Female Entrepreneurs We Love: Cheri Leavy – 8.28 Boutique

Female Entrepreneurs We Love: Cheri Leavy

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One of our favorite things we get to be a part of as an entrepreneur is The Southern C! Every year, we are continually inspired by all the bright minds and hard working spirits. We talked with Cheri Leavy, Co-Founder of The Southern C, about what it's like to be a female entrepreneur & a little bit of style talk, too!!  

When did The Southern C begin, and what's your favorite part of running a business?

The Southern Coterie started ten years ago as a blog about the people and places of the South. In 2013, co-founder Whitney Long and I began hosting The Southern C Summit in 2013 bringing together female entrepreneurs to educate and empower them to grow their businesses and find ways to #connectcollaboratecreate. My favorite part of running a business is seeing ideation come to life and actually work, haha. Of course, that takes hard work!

What is your favorite thing about the conference?

My favorite thing about The Southern C Summit is the full circle connections made every year! I love the movers and shakers from Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida etc all coming together to find ways to support one another.

Three things I never tire of:

Saturdays spent well in these three locations - a sunny Saturday at the Sea Island Beach Club with friends, a football Saturday in Athens with Georgia Bulldogs and a vacation Saturday anywhere in the world with my hubby Vance.

Favorite meal, dessert, or cocktail?

Meal: Food while traveling on vacation always tastes better to me, right?

Dessert: A seven-layer caramel cake from Caroline’s Cake 

Cocktail: A margarita or ranch water with Red Clay hot honey and their spicy margarita salt on the rim

How do you stay inspired?

I stay inspired by surrounding myself with such strong creatives in The Southern Coterie! Through the support calls on zoom with membership, my cup gets refilled weekly! And I am on fire after face-to-face meet-ups with City Chapters and The Southern C Summit.

How would you describe your personal style? 

My personal style is more colorful and more patterns as I have gotten older and I tend to mix a classic style with something funky and unexpected. I have a shoe obsession so that is usually a pop of fun and I layer a lot of Theodosia jewelry every day! 

What is your idea of #dressforpurpose and living a purposeful life?

To me, #dressforpurpose means wearing what expresses your personality and empowers you to tackle the world! Living a purposeful life means following your dreams and passions and what you give to that is also what you get! Helping others grow personally and professionally while you grow too is so rewarding.

If you could buy one thing from the 8.28 website, what would it be and how would you style it?

I love this Hunter Bell Palmer Dress and would do a white bootie paired with it! 8.28 owner Caroline makes everything look cute!


If you had to only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, would you pick a dress or a top & jeans? 

A dress for sure!


Cheri is most likely head to toe sporting brands or businesses from The Southern Coterie!

Cheri wearing an 8.28 dress with Golden Gooses from Cloth + Label and Mignonne Gavigan earrings with Theodosia jewelry.

Cheri wearing a Georgia Bulldog gameday look with a skirt from 8.28 paired with bag from Leigh Ann Barnes, strap from TruColors, Marion Parke comfy heels from Hampden Clothing and Theodosia jewelry.

Cheri wearing a dress from 8.28 with a sweater over it from Two Friends Boutique and booties from Heery’s Clothes Closet and Theodosia jewelry.

Cheri wearing a dress from her recent collaboration BURU X THE SOUTHERN C launched at The Southern C Summit on Sea Island. (Kelli Boyd Photography)

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