“I’m over right here writing romance, which is a style that has been regarded down on for dumb causes, most of them rooted in misogyny,” says Shirlene Obuobi, whose second novel, Between Buddies 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 to be and tells us about writing intercourse scenes…
Gown: Bronzeville Boutique, related. Sun shades: Amazon, related. Earrings: Jess a Little Store.
“Solely 13% of cardiologists are girls, and solely 4% of cardiologists are Black. In med faculty, I felt like dressing tremendous female would make individuals see me as by some means much less severe than my male classmates. However after I turned a heart specialist, I used to be like, Screw it. I’m going to face out anyway, so I’d as nicely put on what I like.”
Gown: thrifted, related. Sweater: thrifted, related. Bandana: Magnificence Provide, related. Sneakers: Brooks. Bag: Aspinal of London, related.
“Once I completed my medical coaching, I spotted I had no private type however wished to. I employed a stylist, and he or she took me to Nordstrom for the afternoon. Her providers have been costly, however price it. She taught me to drag colours out of patterned garments to create one thing cohesive. My closet is now an explosion of colour, and I nearly 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 normally drawing or writing. These are my main stress relievers.”
Two-piece set: ÖFUURË. Heels: Nordstrom Rack, related. Hoops: related. Purse: Brandon Blackwood.
“Once I began writing Between Buddies and Lovers, I knew that it was going to be steamier than my first guide. A lot of the protagonist’s improvement is about studying to belief, and intercourse is a big 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 tremendous’ – however opening up sexually with another person is totally different. I edit my intercourse scenes lots 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, perhaps this could really be extra true to her.’ You may inform a lot about characters from how they’ve intercourse.”
“I discovered ÖFUURË on-line a number of years in the past. The type of print known as Ankara, which is a sort of African wax print. I’m Ghanaian-American, and I really like how designers within the diaspora are utilizing conventional materials in items with up to date cuts.”
Reduce-offs: thrifted, related. Jacket: Kaiju66. T-shirt: related. Sneakers: “Nike Air Max 90 — Chicago Metropolis Particular,” bought out, however accessible from resellers. Sun shades: related. 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 horny and in addition clear about her struggles with psychological well being. Two of my favourite lyrics: ‘Dangerous bitches have unhealthy days, too,’ and ‘Folks say I’m approach 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 assume, That’s a really loud jacket. However a couple of will acknowledge it because the jacket of a beloved anime character. I’ve cherished anime since I used to be a child.”
Blazer: related. Gown: By no means Totally Dressed, thrifted from ThredUp. Flats: Rothy’s. Peach earrings: related.
“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 solution to introduce a personality, I simply cease studying. They’re at all times teardrop-shaped boobs!”
“My pal came visiting to my residence the opposite day and was like, ‘You’ve got a number of fruit earrings.’ As a physician, I discover that carrying issues like peach earrings or Air Jordans humanizes me to sufferers and offers us one thing to attach over. I’m not an enormous sneakerhead, however my mates are slowly dragging me in that path, and my youthful sufferers positively discover.”
“I’ve a tremendous mentor who has been a trailblazer for girls’s coronary heart well being. When she was developing, a number of situations that disproportionately have an effect on girls have been dismissed, however she knew they have been actual. Her work wasn’t revered for a very long time. She cemented my perception that forging a brand new path is an effective factor. Plus, each time I see her at conferences, she’s carrying some wild, colourful quantity — not what you’re ‘speculated to’ put on — and I adore it.”
Thanks a lot for being you, Shirlene!
P.S. Extra individuals share their weeks of outfits, together with a petite songwriter, who discovered the important thing to dressing her curvy determine, and a Manhattan lady with 5 nice workplace seems to be.
(Photographs by Sarah Petrarca for Cup of Jo.)
