“I’m over right here writing romance, which is a style that has been appeared down on for dumb causes, most of them rooted in misogyny,” says Shirlene Obuobi, whose second novel, Between Pals and Lovers, got here out final week. When she’s not writing, Shirlene works as a heart specialist (!) in Windfall and attracts cartoons. Right here, she shares 5 colourful seems and tells us about writing intercourse scenes…
Gown: Bronzeville Boutique, comparable. Sun shades: Amazon, comparable. Earrings: Jess a Little Store.
“Solely 13% of cardiologists are girls, and solely 4% of cardiologists are Black. In med college, I felt like dressing tremendous female would make folks see me as someway much less critical than my male classmates. However after I grew to become a heart specialist, I used to be like, Screw it. I’m going to face out anyway, so I’d as effectively put on what I like.”
Gown: thrifted, comparable. Sweater: thrifted, comparable. Bandana: Magnificence Provide, comparable. Sneakers: Brooks. Bag: Aspinal of London, comparable.
“After I completed my medical coaching, I spotted I had no private model however wished to. I employed a stylist, and he or she took me to Nordstrom for the afternoon. Her providers had been costly, however price it. She taught me to tug colours out of patterned garments to create one thing cohesive. My closet is now an explosion of colour, and I virtually by no means put on black.”
“I wrote my first novel within the midst of COVID. I used to be seeing horrible issues on the hospital, felt exhausted and scared, and located myself escaping by writing fiction. If I’ve free time, I’m often drawing or writing. These are my main stress relievers.”
Two-piece set: ÖFUURË. Heels: Nordstrom Rack, comparable. Hoops: comparable. Purse: Brandon Blackwood.
“After I began writing Between Pals and Lovers, I knew that it was going to be steamier than my first guide. A lot of the protagonist’s growth is about studying to belief, and intercourse is a major a part of that for her. She doesn’t have points with exploring her physique – she’s like, ‘I’ve a vibrator that will get me off simply wonderful’ – however opening up sexually with another person is completely different. I edit my intercourse scenes so much as a result of the additional I get in writing a guide, the extra I study a personality, and the extra I’m like, ‘Oh, possibly this could really be extra true to her.’ You’ll be able to inform a lot about characters from how they’ve intercourse.”
“I discovered ÖFUURË on-line a number of years in the past. The model of print is known as Ankara, which is a sort of African wax print. I’m Ghanaian-American, and I like how designers within the diaspora are utilizing conventional materials in items with modern cuts.”
Lower-offs: thrifted, comparable. Jacket: Kaiju66. T-shirt: comparable. Sneakers: “Nike Air Max 90 — Chicago Metropolis Particular,” offered out, however accessible from resellers. Sun shades: comparable. Hoops: Amazon.
“I’m obsessive about Megan Thee Stallion, a lot in order that I devoted my second guide to her. She is each unapologetically attractive and in addition clear about her struggles with psychological well being. Two of my favourite lyrics: ‘Dangerous bitches have dangerous days, too,’ and ‘Individuals say I’m means too stuffed with myself, you proper, and I haven’t even made it to dessert.’ I purchased this T-shirt at her live performance.”
“Many individuals will see this bomber and simply suppose, That’s a really loud jacket. However just a few will acknowledge it because the jacket of a beloved anime character. I’ve beloved anime since I used to be a child.”
Blazer: comparable. Gown: By no means Totally Dressed, thrifted from ThredUp. Flats: Rothy’s. Peach earrings: comparable.
“I’ve this joke — but it surely’s additionally actual — that if I’m studying a guide written by a person and he describes a lady’s breasts, particularly as a option to introduce a personality, I simply cease studying. They’re at all times teardrop-shaped boobs!”
“My good friend came to visit to my condominium the opposite day and was like, ‘You’ve a variety of fruit earrings.’ As a health care provider, I discover that sporting issues like peach earrings or Air Jordans humanizes me to sufferers and provides us one thing to attach over. I’m not an enormous sneakerhead, however my buddies are slowly dragging me in that route, and my youthful sufferers positively discover.”
“I’ve an incredible mentor who has been a trailblazer for ladies’s coronary heart well being. When she was developing, a variety of situations that disproportionately have an effect on girls had been disregarded, however she knew they had been actual. Her work wasn’t revered for a very long time. She cemented my perception that forging a brand new path is an efficient factor. Plus, each time I see her at conferences, she’s sporting some wild, colourful quantity — not what you’re ‘alleged to’ put on — and I find it irresistible.”
Thanks a lot for being you, Shirlene!
P.S. Extra folks share their weeks of outfits, together with a petite songwriter, who discovered the important thing to dressing her curvy determine, and a Manhattan girl with 5 nice workplace seems.
(Images by Sarah Petrarca for Cup of Jo.)
