Fashion, Community and New Beginnings: Meet Joce Blake

Storytelling among many other talents takes practice, intentionality and grit. The editorial industry is constantly changing and adapting to a space where storytelling has become more digital than ever.

Writers, contributors and editors are facing massive layoffs from several publishing houses. Print has become digital for several household name magazines, and digital articles are becoming shorter and shorter since billions of social media users would prefer to digest information through video content. Because of this advanced change, many writers are pursuing freelance and content creation to exercise their first love.

Oftentimes, writers question whether or not the articles they spend hours of research, time and effort on are even being read. So what keeps us inspired? Why do we continue to expose our most inner thoughts, passions and opinions to a passive audience? 

As writers and creators, we must stick together. While learning to operate under the throws of managing a new digital magazine, and trying to navigate our first New York Fashion Week, The Curio Cabinet turned to the one and only Joce Blake for inspiration and advice.

Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Blake is well known and beloved to her audience and friends as a fiercely talented multi-faceted fashion and lifestyle writer. Dressed in an all-pink ensemble while toting the CISE blush mini bag, Blake lit up the dimly lit dining room of SoHo House New York accompanied by Style Blogger and Fashion Enthusiast Ashley Weddington of A Styled Mind.

Blake and Weddington so generously invited The Curio Cabinet team into their bubble of sisterhood. Their love and admiration for each other was evident in the way they contributed to each other’s stories, their contagious laughter, and their mutual understanding and support for each other.

The F in NYFW stands for finesse,” shared Blake as we sipped cocktails and caught up over our New York Fashion Week ventures.

Blake moved to New York City from Denver Colorado in the summer of 2022. While in Denver, Blake immersed herself in the community while spearheading and hosting several cultural events like The Block Party hosted at The Clayton Members Club. As well as leading and representing the Black Girl Social Club in Denver and now as president in Brooklyn. Those who know and love her most would describe her as a unicorn. Bringing magic and vision to every opportunity that came her way, Blake realized after years of evolving and flourishing in Denver, that The Mile High city was only meant to be a pit stop. As a big fish, she’d need a bigger pond.

Now writing for publications like xoNecole, HelloBeautiful, BET, WWD and Footwear News, Blake reminisced on how Denver was much needed to get her to the city. “I’ve always wanted to move here. Sex In The City was my inspiration and Denver was always on the way to New York – I needed Denver so bad,” she shared.

Fueling her passion for culture, fashion and writing, Blake started a series at 303 Magazine writing about Black designers, models, leaders and more.“Denver taught me how to be me. 303 Magazine taught me a lot,” Blake continued.

It’s an almost unspoken understanding amongst writers that New York City brings out the most imaginative and creative parts of us all. The city can be whatever you want it to be. It’s your playground and everyone is the main character in their own unique story. Since moving to the city, Blake described this dream come true venture as “…(it’s) bigger than me. I’m doing this for the little girls in Memphis, who’s never seen anybody leave Memphis and be in New York and write. I’m doing it for them.”

Everyone’s a main character here. If you lean into humbly, that’s how you find yourself in big rooms,” Blake continued. 

While doing what so many young writers and creatives dream of accomplishing one day, luckily, she doesn’t have to navigate the city or this industry alone. Like we said, as storytellers and artists, we’ve got to stick together. Blake and Weddington’s commentary and openness made it clear that community over competition is essential to not only survive but thrive in an overly saturated industry.

Writers, photographers, content creators, we all struggle with the same thing when it comes to imposter syndrome and comparisons. We are doing this year after year and I feel like I’m not getting anywhere but this is still a passion of mine. How do I keep going when I don’t feel like I’m growing? It’s about being present to navigate these things and having a community,” said Weddington.

In a society that praises hustle culture while battling comparison traps in the digital world, anyone can fall victim to burnout. With that in mind, Blake and Weddington stay sober-minded on how to deal with imposter syndrome. “Living in the city that’s a common theme, everyone is on go-mode. So it feels like you are doing so much but at the same time nothing at all. You have so many people that you’re looking at left and right and they are doing so many things too and it can make you feel like you’re doing nothing at all,” Weddington said.

When asked about how to stay inspired despite this, Blake shared, “You know what, I really just need to honor myself more. But this industry makes you feel like you can’t…there’s a lot of competition, but there’s a lot of collaboration too. That is what inspires me – the collaboration, community and sisterhood of fashion week is my favorite thing.”

While bearing out our grievances about the hardships of this industry, the most beautiful thing occurred at that table. This industry externally is beautiful. From the clothes, the models, the scents, makeup, etc. it’s alluring, exclusive and gravitating. It pulls you in and feeds you constant inspiration to keep trying. But again, what makes it worth it? Is it being seen at events? In this industry, a necessity and career booster for sure. Finally reaching a professional and creative milestone? Amen to that. And then there’s Blake’s sentiment, “When it comes to events, the most exciting ones are the ones where we can connect with people we love during this time of year. Community really is the foundation.” Bingo.

As the saying goes, “It’s about who you know.” We all felt it at that table – it’s about connection and community. We all can lift as we rise and share the stage, and while that’s important it’s also crucial to have the support and understanding from fellow creatives. Blake and Weddington were a breath of fresh air. Their guidance, experience and sheer validation reminded us that staying present and nurturing yourself and your community is the most important thing.

Trust us when we say, everyone can benefit from a conversation with Blake and Weddington. To follow along on their creative ventures, follow Joce Blake at @joce_blake and Ashley Weddington at @astyledmind.

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