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Melissa Martin: Third Grade Teacher at Excellence Boys Charter School
Cubicle Chic has a soft spot for Melissa Martin: she’s from Maine! Meredith and Melissa grew up in polar opposite communities, but we love the state for many of the same reasons. If there were ever a competition to determine which of us was the “real Mainer”, however, Melissa would win. She has moose meat in her freezer, and you just can’t compete with that.
As for Melissa’s sense of style, we love how great Melissa is with color. She knows what works for her, buys the majority of her items in those shades, and then she adds flair with some really great accessories. Melissa’s style is remiscent of the Great Kate: build upon your well-tailored basics and you’ll always look classically beautiful.
Melissa isn’t afraid to try some new, though, as evidenced by the awesome top she wore for her happy hour look below. It is actually designed by a student’s, Taja Dixon, a local NYC designer with a modern edge. With a quick wardrobe change, Melissa goes from blazered teacher to being ready for a night out with friends. Check out Melissa’s thoughts on her sense of style below!
What defines your personal style?
I try to wear classic things that I’ll still want in my closet in a few years. I pretty much always wear neutrals because I think that colors only look good if you invest in something really nice and wear it perfectly, so that means a special occasion. I also love neutrals because they can go in so many directions for example, something nude can be great for being well-matched and professional with one oufit and completely sexy with another oufit.
What do you love about the look you wore for the “What’s Your Cubicle Chic” shoot?
I wore a lot of clothes that give me a sense of nostalgia. The blazer is from my favorite thrift store in Boston. The necklace is from a trip to Brooklyn Flea when my best friend from Maine was visiting. And, I’m sure the shirt will give me nostalgia in the future because the mother of the adorable student in the pictures made it.
Do you have any signature or favorite go-to items you couldn’t live without?
Black pants, nude colored shoes, and pearl earrings.
Where do you get your style inspiration?
I think about seeing really tacky wedding photos from all my mom’s friends in the 80s and thinking to myself, “what do I need to wear to not feel like that when I look back at pictures of myself in my twenties?” That’s why everyone loves Audrey Hepburn and Jackie O, you look at photos of them and would still love to wear their clothes today.
Have you ever made some fashion faux-pas that you now regret?
I didn’t listen to my mom enough in junior high and high school. She was always trying to get me to take more style chances. She still thinks my style is really boring (she’s all about florals and prints) but I try to trust her sometimes, because she always looks so great!
What’s the best part of living, working and integrating your style into your life in New York?
Walking down the street and getting to see so many stylish people on a daily basis, it’s constant inspiration and entertainment.
What’s the most difficult part?
I feel like you have to be ready for anything, which means carefully choosing clothes that will be approapriate for any type of occasion.
How does working in a school environment affect your sense of style?
It’s really important to make sure you’re ready to bring a lot of energy and patience when you walk in each morning, so it’s important to be comfortable, but I also like to make sure I look professional and confident so I can make sure they see me as a leader or at least as well-dressed as they are in their ties!
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals looking into teaching?
Read “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen so KIds Will Talk”. I actually think it should be required reading for anyone working or living with kids, it reminds you of how kids need adults to interact with them and it will remind you of conversations you had as a child with any great parent or teacher you had.
Come back later this week for another Excellence Boys WYCC feature 
Thanks for participating in WYCC Melissa!
Sammy Davis: The Sparkling Personality behind Sammy Davis Vintage
Cubicle Chic has known and loved Sammy Davis for a long time now - one of our very first posts was about dressing in SDV for the office! Since then we’ve collaborated on everything from parties, to radio shows, to Thrift Wars, and (if we may say so ourselves), the three of us make a fantastic team!
Sammy is a constant inspiration for us, whether it’s her sense of style, her dedication to her brand, her infectious positive attitude or her impressive marathon accomplishments. We so admire her choice to take a chance on herself, quit her job and devote herself to building Sammy Davis Vintage. This girl has gumption! As most CC readers already know, Sammy has an excellent eye for vintage and how to integrate pieces into your contemporary wardrobe, so her picks are always on point, and her weekly newsletters help save you some time browsing Etsy.
