FP Me Stylist Of The Week: Mrsamyhawkins

There’s something really special about all of the photos by FP Me user Amy Hawkins.

Each one is so different. From the landscape…to the outfit…to the pose, there is much to be seen in Amy’s FP Me profile. Her pictures tell a story, and never the same one twice. She knows how to reflect a certain mood in her pics, and she sets the scene up perfectly no matter what feeling she’s going for. I’ve recently been surrounding myself with sunflowers, so the picture below where Amy is tucked away in a patch of yellow and green has got to be my favorite. She makes me wish I could be situated in the fields and high hills she frequents to see it for myself. A Maryland girl born and raised, she lives a pretty sweet life in a place she knows best, next to the ones she loves. Get to know a little bit more about Amy below!

Above: Stephens Relaxed Overall, Roma Flat Brim Porkpie

Get the look: Free to Be Top, Raw Hem Denim Cutoff

Where are you from? How has this helped shape the person that you are today?

I have lived in Maryland for almost my entire life, and have been most impacted by the relationships that were built here. Many of the closest friendships I have today are the ones that were made in elementary or middle school. Those people have absolutely helped to shape me into the person I am today. There is something very special about being friends with someone who is with you in those odd, unsure years, and stays alongside you through the change to love you as the person you are now.

Get the look: Embroidered Babydoll Slip

Where do you currently live? What’s your favorite part about living there?

My husband Patrick and I live just a short drive from where I grew up. We both are passionate about traveling and adventuring to new places, so living close to family and friends makes home a great base for us to come back to. I always get excited to come home from a trip, because I know there will be people who are eager to see us, and to share in our life adventure. Maybe one day we will move to a new coast, but for now I am soaking up the blessing of having family and friends around us.

Get the look: Owen Relaxed Straight Leg, FP X Bon Bon Thermal, Hiker Heathered Highland 

Get the look: Golden Nugget Top, Raw Hem Denim Cutoff

What was it about Free People that first caught your attention?

One of the attributes of Free People that I was instantly drawn to was the creativity coming from every inch of the store. The clothes were so unique – the patterns, the materials. And the store itself was like an artist’s dream come to life. The girls were dressed in ways that fit their personalities, and were not stuck in a rigid mold. There was a feeling of creative passion that instantly made me want to know more about the brand.

Get the look: Capsule Slouchy Beanie, Draped in Plaid Shirt, Awesome Destroyed Baggies

Can you tell us a little bit about what you do now? What does an average day on the job look like for you?

Right now I am the assistant manager at Free People in Towson, and I am so thankful to work with such a fantastic group of girls! A normal day is composed of working together as a team to create the “Free People experience” for our customers. Getting to bring a note of positivity into someone’s day is always the goal. In addition to working with customers, one of my favorite job duties is going outside of the store walls to take pictures of my coworkers for our store’s social media page. I work among such beautiful ladies (inside and out!) and I absolutely love capturing them in photographs. I truly enjoy almost every aspect of my job, but getting to dive into social media has been especially exciting.

Get the look: Tattered Flag Scarf, Easy Breezy Crochet Slip

If you could translate your style into a person or a place, what would it be?

This question is a tough one because I love to have a variety of style in my closet. But if I had to, I would narrow down my style to being composed of: a little bit of mountain man, and a little bit of small-town charm. I love the boyfriend style and am perfectly content in flannels, tee shirts, and destroyed denim. But, the other half of me is a sucker for anything floral, soft and sweet. Playing with these two opposites and mixing pieces together gives me the best of both worlds.

Get the look: We the Free Tight Wire Tee, Galloon Lace Racerback

I love all of the beautiful backdrops you have in your FP Me pics. Where do you like to take most of your pictures for your profile?

If every picture could be taken in a vast, beautiful landscape that would be fabulous! I love the natural beauty those scenes provide, because I feel that Free People is a brand that reflects and embraces that beauty. But when I don’t have the time to escape to an outdoor scene, I really love to juxtapose a pretty outfit in a grungy city scene. Graffiti walls and dingy staircases will always be some of my favorite photo shoot spots.

Get the look: Dreamy Daze Print Dress, Sweet Disposition Jacket

Get the look: FP ONE Angel Lace Dress, Pointelle Tall Sock

By looking at your Instagram, you definitely know how to take a picture. Has photography always been a thing you’ve dabbled in?

Absolutely! I have always been fascinated by the art of photography, and my favorite museum feature to date is the traveling Pulitzer Prize photograph exhibit.  Just recently my interest in photography was reignited when my grandpa gave me his old Pentax film camera. When I tried film for the first time, I instantly fell in love with it! I used to think that my photos weren’t “good enough” to share, and I was so critical of myself. Now, I just shoot and share for the love of it, and it’s okay with me if I’m the only one who likes my pictures. I look forward to developing my skills and learning from other photographers. It is a creative outlet that I know I will keep pursuing.

Get the look: Lace Banded Bottom Blouse, Tattered Flag Scarf

If you could pick one place in the entire world to spend a weekend, where would you go and who would you bring?

Anywhere new. A town that I’ve never seen, streets I’ve never wandered, a cozy restaurant I’ve never heard of. And my best bud – my husband Patrick – to do the exploring with me.

Get the look: Easy Breezy Crochet Slip, Boxy Stripe Pullover

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?

On our wedding day, Patrick and I asked our guests to write down words of advice and leave them for us. One of my favorites was the advice from our ring bearer and flower girl (both under the age of six). They wrote, “Play. Love each other. Kiss each other. Hug each other.” The advice is so simple, but so easy to forget. Life is short, but it’s easy to complicate the process and get caught up on the small, insignificant things. Sometimes we just need to step back and remember to play and kiss and be thankful for the moment.

What does being ‘free’ mean to you?

To me, being free begins with being grounded in your identity. To have a sense of who you are and what you love gives you so much freedom to enjoy life more fully, and to be resilient against threats to your freedom. When you are “okay” with yourself and the process you are in, it becomes so much easier to leave whatever past or problems hold you down, and go freely into the future.

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