WORK • Tuesday Routine
DIANNA COHEN • founder • Crown Affair
Neighborhood you work in: Wall Street
Neighborhood you live in: Upper East Side
It’s Tuesday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
Before I head downtown to our office, I start my day with my morning rituals at home — writing my morning pages (three pages, stream-of-consciousness), followed by about 20 minutes of meditation and stretching. I really value that quiet time to ground myself before stepping into a more social, collaborative space with my team. I always start the day with coffee; these days I make it at the apartment, but when I lived in the East Village I would swing by Abraço — it's still my favorite coffee in NY.
We have a hybrid work culture at Crown Affair, the haircare company I founded in 2020. We used to have our own office on Rivington and Essex, but last year we moved into WSA, and it’s been such a fun shift. The amenities are lovely (and there's a Happier Grocer downstairs). I'll grab a pistachio latte before heading up to our workspace on the 21st floor.
What’s on the agenda for today?
We have some exciting launches and collaborations in the pipeline, including a fresh take on a favorite partner coming soon, so I'll be finalizing details for the launch rollout today. I also film a lot of content when I’m in the office — it’s something I’ve leaned into more over the past couple of years. I didn’t launch Crown Affair with a social presence, but as the team and business grew, I’ve been able to dedicate more time to building our community across Substack, TikTok, and Instagram. It’s been a new muscle for me, but I’ve learned so much, and love connecting with our community in that way.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Dinner will be with one of our favorite couples and dear friends, Kinjil and Anuj, at Farra in Tribeca. We’ve been close for years — we originally met through The Cultivist — and since then, Kinjil, who’s the CMO of Squarespace and one of the most brilliant and lovely humans I know, has become not only a dear friend but also one of the very first angel investors in Crown Affair.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
A recent work-related splurge was The Row Margaux 15 in black suede — it’s the perfect all-day NYC bag, especially when I’m toting around product samples or my laptop. I was a little hesitant about the suede, but she’s so good in real life. No regrets.
For the home, I recently acquired a piece by Jess Allen, an artist I’ve admired for a long time. The work feels so personal and moving — love seeing it everyday. It brings such a sense of presence and beauty to the space.
What NYC store or service do you love to recommend?
I always recommend Teddi Cranford at White Rose Collective — she’s been cutting my hair for 13 years, and no one does it like her. For color, Jenna Perry is the queen — truly an artist when it comes to hair. I personally don't color my hair, but she's the service I recommend the most when people ask who to go see.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I spend my time mentoring both personally and through Seedling, our eight-week mentorship program at Crown Affair that supports emerging talent in beauty and wellness. I’m also passionate about supporting the arts — MoMA holds a very special place in my heart. It’s not only where I’ve found so much inspiration over the years, but also, where I met my husband.