Besides being a vintage curator, lifestyle guru and online personality, Sammy runs like a pro! She was the twenty-third female in her first marathon, and she has her sights on an even better ranking in the NYC Marathon this fall. When the Cubicle Chic ladies have trouble rolling out of bed in the morning to head to the gym, we just think of how Sammy has probably already run 8 miles. Suddenly a 3 miler on the treadmill doesn’t look that bad.
Quite honestly, just having the chance to be around Sammy to soak up some of her good karma and boundless energy is a privilege! We are lucky ladies
Find out below where she gets her style inspiration and how to feel your best for your first 26 mile challenge!
[Sammy at her favorite running spot in NYC: Central Park!]
What defines your personal style?
I’m inspired by challenge. I love nothing more than being presented with a piece and told to, in the famous words of Tim Gunn, “Make it work.” I believe that challenging your creativity through fashion helps you to reach your highest potential as a positive person. So I dress not to impress, but to remind myself of that “positive potential” and to stretch my creative imagination in the process.
What do you love about the look you wore for the “What’s Your Cubicle Chic” shoot?
I love the look because it wasn’t my default look at all. Again, I challenged myself! I wanted to establish “professional vintage chic” for the shoot and started with a pair of vintage shorts that may not have been “office appropriate” but still carried a more formal edge because of their black and white pattern, a long hemline and loose pleats.
From there, I look at my closet and thought, “what else?” The outfit that resulted took about 20 minutes of creative contemplation, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Now I have something on standby for those days I need to look professionally chic!
Do you have any signature or favorite go-to items you couldn’t live without?
Oh man. I have SO many! I hardly go a day without rocking a head scarf, whether it’s just pulling my hair, creating a crazy bow or worn as an ethnic inspired turban/head wrap.
I’m also obsessed with denim cut-offs. I throw ‘em on and go — you can’t beat that!
Also, as inspired by the trends of this season, sheer sheer sheer! Whether it’s lace or a sheer silk top, I love showing off “something below” for sexy summer style.
Oh, and then there’s my summer cowboy boots — another throw on-and-go item. See a trend here? I like it easy and breezy.
Where do you get your style inspiration?
Thrift stores. Surprisingly, even more so than vintage stores … and this is because thrift stores are not curated. They just exist as a reflection of the geographic area’s style culture. I so often start to see “trends” in thrift stores that aren’t necessarily trends like, “everyone is wearing them right now,” but repeat items. Last summer, so much tie-dye. This summer … there is tie-dye design happening in almost every brand!! I totally called the return of tie-dye.
Crop tops and stonewash denim is another example. These were huge trends in the ’90s, and last summer I was seeing them left and right in the Salvation Army racks. So I bought a few. And then this summer I see everyone from American Apparel to Urban to Ann Taylor putting out some version of the “crop top” and opting for lighter denim over the darker shades trendy a few summers back.
Trends recycle. They recycle every other season, or every other year, or every other decade. It just depends on the style pulse of the people. Because the true “trend setter” opts for alternative fashions (i.e. thrifting), they then influence the mainstream. This is why the styles of the LES become popular in Kansas two years later. It starts with the hipster community, and that community thrifts.
So whether I thrift to start trends or thrift just for style inspiration, I do with the knowledge that what I see is fodder for future fashion.
Have you ever made some fashion faux-pas that you now regret?
The only fashion faux-pas I ever regret is not having the foresight to BRING FLATS with me when wearing heels in this city. I want to buy a pair of those foldable ballet slippers for my purse!
What’s the best part of living, working and integrating your style into your life in New York?
