Formulating an outfit has always been deeply personal and expressive for me. I have never had the ability to just throw something on and start my day. It always requires consideration and precision for me to create an outfit that accurately encapsulates me---because style is our most prominent tool with which we can establish our perceptions of ourself and how we want others to perceive us, too. Although the way I have gone about utilizing this tool has varied significantly over the years, I have found great enjoyment in being present in each chapter of my style and learning to make different aspects of my life visible through my clothing.

When I arrived to NYU, it became clear to me immediately that fashion was the path I needed to pursue. It was truly as clear as a light switching on. Fashion, and the cultivation of style, was simply what I was most passionate about. My sweet freshman year roommate Norah Guenthner had the sincere privilege of watching me try on all my clothes and pick out outfits all the time, photographing them in our dorm room. I wanted the outfits I wore my first year in New York to be perfect every single day (they were not).

Throughout my freshman year, as I grew into New York City, I began to grow more expansive

with my clothing and try new things within the sector of what I knew to work for me, such as

my signature colors red & pink. Once I kicked the freshman-typical habit of wearing tank tops everywhere, I found the best outfits were the ones I really didn’t think about at all and just threw together. And of course, when in doubt, the NYC uniform of all black was a consistently safe bet, though I rarely fell back on it as my love affair with clothing of loud color was rapidly growing.

I became more intentional about where my clothes were coming from, and I found the highest quality and most unique pieces to be from secondhand shopping, particularly TheRealReal. I began to curate a collection of vintage designer pieces, prioritizing quality and statement over basics. My aversion to buying cores and staples that I found to be “basic” admittedly made it hard to construct an outfit at times. My wardrobe definitely began to shift into color---very rarely could you find me in any neutrals whatsoever. I am a strong believer that everyone possesses a palette of colors that make them shine the brightest.

Some photos of my style second semester freshman year as my color theory began to evolve as did my collection of quality pieces. As you can see, I fade away in yellow but I hold strength with blue and red.

Starting out at Ralph Lauren Soho

The summer going into my sophomore year, I got a job working at Ralph Lauren on Prince Street. Many people ask how I did this, and my honest answer is I got very lucky. I applied via LinkedIn and heard back from both Ralph Lauren stores in Manhattan, interviewed at both, and chose Prince Street due to its proximity to NYU. I started in early September. In my interview, I remember telling the general manager at the time, Andrew, that I would undoubtedly be the best dressed employee in the store. Never had I been in an environment where everybody else cared about the fashion as much as I had, and I was so looking forwardt o the challenge. The fashion guidelines were explained to me as a three-part layer system. You could never wear a sweater on its own, nor an oxford, and an unbelted pant was not preferred either. Ralph Lauren fashion is defined by layering - this is what creates an elevated look, and this is also the skill I have adopted the most.

Early on at Ralph Lauren I was blessed by the process of rigging, the initial spending allowance for new employees to curate a work wardrobe. Once I entered the world of double breasted blazers there was no return. I truly fell in love with the tailored silhouette of Ralph Lauren and professional wear through this lens. I do not think I will ever approach business wear without the foundation that I built at Ralph Lauren.

Headband Innovation

One aspect of style I have always loved is accessories, particularly hair accessories. I love using the beautiful designs of twillies, or small silk scarfs designed to be tied around handbag straps, as headbands. Ralph Lauren, being a predominantly menswear brand, does not make twillies. What they do make though, are ties. Ties with beautiful silk ornate designs that are similar to what I am attracted to in twillies. With this fact in mind, I innovated the movement of wearing a tie as a headband.

Not always a popular choice, but I can always say I was the first to do it...

Blazers, Anytime Anywhere.

What I have to attribute to working at Ralph Lauren the most in terms of my style evolution is the skill to style a blazer. From my very first piece of clothing I got at Prince Street, a double breasted navy blazer with gold buttons, I have loved the dual sophistication of a blazer as well as the ability to wear it casually - (think blazer and jeans, a classic “Ralph” look, though one I haven’t fully warmed up to yet...) Ralph Lauren being a predominantly menswear brand, I find the best pieces are in fact in the men’s department. Featured twice in these photos is a navy double breasted men’s tuxedo suit separate with silk lapels, size 32, an iconic piece I will wear for the rest of my life and treasure forever. To me it signifies the unisex nature of the Ralph Lauren elevated look, while simultaneously feeling powerfully feminine.

My love for blazers has followed me outside of Ralph Lauren and I wear them in regular life also. My first couple of months at Ralph I felt the need to wear something distinctly against workwear guidelines on my days off so that I wouldn’t feel restricted by the Polo style. But, as has happened to all my coworkers, the business sophisticated look I cultivate from Ralph has bled into my personal style anyways, though of course, in the form of my signature colors.

Pictured is a Valentino blazer from TheRealReal and a Hobbs blazer from Bloomingdales.

An Ode to Layering

On my fashion instagram account @ryanfashionista I once asked if red accents are better than a red outfit. The response was almost overwhelmingly yes. As a stylist who loves color, this is certainly a hard truth to confront. But confront and embrace it I have done. I am now fully of the belief that color is more compelling when layered rather than on it’s own. Does that mean a bright red sweater or hot pink blazer cannot be compelling? Absolutely not. If you run into me on the street, that’s probably what I’ll be wearing. But style - refined, excellent style, is in the details. I spend more time now picking what I will wear underneath an oxford shirt or sweater rather than the main top itself. It is an intentional cohesiveness, an intentional excess or pop that truly seals an outfit. This lesson is one of many I have to credit Ralph Lauren for teaching me.

Favorite examples of mine:

Matching sock color with the color of your top (bonus points for matching headband also) Matching a bag color with an accent color in the outfit Classic sandwich method, matching shoe color with top color Matching belt color with visible undershirt (shown above with my pink stripes)

To Conclude: An archive of my Favorite Work Outfits + The Coolest Pieces I’ve Gotten

My Favorite of my Work Outfits

Turquoise black label v-neck from TheRealReal layered over a silk white Polo oxford. Armani pants. My family’s coin necklace.

My grandmother’s vintage Ralph Lauren sweater. Years-old J-Crew belt. Honey Rolla corduroys. Boot Barn red cowboy boots.

Polo red knit tie. Rent the Runway Levi’s studded western shirt. Free People belt. Free People black jeans. Boot Barn red cowboys.

Classic Polo red tie. Men’s tuxedo blazer. Atelier Eme pants. Naturalizer boots.

Polo belted plaid jacket. Lucky Brand jeans. Boot Barn boots. Chloé Mony Tote.

Coolest Pieces

Polo varsity cashmere sweater. Can’t get this anymore but it retailed for $1,300 and I bought it for $200 !!!!!

Brown suede jacket, mens XS. Absolutely obsessed.

Yes, again with this blazer. I sincerely hope all women dip into the menswear sections of Ralph Lauren.

This RRL jacket. Employee sale really got me with this one. Gotta love dressing like a supervillain. Thank you for reading about my style and how working at Ralph Lauren has changed me and my style. Come by the Prince Street store!