LIPSTICK + WILDFLOWERS

Creative Director and CEO of Lipstick and Wildflowers, Tracey designs and oversees the creative process for the company. She was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. After graduating from Cook College at Rutgers University Tracey began using her Environmental Science degree in the medical field. Becoming bored with corporate politics she decided to do something more creative and artistic. She began taking classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, concentrating in Fashion and Graphic Design.

In 1998, she opened "Indigo Tree" a silk-screening business in Irvington, New Jersey. Here, she sold her custom designs and offered silk screening services to local churches, schools and unions. A large part of her business focused on creating family reunion t-shirts. She created her first t-shirt line, Grasrüts for men and women. She traveled extensively along the east coast, promoting the line at gay pride festivals. Grasrüts was also sold online with Urban Box Office and in local Atlanta boutiques in Little Five Points. In 2001, she closed her store, put Grasrüts on hold due to financial reasons and returned to the corporate world. Trying to figure out how she could generate enough income to return to the world of fashion, she jumped on the real estate band wagon. In purchasing a four family building she was able to accomplish this goal. During this time she traveled extensively to beautiful and exotic places from Europe to Africa. She found all the things she loved, inspiration in beautiful textured fabrics in vibrant colors and fine cuisine as well. Also, while traveling throughout the world she saw beautiful women of all nationalities who looked wonderful in their clothing.

Tracey came up with the name and concept behind Lipstick and Wildflowers in the summer of 2005 upon her observations of the unique qualities of women in the life. She wanted to bring sexiness and individuality in the form of high quality tailored clothing to gay and transgendered women.

A true believer that clothes can dictate your mood. She wishes people to think of her t-shirts as one would imagine wearing a cashmere sweater, a fitted skirt that wraps around every curve or a plush slipper on a winter day. Tracey is also inspired by the deep soulful sounds of house music. Other sources of inspiration come from walks down Fifth Avenue, visiting Barneys, neighborhoods such as Fort Greene, Park Slope and Williamsburg and the architecture of brownstones and loft buildings throughout Brooklyn and NYC.

You're most likely to find Tracey with her girlfriend having brunch at a low key restaurant or drinks at a trendy lounge. Other favorite pastimes include browsing through books in Barnes and Noble, experimenting in the kitchen, jumping in her car to retreat to a quiet inn or jetting off to Miami for a little R and R.

Vice President of Business Development and Legal Affairs for Lipstick and Wildflowers, Tonja oversees the business side of the company. She manages everything from viral marketing and advertising to legal inquires and media coverage. Born and raised in Queens, New York, she grew up with a love and appreciation for the arts. Through writing poetry, short stories, sketching and sewing which she learned from her late grandmother she was able to channel her artistic side.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the CUNY Baccalaureate Program at Brooklyn College in Political Science and Philosophy. Putting her artistic endeavors on the backburner she went on to law school and to receive her Juris Doctor degree from Hofstra University School of Law. Soon after, she earned her Master of Law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in Intellectual Property.

Upon passing the New York State bar, Tonja worked for a solo practitioner and various New York City law firms as a contract attorney and legal consultant. Meeting Tracey in the summer of 2005, her creative senses were awakened by their mutual passion for fashion and the dream of starting a clothing line for gay women. Also by this time she became disillusioned with corporate America. She returned to her artistic roots by enrolling in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Creative Enterprise Ownership program in New York City. She began to represent young artists, designers, writers and the like through her law practice…Jordan Law Office PLLC. Her office also provides personalized legal services to the unique needs of the LGBTQ Community such as Life and Estate Planning. In her spare time she enjoys photography, Latin dancing, cooking decadent dinners, house music parties, running, inline skating, reading and watching television. She particularly enjoys the sights and sounds of the two cities she loves the most, New York City for its beautiful brownstones and Miami Beach for its Art Deco buildings where she loves spending time with her girlfriend, family and friends.