store.
Being a totally independent woman in the city of Los Angeles has
definitely been challenging, and I have experienced many highs and
lows. As I approach my 30th birthday, I have decided to share some
advice that I wish I received throughout my 20s. I hope to humbly shed
introspective light and clever ways to manage your life in this
electrifying and rugged city that we call home.

RO L L S O L O D O L O
If t h e re is a n inte re s tin g m useum exhibit or a band in town you want
to c h e ck ou t , you d o n' t nec essarily need to roll wit h your c lique to
h ave a g ood time . Ju s t roll solo. Going on solo adventures opens up
ma ny ex pe rie nce s a n d o pportunit ies t hat you m ay not have as a gro up.
O n you r own , yo u ' re mo re likely to get into sold out venues, m eet ne w
p e o p le th a t yo u wou ld n' t have enc ountered in a group, plus t here s no
a d d ed s tre s s of coord in a ting with m ultiple people.
O n c e you le ave yo u r co mfort z one, being alone is not as
s c a ry a s yo u d th in k. L A is big and beautiful!
M e e t s o me ch ill p e o ple a nd expand your soc ial network.

DI G I TA L D E TO X : T RY T HAT SHIT
T h e ave ra ge Ame rica n s pends a st aggering 4. 7 looking at a sc reen .
T h i s nu mb e r is eve n more shoc king when you c onsider that t he ave ra g e Ame r ica n o nly awa ke for 15 hours a day!
Tr y tu rnin g o f f you r ph one for a few hours, or even an ent ire day. Yo u
h ave n o id e a h ow mu ch clarity you gain onc e you bloc k out soc ial
me d ia fe e d s a nd min d le ss apps t hat drain your personal t im e.
S t a rt with d igita l d e tox ing on a Sunday, t hen try graduat ing to a we e k .
Tr u st me , a f te r a fe w h o urs you won't m iss it , and you'll be a bet ter
p e r s o n fo r it .
I N N ER P E A C E B E G IN S THE M OM ENT YOU CHOOSE TO
N O T TO A L L O W A N O T HER PERSON TO CONTROL YOUR
EM OT IO N S OR S IT U AT ION.

PAR T Y S M A R T
D i d n' t RSVP? Fe e ling FOMO? Saw a jum ping party in your I nst agra m
fe e d a nd you wa n t to b e t here? LA's soc ial sc ene literally never t a ke s
a n i gh t of f .
D o you r re s e a rch . B e fo re you iniltrate t he iest a, Google it dude!
F i n d ou t wh o will b e th e re; t he prom oter, host , or DJ, and t he dres s
c o d e. T h e more in for ma tion you have, t he easier it will be to
i n e s s e you r way in .
M Y U LT IMAT E PA RT Y HACK

- Ad d yo u rs e lf a s a co ntac t
i n you r iPh on e .
- Re pla ce yo u r na me wit h
t h e na me of th e p romo ter,
h o s t , or D J .
- Tex t yo u r s e lf s o me th ing
a l o ng th e lin e s of Hey
wh oeve r is a t th e d o o r, tell
t h e m yo u re good to ge t in,
p l u s 1 ( Ju s t in ca s e you
h ave a g u e s t with you ).

- Walk u p to d o o r p e r s o n
a n d kind ly s h ow th e m the
text . T h ey will s e e th a t a
p ro m o te r, h os t , o r D J is
text in g yo u f rom in s id e t he
p a rty a n d th a t you a re their
ve ry impor ta n t gu e s t a n d
yo u n e e d to g e t in ASAP.
Wh oeve r is a t th e d o o r is
bo u nd to le t you in a t th at
point.
- G et you r a s s in th a t
ve n ue a n d e n joy!

Dont forget to be patient and b e

c onident while wait ing at t he d o o r.
This has worked for m e 95% o f the
tim e.

