The Basics

• Name Elise

• Works in Operations

• Age 32

• Style in 3 words Comfortable, Casual, Professional

• Feels best in An outfit that is grounded by 'basics' with notes of professional flair and flashes of my personal style.

Elise, Today

Elise has a calm, cool, nature. She is inviting, but also ready to get down to business #organizationqueen.

She’s 5’2 but you’d never know it. I’m only reminded when I go to hug her.

We worked together for a while, and I remember noticing the way she’d walk into a room and captivate everyone’s attention.

This makes her history with clothing so much more interesting.

While I would have guessed she was born with a vintage silk neck scarf wrapped chicly around her neck, she too has had a personal style journey.

Elise, Then

From high school to late college, you’d find Elise wearing trendy pieces from Aéropostale or Abercrombie.

“I didn’t want to call attention to myself through clothing. I was focused on fitting-in during that time.”

It wasn’t until her senior year of college, when she met her now-husband Cory, did her style start to become her own.

“Cory would wear things because he liked them. On our first date, he wore a blue and pink Polo, which I thought was bold. He also had this insane sweatshirt that looked like a coloring book–all white with black outlines and in various places embroidered with the wildest colors. It was easily the boldest fashion choice I had ever seen.”

Cory’s unapologetic attitude toward style and clothing intrigued Elise. He picked pieces he liked and didn’t justify his regard for them.

“I thought if he could do it, so can I.”

Elise, Then → Today

Elise started noticing the clothing she was drawn to, and got outside of her comfort zone by exploring what these pieces looked like on her.

Her style today is a byproduct of the experiences and people she’s interacted with.

“When I was living in New York City, I’d see people wearing clothing, like a puffy neon jacket and a nice black dress and I’d think to myself ‘I could never pull that off.’”

Spoiler alert! She did.

“Getting over that mental barrier was one of the best things I did for myself because once I did, I was able to wear whatever I liked.”

Elise shifted her style focus.

She stopped considering what other people were going to think of her clothing, to noticing how a particular piece of clothing made her feel.

“I looked at all the people around me who got up that morning and picked out their outfits and thought about the idea that maybe some of them had the same struggles I did–worrying about what others would think.

I decided that I wanted to be one of those women who portrayed confidence and personal style, I didn't want to look like an American Eagle mannequin anymore. This was not an overnight change, but by slowly incorporating bolder, brighter, more personal pieces into my wardrobe, I was able to blend them with some 'classic' pieces (jeans, slacks, sweaters, t-shirts in navy blue, black, gray) to create MY style.”

Elise’s wardrobe today isn’t 100% Maine or New York City, it’s a mixture of all of the regions she’s lived and visited. While she’s acquired a few new flannels and overalls since moving to Maine, her style still remains eclectic.

Knows her body, dismisses sizes

One of the most refreshing things I’ve heard in 2019 is Elise’s take on clothing size.

I hear women talk about clothing size all of the time. How they wish they could get down to this or that size, and how they have a few pieces in their closets that fit when they were a size X and they can’t get rid of them because of the “what if?”.

Well, take note ladies. Elise has figured it out.

Elise shared her point of view on sizing when she recounted a story about getting fitted for a bridesmaid dress a few years back.

It all started when Elise took her measurements and emailed them to the seamstress.

The seamstress called Elise and said “these measurements are wrong, you’re a size 10, that can’t be right”.

Elise responded with:

“Okay... well they aren’t wrong so alter the dress and ship it”.

Elise’s conclusion on clothing sizes is that they don’t matter.

Did you hear that!? Her clothing size changes from brand to brand, and can occasionally vary within one brand. It’s not something she takes personally, or gives much thought to.

“I really like Madewell, but sometimes I’m an XS and sometimes I’m a M, so I never know and I’m like Madewell, get your s**** together”.

On keeping her looks fresh

“Sometimes I look at my closet and say ‘I hate everything in here’”.

She’s just like the rest of us :)

Elise keeps her looks feeling fresh by taking an outfit she’s worn before and changing a little something, like shoes, adding a scarf, or tights.

And if Elise isn’t inspired by the clothing, she has other options.

“I can wear glasses, my hair straight or curly, change my makeup a bit. I’ve literally had people pass me by without recognizing me”.

As far as keeping the closet fresh? Elise’s process for getting rid of clothing is infrequent, but religious. She does a deep purge after each season ends (2x / year).

“If I haven’t worn it this past season, or the season before, it goes”.

She’ll typically go to a local consignment shop, and take what they don’t to a thrift store for donations.

Elise’s advice on developing personal style

Break down the mental barrier.

You too can pull it off, it’s just a matter of doing it.

“I have a co-worker who said she can’t ‘pull off’ colored tights and I was like ‘why not?’. All you have to do is buy the tights and then put them on… then you’ll be pulling them off.’”

Elise outfit example

Credits:

• A huge thank you to Elise and all of the Seeking Inspirato participants for sharing their stories in hopes of inspiring other women.

• All of amazing photography work was completed by Webb Photo in Portland, Maine.