When host Raven Blair Glover asked Joy why her ideal client and passion is to support entrepreneurial, ageless women, Joy answered, “Well, they are my ideal client, but I think those characteristics apply to many women who are questioning their appearance. They’re tugging, they’re pulling, there buying new, pretty and trendy. They wear it once, go back again, something’s not right, so it just hangs in the closet. The closet is packed full of stuff that they purchased because they liked it. What I’m about mainly is helping that woman who is ageless, and I don’t give it an age range because they could be 30, 40, 50, 60 and way beyond. But that woman who somehow, somewhere has begun to lose her femininity and her sexual attraction. Because femininity and sexuality are so important – and you don’t want to be frumpy, you don’t want to be outdated. You don’t want to be old and not pulled together and elevated in your look. And many women reach that point and they just give up. And I think they give up because sometimes Mama, Papa and all the rest, were not able to give you the tools that you need to stay current, to stay fashionable, stylish in your genre and what works best for you.”
When host Raven remarked on Joy’s emphasis of women leaders, Joy shared her thoughts: “Because there is no question in my mind that the timing is right and today more than ever, we need female leaders, women who stand in their greatness and their power, proud of it, confident, assured, and then give it right back out to other women, the younger generation who are coming up. My generation believes that you have to give back. You go out and conquer the world. You gather all your skills and your gifts and your tools. You mastermind them, you perfect them, and then you just give them away. When I say give them away, I’m talking in the hypothetical sense because we’re all business women, but you share your knowledge, your awareness, your tools, your education with those that will benefit by it so that they can in turn keep the circle going.”
As a young child from a broken home, Joy called the library her “second home” and has since read every personal development book she could get her hands on, turning her life around and making something of herself. She went on to study at the world-renowned Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. It was here that her awareness of style, attention to detail, and her killer instincts landed her in the exciting world of Fashion Merchandising. Joy has had much experience producing runway shows from start to finish (including hiring all the models, makeup artists, and hairstylists, and accessorizing the looks) for high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Macy’s. A couple of Joy’s many career highlights include being bestowed with the honor of first black fashion buyer at the high-end specialty store, Best and Company, in NYC, where Jacqueline Kennedy would frequently be spotted shopping. In addition, she was also the first black fashion representative for Vogue/Butterwick. The years of training and experience come shining through when Joy’s clients walk into a room, they command it by projecting confidence, integrity, and charisma, firmly standing in their power.
The interview concluded with Joy saying: “Whatever your signature style is, it is indigenous to you and it belongs to you. You can stay fashionable and stylish in your genre, wearing only what allows you to stand out and shine in your presence and power, with no fear.”
To listen to the full interview on Amazing Women of Power, click here or visit https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raven-interviews-joy-ruffen/id1441172752?i=1000440629999.
To learn more about Joy Ruffen and her services, please visit https://joyruffen.com/.