S AY M AY B E TO D RUGS
D r u gs a re p re tty mu ch everywhere, and t here's no way around it . I a m in
n o pla ce to ju d ge you r p referred high. Like m any people, I began
ex p e r ime nting in ju nior high. Blaz ing in photography c lass event ua l ly
e s c a la te d to h a rd e r th ings. Weve all been there.
L o o kin g b a ck, my a dvice would be to sc ale bac k on alc ohol in your
2 0 s . He avy a lco h o l co ns um ption inst antly ages you and c auses
a p p are nt h e a lth p rob le ms. You dont want to inc rease and fast- forwa rd you r phys ica l a pp e aranc e do you? Yeah, neit her do I .
E x p e r ime nt with p sych e delic s from tim e to tim e, only if t hat's you r
t h i n g. It ca n b e a tru ly beaut iful m ind- bending experienc e, and it ha s
bro ugh t me profou n d a n d insightful em otional breakt hroughs.
I f yo u d o ch oos e to ex pe rim ent , be sure to do so in a safe environm e nt
w i t h good pe o ple . I s tro ngly suggest only t ripping out in nature.
Tr y mu s h rooms on a h ike, or t ake som e ac id during a c am ping t rip .
N a t ure is h e a lin g, a nd b eing one with the eart h will only enhanc e yo ur
ex p e r ie n ce .

Y O U R B E S T F R I E N D S ARE YOUR ROL E M ODEL S

Hav ing a core grou p o f s olid friends is key to surviving in this
c ra zy city. B e yo u r b e s t friends legit c heerleader, and in t urn,
t h ey s h o u ld b e yo u rs . I m not t alking party friends that you only
h i t u p to s e e wh a t s g oin g on t hat night , or see out at t he c lub,
I m ta lking a b ou t re a l f r iends t hat you laugh wit h, workout wit h,
a n d s u pp or t 1 0 0 %. I m l uc ky to have a sol id group of girls who
h ave b e e n u plif ting me in my hardest t im es. Hold on tight to
t h e m . T h ey a re yo u r r id e or die.

S O M E T I M E S Y O U H AVE TO PASS UP BRUNCH

A n i gh t o u t with you r h o mies, or a booz y brunc h with your girls
c a n b e f u n , b u t a ls o ca n be hard on your wallet . Som etim es you
n e e d to pa s s u p s pe nd in g m oney on Ubers, m eals, and drinks to
s t ay h ome a n d s ta ck ch ips. Saying no to a good tim e c an be a
bu m me r, b u t yo u mu s t b e responsible and look at t he bigger
p i c t ure .

TAL K L E S S A N D D O M ORE

BE H U M B L E 2 4 / 7 . E GO KIL L S.
G E T A M E N TO R T H AT INSPIRES YOU
d e d ica te o ne d ay o u t o f t he week or bi- m ont hly to text t hem or
s e n d th e m a n e ma il a b out quest ions you would like to ask
a b o ut you r ca re e r, job ield, or projec ts t hat you wish to be
i nvo lve d in .

W O R K T H AT A S S O UT
S t ay a ctive ! N o ma tte r if youre going to the gym , doing yoga,
h i k i ng, b ikin g, or eve n taking t he st airs instead of an elevator,
yo u ne e d to phys ica lly challenge yourself several t im es a week.

Why? 4 0 % le s s s tre s s if you bike to work in t he m orning. Let s

g e t he a lthy a nd a d d s o me balanc e to your hec t ic work sc hedule
a n d b u s tling s o cia l life . P lus your body aint get ting younger girl.
Wo rk th a t a s s o u t a n d irm t hose t highs.

RE S P E C T A L L L I F E F ORM S
Co n sid e r me a tle s s Mo nd ay.

DRIN K E N O U G H WAT ER.

BE O U T D O O R S M O R E.
LE A R N H O W TO D O YOUR OWN F UCKING TAXES.

