Meet Karen Telge | Fashion Stylist & Entrepreneur / Creative Marketing & Creative Direction

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Telge and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ever since I was a youngling I have been mostly driven by art filled experiences, I always had a big imagination.

Some things I enjoyed were: going to the ballet with my grandmother, learning how to knit, designing my own room decorations, making earrings and bracelets with my sister and matching my clothes to match my hair pieces.

I always felt like this was the route for me, but I knew that I also loved helping people feel good, and I noticed fashion and content creation allows me to create and express myself but in a way that I can help lift confidence, and create for a bigger purpose.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
In Barcelona I really started feeling like myself, I knew I could pull off looks I wouldn’t feel confident wearing back home in Miami. When I returned I noticed a lot of people are not as risky as I can be when it comes to style, people don’t want to do things that don’t fall in society’s norm. I love to take chances with the mix of colors, patterns style and layers. The more I trusted my taste, and what I thought looked good, the more I soared. Not going to lie, a lot of people don’t have the same tastes as me, I am a maximalist at heart. My brand portrays that part of me, that maximalist confidence. I’ve always believed in myself and what I had to offer, as a creative in a boutique agency, I’ve always just learned to share my ideas, even if they get turned down. I’ve noticed that trying and failing is a learning experience, and going for it again, is a growing experience. Life is full of surprises, you never know when you will share your ideas to someone and they will change your life. I want the world to understand that style is endless, and that fashion recycles itself like life recycles itself, you will always find yourself creating something new with a touch of something old.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would most definitely take my bestie to Soho House during the day to enjoy the beaches of Miami Beach. We would sip cocktails by the pool later, have lunch, go to the spa, and then go out at night. I kind of guide myself through Miami by the music and people, I love house/ techno music. As the founder of @nakedgroove I have to say our parties are a fun time! You can find us at The Freehold in Wynwood once a month, we bring local artist to share some funky tunes and decorate them really nicely. My boyfriend @lagunasounds is an artist, he makes music (Laguna on Spotify), and he likes to DJ and make me dance in his spare time. He happens to play at my favorite spot in Miami right now, Terras rooftop bar. Le Rouge is another fun spot he plays at too, I think the perfect night out would be to go to Terras first then Le Rouge, then ATV Records, and then – if you get down like that – the iconic Space Miami. Wake up the next day and go to a late Brunch at the Mandolin check out the wynwood walls, midtown, do a little shopping. Then head down to coconut grove for dinner and call it an early night. The following day is definitely a boat day, nothing says Miami better then fun in the sun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has always been my biggest supporters, I wouldn’t be anywhere without my rock. Through out the years I have had different mentors a long the way, like my Paka business parter, Patricia Bressiani, who I have always looked up to for being such a badass, not afraid of anything or anyone. My current boss Sarah Akiba, fashion stylist, creative director and founder or a non-profit, has showed me I have what it takes to make it. I learn about myself from people around me everyday, my bestest friends always showing me sides of me I don’t want to see but need work on so I can be the best version I can possibly be. So many people I thank for getting me to where I am today and so much to be thankful for.

Website: www.pakavintageglam.com

Instagram: @karrbizarre @paka_vintageglam @nakedgroove

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-telge/

Image Credits
First shot (hand) 1. Awom Lab for Akiba Antiques- creative direction by me Second Shot (market) 2. Paka Vintage Glam at Palo Alto Market Barcelona- Patricia Bressiani selling in the market Legs up in sky 3. Paka Vintage Glam- Chromatic Disco (Collection) 4. Me @ Awom Lab – style 5. NakedGroove at The Freehold Miami with @Lagunasounds – set design by me 6.Paka Vintage Glam- Sublime Glamour (collection) 7.Paka Vintage Glam- Sublime Glamour (collection) 8. Awom Lab for BootayBag – set design, creative direction -me