Introducing Amanda

Amanda is sitting in the tiny basement apartment of her parent’s log house out in the country - a space she temporarily shares with her husband, Taylor, and their two German Shepherds - and talking dreamily about the brand new house they’re building not that far away from where we’re sitting, in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia. This new house, which is only a couple of weeks away from completion, has been their opportunity to reinvent themselves in a style they’ve christened “Modern Industrial” – tall ceilings and wide baseboards, metals and clean lines, navy, whites and grays, and lighter wood finishes - because as she explains to us,  “my husband prefers minimalism, while I prefer cozy, so we compromise with something in between”. Only disagreeing, it seems, over what the purpose of a bookshelf is: he thinks they should be left empty, she prefers the shelves to be bending under the weight of the reading material, which currently includes a book on cognitive theory and problem solving entitled Thinking Fast and Slow and the Dickens’ classic Bleak House.

Working as a Postdoctoral Fellow in a research institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, Amanda left her hometown to attend college in Tennessee but came back to Richmond after she graduated, and married Taylor - her “first and only real boyfriend” - that same year, less than twelve months after their first date. Ten years on and they’re building their dream home together, in between trips to the gym and Amanda acting as a sort of personal chef to her friends and family. Let’s hope she extends that service to us while we’re here.

Let's start with having you explain your style to us, Amanda...

My style is probably largely utilitarian. Prior to the pandemic when I was still in my office every day, I was working on narrowing my closet down to a smaller array of very basic and useful pieces which could all be mixed and matched together. I value comfort and don’t care for heels or tight-fitting items. I like black and gray, with some pinks or other subtle tones. In the office, it’s ankle-length black pants with a solid color top in a generous cut with a cardigan. Outside of the office, it’s mostly jeans or flowy dresses. I have what I affectionately refer to as “duck feet,” so finding shoes is often a challenge and I typically stick to Chacos, Danskos, Merrels, Tevas, or Birkenstocks.

Would your friends describe your fashion/style any differently do you think?

My friends probably describe me as a stereotypical nerdy professor. Lots of boxy clothes and Birkenstocks. If you try to imagine the caricature of an English professor in a cheesy movie, you probably wouldn’t be far off.

Thinking about your friends, what’s your ‘style/fashion role’ in the group?

I am certainly not the style leader in my friendship group. I’m more of a steady constant. Items in my closet are staples that could have been purchased 3 years ago or last month, they’re subject to a slower speed of trend. I don’t generally prefer anything that’s “new this season.” If it seems like a trend that’s unlikely to last more than a year or so, I don’t tend to hop on until I see if it has staying power. In that sense, my friends are usually trendier than me, but my closet needs updating less frequently because my pieces don’t go out of style as quickly. Sometimes a friend can convince me to purchase something more adventurous, but it never becomes a go-to item. On the other hand, I have a distinctive enough “style” or “look” that friends will often pass down items to me because, as they say, “this just looks like you,” and they’re never wrong.

Who inspires you style-wise when it comes to your career closet?

I have a colleague in my department who has always inspired me because of her extremely limited closet. It took some time for me to even notice, but as it turns out, she only has about 10-12 basic pieces of office clothing that she mixes and matches and re-wears. She always looks incredibly professional and comfortable in her clothing and I admire her minimalism.

Another person who has inspired me is my friend Susie, who really helped me learn to mix my practical and necessarily “boring” footwear into my professional wardrobe in exciting ways. She showed me how to mix the kind of comfortable shoes my oddly shaped feet require with eclectic pieces to formulate a complete, professional outfit.

In the public eye, whose style do you admire and are influenced by?

Audrey Hepburn (OK, so she isn’t necessarily current, but her style is absolutely timeless and so very sophisticated. What she wore and how she carried herself will always represent the essence of class, to me.)

Sarah Jessica Parker (Talk about a woman who owns her outfits - there’s no higher goddess than SJP. Furthermore, she rocks heels like no other woman I’ve ever seen.)

Blake Lively (Honestly, she always looks like a Disney princess and as a child of the '90s, I’m just obsessed with anything princess-like. Everything she wears is elegant and flawless!)

