i'm gifting $450+ of goodies to readers to celebrate International Women's Day
plus, Q&As with Dianna Cohen and Laney Crowell
hi, Sunday Squad!
today marks not just our first edition of The Sunday Series in the month of March, but also the lead up to International Women’s Day, an annual celebration of women on March 8th. each year, IWD has a global theme, and this year’s is “invest in women, accelerate progress.”
as someone who’s been fortunate to spend the vast majority of the past decade in the working world surrounded by women, it can be easy for me to lose sight of the fact that this is not the case for most, particularly in industries like tech and finance. but something I never lose sight of is the voting power of our dollar. it makes an immeasurable difference to actively seek out and support women-backed businesses, which is why I’m dedicating today’s issue to the celebration of female founders and their inspiring companies.
and while there’s lots of goodness packed in today’s edition, be sure to read to the end to learn how to enter to win one of four incredible sets of products amounting to $450+ in value, made up of goodies from female-founded businesses and women authors. this edition of The Sunday Series is too long for email, so I’d recommend clicking out to read in browser or even better, in the Substack app, where you can like and comment! your engagement on Substack means so much to me 💌
when I began brainstorming what brands I wanted to showcase in this IWD edition a couple of months back, two forward-thinking beauty brands immediately came to mind: Crown Affair and Saie.
as someone deeply immersed in content curation—both because of this very Substack, but also because of my heavy hand in and my full-time job as the Director of Content for a luxury travel company—I operate in an ecosystem where storytelling is my currency. , founder of Crown Affair, and , founder of Saie, both inherently understand what it means to create companies where strong brand storytelling is at their core. they’re both active here on Substack and I was thrilled when they were interested in being a part of today’s edition!
on Friday evening, I found myself walking home along The High Line with a box of Crown Affair and Saie goodies destined for readers of The Sunday Series. I was filled with gratitude for the generosity of women and in turn, the chance to give back to this Substack community which I hold so dear. as if on cue, the sky set ablaze with cotton candy colors, and it felt like a little wink from the universe that we’re onto something *really* good here…
Meet Dianna Cohen
Kayla Douglas: Crown Affair is a love letter to your hair—what does that mission mean to you as a founder?
Dianna Cohen: Crown Affair as a love letter to your hair is exactly that—an ode to its beauty, its individuality, and the care it deserves. Your hair, like you, is worthy of love, attention, and adoration. It’s not just about beauty; it’s about self-care, confidence, and connection. When I started Crown Affair, I wanted to build a brand that treats hair with the same thoughtfulness and intention as any other ritual that nurtures you. For me, it’s about creating moments of mindfulness and offering products that elevate not just your hair, but your relationship with yourself.
KD: Your career has been deeply connected to storytelling and brand building. How has fluency in this arena shaped the way you approach Crown Affair—not just as a product line, but a movement centered around ritual and intentionality?
DC: Storytelling and brand building have always been at the heart of my career, shaping the way I approach Crown Affair. Creating effective, innovative products is just the foundation—true longevity comes from building something with soul, with meaning. With Crown Affair, I set out to create a movement around ritual and intentionality, ensuring that everything we do is rooted in that philosophy. Every product, every interaction is designed to invite people to slow down, nurture themselves, and connect with their own beauty in a meaningful way. Haircare, to me, is an extension of self-care—a daily ritual that honors who you are. It’s also about offering the most thoughtful, elegant solutions that make caring for your hair effortless, so you can spend more time doing the things you love.
KD: I've been loving your Substack, Take Your Time. Tell us about your approach to writing about the art of becoming who you are.
DC: Thank you! Writing Take Your Time has been such a rewarding way to reflect on the journey of self-discovery. To me, becoming who you are isn’t about chasing an end result—it’s about embracing the process. It’s not about finding yourself, but creating yourself.
We all deserve the space to explore what inspires us, to discover what makes us feel most like us. Each of us sees the world through a unique lens, and I love encouraging others to embrace that—to live their most creative, intentional lives. How can we inspire ourselves to truly see the world around us? The capacity for delight comes from paying attention, from noticing the beauty in the details. Take Your Time is about just that—tuning in, slowing down, and shaping the world through your own perspective.
DC: Last question! The theme of International Women's Day this year is "Invest in women. Accelerate progress." How do you recommend consumers find more ways to invest in women-backed businesses?
“Wow, I love this theme—it’s a core value of mine and a guiding principle in how I hire, build, and elevate my team, as well as the women around me. The best way to invest in women-backed businesses is to support them in ways that are accessible to you. Being a customer is huge, but so is sharing—a simple recommendation to a friend or a post on social media can make a meaningful impact. Every small action adds up, and it’s 100% why Crown Affair is where it is today.” – Dianna Cohen, founder of Crown Affair
DC: If you’re looking to invest more literally, many women-led brands are actively fundraising. Exploring pre-seed or seed rounds is an incredible way to get involved if you’re in a position to do so. A lot of consumer brands are raising capital right now, and being an early supporter can have a lasting impact—not just on the business itself, but on the broader landscape of women in entrepreneurship.
For International Women’s Day, this theme feels especially powerful. Investing in women-led businesses isn’t just about financial backing—it’s about championing their work, elevating their voices, and choosing to support brands that align with your values. Whether it’s the haircare you use, the clothes you buy, or the coffee shop you frequent, those conscious choices shape the future. Every bit of support matters.
