Back-To-School Style With Jayme Sy and Zenni
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Senay Inanici
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Back-to-School season is here! Thrift-loving mama Jayme Sy shows us her colorful school-ready looks, complete with frames from Zenni for the whole family.
Bold outfits and accessories are a way of life for Bay Area mom Jayme Sy. And, as it turns out, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
We recently visited Jayme, her husband Stefano, and their kiddos Sol, 6, and Leo Love, 4, for a little Back-to-School dress-up session, in collaboration with Zenni.
To complement their colorful outfits, the fam picked out a variety of classic, funky, and super-affordable frames, including Zenni’s new Blokz blue light blocking lenses, which are especially key in today’s screen-centric world.
“My outfits for school drop-off tend to be toned down, but still a little quirky, fun, and always comfortable,” says Jayme, sporting a pair of oversized green stunners.
Meanwhile, she encourages her children to get creative when it comes to their ensembles.
“I want the kids to experiment with their personal style and feel good about themselves, so I really try to hype them up in every look,” she says. “I see their inner confidence shining through when they strut out of the house in an outfit that makes them feel unstoppable.”
Alongside showing off their classroom-ready looks and fave Zenni frames, the family also toured us around their eclectic, stuffie-filled home, as Jayme opened up about embracing becoming a young, stay-at-home, suburban mom, parenting while being neurodivergent, and her hopes and dreams for the school year ahead.
For more Back-to-School style inspiration, be sure to follow Jayme and Zenni on Instagram at @thehellajam and @zennioptical.
How would you describe your own personal style?
“I think my personal style is eclectic, playful, vibrant, a whole lot of granny hand-me-downs with a touch of street style. I’m a sustainable maximalist, passionate about thrifting vintage and constantly reimagining how to rewear pieces from my closet to better the environment. While others might overlook your grandma’s muumuu, I swooped it, breathing new life into it and adding some HellaJam flair.”
What about your kids' style?
“Leo Love and Sol are already so confident in their personal style that they are extremely outspoken about what they will and will not wear. Sol is into the street style aesthetic, baggy pants, bold and comfortable pieces. Leo Love is a unicorn in human form, and she’s most confident in feminine, extra sparkly pieces, and her go-to silver cowgirl boots.”
“Accessories have the power to totally transform an outfit. It takes one standout piece to boost your confidence and help you fully embrace your own style.”
How do accessories come into play for you?
“Accessories have the power to totally transform an outfit. It takes one standout piece to boost your confidence and help you fully embrace your own style. I’m all about accessories, and I’ve found that when my kids see me strutting out in one look and then coming back with even more funky, surprising accessories, it really encourages them to have fun with their own style too.”
“They’re always stuck in the entryway of our home when we’re rushing out the door, changing up their sunglasses, hats, purses, etc. It’s been the most rewarding thing to see them grow into kind little humans that care for Mother Earth and to see them step into their own personal style. I see their inner confidence shining through when they strut out of the house in an outfit that makes them feel unstoppable.”
Do you all have any style rules or philosophies you live by?
“Our biggest style philosophy is casual comfort and bold individuality with the earth in mind. The more color, texture, and patterns the better and if it’s thrifted, sustainable, or vintage, then we hit the jackpot.”
“I always tell our babes that the clothes that they style together is a creative expression of themselves and as long as they feel confident in what they are wearing, that is all that matters.”
“Personally, I’m most confident in loose, billowy silhouettes and enjoy mixing hyper feminine pieces with masculine pieces. When I see something that is kind of tacky, I like the challenge of finding a way to make it mine.”
How do you think about Back-to-School style when it comes to your kids?
“I went to a private Catholic school, wore a uniform everyday, and really wanted to show my personal style every chance I could. I want the kids to experiment with their personal style and feel good about themselves, so I really try to hype them up in every look.”
“Before we do Back-to-School shopping, we go through their closet together and take inventory of what we have and what we need. We determine what styles they like, what textures feel comfortable to them, why they prefer certain pieces and once we’re on the same page, we always go thrifting first!”
“I try to find most of their clothes secondhand and then we add in quality, modern pieces to mix it up. We recently did a thrift trip together and it was so fun to see them light up when picking outfits for themselves. We even did a backyard fashion show with a makeshift backdrop and a runway where they styled their thrifted fits. They LOVED it and were so excited to rock their new outfits for school.”