It’s definitely fun walking down the street and knowing that you’re never bored — talk about people watching! For me particularly, I live in a city of vintage fashion support. This city has the most vintage stores in the entire county. I’ve got a list on NYmag.com that’s almost 10 pages deep to visit! So as someone who leans toward wearing vintage, I enjoy knowing that I have many options to shop from and gain style inspiration from.
What’s the most difficult part?
Dressing for comfort and for the 16-hour days of activity. When you want to work out in the morning, run around in the day and then go out in the evening … what do you wear and how do you pack light enough for comfort?
On top of that, we all want to look and feel good and getting from gym-wear to work-wear can be a difficult “style” transition. It takes some pre-planning and honestly, understanding that you’re not going to get ALL of your accessories right. I find myself now defaulting to my favorites — the ones that I know I’ll feel great in — and going for the most comfortable shoes that work with whatever I have on.
But here’s the great thing: You know that lady Anna Wintour? Yeah, she’s sort of a big deal. Check out her hair and her sunglasses. Has that EVER changed? Not really. She’s got signature style. With our own signature style, we get to think less. And when we think less about ourselves, we can think more about others, and honestly I think that’s the BEST style.
Did your personal style change drastically when you made the switch from working in a corporate environment to building your own business?
It changed so much I’m not even sure I could answer this question in less than a personal essay! Let’s just say it not only changed on the outside, but the inside, too. After leaving a full time on the 21st floor of a high-rise media power house, I was able to really consider what I wanted to do and how I wanted to portray myself. I found that I didn’t need to dress to the nines and wear heels everyday to feel confident and cool. I could experiment not because I wanted to “spice up my work day” but because I wanted to add style substance to my life. To make ME feel good!
I recently donated a few remaining pieces of my corporate wardrobe to Goodwill — three black pencil skirts!
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals considering taking the leap into entrepreneurship?
Launching my own brand has been the most difficult — and happiest — experience of my life. Everyday I meditate on my strength and I surrender to what is supposed to happen in my life that I can wish and hope and pray for, but which in the end I truly have no control over. It’s when we can give up our control that we gain control — of that happiness and trust within.
No matter the external events of our entrepreneurial endeavors, maintaining serenity inside that all is well and all will be well is the best style “moment” we can have. Strive to live in the present — bring yourself back to now from the past and back to now from the future — and that leap of faith won’t seem so risky anymore. It’ll just feel RIGHT
On a slightly different note, as an inspiring marathon runner, how does style fit into that side of your life?
I love wearing the brightest colors I possibly can when running. While I lean toward brightness as a regular dresser by day, when it comes to RUNNING by day I want everyone to see my “colors fly by!”
My love of running and fashion has inspired a very confident goal of mine: At a future stage in my life I know I will lend style consultation on a line of athletic fashion that is functional, high-quality and transitional from workout to wear-by-day. I want there to be removeable hoods and sleeves to change up the seasons, for example. Skirts that wick which you can run in, have pockets and come in pretty colors and maybe even “swatches” of design that you can switch out depending on your mood. How cool would it be to have a pair of shorts that with a switch “change design?”
I see the fashion of the future being just that … the FUTURE. Clothes that work all day because of technology infusion. I definitely want to pursue those opportunities with my fitness line so that you’re not just wearing the clothes to sweat, you’re wearing the clothes to help you live, too.
What would be your top clothing and styling tips for looking and feeling your best when taking on the 26 mile challenge?
For my 26.2 mile challenge — the Pittsburgh Marathon this past May 15 — I opted to dress like I wasn’t “taking myself too seriously.” This is a style suggestion that I hope every woman and man can remind themselves of. Life is too much fun to take ourselves too seriously. And the same should be with our style. Our style does NOT define us and neither does a 26.2 mile race. So when I threw on tie-die spandex shorts and a clashing floral top bra — I was practically naked, haha! — it lessened the stress I was putting on myself and reminding me just to have FUN. And fun I did!
