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Hybridity has always been central to who I am, says Namrata Tripathi, the founder and publisher of Kokila, an imprint at Penguin Random House for children and young adults that highlights voices historically marginalized by publishing. Being Odia and Punjabi Sikh, Ms. Tripathi grew up in an Indian home that blended two distinct aesthetics, cultures, religions, and languages. Because her parents were both diplomats for India, her family also moved frequently. She was born in Moscow, but she then lived in Afghanistan, India, Canada, Pakistan, Germany, and Poland before moving to New York to attend university. I think of myself very much as a professional alien, she says. And I think the power in that is in adapting to my environment, but never erasing myself. When she first entered the American corporate world, she observed what clothing was deemed appropriate, but she always questioned what power and leadership look like. For her, the answer involves the sari, which she saw her mother wear to work every day when she was growing up. I thought: One day I’m going to do that. And then I thought: Well, what day am I waiting for? [Photo: Christopher Myers (portrait)] Around 10 years ago, she felt confident enough to start wearing power saris, as her colleagues now refer to them, to the office for big meetings, and then more regularly. Previously, shed only worn saris to formal work events, such as the National Book Awards and galas, because they are beautiful, and I was excited to wear them. Sometimes, shed wear saris her mother passed down to her, and she was often the only person in the room wearing non-Western clothing. One time, when she wore a churidar kurta, which consists of a tunic and trousers that bunch at the bottom, a well-intentioned colleague pulled her aside to tell her that her pants were too long. At first, I did it to connect with my mother and her mother, whose saris I also sometimes wear, but over time, I saw how it influenced other people, too, she says. I had young people from various cultural backgrounds in the company comment on the pieces I’d worn, and I realized how impactful it had been to them, and how it reinforced the idea that the body is political. I’m interested in a different kind of leadership, and this is a way to show it. I like that it sends a message to people who aren’t often in the room that I’m trying to bring them into it. Describe your style in a sentence. Mera joota hai Japani, yeh patloon Englistani, sar pe lal topi Russi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani. Whats the one piece in your closet youll never get rid of? An oversized white button-down because Ive always loved menswear. How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning? Tying a sari takes me about two minutes. Managing my hair can be . . . a process. What do you wear to a big meeting? Always a sari. (A power sari if you ask my team.) What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? Dont ever try to hide yourself.
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E-Commerce
Dara Treseder, Autodesks chief marketing officer, stands out in a crowd. Shes the one wearing a tailored, monochromatic outfit in a bold, bright color: a coral suit, a cobalt shift dress, a lime green gown, often with statement jewelry or shoes that provide a pop of contrast. At her first job, she followed the standard advice of wearing an unremarkable black suit, so people would focus on her words rather than her attire. She showed up early to a big meeting, and when one of the other participants showed up, he mistook her for the janitor. It clicked that in this mans world, the only reason a person who looked like me would be in this room is because she was the cleaner, Treseder says. [Photo: courtesy Autodesk] Treseder vowed she would stop trying to blend in with her corporate attire, but rather show up as her authentic self. I had a beautiful structured red dress I would have loved to wear to that meeting, she recalls. I was worried that showing up as a Black woman in a red dress would be too much, too loud, too out there. But I quickly learned that when I wore what made me feel good, I had a more commanding presence. Today, Treseder is something of a style icon. Shes found that the conventional wisdom is wrong: People tend to pay more attention to what shes saying when shes in an eye-catching mint suit at a Capitol Hill meeting or a mustard colored dress while on a panel. She realizes that how she shows up at the office doesnt just shape how she is treated, but also how others are perceived. Today, shes among only 1.4% of C-suite executives who are Black women. I started thinking about my clothes as a way to not just express my power, but our power as Black women, she says. I want to show that we are capable, competent, and confident. We deserve to be here. Describe your style in a sentence Intentional. Every piece I wear is a choice that speaks before I ever say a word. Whats the one piece in your closet youll never get rid of? My black Louboutin six-inch block heels. Theyre power in motion: equal parts presence, polish, and endurance. From customer meetings in Tokyo to main stage moments in Vegas, they remind me that showing up with purpose starts from the ground up. How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning? Getting dressed is quick. Just a few minutes. But getting ready is sacred. Its my daily ritual, my runway to the day. I use that time to pour into myself through music, prayer, affirmations, meditation, and reflection, so I can pour into everything else with presence and power. What do you wear to a big meeting? A structured dress or a sharp monochrome suit. I keep it clean and intentional so there is no noise, only presence. Monochrome is timeless and powerful, and it gives me space to make the look my own through fit, texture, and accessories. What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? My mother told me, dress for you. That simple truth shaped everything. Fashion is comfort, not just physical but emotional. When you feel at ease in what you wear, you move differently. You lead differently. Confidence is the most powerful thing you can put on.