What about Back-to-School style for yourself, as a mama?
“My outfits for school drop-off tend to be toned down, but still a little quirky, fun, and always comfortable. I’ve been leaning into effortless fits that take little to no thought in the morning. A staple of mine is my big brother's ‘90s light-washed baggy denim paired with an oversized tee and funky sunglasses or my maxi cargo skirt and a boxy textured blouse with sneakers.”
Tell us about the Zenni frames you chose for your Back-to-School looks.
“I think sunglasses can level up any outfit, so we chose bold frames with a lot of color and a few with a futuristic touch.”
What were your—and Stef's—Zenni favorites?
“Stefano’s favorite is the orange aviators because the frames are large enough to feel like it’s an invisible cloak, but the orange tint is still approachable if he decides to converse with people. Perfect frames for a neurodivergent, socially anxious dad at school drop-off!”
“I’ve been wanting big granny frames and I’m gushing over Iris Apfel’s collection with Zenni. I especially love that Stefano has been leaning into more femme styles and we can share our Zenni frames with each other.”
“I think sunglasses can level up any look, so we chose bold frames with a lot of color and a few with a futuristic touch.”
What about the kids' Zenni favorites?
“Sol is obsessed with anything spy related, which is why he gravitates to the Y2K sleek frames. He chose the green Blokz lenses because he said, ‘they’re toxic green,’ which reminds him of his favorite zombie video game.”
“Leo is always smiling ear to ear when she’s wearing anything pink and sparkly, so the glittery rectangle frames were her favorite. In her mind, there is no such thing as too many sparkles and I 100% agree with her. She must get her ‘more is more’ styling philosophy from me.”
You are such a sweet family! Did you and Stef always know you wanted to be parents?
“We wanted to be parents, but we were not expecting to get pregnant as soon as we did. When we got pregnant with Sol, my YouTube career was just taking off and Stef had just accepted a new position at a startup. At that time, he took a 50% pay cut while we were simultaneously saving up to move to Tokyo and then our life turned upside down.”
“We didn’t have many friends that were parents that were our age, so it was very scary and oftentimes isolating. I’m so happy we chose to become parents at that time in our lives because we’ve grown into the best versions of ourselves. We faced our own personal fears, insecurities, mental health hurdles, and have grown stronger individually and together since becoming parents.”
What's been the biggest surprise to you in becoming a mom?
“I promised myself I would never move back to the suburbs and that I would never be a stay-at-home mom, but here I am. I live in the same town I grew up in and I love being ‘that mom.’ I’m very active and present in Sol and Leo’s lives, juggling Room Mom things, coaching my son's soccer team, and still creating content as an influencer.”
“My content has evolved a lot over the years, but it’s so aligned with who I am and in this chapter of my life right now. I’m sharing my life, unapologetically. What you see in my candid videos on social media is the same version of what you would see if you came over and kicked it at our home. Pure chaos, imperfect motherhood, lots of booty shaking, passionate conversations about liberation, and a whole lotta love.” ”
“I never thought I would enjoy stepping into this role as a stay-at-home mom, but I've grown to not only love it, but take pride in it. For the longest time, I was chasing my life and my career before I was a mom and I'm finally at a place where this season feels right. They grow so fast, so why not lean all the way in and enjoy the ride? I’m redefining what a ‘suburban mom’ is to me and in my eyes. She’s cool AF, real AF, happy and loved.”
How old are the kids now and what are they most into?
“Sol Vincent is six years old and he’s the gentlest and kindest soul. He got bullied a little when he was in preschool and it’s been really beautiful to see him use his voice to set boundaries and stand up for himself and others. The other day he said there was a kid at the cafeteria who was eating alone and he introduced himself and invited him to sit with his friends. Hearing his stories after school is the highlight of my day because all I've ever wanted was to raise kind humans and he's exactly that.”
“Leo Love turned four a few months ago and it's like a light switched on, and all of the frustrating moments of gentle parenting—where it felt like I wasn't getting through to her—worked! When she’s feeling big emotions, she's able to verbalize what she needs so I can help her work through every feeling. I’m most excited to see her blossom this school year and make new friends.”
