What is your WHY?
My Why is driven by a desire to foster connections. I have always had the gift of gab, even from a young age. As I have gotten older, I have been able to channel that into my retail work by connecting with new customers and coworkers. This is very important to me because I have worked in a variety of industries and found that I work the hardest when I feel connected to my team. When we are all on the same page, working towards a common goal and having fun in the meantime, there is nothing better than that! And when my work, my efforts, are able to be impactful to our clients, customers, and friends I feel completely fulfilled. I have realized that it doesn't matter what I am doing, as long as I feel supported by the people I work with and feel like I am making a difference on the customers/clients I am working for.
How did Covid-19 impact your business and family life?
I had just started my new Assistant Manager Position at THREAD (after being a customer since 2013) in February of 2020. Needless to say, I only got to work for about a month before we were forced to close. Although it was shocking and I was worried about my future with the team Miranda made the right calls, made the transition easy, and made me feel confident that I would be able to return ASAP. During the pandemic, I was living at home and it was such a great experience to be able to spend 1-on-1 time with my parents. I never thought that at 28 I would have some of the best times doing puzzles, watching movies, and making homecooked meals with my Dad but it is time I would have never had otherwise. I feel so grateful that we were able to stay healthy and grow closer as a family.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a woman throughout your career?
The best piece of advice that I have gotten just as a person in business is that my job, no matter what that job is, is to make my boss's job easier. By that, I mean that at the core of my responsibilities I should be improving upon processes and anticipating the needs of my superiors to make room for the growth of the business. I know this might sound demeaning but I think it holds true no matter what position in a business you are in. And it can also be reversed that as a Boss/manager, what am doing to make my employee's lives easier.
As a woman in business, my mom always had a saying, "You can ride the bus. Or you can drive the bus." To me, this means you can go along with the way things are, or if you see the opportunity, you can change it/lead it. You can either stay quiet in that meeting or you can speak up and potentially present a new perspective. You can plateau or you can grow.
Do you have a hidden talent?
I think if I have a hidden talent it would be that I have a great memory for names and conversations. I always learn my waiter's name at a restaurant, and at work, it is especially important to remember customers.
What’s one shopping trend we could all live without?
I think the trend of fast fashion. I am constantly telling my friends about investing in high-quality items. I understand that it's tough when you don't have a lot of disposable income and I am not disputing the fact that it can be hard to invest but I think it makes a huge difference. It makes a difference in the longevity of the clothing, the way it lays on the body, and the versatility. There are some things I have had in my closet for 7+ years and they still fit just like the day I bought them.
How do you strike a balance between trendy and timeless?
I think a huge part of this balance is having the right staple pieces or base in your wardrobe. If you have a good pair of jeans and a good-fitting white button-up for example you can add on those trendier pieces and keep it elevated. I think that a lot of people inundate themselves with the new trendy items and then feel like they need to get a whole new wardrobe the next year. If you focus on basic colors and good fits for your figure you will have a more versatile wardrobe.
What trend should people keep in mind while shopping for next year?
I think that this past year during the pandemic there was a big shift for me in terms of what am I actually wearing. I think this past year has really shown us how much of our clothes we actually wear, so making economical choices + treating your wardrobe more like a collection, not something that has to constantly grow. Now I love getting new clothes as much as the next person but I think it is about making a conscious effort to see what other things the company you are buying from supports, how do they source their clothing? how are these items made? what is their representation like in terms of body size? I know that I have touched on this idea some in other answers but it is really important to me.
#1 style tip for getting dressed in the morning?
Be sure to put on at least one item that gives you confidence. In my opinion, you should always be dressing in a way that gives you confidence but, even on those mornings you are not feeling it, wearing one thing that makes you smile can make all the difference. Like a good pair of wedges, or a necklace you always get compliments on, or your favorite pair of jeans. I think having one thing that when you look in the mirror you feel amazing can be a total game-changer in setting the tone of the day.
#1 thing to have in your closet right now?
I think that the #1 item everyone needs in their closet is a good pair of jeans. I think finding the right fit for your body is extremely important. I know the youth is saying skinny jeans are out. That’s a lie. If your body looks good in a high-waisted skinny jean, then find a good wash for you and keeps those as a go-to. For me, I love a high-rise straight leg, preferably cropped at the ankle or high-rise flared jeans.
What do you do or say to your children to inspire them? How did your own parents inspire you?
I think my parents inspired me by telling me it doesn't matter what you are doing or what industry you are in, but if you love what you do and who you are working for you will be irreplaceable. That really encouraged me to try different industries and look beyond the job description and look at the company culture. For me, I found early on that I wanted to work with passionate and energetic people who were up for innovation.