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E-Commerce
As a forward on the Chicago Sky, Angel Reese is one of the most dominant players in the WNBA, and when she joined us to speak about being named to our Best Dressed in Business, shed just broken league records by closing her fourth consecutive game with 15+ rebounds. (When critics panned her for “mebounding,” she trademarked it.) It all embodies how Reese’s draft class did more than add fresh competition to the league when it arrived with a splash in 2024. It awakened the spectacle of the sport, celebrating the uniqueness of players who broke free from their uniforms with expressive, pregame tunnel walksa critical piece in increasing sponsors 19% that year and viewership by 170%. A lot of the women already had the fashion, and I think the platform really helped them, says Reese. I think coming to the league with all the eyes that we had, it really shined a light on them and gave them the flowers that they deserve. [Photo: Reebok] Long before she joined the Met Gala host committee or had partnerships with Good American and Reebok (her signature Reese 1, inspired by diamonds, was announced this month), Reese earned the nickname Bayou Barbie for her glam perspective, even on the court, which was part of her game as long as she remembers. I always had my hair done, and my nails were painted, she recalls. My grandma used to put mascara on my lashes, and she brushed my hair up nicely. It was always dress to impress. Reeses passion for fashion was spurred on through her mothers closet, from which shed steal bags and heels, the latter of which felt tricky for her 6 3 frame. I think it took me a while to feel confident in heels, going out, because I was already so tall, she says. But once I got older and seeing how much I stood out, it made me feel, like, super confident and bold. [Photo: Chicago Sky] That boldness is a throughline of her ‘fitsand perhaps the only one she cares much about. When I mention her silhouettes tend to embrace high waists and crop tops, she shrugs off any trends you might see, and insists she wants to have the opposite of any signature look. Sometimes I’ll go streetwear. Sometimes I’ll go super girly, she says. I don’t really identify myself as dressing one type of way. [Though] I am into high fashion for sure. So you probably see me with a nice bag, nice pair of glasses. Describe your style in a sentence. I am versatile. Whats the one piece in your closet youll never get rid of? I think my bags. Ive created a collection of bags, when I see it, I need it, I have it. Im in collector mode, in my vintage era. I just got this double flap Chanel bag, its orange, and I love it. How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning? If I’m only going to practice, it doesn’t take me long. But when I’m getting ready for a game? An hour, for sure. What do you wear to a big meeting? I dont really have meetings [laughs]. Most of these things are on Zoom these days. I dont want to meet people or go to their office. What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? Be confident in your skin. Law Roach kind of told me before, don’t care what anybody else has to say. Like, as long as you’re confident in it and you feel good in it. Its aura. You have to have aura.
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E-Commerce
Today, Salehe Bembury is one of the most in-demand designers in sneakers, who has collaborated with brands including New Balance, Crocs, Versace, Moncler, and Vans. With an aesthetic rooted in a combination of an outdoor lifestyle and funky, organic shapes, Bembury has reimagined streetwear as something as biological as it is mechanical. But its almost impossible to centrifuge Bemburys fashion aesthetic from his own brand, and thats in part by design and what it means to be a creative in the era of social media. We’re all kind of like cartoon characters in this space . . . we’re all just like kids in high school in the hallway, comparing outfits and competing and all that shit, Bembury says ahead of the release of his first career retrospective. It’s like, fucking Bart Simpson or Doug Funnie opening up their closet and seeing all blue shorts and orange T-shirts. So I would say that that’s what exists with my current selection of clothing, is that it just all fits within this cartoon character consistency. Bembury says his fashion sense was originally born from mimicryNike ads and other influences that informed his style. But as he grew older, he learned, as we all do, what works on his bodyand he began considering his own signature look. Roughly a decade ago, he started carrying a wooden briefcase everywhere he went. That was me shouting Im an individual! he laughs. Beanies, too, were almost always in the mix. But a move to L.A. led him to ditch the beanie, and an evolving aesthetic led him to retire the briefcase. His personal style became grounded in comfort, wearing high cinched Satoshi Nakamoto pants most days, any matter of tee, and maybe a Boro stitch (Japanese repaired denim) jacket up top. Handkerchiefs, a cycling cap, and wraparound shades often complete the look. Grounding it all is an anchor in comfort. Take it back to childhood, I just remember what it felt like to go to church, and I hated that feeling, and I also thought that that feeling was representative of what it meant to have a job, says Bembury. Entering the professional space . . . when I first got a job at Cole Haan, and like, what I was wearing back then. It was in an effort to try to hold on to some level of individuality, but then also be a working professional. Id wear a plaid button down and Dickies. Is that professional? I’m not really sure, but like, that was my attempt at it. Now, Bembury has evolved from wearing Uniqlo, to tailored off-the-shelf garments, to more bespoke pieces. That comes down to a combination of education and resources, he says. And while he knows thats a privilege, he does wish to remind the public that they dont need to settle for the fit off-the-rack. [Photo: Chaymin Jay Barut (portrait)] Actually, I get a lot of messages where people are simply curious how I get my pants like that. I think that’s also displaying maybe just a lack of understanding of simple tailoring, he says. I don’t even think a lot of people see that even as an option. But if you just taper these pants or crop them, they become a different pant! Describe your style in a sentence. Comfortable, utilitarian, with a dash of Japan. Whats the one piece in your closet youll never get rid of? Proleta re Art made me a boro fabric North Face Supreme jacket. A$AP Rocky has a quote, “we don’t rock clothes, we rock pieces.” And that is a piece. How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning? Not long (a few minutes). The longest investments may be around Paris Fashion Week. What do you wear to a big meeting? It doesnt change. What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? It’s probably the most said one, but it’s just like, “the best version of yourself you can be is yourself.” With the uniform that I’ve achieved, and with what I wear, it is myself to the fullest.