If you could ‘steal’ one person [in the public eye’s] closet, whose closet would you steal and why?

Definitely Blake Lively. I would love to look so effortlessly elegant all the time. Also, she wears so many killer heels, and in a perfect, imaginary world, all those heels would fit my funny feet perfectly and I could wear them all day!

Where are the other places you’re getting style/fashion influence from?

I primarily feel influenced by Instagram. I like to see what my favorite celebs or other folks in media are wearing. I also follow all my favorite brands on IG so I can see what trends are coming and what sort of clothes I can expect to find when I go shopping.

Thinking about your closet, what percentage of your clothing is professional versus casual? How much of your wardrobe is given over to clothing you wear to look professional?

About 50% of my wardrobe is dedicated to office wear. The other half is a mix between casual clothing and athletic clothing.

What does ‘looking professional’ mean to you? How do you carry out and perfect that look? 

For me in my office environment, looking professional means no jeans or other denim and nothing I would wear in the gym. My professional style isn’t exactly what you would call “tailored,” but it’s what I call “tidy.” It’s easiest for me to maintain by keeping pants, skirts, and dresses to black and adding in subtle colored tops or cardigans. I also inherited some lovely jewelry from my grandmother, so I find that I can dress up a simple dress or top with a nice necklace and earring pairing.

Thinking about those professional pieces in your wardrobe, what are the most important, staple pieces for you? The pieces that you wear time and time again and tend to replace?

Undoubtedly, a pair of good black pants is a must. I actually prefer something with a bit of stretch so it’s comfortable for sitting all day and an ankle length is preferable. I also need a good black dress – something that isn’t stuffy and can be casual or dressed up with a nice jacket and jewelry if necessary.

Where are your three favorite stores to shop in for your career closet?

1. Ann Taylor Loft: affordable and their clothing fits my body very well; I always shop in store.

2. Target: hey, it might seem silly, but I’ve found some killer black pants from Target over the years; always in-store.

3. Banana Republic: no, I’m seriously not just saying that. My husband has been a huge Banana fan forever and I stalk the clearance rack and have pieces that I’ve been wearing to work for years. I generally shop in-store, sometimes at the outlet and occasionally online as well.

 What is it about these stores that make them your favorite/preferred place to shop?

1. Ann Taylor Loft: I like that this store caters to smaller people. Since I’m on the shorter and more petite side, I like that they have styles that flatter me.

2. Target: this is easily the most budget-friendly place to shop.

3. Banana Republic: my husband and I like shopping here because we both find things we love. I love that the clearance rack is always full of great things and that I can always find good, staple black items.

Does the experience of those stores matter to you too?

I feel strongly about a good fitting room experience. I don’t necessarily find this at Target, but in other places where I expect to spend a little more money, I appreciate a clean, well-lit fitting room where I can take my time and try on clothes in peace.

Going a little more specific, what are your top five favorite brands? Why are they your favorite?

1. Patagonia: this brand has a great mission to ethically and sustainably source their clothing. Their clothing is also built really well and holds up to heavy use. I love that the items are responsibly made and manufactured to last.

2. Ann Taylor Loft: the clothing from Loft has always fit me remarkably well. Again, as a shorter and smaller, but relatively long-torsoed human, I often find it frustrating to find pants in particular that fit me well. I have always had great success at Loft.

3. Banana Republic: my Banana items have outlasted so many other pieces of clothing that I’ve bought through the years. I like buying something that I know I can wear for years before it begins to show its age.

4. Lands End: I grew up wearing a lot of Lands End – thanks, Mom – but I also rediscovered them at an older age when I needed some professional clothes. Again, the thing that draws me in here is the quality. My Lands End items last many years of hard wear.

5. Madewell: This is a new brand to me, but I just discovered their jeans and bought my first pair. As a person who struggles to find pants that fit well, this was a major win!

Thinking about your ‘career closet’, what part can your clothes play - if any - in helping you do your job even better?

