DC: What is your favorite color, and why?
AV: Pink. Unquestionably. It’s often dismissed as girly or frivolous, but for me, it’s a power colour. It demands attention. You can’t hide in pink.
DC: When did color evolve from something you appreciated, to something that powers you?
AV: I have always loved and worn colour, but for a long time, I shrank into neutrals because I was told that’s what elegant women did. After leaving that toxic relationship, I started reclaiming my space, and the colour returned naturally. It wasn’t a reinvention, it was a restoration. Now, wearing bright colours is my daily armour; it signals to the world (and myself) that I am here to be seen, not just to fit in.
DC: Pink is a constant in your look. What does pink do that other colors don’t?
AV: Pink disarms people. It’s aggressive in its brightness but soft in its cultural associations, and I love playing with that tension. It’s joyful, but it’s also a bit rebellious when you wear it head-to-toe. I find that if I walk into an event wearing all black, I feel invisible. But in pink? I feel like I’ve already announced who I am before I’ve even opened my mouth.
DC: Pastels are often treated as soft, and you use them with strength. How do you style them with authority?
AV: It’s all about the silhouette and the texture. I don’t do ‘prim.’ If I’m wearing pastel tulle, I’m pairing it with a leather jacket or a sequined coat to create that tension. I don’t want to be dictated by other people’s expectations – I want to dress audaciously. It’s not about looking like a cupcake; it’s about feeling like a force of nature.
DC: Your bright pink hair is iconic. How does it change how people approach you?
AV: It acts as a brilliant filter. It instantly repels people who take themselves too seriously and attracts the fun, creative souls. People smile at me more, and I figure that while I’m lucky enough to have hair, I want to have fun with it. Plus, it’s hard to be grumpy with someone who looks like a candy floss cloud.
DC: Please tell us about your beautiful colorful baked good business, Heirloom Café!
AV: Heirloom is my bakery business where we create unapologetically colourful cakes and bakes. It is essentially the edible extension of my personal style! We specialise in treats that are visually loud – think bright icings, edible flowers, and clashing textures. We don’t just want the cakes to taste amazing; we want them to look like little art pieces. Why have a boring beige sponge when you can have a slice of total sensory joy?!
DC: Do you find that color maximalism affects every corner of your life, and how?
AV: Oh my gosh, absolutely. My home, my wardrobe, my businesses – it’s all connected. I apply the same philosophy to my house as I do to my clothes, often upcycling traditional period furniture with paint and pattern to make it fit my colourful aesthetic. Living in beige feels like living on mute, and I want the volume turned up on everything!
DC: How would you advise young businesswomen just launching?
AV: Two things. First, trust your own vision, not what you think the market wants. When I first opened Heirloom, I played it safe with neutrals – natural wood, gold, dark blue. I built the shop I thought other people wanted. It wasn’t until Covid hit that I threw the rulebook out. I dropped the menu to focus on what I loved – the cakes – and painted the whole place pink and turquoise. That is when the business truly took off. The lesson? As soon as you try to shrink or fit in, you become a diluted version of yourself. Authenticity is magnetic; people trust it. So don’t be a diluted version of someone else; be the concentrated version of you.
Second, and this is the boring but vital bit: watch out for burnout. When you love what you do, you give 100% all the time, and it’s easy to lose track of reality. Surround yourself with people who will remind you to eat, sleep, and occasionally take a day off!
Follow Adeline’s colorful adventures!
IG: @adelinevining
IG: @heirloom_coffee
www.heirloom.cafe