Never bury the lead! Here are three things to know about Brooke Sydnor Curran:

1. Brooke is THE MOST EDITED woman I know in Alexandria. 

2. Seriously. Her closet is the epitome of “Buy Less, Choose Well,” So much so that Brooke inspires me to be better in my own wardrobe after every appointment. 

3. Brooke is incredibly present and checks in with people in the moment. Every encounter starts with authentic questions about how you’ve been, and it’s usually followed up with a curiosity that touches on some aspect of what you’ve shared.

4. Brooke is passionate about her mission to get Alexandria kids active. RunningBrooke has been dedicated to Alexandria children since May of 2009, educating faculty and students about the importance of mind-body connection and the role of movement in social, emotional, and academic well-being. 

STYLE

Brooke’s current style is a mix of edgy and modern. She’s evolved quite a bit over the last few years, however. I first met Brooke in 2015 when I was helping Kiskadee with their social media, and we were working on an introduction of her Spring2ACTion. Then two years later, a client connected Brooke with me again, and we’ve been together ever since! When I mention how thoughtful she is with her closet, I have come to understand that this is how thoughtful Brooke is with all decisions. Her influence has helped me define my own business, and I can attribute her to the “WHY” factor that I include in any marketing I offer. It’s easy to introduce pieces and encourage people to buy them, but Brooke has helped me include the reasoning for the end user. We often discuss bigger issues during our appointments and share that continuous effort of paring down what we own. 

IN THE MOMENT

There are people who are incredible at keeping up with you through social media, phone calls, or even writing letters. Then there are those who make the most of the time you share. Brooke falls into the second category. We often laugh at how we share a lateral thinking type of brain and can find ourselves down multiple rabbit holes during appointments. Make no mistake, however, we get a lot covered and then pick up seamlessly the next time we meet. 

PASSION

The body-mind connection has been a continuous topic of conversation in Alexandria Stylebook. Move2Learn is the new branding of RunningBrooke. They aim to create innovative ways of investing in Alexandria’s youth with essential equipment and programs that are funded by the sponsors & contributions of those who support Move2Learn. These efforts remind me how the concept of “it takes a village” is essential to all communities. I grew up in Alexandria during the late 70s and early 80s, an era where some of my friends had mothers who stayed at home, but most were latchkey kids. On reflection, there weren’t as many sedentary distractions during this era, and Atari’s Pong was only engaging for short stints! We were more inclined to grab some tennis racquets and hit balls at George Mason Elementary. Times inevitably change, but Alexandria has remained a very economically diverse city with needs that far exceed what local city government programs can offer. The efforts of non-profit organizations are essential to evaluate the needs of communities through lenses that aren’t fiscally impacted by budget constraints. Here’s more information on Brooke and her passions surrounding keeping us all moving in the right direction.

Photography credit: Renée C. Gage Photography

Brooke is styled by The Hive and Tullebox by Alicia McCaslin.

ABOUT YOU

Neighborhood: Rosemont

How long have you lived in Alexandria: 28 years

What is your hometown? Richmond, Virginia

What brought you to Alexandria? Its diverse combination of living history and belief in growth and change.

What would surprise people about you? I’ve been a vegetarian since 2015.

You’re a superhero: what’s your superpower? Flying - no more traffic!

Favorite cocktail: Margarita on the rocks

Last book read or movie seen: The White Album by Joan Didion

Guilty Pleasure: Goodies Frozen Custard in Old Town, but I never feel guilty treating myself!

Phrase you overuse: “This is either a great idea or terrible idea…”

Facebook or Instagram? Instagram

Latest binge-watch: My Brilliant Friend on HBO

Bucket list travel destination: The Taj Mahal

If you only could have one for the rest of your life: wine or coffee? Coffee, definitely.

STYLE

Define your style in three words or less: Modern, edgy, effortless 

The go-to piece in your wardrobe: Black tank top

Favorite trend ever: Boyfriend jeans

Favorite current trend: Matching blazer and shorts set

Beauty product you can’t live without: Tina Alster Vitamin C Serum

Favorite fragrance: Mohave Ghost by Byredo

Heels or flats? Chunky flats

HOME

Favorite room in your home: The kitchen - it gets great morning light.

Antiques, modern, or a mix? Mix of family heirlooms and bold, eye-catching accents.

Last item bought for your home: Essential oil diffuser

Next planned purchase: Area rug, because my cat had an accident on the old one…

Favorite way to entertain: Impromptu, relaxed, and outside - with plenty of drinks

Clutter-free or well-lived in? Clutter-free - mess overwhelms me!

Wallpaper -- yes, totally modern or no, so dated: Wallpaper! It makes my heart sing.

WELLNESS

Your go-to workout: Running on the Mount Vernon Trail.

Most fun way to exercise: It’s a tie between the group classes at Alexandria Wellness and Mind the Mat.

Group exercise or solo: Solo, but I love seeing familiar faces on my daily route.

Fitness goal: Stretching daily

Haven’t yet, but might be willing to try with coaching / encouragement: Acupuncture

Proudest fitness achievement: Crossing finish lines with my family by my side.       

ALEXANDRIA

Favorite spot in Alexandria: My porch, playing fetch with my dog on a sunny day.

Last purchase in Alexandria: Graduation gifts at Red Barn Mercantile. 

Best coffee / happy hour / date night spot: Fontaine, for the best crepes.

Favorite local organization: Space of Her Own (SOHO) and Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria (and I’ll shamelessly add Move2Learn powered by RunningBrooke, the organization I run).

Favorite annual Alexandria event: Well Ray - it’s inspiring to see so much passion in one place.