girl crush: sydney bright
"perfection will be the killer of dreams come true"
Hi! Thanks for being here.
Before we get into today’s interview with gem Sydney Bright, I’d love to hear who your girl crushes are. Who knows, maybe I can feature them on here one day. Feel free to fill out the form below and I’ll plan to add this at the bottom of all future girl crush letters too.
I first reached out to Sydney on LinkedIn a few years ago because I was pleasantly surprised to see that a creative from one of my favorite interior brands, Heather Taylor Home, was based in Metro Detroit! Go figure!
She didn’t see the message but it was kismet that we would meet because not two weeks later, we were at a dinner party for a mutual friend that I had no idea we had.
I love her frilly-meets-boyish style and her aptitude for finding great antiques (which she documents and sells on Instagram and at popups IRL). And I love how she’s turned two of her biggest hobbies into side hustles.
Sydney gets married this Saturday, so please join me in welcoming her to girl crush and sending her all the love and well wishes for a beautiful celebration and life ahead!
Meet Sydney Bright:
Where are you from & where do you live now?
Originally from West Bloomfield, MI
Currently living in Ferndale, MI after several years out west x
Who (&/or what) lives with you?
Fiancé, Devin & English Shepherd dream dog, Dunkin
How do you spend your days? (ie. “What do you do?”)
I am a Branding & Design professional with a rich background in Product Development. Helping independent brands streamline their identity and grow brings me so much joy.
Talk to us about your side hustles!
Two of my biggest hobbies turned into side gigs.
I love drawing and doodling… When I worked full time for Heather Taylor Home I started adding my drawings to printed postcards and emails and it soon blossomed into a little side business where I commission pieces. From people’s homes, pets, and logos to save the dates & invitations - I love it so much!
I also am an avid thrifter... I am always curating vintage home goods and clothing. My dream is to one day open my own little lifestyle shop featuring my finds. I created Parlor, an account on instagram and brand where I compile all that inspires me. I do popups from time to time to sell my curations.
Pretend you’re speaking to your mentee — what’s one piece of career (or life) advice you would have for them?
A mentor of mine once said “Good Today, Better Tomorrow”. This really means don't let the idea that something has to be perfect get in the way of starting! Perfection will be the killer of dreams come true. Start the thing! You can make it better with time.
Who do you look up to?
They say you’re the sum of those you surround yourself with and I am SO lucky to be surrounded by many passionate women, both family and friends, who work hard at creating the life they want for themselves. It’s easy to pick a celeb or artist I look up to, but in reality it’s the women I interact with every day that inspire me to keep going.
Perfection will be the killer of dreams come true. Start the thing! You can make it better with time.
You’re getting married soon! What has been the most fun thing about planning your wedding? The most tedious?
Eek! SO SOON! The answers to these questions are actually the same. I have had so much fulfillment designing all of my own stationery and collecting a ton of vintage table decor and linens to make my vision come to life. While it’s been the most fun, it has been a labor of love and a ton of work. Let’s just say it’s been all hands on deck cleaning my grandmother's vintage silver and my mother-in-law has been soaking linens in a bathtub filled with Oxi Clean for weeks… haha.
How do you carve out YOU time and what do you spend it doing?
Right now between moving, working and wedding prep I do not have much down time in this current season, but thankfully Dunkin helps me dedicate time to going on walks. Right now that is meaningful enough me time :)
Currently reading?
Guilty pleasure here… I recently really got into the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. I usually am an avid classic novel or historical fiction girl, but several of my friends recommended I get into ACOTAR and I finally gave in and am loving it. The world building is so good.. feels like a real escape.
Currently watching?
Always House & Garden UK Design Notes on YouTube.
Three Substacks to recommend?
- ABSOLUMENT by Kelsey Rose Barthés
- The Margarita Chronicles by Laura Jackson
- À La Carte by Ali Labelle
How would you describe your style?
Comfortable and generally casual with a pop of color. I teeter between being ultra feminine and wearing oversized men's button downs or sweatshirts. Oftentimes I end up blurring the line between the frilly and boyish.
Gingham is having a moment right now (s/o Lindsay Sword and Jennifer Cook, just to name a couple). You work with the Queen of Gingham, Heather Taylor, of Heather Taylor Home. What’s the key to mixing and matching gingham?
My biggest tip is to play with scale. And have fun pairing colors back to whatever your setting is. Whether it’s florals on a table or wallpaper in the room. Pulling colors (even the smallest bit) from what’s around you can tie the whole look together.
Peep Sydney’s advice in action here.
It’s easy to pick a celeb or artist I look up to, but in reality it’s the women I interact with every day that inspire me to keep going.
One thing in your closet you come back to time and time again?
Right now it’s a blue Elwood crewneck sweatshirt. I can’t get enough of that thing. I wear it with skirts, biker shorts, or even over collared shirts. It's just the perfect color, material and fit.
One thing you’re lusting over?
Dying for one of these fabric covered pendant lights from Pierce & Ward. Definitely the least practical home object we need right now.
A favorite place you’ve traveled to?
Hall of Mirrors, Versailles
One thing you’re looking forward to?
Marrying Dev and going on our Honeymoon. Truly all I can think about!
What’s your superpower?
Seeing the glass half full.
Close your eyes and manifest — what does life look like in 5 years?!
Babies and a successful career where I can flex all my creative muscles! Buying a dream home.
Where can people find you? (plug yourself!)
Instagram: @sydneybright @parlor.shop
Drawing inquiries: www.sydneybright.com
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