What was your own upbringing like?
“I'm a first generation Filipino American and grew up with two older brothers. We went to a predominantly white Catholic school where a majority of the families were very well off. I’m embarrassed to admit that I felt like my entire childhood I wanted to assimilate to white culture rather than embrace my own heritage. It wasn't until I became a mom that I've been actively trying to learn about my Filipino culture before the Philippines was colonized and to teach our kids their heritage too.”
“My parents were pretty strict and conservative. Both of my brothers chipped away at my parents’ traditional values, paving the way for me to be able to be more carefree. I find myself rebelling against the old strict ways in which I was raised and parenting in a way that lets kids be kids. It’s been healing to my inner child to watch them make a mess or use their imagination and get dirty in nature. The mess will be cleaned and their dirt will wash off, but these core memories will last forever.”
Are there things from your upbringing that you're consciously trying to incorporate (or not incorporate) into your parenting?
“My parents were trying their best, but they didn't apologize often. It's not a thing in the Filipino culture, let alone their generation. Oftentimes, we would say really hurtful things to each other, cool off, and then never talk about the conflict again until the next argument.”
“As a parent, I try to apologize often. I over explain my thought process to the kids in hopes that they see that I too am human, and that I'm working on my own big feelings, just like them. Stefano and I are constantly putting our pride aside and admitting when we’re wrong, and I think that shows the kids the importance of taking accountability, letting go of any anger, and moving forward.”
“My parents instilled in us the importance of family. At an early age, I learned that no matter what, even if it hurts, we work through it and we show up for one another. We all live within twenty minutes of each other. It’s been a blessing to live so close to them and to see my brothers (and their partners) be the best auntie and uncles to my kiddos, and to see my parents thrive as grandparents. It’s not always sunshine and daisies and we still get on each other's nerves at times, but we’re family and we’ll always be a constant in each other’s lives.”
You and Stef have been open about parenting while being neurodivergent. What's been the hardest part of that journey?
“Stef and I both were diagnosed with Adult ADHD a few years ago and it’s completely changed our lives. For the first time ever I’m embracing my mind and I’m not trying to be anyone but myself. I’m learning and unlearning parts about myself, hoping to be the best and most nurturing mother to Sol and Leo.”
“Helping Sol with homework was a bit triggering and very challenging at first, but it's been so healing to empower him to learn in a way that I wish I had growing up. I’m constantly reminding him that my brain gets distracted too and sometimes I get overwhelmed and feel bad about it, but as long as I'm trying my best, that's all that matters.”
“I think it’s important to show our kids that our neurodivergent brain is our superpower. I want to empower them to advocate for themselves and move in a way and pace that feels right to them.”
“The biggest challenge as a neurodivergent mother is getting overstimulated, resulting in an adult tantrum/meltdown. There are moments where it feels like I'm juggling it all and thriving, and it takes one thing that can go wrong and I emotionally lose it. At that moment, I can't verbalize how I'm feeling other than kicking and screaming. Thankfully, Stef can see the signs before this happens and takes the kids out of the situation and explains to them how I’m feeling so they don't internalize how I’m reacting.”
“I get flashbacks of my childhood when I would have high emotions, spiral, and feel immense shame about it, and I wish I had the resources I have now to give myself more grace. I wish I could tell baby Jayme, ‘Your mind processes things differently and you're not alone.’”
Any advice you'd give to other neurodivergent parents?
“Do not compare yourself to anyone, especially neurotypical parents. Give yourself grace, and do what you need to do to take care of yourself.”
“Create systems that make the most sense for you. It can be as simple as putting Post-its around the house to remind you of your morning routine. I’m learning how to organize our home in a way that works for us and what has tremendously helped us is clear containers so we can see what is in it and labeling everything.”
“Find community and surround yourself with other neurodivergent friends! If not in person, there are a ton of podcasts and YouTubers who are neurodivergent parents and share their tips on what works for them.”
Any goals for the new school year ahead for your kiddos?
“I hope our kids are empowered and get excited to learn. I think because I wasn't diagnosed until I was an adult, I dealt with a lot of shame and felt less than in a lot of my classes, simply because my brain learns differently. I hope that I can be the support system for them that I wish I had when I was a kid.”
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