So when dressing for athletic performance or just for a first date, first job or any situation in your life, really, listen in on that little voice that’s there to remind us why we dress ourselves everyday in the first place: self-expression that’s fun, fulfilling and authentic to our true, perfect selves.
Thanks Sammy! You are the BEST!
Amanda , Caroline and Kathryn: Three of the Founders of Pretty Young Professional
Cubicle Chic discovered Pretty Young Professional this winter, and we were immediately impressed with the content and message behind this site with “Smart Content for Smart Women.” You can find everything from advice on working towards your JD to this summer’s best corporate styles, so any well-rounded young professional can find articles that relate to all aspects of her life. As Amanda, Caroline and Kathryn recognized in the early stages of PYP, there just isn’t enough female-produced content for women in our media world that aims a little higher than the average gossip column or Cosmo how-to. So, as the creative entrepreneurs they are, the women of PYP thought to themselves: if you don’t see your interests represented, why not make it yourself?
We are so excited to be featuring the PYP ladies this week not only because they are pursuing and achieving their dream, but they are also really fun, wonderful and dynamic women. Their confidence and vision is inspiring, especially for other female entrepreneurs, and we can’t wait to see where their venture takes them!
CAROLINE
What’s the best part of living, working and integrating your style into your life in New York?
New York is always on, and it demands assertive, resilient, elegant clothing that can move from situation to situation, which is an engaging creative challenge.
Do you have any signature or favorite go-to items you couldn’t live without?
Absolutely. I have a pair of Chanel earrings (pictured in the photos) that have an array of baguette-cut diamonds in a nostalgic, vintage reminiscent square with rounded edges and a silver CC set subtly in the foreground. They have just the right amount of subdued sparkle and intriguing presence.
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals looking to go into entrepreneurship?
Know who you are and center yourself around it — find the sources of your insecurities, whatever they may be, and work through them with yourself. Take time for yourself to do so, whether it be through writing, art, or other cathartic processes. Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you can manage to be a successful entrepreneur, because it allows you to be grounded, more understanding of others, and thus more effective. Entrepreneurship’s peaks and troughs can throw you off kilter, and you will be a force to be reckoned with if you are internally peaceful enough to dial down the noise and focus on moving your passion project forward.
AMANDA
What defines your personal style?
Comfort. If given the opportunity I’m dressed down in a t-shirt (often of the plaid variety), flip flops and jeans. But, that isn’t usually the case so I try to go towards a very classic and clean look in my professional clothes. My go to is this amazing Vince Navy Blue Blazer over a crisp white button down with tailored pants or a skirt. I try to make sure the majority of my outfit is very subtle and that I add in a flare element such as fun shoes or a statement necklace or a colorful scarf.
Have you ever made some fashion faux-pas that you now regret?
I wear a lot of plaid (I don’t believe it is a faux-pas but recognize others do), and sometimes attempt to mix too many patterns. Also, because I am tall I sometimes forget how short a skirt or dress is on me and when I add heels in the office it goes towards borderline inappropriate.
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals looking to go into entrepreneurship?
Dress with confidence. Wear something that makes you feel good about yourself and that you know you look strong in. Don’t wear something you will be fidgeting in or feel awkward about wearing.
Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you aren’t – a large part of your strength as an entrepreneur is your personality and passion. But again, make sure you speak for you and that your outfit isn’t doing the talking. For those that are starting in a new office dress overly conservative for your first week until you can get a pulse on the style of the office. You may find that you can get away with more adventurous clothing by looking around or you might find that you can’t. The goal with professional fashion should always be to have people remember you, not just your outfit.
KATHRYN
What do you love about the look you wore for the “What’s Your Cubicle Chic” shoot?
I often use Audrey Hepburn as a style icon, and this dress really reminds me of her: simple, classy and elegant. It’s comfortable enough for a long day on the go, and it can also be dressed up or dressed down during the day with the addition of a necklace and heels, or a lightweight jacket. Given that I move in a variety of fields –the casually dressed start-up scene, creatively-attired old media and conservative businessmen and women– that versatility is key.