DO N T B E AT Y O U R S EL F UP
D o n t b e s o h a rd on you rself. My ent ire 20's I was insec ure about my
we i gh t , looks , fa ce , clo th ing, etc .
A l t h ou gh I a lways h a d th e presented a fac ade of c onidenc e to my pe e r s ,
i n s i de I wa s a b a ll of a n x iet y worrying about not itting in at part ie s ,
be i n g a pa r t o f a ce r ta in sc ene, or even shopping at high- end boutiq ue s .
F i n a l ly, a s I m a b ou t to turn 30 I truly apprec iate my body and all o f its
l aws , a n d wh o I a m in g eneral.
L ove you rs e lf h a rd a n d it will radiate whenever you walk into a roo m.

S I T D O W N & L E A R N.

G I V IN G C A N P R O V I DE T HE SAM E GREAT EUPHORIA

AS R E C E I V I N G . G I V E WAY M ORE AND EXPECT NOT HIN G.
S TOP C O M PA R I N G YOUR L IF E TO OT HERS
Tr y no t to compa re you r l ife to soc ial m edia st arlets and c elebrities .
M o s t th ings you s e e on the internet is m edia driven, c om m erc ializ e d
to m ake yo u fe e l ins e cu re, or to buy som ething. Your pat h is your pa th.
If yo u fo llow you r h e a r t rat her t han your ego it will lead to great
t h i n g s . Work o n b e in g th e best person you c an be and it will pay off
t ru s t me .

A TIT L E S H O U L D N EVER DET ERM INE YOUR SEL F WOR TH .

DO N T L E T P M S T U RN YOU INTO A M OODY BIT CH
P u t re min d e r s in you r ph one c alendar about when youre about to g e t
yo u r p e r io d a nd wh e n yo ur P MS ac t ually st art s affec ting your m ood .
Ch e c k yo u r s e lf o n not b e ing a tot al bitc h to your work assoc iates or
yo u r s ign i ica n t oth e r a week prior or when you will be getting your
p e r i od .

DO N T L E T D AT I N G IN L A GET YOU DOWN

D a t i ng in L A is th e wor s t . Believe m e. I have been on both sides; a
l ov i ng lo ng te r m 9 -ye a r relat ionship, and c ruising apps like Tinde r
a n d Raya fo r d u d e s .

Wh en u s ing d a ting a p p s , you're m ore likely to m eet and go out with

s o me o ne th a t is n' t in your soc ial group, or doesn't share your exa ct
i n te re s ts . I ca ll th is "D u ty Dat ing". I t's a tedious and boring pract i c e wh e re on e goe s on dates wit h people who you m ay not have
D u t y D a ting s e r ve s two purposes:
1 . If yo u ' re ge tting b a ck into the swing of t hings after a long relat i o n s h ip (i.e ., me circa 2 013), its great prac t ic e to learn how to
re l a te to s o me o ne n e w a gain. There's no added pressure bec ause
h e / s h e cle a rly is n' t th e person of your dream s. Right now you're
j u s t p ra cticing.
2 . Ra nd om h ook u ps . T his is pret ty self- explanatory.
I f you g o th e ra n d om h ook up route, do
n o t b e a f ra id to a s k a b out testing. STDs
a re o u t th e re , a nd th ey n ever go out of
s e a s on . Have th e b a lls to ask, and if
yo u r p a rtne r re s pe cts you, t hey will
re s pe ct yo u mo re for a s king.
M y m om a lways to ld me :
" I t d o e s n t ma tte r h ow m uc h
m o n ey a p e r s o n h a s o r h ow hot
t h ey a re . L ooks a nd mon ey c an
c o me a nd g o q u ickly. It' s how t hey
t re a t you th a t d e te r min e s som eo n e s re a l worth .
Wi t h th a t in min d , b e op en to all
p o s sib ilitie s a n d mos t im portantly
T R U S T Y O U R GU T.

HOP

E Y
OU
ENJ
OY E
D T
HES
E T
IPS

S
U
L
IL

I
T
A
TR

BY
S
ON

XO

L AU

A
N
I
N

RA

M
I
E
K