Behind the Dede Raad Collection
Meet our February collab partner Dede Raad, @dressupbuttercup! This Houston native has created a community by sharing her love for stylish outfits, relatable stories, and plenty of humor. After her first collection sold out in a matter of minutes last spring, we knew we had to create magic again. We sat down with Dede to talk about all the details behind her SECOND Electric Picks collection, here just in time for the perfect Valentine's gift!
How did you start your career influencing?
I started my blog, *Dress Up Buttercup*, in 2015 after being laid off from a marketing job in the oil and gas industry. We always joke that I’m where I am today because I got fired! When I first began, my blog barely got any traffic—just a few dozen visitors, mostly friends and family. Still, I made it a goal to post almost every single day. Over the years, the industry has evolved so much with the rise of Instagram, TikTok, and other new apps - I adapted each time and truly love how much more personal the journey has become. Now, I feel so beyond blessed to be a part of a community full of beautiful, strong, amazing women who inspire me every day.
How did you come up with the names?
The collection is launching just in time for Valentine's Day, so we played off some of the classic things surrounding the holiday!
How did you choose the pieces for this?
When creating this collection, my goal was to design pieces that are simple and classic enough for everyday wear, yet still stunning and exciting to receive in the mail. The cross necklace is inspired by the Viv necklace from my last collection—so many of you loved it, and I wanted to offer a similar option. I've been layering both necklaces together, and I absolutely love the look! Another favorite of mine is the tag necklace. The phrase "love you more" is something we say in my family, so it’s very personal to me. I’m so happy to be able to share that with all of you.
How do you balance being a mom/creator/businesswomen?
This is something I deeply connect with many of you on, and it's something I continue to work on every day. Personally, I make a conscious effort to block out specific times for work and others for family. Recently, I got a "brick" that locks my phone during certain hours to help me stay away from social media and stay focused on my family. I also believe it's important to ask for help— I couldn’t manage it all without the support of my team, family, and a strong support system.
Best piece of advice you've ever gotten?
One of my favorite pieces of advice, and something I try to incorporate into my life every day, is "Don't sweat the small stuff." Life throws so much our way, and it can be easy to let every little thing affect our mood, decisions, and overall well-being. A helpful rule for putting this into practice is the 5X5 rule: If an issue won't matter in five years, spend no more than five minutes stressing about it. This not only helps keep your spirits high but also frees up mental space to focus on the bigger, more important moments in life.