Where do you get your style inspiration?
I really love Audrey Hepburn, as I mentioned, and other classy, strong personalities from that era: boat necks, sheath dresses and the like. That said, my style inspiration really depends on what I’m working on that day — what sort of image I’m trying to project. Am I the creative, spunky entrepreneur? The former management consultant? An elegant media Editor-in-Chief? Those archetypes look very different, and there’s a lot of power in subtly playing t that. I actually used to costume plays in high school and college, and I think I’ve taken a lot of those lessons with me into the workplace. You have to dress for the part you want.
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals looking to go into entrepreneurship?
Absolutely! I love what I’m doing, but I think you have to be honest with yourself about what you’re seeking in a job, a lifestyle, before you take the plunge. Before I quit my job to start a company, I spent weeks considering what I loved to do, and where my skills were. I tried management consulting, which convinced me that I loved problem solving but didn’t like strict hierarchies that dictated which problems should be solved. Then I worked in Rwanda, where I learned (among many things) that I really enjoyed leading projects and dealing with ambiguous situations. Those are things that happen a lot in entrepreneurship!
I had several friends who had taken the plunge, and speaking to them about their experiences quitting safe jobs and venturing out on their own really helped me decide if it was what I wanted. I made a list of several “worst case scenarios” — and then decided I could live with them. It’s so much easier to start a company when you’re young and have few responsibilities!
Thanks for being this week’s WYCC ladies!
John Stolen: Personal Assistant, Sales and Client Services Assistant and Blogger
One could say that Mr. Stolen is the quintessential New Yorker. With two full-time jobs and a social calendar that is always booked back-to-back with fabulous parties, brunches, night life adventures and the like, it’s amazing that he can find time to write his New York-centric lifestyle blog, Stolen Says. Longtime readers may remember an era when Stolen Says used to be a column on Cubicle Chic! We are so thrilled that his venture has taken off and we’re equally excited that he’s back on CC once again to showcase his perpetually sharp sense of style. His 9-5 gig as a Sales and Client Services Assistant at Fairchild Books, a Conde Nast company that publishes textbooks for the fashion and design industries, often involves client facing sales meetings or events outside of the office – both require the heightened sense of style and sophistication that Mr. Stolen has mastered (as evidenced below). During off hours, he works as a personal assistant for a Manhattan real estate mogul where his good sartorial taste isn’t part in the job description… but we think it never hurts to look this handsome!
What defines your personal style?
I like to think of my style as classic and versatile, always with a little flourish. I love to mix and match – I never buy an outfit outright, I piece my wardrobe together one item at a time. If I can’t wear a something in at least 3 outfits, venues, and occasions, I leave it on the shelf. It’s economical, but it also keeps my wardrobe from becoming stale.
What do you love about the look you wore for the “What’s Your Cubicle Chic” shoot?
This is one of my favorite looks. It’s versatile, works almost all year round (linen in winter is pushing it a little, but, you know, in a pinch…), is office-appropriate, and transitions easily into happy hour. I’m lucky to be able to wear jeans any day of the week, but I could easily swap my jeans for a pair of gray slacks and take the look up a professional notch. Or I can lose the blazer, roll my sleeves up, and bring it to a more casual level. This shirt, which is a little off the beaten path as far as gingham goes, gives a little pop of color and draws a few eyes in the conference room as well as on the street – tho sometimes I think people stare more because my hair has exploded in some awkward direction, which I usually discover upon catching my reflection in my office building’s doors. Regardless, I think menswear is often viewed as devoid of color or excitement, which is obviously untrue. The pocket square makes me feel a little more dapper, and puts a little bounce in my step – and it’s my firm belief that one’s wardrobe should make one feel exactly that. It’s the little things, like going sockless, that really make an outfit.
