When I asked Cynthia Guerra to describe her style, her answer made me smile. “I want it to look like a gift,” she laughed. “I like to wear things that make me feel happy, like frills, patterns, and colors.”Here, the Long Beach-based bakery, known for its adorable, kawaii-style cakes, has put together five cakes in one week. Share your outfit…
Above: Shirt: Vintage. Attire: Free people. Jeans: Forever 21. Hutt: And then. Socks: Sanrio, similar. Shoes: Nike SB.
T-shirt: Little Light. Skirt: Little Light, similar. Wallet: Hello Sisi custom. Socks: Sanrio, similar. Shoes: Lisa Says Gah, similar.
“In high school, I loved theater and the idea of physically creating characters in a story. My personal style was inspired by kawaii culture. As a teenager, I always loved theater and the idea of physically creating characters in a story. I was reading the latest fruit magazine and dyed my hair pink when I was 16.”
“When I was a little girl, my mother was obsessed with Hello Kitty, but my grandparents couldn’t afford one. So when I was in first grade, my mother went to buy pencils, stationery, and a backpack. She took me to the store and said she had wanted those things as a child and was so happy to be able to give them to me. That’s where my love for Sanrio characters began. I did.”
Above: A thrifted, similar one. Apron: White leather work clothes. Jeans: Forever21, similar. Socks: Target. Shoes: Karel Paris.
“I started baking mixed box cakes as a hobby in my early 20s when I was living in Las Vegas and working in retail. I always surprised my friends with cakes for their birthdays. Then I started making my own. I reached a point in my career where I felt like I had no direction. My mother encouraged me to take baking more seriously. The idea of changing direction to a new career scared me, but it’s a good thing. That was the meaning.”
“When I turned 30, I moved to my grandma’s house in Long Beach, California, and signed up for the cheapest baking class I could afford. Just before the pandemic, I got my first formal baking job. I was a pastry baker at Susie Cakes. But when everything shut down, I was let go. But I was practicing baking and decorating cakes every day. Then one day, a stranger asked me if he could buy a cake for me. I was worried that my work wasn’t good enough to sell, but then I pushed myself. , I started selling more cakes and participating in pop-ups, and my business has grown ever since.”
Overalls: Ford x Sydney Sweeney collab, purchased on Depop, similar. Top: Pajama top from a store in Chinatown. Shoes: Blundstone.
“I was drawn to these overalls because they represent two sides of me: cute and gentle, and comfortable enough to get dirty and work.”
“I wanted to decorate my headphones, so I bought clear headphone cases, glue, small charms, and pearls. I worked while watching my favorite shows like Chef’s Table and The Peanuts. How do people do puzzles? Do you know how I like it? Making these headphones was like a puzzle for me. I ended up decorating my phone and laptop too.
Top and skirt set: Her garden. Socks: Urban Outfitters. Shoes: Converse.
“During my free time, I visit different bakeries to treat myself. My favorite spots are Bab and Grandma’s, Colossus, and Okayama Kobo. When I go on solo dates like this, I always dress up. I’ve been working so hard, so why not have some fun? Dressing up is a way to celebrate the life I’ve built.”
Thank you so much, Cynthia! you are wonderful
P.S.: More women are sharing their outfits of the week, including the author who scored the best bargains at Target and the designer who wore the rainbow.
(Photo courtesy of Nikki Sebastian)
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