Introducing Priscilla

 “I do well at cocktail parties”, 42-year-old Priscilla admits to us, and within a few minutes of meeting her you can see why. She describes herself as “one of those people that know a little bit about a lot of stuff”. Nerdy, sarcastic and quick witted, she seems like the sort of person who can bring something to pretty much any conversation. Living in Brooklyn with her husband in a very old brownstone – the interior of her home is distinctively mid-century with a little industrial twist - she works as a civil engineer looking after highway and roadway design, utility systems and sewer systems.

She tells us she always has a few books on the go and a couple more audiobooks (What Happened To You by Oprah Winfrey, Cast by Isabella Wilkerson, and One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston) for when she’s running or at work. As befits someone who is capable of bringing something to any conversation, she flits between topics with remarkable ease, as she opens up to us about what exactly her style is.

Let’s start with having you explain your style to us, Priscilla...

I’d say that I already used the term, urban preppy, because pre-pandemic I had a job where I had to dress up for work, I’d wear some houndstooth slacks with a v-neck retro t-shirt underneath it and a proper blazer. I think because I run a lot of the time my feet hurt, you won’t see me in heels you’ll see me in Vans or Jordans. Stylish and comfortable with a little rebellion/edge. But  I’d wear heels at a wedding, for instance.

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

I think when Courtney was telling me about this she said I was a hypebeast, but I was shocked about that. I’d say I have an age appropriate amount of hype. 

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

I'm the person who says I bought this 10 years ago when complimented,  I lean towards a classic style. I’m a person you’ll never see wearing what was in the window at H&M.

Who inspires you style-wise?

In some ways, I love the way Lenny Kravitz does the tight pants and draped shirt, I love that kind of rocker look. I like the androgynous look, I like sexy but not necessarily feminine. 

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

I like the way  Angela Manuel is. She was the soul cycle instructor that Beyoncé and Jay Z went to, and now she has her own studio. She’s the Fear of God guy's sister, she has a very tomboy style. If I had to  put on shapewear to wear something I’ll wear something else, like that's not happening.

When it comes to Streetwear right now, what’s the exciting stuff happening in the culture?

I think its returned more for it to be sexy for women to be in loose clothing, to be in sneakers all day. I like the fact that comfort is coming back, a lot of the streetwear designers are using silhouettes are more drapes and baggy even for workwear and I really like that.

What are the things happening that frustrate you or cause friction?

I think the whole logo thing, like Supreme. Supreme came out with a metro card ($2.50!) people were being trampled on just to get a metro card, they were re-selling for hundreds of dollars online. With a lot of brands it’s cool to wear their brand across their chest - I’ve never been a label person. A lot of streetwear that’s what’s coming back, it’s necessary to know how much money you’ve spent. If you see quality you know it, you don’t need to have a logo. The more expensive clothes, like Gucci etc, there’s no branding on them. 

Where are your three favorite stores to shop in for clothing/apparel?

I hate shopping, I try to do it all online. Stores give me anxiety, there's too many clothes in the stores. 

1. Uniqlo

2. Everlane

3. Cos 

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

They’re easy, and I typically only shop when I know I need something. I’ll pop in and out of stores if I’m walking around, thrifting. I like to vintage shop when I’m out of town as the stores are smaller. During the pandemic, my friends and I went to a house in the middle of Connecticut  and we were thrifting and I found some  amazing pieces. I can’t do the rack searching thing. I love to get vintage jewelry at good prices. It’s difficult in the city where the shops know what you’re looking for. I used to live in Florida and some of the thrift stores had so many amazing things from old rich people.

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

1. Uniqlo

2. Fear of God

3. Nike (for shoes)

4. Vans (I love more than Nike)

Vans are more classic than other brands, you can find a pair to go with any outfit you’re wearing. I’m 5 ft 9 and wear a women size 12, so anywhere that sells unisex shoes that don’t look like I'm wearing clunky men's shoes.

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

Something I know will look good 5-10 years from now, the quality is built to last and I’ll still get compliments. The fit, I don’t believe in forcing things if the fit isn’t for me, especially as I’m tall and have really long legs. 

How I feel in it, how it makes me feel, does it make me feel confident?  This is important - you can sometimes feel like you don’t belong in some pieces. I rarely come out and people are surprised at what I’m wearing, they’re like, “Oh, of course she’s wearing that”.

I don’t like to buy things that I’ll see other people in, which is why I stay away from seasonal or defining prints because if I wear it in 5 years people will comment because they’ll remember  when that came out.