Ayesha Curry embraced the laid-back fashion trends of the '70s and delivered a spring wardrobe that speaks to style and self-empowerment. On March 1, Curry released her second capsule collection, Invent Yourself, with JustFab, and the '70s-inspired designs pay a subtle tribute to Black feminist leaders like bell hooks, Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and more. Inspired by the powerful women who shaped the flower-power era, Curry created a bohemian collection that features bright pops of color, lacy cutouts, and vibrant floral patterns.
"I really, really wanted a spring revival when it came to my fashion and to just play around with color, because it reflects your mood," Curry tells POPSUGAR. "And I feel like coming out of this pandemic, I wanted to be bright and cheery and feminined, and tap back into that side of myself." Perfect for mixing and matching, the collection includes floral shift dresses, ruffle-front jumpsuits, ribbed sweater dresses, fringed jackets, high-rise vintage shorts, wedged sandals, knee-high boots, floral sneakers, and more chic staple pieces.
"I feel like it's our time as women, and as Black women, to bloom."
Shoes can sometimes make or break an outfit, but when you find the right pair, they can add an extra level of confidence that changes your whole mood, and even more so when you know that shoe is inspired by people who are so iconic. For Curry, this message is reflected in each pair of tassled heels, sleek mules, and chunky sandals, which are all named after icons like Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Barbara Jordan, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, bell hooks, Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Michele Wallace, and Pam Grier.
"[I've been] reflecting on the past two years and everything that we've been fighting for and marching for," Curry says. "I want there to be this revival and to shine a light on the positive. I feel like it's our time as women, and as Black women, to bloom. So I wanted to, in a small way, honor the women that have paved the way and cleared the path for us to be able to do that." Each pair of shoes was also made with comfort in mind and features an extra-thick foam insole. Plus, they come in a variety of calf sizes and shoe widths, so we'll definitely be shopping a pair for every picnic, date night, and rendezvous this season.
Check out Curry's tips for styling pieces from the collection and shop the full Invent Yourself line just in time for Women's History Month ahead.
POPSUGAR: What's your favorite pair of shoes from the collection?
Ayesha Curry: It's so hard to choose my favorite style from the collection since I designed each and every pair with a specific purpose in mind, however, my main goal this spring is to get to a festival, and the Michelle Eyelet Boot is what I'll be wearing all weekend. And let's be real — if I don't make it to Coachella, I'm still wearing these boots to the grocery store . . . And then for those sexy flirty nights, we have a Toni Ankle-Wrap Heeled Sandal.
PS: What would your ideal shoe for a date night with Steph be?
AC: I think that Toni Ankle-Wrap Heeled Sandal. It's just so comfy, but sexy. It has the right amount of toe cleavage. And I just feel like it goes with everything. I'd wear the black pair with our black jumpsuit. I feel like I often like to be comfortable on date nights.
PS: What's your ideal shoe to pair with a little black dress?
AC: I feel like I could either go with the Audre Stiletto — a little black-and-white action — or I could switch it up with that Ruby Heeled Tall Boot.
PS: What's your ideal shoe to wear for a day with the kids?
AC: Definitely the Jordan Eyelet Platform Sneaker or the Rosa Sneaker. Either way, it's going to be a sneaker.
PS: Which pair of shoes would you style with a sundress?
AC: If I'm feeling heels that day, I would do the Bell Laser-Cut. If I'm wanting to be a little more relaxed, probably the Simone Laser-Cut Sandal.
PS: Which shoe would you wear to dress up a pair of jeans?
AC: I feel like any shoe in this collection really can go with the jeans, but I feel like I love the vibe of the wooden heel on the Billie Platform. And I feel like bell bottoms are coming back. So bell bottoms with those clogs could be really cute. And just a simple white T-shirt and hoop earrings.
PS: Which shoes would you wear for a spring picnic?
AC: Oh, I think I would go Pamela Quilted Platform Slide. Because picnic, I picture putting a blanket out on the grass, so I'd probably end up kicking my shoes off. So I feel like the slide is just easy.
PS: How would you style the Michele Eyelet Heeled Boot ($34, originally $85)?
AC: Definitely a concert, something outdoors. Maybe even if I'm going to a family barbecue, I'd wear them. We have these adorable, high-waisted microsuede shorts and a fringe jacket that goes with it, and it's perfect for a concert. Or I could picture wearing them to a food-truck outing where they have all the food trucks lined up under the string lights.
PS: Where would you wear the Toni Ankle-Wrap Heeled Sandal ($26, originally $65)?
AC: Date night, hands down.
PS: How would you style the Bell Laser-Cut Heeled Mule Sandal ($25, originally $63)?
AC: That's a versatile shoe. I feel like you could wear it with jeans to a business meeting, or you could wear it with a maxi dress out to lunch. I feel like the world's really your oyster with that. We have a great pants suit, a jumpsuit, that I think would go really well with the nude tone, the bone-colored mule sandal.
PS: How would you style the Billie Studded Platform Sandal ($27, originally $67)?
AC: We have a great bone-color mini dress, it looks like lace, but
it's nice and stretchy, has a bell sleeve. We have that in yellow. And I feel like that would go really, really well with the Billie Studded Platform Sandal. But I could also see making this really casual, if you're just going out to run some errands, and wearing a cute pair of white shorts and a little yellow crop top.
PS: How would you style the Nina Laser-Cut Classic Pump ($26, originally $65)
AC: We have a really great floral dress in the collection. And either the periwinkle or the white [pumps] would go fantastic with that dress. And I also could see wearing that to maybe a Mother's Day brunch or to some sort of girls' afternoon tea.
PS: How would you style the Audre Stiletto Heeled Mule Sandal ($22, originally $55)?
AC: Those I can see paired with a blazer and some jeans and a nice top, whether it's a crop top or a button-up — and maybe we're going to some sort of meeting, like a business meeting.
PS: Where do you see yourself wearing the Maya Ankle-Strap Platform Pump ($27, originally $67)?
AC: So this is giving Mother's Day to me, like Mother's Day brunch.
PS: Where would you wear the Pamela Quilted Platform Slide ($18, originally $45)?
AC: So this is interesting, because I could see myself picking up my kids in that slide, from their after-school activities. Or I can see myself keeping them on in the house while I'm cooking in the kitchen.
PS: How would you style the Simone Laser-Cut Slide Sandals ($19, originally $47)?
AC: [They're perfect] whether you have them in your purse for when you want to swap out your shoes or you're wearing them to run errands. I feel like that goes with everything in the collection. We have a really great jumpsuit that comes in black and nude, and it's just very effortless, just like the sandal. So you throw on the jumpsuit, throw on your slide, and you're ready to go.
PS: How would you style the Ruby Tassel Heeled Tall Boot ($35, originally $85)
AC: Oh my god, love a good dress with a boot. I love tone on tone. So that nude lace bell sleeve dress with the nude boot with the tassels [would be perfect]. And I would wear that maybe to a game, put on a little oversize denim jacket over the shoulder. I feel like that would be a perfect game-night look.
Jordan Eyelet Platform Sneaker ($25, originally $63)
Rosa High-Top Sneaker ($26, originally $65)
Off Shoulder Jumpsuit ($35, originally $61)
Fringe Suede Jacket ($35, originally $87)
Aline Faux Suede Shorts ($25, originally $63)
Smocking Gauze Top ($47)