Clothes play a non-trivial role in helping me do my job. When I’m in the office, I often walk across campus and all over my building for meetings. I carry a lot of things with me and often experience major temperature changes (they cool the building to 65 when it’s 100 out… go figure) so the best outfits are the ones that are:

(1) comfortable all day long

(2) layered in such a way to handle drastic temperature differences

(3) sturdy

As funny as it sounds to describe great clothes as “sturdy,” that’s exactly what I mean. My best outfits are the ones that can hold up to a long commute, several walks across campus in any weather, wearing a backpack, and potentially running into the dean at a seminar. I prefer outfits with pockets (helpful for stowing a phone and for my fidgeting hands) and that can handle a lanyard with the ID and office key that I wear around my neck all day. Pragmatically, items that can be machine washed are also my preference, given that I try to keep a more minimal closet and wear the same favorite staple items several times a week. Overall, if I feel great about my outfit, then I feel more comfortable in my own skin and hold myself with greater confidence all day.

What are your top priorities when it comes to buying new items of clothing?

1. Comfort: I want clothes that I can be comfortable in for a long day of sitting, standing, walking, etc.

2. Classic: in general, I don’t like trendy things. I prefer pieces that are likely to last through several seasons and be timeless.

3. Longevity: when I’m spending money on something, I like to spend it on something that’s going to last a long time. I’m hard on my clothes and I want things that will hold up over time.

4. Versatility: I like things in solid colors that mostly go with black because I prefer to have fewer, more versatile items.

5. Ease of care: I don’t care for dry-clean-only or hand-wash items. I usually only buy things than can be machine washed.

And why do those things matter to you in the order they do? 

I have a low tolerance for uncomfortable or ill-fitting clothing, so my primary concern is that clothing be comfortable. I also like to invest in clothing that will last, both from a style and a wear perspective, which is why classic styles and longevity are second and third on that list. Although I don’t consider myself a minimalist, I like the idea of minimizing the number of pieces I own, so versatility is fourth. Ease of care is always on my mind while shopping, so even though a dry-clean-only item isn’t out of the question, it’s never my preference.

Is there anything else you want to add?

Simple never goes out of style. A pair of slim black pants, a white silk top, and a trim black dress. With these, you can never go wrong.

How many pairs of shoes, any shoes, do you own?

I didn’t do an actual count, but probably 20 pairs.

If you had to split them up into categories and write a percentage next to them [what, math!] what would that look like?

Perfect, I love math!

Athletic shoes (30%)

Dress flats (10%)

Dress heels (10%)

Boots (10%)

Casual (40%)

What type of shoe would we typically find you in, if you there is a ‘typical shoe’ for you?

Birkenstocks, in summer it’s an Arizona, but at other times of year, a clog or shoe. If I’m in the gym, it’s NoBulls and if I’m adventuring, it’s Chacos.

What are the most important things for you when it comes to buying your favorite kind of shoe?

Fit and comfort are absolutely the primary concern. As I have mentioned, I do have very oddly shaped, wide feet, so I can’t even fit my foot into most shoes off the rack. Because my options are limited, I usually have to spend upwards of $100 for a pair of shoes, so it’s important to me that they last a while since each pair is such an investment.

What about your favorite brands for shoes? Who do you always end up going to?

Birkenstock, Dansko, Chaco, Reebok, Crocs, TOMS, and NoBull.

I wear all of these because they’re what fit my foot best. For work, I generally wear Birkenstocks or Danskos because I need to wear them all day and also do some walking. On occasion, I’ll wear other off-brand flats (think Target) when I really need to or for shorter durations.

Why are these your favorite brands do you think? 

I like Birkenstocks and Danskos because they fit the best and I honestly think they’re cute. A little funky maybe, but it fits my vibe. Over the years, I’ve had to adapt and learn to love what fits, but they’ve grown on me!

What about your favorite shoe stores, again - on or offline? What makes them your favorite stores?

I buy most of my shoes from Amazon, although I occasionally order Birks or Danskos directly from their websites. I usually buy my Chacos or boots from REI. When I need a rare pair of heels, I can usually find something at DSW.