Dana's Inspiration: Renaissance Women

I am always inspired by the many women I know who are attempting to "have it all" ... My friends all inspire me in different ways but since this is a style blog, I wanted to highlight some women who are doing amazing things in the worlds of beauty and fashion!

Alyssa Weisler

Alyssa Weisler with her sons

Alyssa Weisler and I were roommates in NYC back when we were newly out of college and just beginning our careers.  Over the years, Alyssa held marketing and PR positions at such esteemed beauty companies as Avon, Lancôme and Chanel in New York City. 

Back then, as single girls in the city, it was easy to devote ourselves exclusively to our careers and to rising in the ranks of corporate America. As we got older and started families, things became more complicated. Today, Alyssa is a mother of two young sons who, like many women, found that as her family grew, her priorities began to change.   She recently told me about her new business endeavor, and I was inspired by her passion. 

Seeking to balance motherhood with work after moving out of NYC to the 'burbs, Alyssa sought other opportunities in her new geographic area, but she couldn’t find the right fit, until she was tipped off by an old high school friend to a company called Rodan + Fields.  

Rodan + Fields is a direct sales skin care company founded by the uber-successful dermatologists and founders of the mega-brand Proactiv, Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields. The company offers lots of innovative skin care solutions, such as a Anti-Age Lip Serum that was featured in Harper's Bazaar.  I remembered seeing Rodan + Fields products in department stores, and Alyssa explained to me that while the products formerly were sold at Nordstrom, three years ago the company was re-purposed as a direct-sales company in order to reach more people.

What Alyssa loves about Rodan + Fields is that she can "break free from corporate America and become an entrepreneur while partnering with two of the most respected names in skincare."  Now Alyssa is having a lot of success in her new business. Best of all, she is able to balance her passion for skin care and her desire to stay active in the business world along with her wish to be available for her two little boys, as she is working part-time and arranges her schedule completely around her kids. "It's like having the best of both worlds," she says.


Alyssa is excited to share not only the skincare results that one can achieve from the Rodan + Fields products but also the opportunity for women to have their own businesses on their on terms. She emphasizes that while she brings her beauty industry background to the business, such experience is not a prerequisite for success. "What I like is that this business attracts a very high- level, sophisticated group of people from all backgrounds - people that just get that this is a good business opportunity." Alyssa is excited to see what the future holds!


To learn more, visit https://alyssaweisler.myrandf.com/

"5th and Jane"

5th & Jane

You would have a tough time finding a more stylish a duo than the bloggers/best friends who go by the pseudonyms "5th and Jane." They take their names from the streets they live on in NYC, where they comb the sidewalks and the stores for style inspiration, and always find the latest, the greatest and the most fun fashions around. I have had the privilege of knowing both 5th and Jane for many years and I have always been inspired by not only their style but also by their enthusiasm, their energy and their zest for both achievement and enjoyment.

One visit to their fabulous blog and you'll know instantly that these are some seriously stylish ladies, but unless you read their "About Us" page, you might not realize that they are "both women who are trying to have it all." Both 5th and Jane are mothers, as well as successful professionals in their respective fields. 5th is in the business world and has a school-age son, while Jane is a doctor and mother to a young daughter.

What's so inspiring about 5th and Jane is that they have already accomplished so much- as mothers and as professional women, yet they had an unexpressed love for fashion, for which they sought an outlet. And thus, in between meetings and playdates, they are making their style blog happen and, despite the fact that they have only been blogging for only a few months, they have already had tremendous success. I love that they have found a way to incorporate a passion for fashion into their already jam-packed busy lives!


Check out their blog for some NYC style inspiration!