Meet Laney Crowell
Kayla Douglas: Laney, what does it mean to you to build Saie around the mission of feeling good and doing good?
“I founded Saie with one main goal: to make beauty better in every way—for our bodies and the planet. To me, beauty is about starting the day with a routine that makes you feel good. It’s about effortlessly applying beautiful, clean products and letting that set the tone for everything that follows.” – Laney Crowell, founder of Saie
Laney Crowell: As Saie grows, we continue to set new industry standards, prioritizing a brighter future for our community and the environment. We are proud to call ourselves Earth-minded and with our Saie Climate Initiative, we're committed to cleaning up the planet, hitting carbon net zero, and investing in women along the way. It’s empowering to not just talk about change but to take action each day.
KD: How has building a female-founded company driven your decision-making in how you create both products and content for your community?
LC: Every decision we make at Saie—whether it's about a new product or a campaign—centers on creating a positive impact. I am deeply passionate about developing products that are not only clean and high-performing but also designed with the needs of our community in mind. I’ve always wanted Saie to be a place where women feel seen, supported, and empowered. We aim to create content that inspires, educates, and elevates women, both in their beauty routines and in their lives.
KD: Tell us about why the Saie team decided to double down on Substack! (I'm obsessed with Lunch Break with Laney and From the Saie Office)
LC: Thank you! I love Substack for long-form content. It reminds me of blogging in the 2000s, my favorite blogging era. The heart of Saie is our community. I have always said, “When you 'Saie' it, we create it,” and that’s how so many of our products have come to life. But it's always been about more than just the products—it's about sharing our purpose and connecting.
Lunch Break with Laney is a glimpse into my personal life as a mom of two girls and a CEO, whereas From the Saie Office invites our subscribers into the conversations we are having at Saie HQ. Both are about building deeper connections on topics that matter to us, and sharing what inspires us most.
KD: Last question! The theme of International Women's Day this year is "Invest in women. Accelerate progress." How do you recommend consumers find more ways to invest in women-backed businesses?
LC: Women are leading the charge and transforming the world, and it’s up to us to actively support each other. It has to be a priority to take conscious steps in your daily life to seek out women-backed businesses. I’m constantly expanding my network and connecting with new people. Whenever I meet someone, I ask them for recommendations on who I can connect with next. It’s led me to some of the most meaningful relationships, and I believe in supporting them just as they do for me.
International Women’s Day giveaways!
it was tough to decide how to break up or combine these incredible giveaways, but ultimately, my goal is for as many of you to feel the love as possible, so I’ll be splitting these goodies into four separate giveaways! three of the four bundles (as outlined below) will be exclusively for my paid subscribers.
female-founded brand packages and women author bundle
Crown Affair care package: available to paid subscribers of The Sunday Series
now that you know from Dianna that Crown Affair is a love letter to your hair, these products carry even more weight. these are some of their best sellers, and with good reason! the winner of the Crown Affair care package will receive:
Saie beauty bundle: available to paid subscribers of The Sunday Series
I’ve long been obsessed with Saie’s Glowy Super Gel (I have a travel size one that I bring on all my trips!) so I know you’re going to love that product, plus two blushes and a brush from them. the winner of the Saie beauty bundle will receive:
Glowy Super Gel (Sunglow)
SuperSuede Blush (Bella)
Dew Blush (Dreamy)
The Fishwife Cookbook Bundle: available to paid subscribers of The Sunday Series
this exclusive bundle has everything you need to kickstart your culinary adventures as you dive into Fishwife founder Becca Millstein and Vilda Gonzalez’s new cookbook, The Fishwife Cookbook: Delightful Tinned Fish Recipes for Every Occasion. in addition to this brand new cookbook, the winner of the Fishwife bundle will receive:
custom sticky notes, blue sticker sheet, and a cookbook sticker
HarperCollins’ new release and advance reader copy bundle: available to all subscribers of The Sunday Series
Kakigori Summer by Emily Itami (out April 3, 2025)
Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau (out May 6, 2025)
Nothing Serious by Emily L. Smith (out now)
how to enter to win
comment here on Substack sharing the name of one of your favorite female-founded businesses! this can be a small, local business that you love supporting in your own community (anything from a bakery to a beauty salon or beyond!) or, an internationally acclaimed brand like Spanx. comments will be open until noon ET on Saturday, March 8th (International Women’s Day), at which time I’ll start to draw winners.
bonus entry: share something about The Sunday Series to your Instagram Stories with me (@curatedbykayla) tagged! this could be anything from resharing my recent Instagram Reel about this giveaway or a screenshot of The Sunday Series and why you love it!
upgrade to a paid subscription to increase your chances of winning—three of the four of today’s giveaways are exclusively for my paid subscribers. by commenting, paid subscribers will be eligible for all four giveaways as I randomly draw winners. if you’re a free subscriber, by commenting, you’ll be eligible for the book bundle! I’ll be following a similar format later this spring when I celebrate five years of The Sunday Series, so this is just the beginning of what’s going to lot of giving back to this incredible community
winners will be announced in next week’s edition, which will be a super vulnerable post about how it’s been going since I launched my paid tier of the newsletter six months ago. I can’t wait to share it with you! xKD
 | A guest post by
|
 | A guest post by
|
What a thoughtful collection. All your recommendations are always spot on.
An elite giveaway with some of my favorite brands!! Can’t wait to see who wins. Proud of you!!