People assume that because my mother paints the prints, I must have inherited her talent with a brush. The truth? My canvas is the closet.

Growing up around Ala, I learned early that accessories are where the real mischief and magic live. They’re the difference between fine and finished, between “I threw this on” and “Oh, this? I totally meant to look this put together.” Accessories are how one simple, easy outfit carries me through a full day of real life: school runs, lunches, dinners, and all the moments in between. One solid base, then a silk scarf, a raffia bag, a bangle, and a pair of earrings later, and it looks like I’ve made three wardrobe change when really I’ve only changed my mind.

If AvA had a superhero cape, it would be the silk scarf. It starts as one of my mother’s paintings and somehow ends up doing everything in my wardrobe. Worn alone, it’s an instant focal point. One wrap around the neck over a solid dress or top, and suddenly the outfit feels intentional—polished, not “I grabbed the first thing I saw.”

Threaded through our leather belt, it becomes a ribbon of color that cinches the waist without ever feeling stiff. Layered over a simple look, it turns the whole outfit into a moving canvas. I love how the print shifts and dances as you walk, adding personality without asking for extra effort. And on days when I forgot to plan? The scarf makes it look like I absolutely did. It’s my favorite way to disguise the fact that I never touched a steamer.

The raffia bag is that friend who always looks relaxed but somehow gets everything done. It has an easy, resort-ready feel, but it’s extremely versatile. The natural raffia texture is the perfect ground for adding a printed silk scarf or accessory around one of the handles, keeping the look balanced so it never feels overdone.

It goes everywhere with me: the market, the beach, the office, and occasionally the backseat floor of my car (where it somehow still looks chic, even if my snack situation does not). It holds all the real-world essentials (sunscreen, toys, receipts, the mysterious items kids hand you) without losing its shape or polish. The best part? You can roll it up, throw it in your suitcase, and go. It will arrive to your destination good as new. It’s the bag that always looks like it’s on vacation, even when you very much are not.

The bangle is proof that a tiny detail can change the entire story of an outfit. Simple, sculptural, quietly confident, basically how I aspire to be before my second coffee. Worn alone, it catches the light when you reach for a glass or wave hello. Stacked, it becomes a soft little celebration on your wrist, adding sound and movement as you go about your day. It transitions effortlessly from casual to dressed-up, which means less thinking in the morning (always a win).

Earrings are my quickest way to change the mood of an outfit, especially on days when time is not on my side. A simple pair adds light and polish around the face, even if the rest of the look is intentionally relaxed. A more statement style plays beautifully with prints and scarves, echoing color or shape without competing.

They’re also perfect for those sudden “camera-on” moments, when you remember there’s a video call and only have time to fix what’s happening from the shoulders up. Earrings are like a tiny spotlight. They draw attention to your expression and your smile, which is really what people notice first anyway.

Being Ala’s daughter means accessories are more than just styling tools to me. They’re how our family’s world connects with the women who wear AvA. The silk scarf that began on my mother’s canvas. The easy raffia bag. The luminous bangle. The just-right pair of earrings. Together, they turn a simple solid outfit into a story.

They let you show up as the most authentic version of yourself with just enough artful detail to make you feel special. If they happen to save you on the mornings when outfit planning started exactly five minutes before you walked out the door? Consider that their secret superpower.