Island Lookbook: Amina Peterson

Amina Peterson

>> Occupation: account executive, Ohana Broadcast Co.

>> Age: 39

>> Residence: Kailua

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Whether it’s a fabulously oversized pair of gold hoop earrings or thick, black, square-framed glasses, Amina Peterson’s bold fashion choices always make her stand out from the pack.

Raised in Chicago in a family of nine children, Peterson says her look growing up was often influenced by hip-hop culture. Her fashion ah-ha moment came when she attended the Afropunk Festival in New York.

“Being a tall woman and often one of the few black people in the room, my inclination was to tone it down. That festival, and the fashion that people wear to it, showed me that it was OK to amp it up,” she said. “Colors, accessories and hair are a big focal point of the fashion at Afropunk.”

These days, Peterson describes her style as urban bohemian with a bit of punk. She lives in Kailua, so the urban funkiness is mixed in with the more flowy looks she has added to her wardrobe to beat the heat.

As an account executive at Ohana Broadcast Co., Peterson books events and works with advertising clients. Before that, she was in fundraising and development at the Life Foundation, Hawaii’s oldest HIV and AIDS service organization. She is still active with the foundation today.

Wardrobe MVP: “One of them is a beige jumper from Industry, a new boutique in Kailua. It’s just so cute and good for Hawaii’s weather. It’s a little bit clubby so I can wear it to events that I go to for work.”

Favorite event outfit: “I have a very retro strapless dress with pink trim and a pink tulle skirt underneath that I love. It’s very 1950s. I got it from one of the vintage shops in California.”

Must-have accessories: “Lipstick and earrings. My favorite shades of lipstick right now seem to be pinks, but usually it’s red. And I have a purple lipstick from MAC and it’s really great. Big, gaudy hoops are the best earrings.”

Current hairstyle: “I’ve been loving the short blonde Afro that I have right now. I had that when I was 19, and I brought it back this year after growing my hair long. I love it.”

Shoe-ins: “My brown leather Chuck Taylors. Because they are leather, I feel like I can get away with wearing them with a skirt.”

Latest purchase: “It’s a Bodycon tunic that I got from Industry in Kailua. It’s kind of a tie-dye print. It’s too short for me to wear with heels because I am tall, so I pair it with Aldo loafers.”

Favorite concert outfit: “The outfit I wore to the last Prince concert I attended before he passed away. It was March of this year at the Oracle in Oakland. I wore my black Marciano backless shirt and my black-and-white checkered pants from Express. Both of these pieces have stretch in them so I can dance.”

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By Erin Smith, special to the Star-Advertiser. Island Lookbook is a weekly feature that spotlights local trendsetters. Contact features@staradvertiser.com.