Do you have any signature or favorite go-to items you couldn’t live without
Jim Moore at GQ has 40 black polo shirts of varying (natural) fades. My version of that is a black, v-neck tee – though I only have about 10. They work for almost any occasion, can be dressed up with a blazer or accessorized with a scarf or a vest, but mostly it’s just an easy thing to throw on when I’m running late and don’t have time to iron a button-up – which, unfortunately, is more often than I would like.
I also have a pair of sunglasses with me at all times. I have a little confession: I am that guy on the subway still wearing his shades. It’s more of a convenience thing than anything else – more often than not I just don’t have the free hand to take them off, put them in their case, and then take them out of their case and put them back on when I get back into the sunlight. But I do wear sunglasses all the time. Have to protect my eyes from those paparazzi flashes, you know. 
Where do you get your style inspiration?
I pull a lot of tips from GQ’s Style Guy Glenn O’Brien. He just released a book, “How To Be A Man”, with a wide range of sartorial advice – I’m saving up to get my own copy because the man is so en pointe with just about everything from cuff links to cocktail etiquette. But mostly I’m inspired by the classic, Mad Men era style. A well-fitted suit looks good on anyone, and Don Draper is a fantastic example. The days when a man kept a spare shirt, crisply pressed and folded from the dry-cleaner are underappreciated and long since past, but when I get my own office, you can be sure I’ll make an attempt at bringing it back. ; )
Have you ever made some fashion faux-pas that you now regret?
Absolutely. It’s a part of growing up, exploring the boundaries of style and figuring out what works for you. I grew up in a town about the size of my cubicle, so the boundaries of style were much more restricted in terms of what was considered socially acceptable. In high school, when I got bored with an item of clothing I would alter it and make it something new. Of course, I didn’t know how to sew, so my alterations often involved just chopping the sleeves of a tee shirt or sweater for a ragged bohemian look. It was less than desirable, but it was my way of pushing the boundaries when there wasn’t much to work with. Eventually I got bored with pushing people’s buttons and settled into this style – streamlined, but with plenty of room for personal expression.
What’s the best part of living, working and integrating your style into your life in New York?
I can wear anything I want. As a teenager, a part of me loved drawing eyes with my ridiculous alterations. In New York, as a sort-of grown-up, it’s more fun drawing eyes with an impeccably thrown together outfit. It’s also fun dressing for different venues and occasions. I sometimes wish more places had dress codes – it would raise the stakes a little, but it’s also fun to know that my kidskin boots and my chucks are both acceptable for going out dancing, or a networking party. A lot of what you wear is about your attitude, here, and as long as you have the right energy, you can pull off anything.
What’s the most difficult part?
Finding variety. Menswear in general provides fewer options than womenswear, but it’s also more generally more expensive, so I can’t change up my wardrobe as often as I would like. This is where those black v-neck tees come in – they’re my saving grace when I spend an hour agonizing over what to wear out on Saturday night, and just hate everything. The problem there, of course, is that it becomes my fallback, which I fall back on a little more than I should.
How does working two jobs while also blogging about your busy social life affect your sense of style?
Immensely, actually. In the publishing world, especially where it bridges into fashion, there’s a little more leeway than in the real estate corporate structure. If I’m putting together an business event, I have to dress to the nines, which can look a little odd on a Friday afternoon in July at my 9-5. There’s also the varied nature of my two jobs. Sitting in a cubicle is easy, but when I’m running across midtown to the to cajole a printer into producing some marketing materials at the last minute, I need to look professional, but also be comfortable. The only thing less convincing than a guy in a t-shirt is a guy who’s sweating through his blazer. The transition to the social realm is easy – losing the tie, fluffing the pocket square – but sometimes balancing between the offices can be tricky.
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals looking to work as a personal assistant in NYC?
