OCCUPATION: Social media manager, writer
STYLE: Timeless East Coast chic
When you’re putting together an outfit, what’s your starting point?
I live by this rule that fashion has to remain fun. If it gets to the point that I’m stressing about what I’m going to wear and it’s no longer fun, I’m going to go for a classic fit—like some good jeans, a white top, and a boot or sneaker. Most days, when I’m getting ready, I think about how I feel that day. So I think, What am I doing today? What’s my mental space? What’s my mood? And I go from there. I also think, Is this an outfit, if photographed, that I would feel confident in? I want what I’m wearing to be true to myself. I want to be able to wear what I’m wearing now in five years.
Where do you find yourself shopping these days? Has the way you shop changed since you’ve entered the professional world?
I’m a very big thrifter. And that’s thanks to the friends in my life who introduced thrifting to me. I’ve come to find that you will find some of the best quality pieces in thrift stores. It’s a much more sustainable way to shop, and that’s so important because I’ve grown to realize just how problematic fast fashion is. There are so many great pieces you can thrift. I love Ralph Lauren. And I think some of the best Ralph Lauren is found in thrift stores.
I think what’s interesting for me is watching my fashion evolve. I’ve always been into fashion, ever since I was really little and I used to make my dad take outfit pictures of me in our backyard so I could post them on my blog. But I think I’m at this point where I see certain materials or certain pieces and I can start to tell the quality of it and it matches the price I bought it for. And there’s nothing wrong with that, because I also think it’s important to live within your means. Sometimes that means you can’t go buy a cashmere sweater. But I think it does make you take a really hard look at your closet and think, OK, what do I need in the long run? And can I find that quality in a thrift store? I find quality items like sweaters and outerwear in thrift stores that match my style.
I really enjoy quiet luxury. And sometimes that doesn’t mean a brand. But what’s the material? I think people would be so shocked at how you can find 100 percent wool or 100 percent silk at thrift stores. And it may be $2, but it’s quiet luxury. And it’s quality that’s going to last you for years. Secondhand doesn’t make the piece any less important. It’s sustainable. It’s quality. And I think being able to communicate who you are—what you think and believe—that can all be portrayed by how you dress yourself. It’s a really, really special form of nonverbal communication.
Do you have a favorite season to dress for?
Hands-down, fall. Which is ironic for a girl who was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where fall truly doesn’t exist. I think the reason I love it is because there’s so much versatility to it. And one of the fun things about fashion is knowing how to layer. I’m a sucker for outerwear and boots. I love layering, I love jackets, I love boots, scarves—all of it. And I think fall has always been really fun because there’s not necessarily any piece of clothing that’s off limits. It’s all hands on deck.
Has your taste changed over time? Or do you find yourself gravitating toward the same staples?
There are two people I can thank when it comes to me getting into fashion. There was a girl I went to school with. She looked so cute every single day. And that was when we were in middle school. You’re awkward. You’re becoming very aware of yourself. And I think that was the first time I was really intrigued by fashion—like, Oh, this is someone who is taking time to really get ready before class. And so the art really piqued my interest. My middle sister, who is also my best friend— to this day, I just want to be like her. She was my fashion queen. I constantly stole her clothes and we’d argue about it. And when I was younger, The Devil Wears Prada came out. Ann Hathaway was our “It” girl. And that was like the bow on top. It really introduced me to thinking about fashion and thinking about the clothes I was putting on my body.
But my fashion is very different from what it was when I was younger. I grew up in the Justice, Limited Too, Libby Lu era. Maximalism is the best way to describe it, but in the worst possible way. If it was popular, I was wearing it. I was with the trends of the time. So my style has absolutely evolved. I would say that now, it’s aligned less with I’m wearing this because everyone else is wearing it and more I’m wearing this because it makes me feel confident.
What’s your advice for young professionals putting together an office-appropriate wardrobe that still lets them have fun?
It depends on what you do for a living and what your workplace is like. But it doesn’t have to be boring. Your personality can still shine through in a way that is modest and respectable to the workplace. Think of your favorite colors. Find that in a blazer, or in a work-appropriate dress or a blouse. Find really good jewelry staples that show your personality but aren’t overly distracting. No matter what, I’ll always have a variation of a gold hoop earring.
A lot of times, when it comes to fashion, we get so caught up in physical clothes. But the older I get and the more I dive into my own personal style, the less I’m concerned about my clothes and the more I’m concerned with accessorizing.
People always say, “Dress for the job you want.” But I’d say, dress for the way you want to feel that day. Because life is messy. We’re never going to be able to escape difficult circumstances, and an outfit isn’t necessarily going to fix that. But what it does do is have a psychological effect on you. It may not solve the problem at hand, but it’s going to help me feel good about who I am at that moment and to tackle whatever lies ahead of me.
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