Seeking Inspirato with Katie
Katie on top of the Whitney Museum in New York City.
Who Is She?
Name: Katie
Works in: Auctions & Private Sales
Age: 26
Her style described in 3 words: (1) Simple, (2) Low Maintenance, & (3) Versatile
Katie is a treasure. I am proud to call her one of my best friends. We met in High School and have been close ever since.
She is witty, intelligent, wise beyond her years, patient (though I use up most of it), and gracious.
I am excited to share her style story as I think she speaks to many struggles we have all experienced around change and relocation, and what it means to feel comfortable with yourself in a new place.
When I was in NYC for the week in early April, we spent a day together roaming around the city eating, drinking, walking, and getting a small sunburn. To see everything we did together, scroll to the gallery at the end of the article.
Location, Location, Location
If we’re lucky, most of us only move about 3 times between graduating from high school, attending college, and finding a job.
Change is complicated. While it often means opportunity and greener pastures, it also translates to necessary time spent adjusting and acclimating.
For Katie, her life changed tremendously at the beginning of high school when her family relocated from Houston to Dallas.
The move was not well received by Katie, who had to completely rewrite what her high school experience was going to look like.
She was uncomfortable living in a new place, and having to adjust to the new place. But with 4 years ahead, she had to figure it out.
“When I moved to Highland Park in 9th grade, I was so unhappy to be there and I didn’t put in any effort to make it a happy place.”
The first two years were the toughest, but by around Junior year, she started to make some lifelong friends (*cough cough*, me), and was beginning to feel more comfortable in her new community.
“I realized I was helping no one, including myself”
Katie recalled a shopping trip with her mom during the summer between 10th and 11th grades where the tide began to shift.
“I remember my mom and I went to Madewell over the summer and I intentionally picked out pieces that I liked.”
This is in sharp contrast to the prior Katie, who admittedly wasn’t trying whatsoever.
“As I became more comfortable, my style naturally fell into place. I felt like my confidence in clothing coincided with my happiness and I think it was self-reinforcing because I felt good and then I made many friends.”
To Katie’s point, loving yourself in your clothing takes a level of comfort with your surroundings. Sometimes being true to your style is most difficult when you feel out of place because ultimately, you likely have bigger fish to fry.
For Katie, it was about regaining confidence in herself and building a community in a new place.
I think we all can relate.
So what happens when we have to move, all over again?
Next up, college.
Off To School
High school ends, and what’s next? Another uproot.
Katie moved to Virginia to attend college. She made friends quickly and settled in well.
Similar to the 9th grade-new-school-experience, Katie had to figure out how she wanted to dress.
She found that within her network, there were unwritten style rules that were difficult for her to subscribe to.
“The [college] environment was such where it wasn’t ‘cool’ to put an effort into your look. A lot of people dressed really well, but gave off a vibe like ‘oh, I just look like this’.”
Ok, got it. Look effortlessly chic while also being thin.
“Everyone had a different body type, yet everyone was trying to go after the same look.”
When these words left Katie’s mouth I realized I had experienced a very similar conundrum.
I was never as thin as the women around me during college and I remember feeling a confused pain when I couldn’t rock the bandage skirt like everyone else.
“I lost a little confidence and was trying to blend in. I wasn’t really dressing for myself. I was wearing looks like ‘I just came from the gym” because I was trying to fit in, but the looks weren’t really for me.”
We’ve all fallen prey to this at some point in our lives as we’re figuring ourselves out. Developing a style identity is challenging when there are unwritten standards, and particularly when they’ve infiltrated your network.
“I don’t want to make my college experience sound negative because it wasn’t. I made so many great, authentic friends and just because I had this insecurity didn’t mean that the rest of what was going on was genuine. That element of it was sort of hard, for me.”
On Getting a Job
Ok now it’s time to survive on your own, no big deal.
“I literally remember buying a blazer because I said to myself ‘I am working now’. Everyone did it. I think I’ve only worn it once.”
The time period between college and landing your first job raises some of the most stressful questions that STILL give me goosebumps thinking about them:
What do you wear for a job interview?
What are people wearing to work?
What’s appropriate for work?
Will my clothing that I have in my closet work for work?
Do I only shop at Ann Taylor now?
“You quickly realize you don’t need to buy/wear a blazer. It’s awkward to navigate. I knew I couldn’t wear jeans, but work pants suck because they’re fugly.”
Katie wasn’t dressing for herself, but dressing to get a job, or for what she perceived a job to be.
Even though this was 4 years ago, I remember this time period like it was yesterday.
Figuring out what’s appropriate, while also weighing what you like, is a hard balance to strike particularly when you’re in a stressful place (like trying to find a job).
Like many of us who have gone through this phase have, Katie ended up with a lot of pieces that were “fine”, but nothing she really loved. Her closet was filled with items she would never normally wear, but bought because she thought they were appropriate for the job hunt.
It’s a challenging time to be true to yourself while also getting what you need.
Katie’s Style Today
Katie moved from Virginia to New York right after college and has been there ever since.
“In the past two years, I feel like I’ve been reclaiming my style”
Katie has shaped her closet so that everything she owns can transition from play, to work, to even a special event like a wedding.
“I loved Marie Kondo, I watched the whole TV show. I didn’t do the whole ‘spark joy’ thing because I can’t get rid of that much stuff, but I used to struggle to get rid of things because I would rationalize keeping the piece by saying that ‘I’d wear it some time’”.
Katie likes to keep her style simple, so she buys things that will work with other pieces in her closet. She avoids lots of color and prints.
Sometimes, she’ll find something with a small detail that makes it different.
“Oh, I want a plain gold hoop like everyone has, but then I saw these and bought them.”
She looks for pieces that are versatile for her life, and that she can wear many times.
Katie’s Shopping Habits (spoiler, they’re amazing!)
Katie is a master at purposefully shopping. She hunts and stalks until she finds the piece she loves.
“I won’t buy anything that’s not returnable. Online shopping, or in the store, I always need to try it on. I give myself time to think about it. I’ll put it in my online shopping cart and will revisit it. If I think about it multiple times, then I’ll get it. But if I get it and it doesn’t fit, then I return it. I don’t want to be someone who has a whole closet of clothing with tags on it.”
Katie’s Shopping Process
Does it meet all the criteria I am looking for?
Make sure it’s returnable before buying.
Once received, make a mental note of when you have to return it.
Keep it visible and near your closet so that you’re forced to look at it.
Take time to try it on with other clothing in her closet.
Commit or return.
For example, Katie recently used this process while searching for the perfect pair of white jeans to replace the current ones she has. She’s been shopping around now for a while and finally bought a pair that’s hanging in her apartment.
She’s still trying them out, but feels close to commitment with the current pair.
Katie’s Example Outfit
White denim shift dress
Leather lace-up sneakers
Oxidize crossbody
Hoop earrings
A Day in NYC with Katie
Amazing coffee + pastries at Abraco.
Quick dip into East Village Hats.
Walkthrough Washington Park
Katie’s art selections being signed by Katie.Gallery in the Meatpacking District.
Waltzing through the Whitney.
A stop into the Diane Von Furstenberg store to see the Ashley Longshore art on display.
Gyros at Miznon at the Chelsea Market.
Milk Bar treat.
Thank you!
A huge thank you to Katie for letting me trail behind her as we roamed around NYC, and for letting me feature her in the Seeking Inspirato series.