About Me

I was born into a family that loves fashion. My grandmother was always into high fashion (while still shopping smart) and my mother is into fashion, so I came by it naturally. My grandmother always used to joke that the men in the family were in ladies' underwear (because they worked in the garment industry).

I grew up in New Jersey, only 45 minutes away from New York City so I was pretty close to the fashion capital of the world. My mom always dressed me in what were considered fashionable clothes (for the 90s at least) as a kid and let me pick out my own outfits (as long as they were weather and activity appropriate). I would dig for worms in the dirt in my pink frilly Flapdoodles dress with stretch pants underneath.

Throughout high school I took fine art and photography electives (amongst my AP science and math classes) and did photography for the yearbook. Senior year I was Design Editor of the yearbook. I was also a design intern at Betsey Johnson when I was 17. After high school I went to Rutgers University and recently graduated with a B.A. in Spanish and Visual Arts. Because I studied Visual Arts, specifically photography, I often had to take class trips into the city to see gallery exhibitions at private galleries, the Met, MOMA, and the Guggenheim. I draw a lot of my inspiration from art, particularly old photographs from the first half of the 1900s.

Even if I only had one class that day, I would always get dressed up. I would never be caught dead going to class in yoga pants and a hoodie. It always feels good to be dressed well. Dressing well truly does lead to higher confidence and that's how I feel when I look good - like I own the place.

I studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador, Rome, Italy and Valencia, Spain and each place has inspired me in different ways. When I was in Ecuador I was very attentive of the vibrant colors found everywhere, but I wouldn't say it is a country of high fashion. Rome and Valencia were much different. Italian women dress so elegantly and simply - and mostly in black. I was the most inspired by the Spanish women and spent a lot of time at the 6 Zara stores located in the center of the city. The women and girls wore a lot of bright colors, which I embraced while I was there and still continue to do.

I find my style always changing, but I still remain true to what I like. There are some trends I follow and some that I definitely won't. I go with my instincts as to what looks good and what I like. That's something that I think is the difference between a trendsetter and someone dresses well. Trendsetters wear what they like and are confident about it and that's what I feel like I exude with my style. To quote my fashion idol and inspiration, Anna Wintour, "In the end I do respond to my own instincts. Sometimes they're successful, and obviously sometimes they're not. But you have to, I think, remain true to what you believe in."