I just watched that old Jennifer Aniston movie “Picture Perfect” – her boss told her to dress for the job she wanted, not the job she had. It’s a solid piece of advice. Naturally you don’t want to overdo it, but if you take the steps to dress slightly above your station, people will take notice. Another of my favorites, from Glenn O’Brien: “It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. People will assume you are either going to or coming from something better.” Also, most higher-ups appreciate honesty and genuineness. Make eye contact, give a firm (but not crushing) handshake, and smile (a smile is one of the best ways to accessorize – and it’s free!).
Thanks John!
ESL Teacher: Sarah Muffly
You know your friends who have developed such a clearly defined look that you can be shopping, see a shirt and say to yourself: that is a [insert friend's name here] shirt! Well Sarah Muffly is one of those friends. Sarah is a close college pal of Meredith’s who has a distinctive color palette and a strong sense of personal style. She always succeeds in finding great new pieces for her wardrobe that are just so her – often soft, pastel shades, flirty skirts, adorable flats and delicate jewelry.
Lucky for her, Sarah’s position as an ESL teacher at a language school in Manhattan doesn’t force her to alter her personal style too much for the workplace. Her look translates easily into a classroom environment where she strives to look both authoritative and approachable. This can sometimes be a challenge when teaching adults that are often older than she is, but we are confident that when she’s in front of the class, there’s no confusion
A post about Sarah is not complete without mentioning her meticulous taste in makeup, which is clearly evidenced by her enviable skin. If only our skin was so clear! She was actually the friend to turn Meredith on to Bare Minerals, so Meredith will forever be in debt, and now we just need to learn her moisturizing secrets. Care to share, dear friend?
Don’t you love how well her Longchamp matches her outfit?
There was a slight breeze, but Sarah reacted just in time!
What defines your personal style?
I tend to wear a lot of neutral, cool, or muted colors for the basics, and when it’s below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, I wear scarves in bolder colors.
What do you love about the look you wore for the “What’s Your Cubicle Chic” shoot?
One thing I love about it is that I bought the shirt and the skirt at two different stores in two different countries, but they go perfectly together! I also like it because it’s casual and comfortable, without being sloppy.
Do you have any signature or favorite go-to items you couldn’t live without?
I have a pair of brown, mid-calf, leather boots that I bought almost five years ago and wear just about every other day during the fall and spring.
Where do you get your style inspiration?
I used to live in France, and I like to think I picked up a few style tips there! Essentially, I learned how to dress myself in a way that flattered my body, instead of blindly following trends. Of course, French stores stock the latest styles, but they also seem to keep a lot of the same items year after year, such as sweater-dresses, elegant white blouses, eye-catching belts, and the Bensimon tennis shoes that I wore for the WYCC shoot.
Have you ever made some fashion faux-pas that you now regret?
Does all of middle school count? In all seriousness though, I had this cable-knit, dull brown sweater that I wore a lot during my first two years of college; I used to wear it over a blouse with orange, brown, and cream stripes. Ew.
What’s the best part of living, working and integrating your style into your life in New York?
One of the things I like to say about New York is that there is always someone weirder out there. So in terms of style, I feel as though I could wear almost anything. Pajamas and rain boots to the grocery store? Sure! The only thing that sign says is “shirt and shoes required,” right?
What’s the most difficult part?
New York is such a big city that I don’t always have time to go home and change between activities, so I often find it difficult to create outfits that can work in several circumstances.
How does working in a school environment affect your sense of style?
I teach adults at a private institute, and while the dress code is casual, I try to look professional, partially as a way to distinguish myself as a teacher amid students who are often my age or older than I am. Also, teaching requires me to be on my feet a lot of the time, so comfortable shoes are a must.
Any advice (style or otherwise) for young professionals looking to go into ESL or teaching?
A great way to break into ESL teaching is to go abroad and work as a language assistant. I worked as an English assistant in France for two years before moving to New York, and I know that Spain has a similar program. From what I understand, there are also several opportunities for teaching English in Korea. If, however, you’re interested in teaching for more than a few months, getting some sort of ESL teaching certification (such as a CELTA) is really helpful. And don’t forget to get several pairs of cute flats!
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