Category:
E-Commerce
Mauro Porcini became the worlds first chief design officer at 3M, before taking the role at PepsiCo and, now, Samsung. But despite defining what it means for a designer to take a seat in the C-suite, he admits that, for a few decades now, hes ceased to fit anywhere perfectly. Designers see me as a business person. The business people see me as a designer. Im there in the middle between the two worlds, like I’m Italian and American. I’m both of them, laments Porcini, before flipping this self-critique on its head. [But that means] I’m exotic in Italy, and I’m exotic in America. Now I’m exotic in Korea. Porcini captures these dualities in the way he styles himself. With roots in Varese, Italy, he grew up alongside the Missoni family, and into his early 20s, he became friends with many of Italys most prominent voices in fashion. To this day, he has a penchant for Italian luxury brands like Gucci, Prada, and Valentino. But he insists that hes not afraid to mix them with drops from Zara. A longtime collector of fine footwear, his latest obsession is a Gucci x Adidas collab, which he owns in six colors. (He recently added their gold-clad loafer to his collection.) The pieces showcase the materials and silhouettes of Gucci, but with the three stripes of Adidas. Its an unexpected mashup that adds a signature to just about anything Porcini wears these days. The shoe has always been very powerful, because you can go crazy with the shoes. You can be really different. And for a man, its an easy accent, says Porcini. But then you go into these boardrooms, and you need to pitch investments of millions of dollars, or hundreds of millions of dollars, so rebalancing that with a jacket or blazersomething that reminds them that you’re still part of that [business culture is essential]. So you’re not going there with just a T-shit and sneakers. [Photo: Samsung (portrait)] Porcini adores a double-breasted wool coat, and his latest is a custom commission from Golden Goose, embroidered with cities from his life: Milan, Dublin, Minneapolis, New York, and Seoul. The overall effect is that Porcini has been mixing classic suit silhouettes with hints of sport (Ive even seen him mix trousers with a track pant piping into his look). Its perpetually surprising without being heavy-handed; intentional without feeling try-hard. Each of us has different ways of dressing, but show that you have an original point of view. Because this is what designers do, says Porcini. They look at reality, they look at their world, and have a unique and original point of view on what they need to do. So through your dress, communicate that kind of original point of view. And communicate the confidence of sharing it. For Porcini, dressing well is a tool to be taken seriously as a creative in business, but its base is about self-acceptance, love, and expression. As he learned as a teenager reading the 1926 allegory One, No One, and One Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandelloin which a man becomes so obsessed with the shape of his nose that it ultimately destroys his lifeyou cannot let peoples perception of you dilute who you are. You need to have the peace of mind and the awareness that people will judge you, not on the basis of just what you do, but on the basis of who they are, says Porcini. And you need to be okay with it. Describe your style in a sentence. A mix of creativity, confidence, self-love, but also love for the world. Whats the one piece in your closet youll never get rid of? There is a trouser that I painted when I was, I think I was 17, and I still have it, even if, obviously it doesn’t fit anymore. I have more than one, but there is one that I really love. I started to paint on clothing, and I started to sell this clothing to make a little bit of money. I paid for my driving school in this way. When I was 18, I even sold one to my teacher who was giving me driving lessons. [Photo: courtesy of Porcini] How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning? Super quick. Between the time I wake up and leave, its 45 minutes. And that includes emails, breakfast, shower, and getting dressed. What do you wear to a big meeting? I try to have a touch of creativity that creates surprise in the room and talks about my belonging to the creative community. But then I blended with a code that is more accepted by the audience, the business community. I try to create that comfort and discomfort together. What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? It was not articulated in one sentence, but it’s literally, be yourself and be unique. Dont be a slave to fashion. Your pieces dont need to be the latest. They need to be something that makes sense for you and makes sense for what you want to project to the world.
Category:
E-Commerce
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