Working It : What The Team Behind Style.com Wears to Work
Welcome to Working It, where Racked follows street style into the office. Forget pedestrian khakis and button-downs—these fashionable professionals take dress codes to a whole new dimension. Quick, somebody call HR!
Photos by Driely S.
Style.com is largely considered the be-all, end-all destination for fashion show coverage. The team behind it works year-round to upload photos from the runways almost as fast as they appear on social media, and its seasoned editors compose some of the strongest reviews from each new collection, each season. But with the launch of its biannual magazine Style.com/Print in 2011 and online content that covers far more than just Fashion Month, the site’s a total year-round resource. After the jump, see what the people who keep the site—and mag—humming wear to work.
Nicole Phelps, Executive Editor, is wearing an Altuzarra top, Pucci pants, and Pierre Hardy shoes.
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
I once read something Chloë Sevigny said about never mixing your blacks. I’m a fan of Chloë’s, but I disagree with her on that one.
What’s your online shopping guilty pleasure?
I quickly feel guilty if I’ve spent too much on myself. That’s when I start buying stuff for my son. His latest acquisition is a Maxi Micro scooter in black.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
There are lots of women whose closets I envy. Camilla Nickerson, Ludivine Poiblanc, and Vanessa Traina come to mind.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Lipbalm, lipbalm, lipbalm.
What was your first job?
I moved to New York right after college and got a job in PR at a now-defunct CD-ROM publishing company called Voyager. It didn’t last long.
What trend would you never be caught dead trying?
Despite their recent popularity, I never got into engineered prints. I’m a big believer in black, navy, and gray.
What do you splurge on?
If I splurge at all, it’s on shoes.
Rachael Wang, Fashion Market Director, is wearing a Rochas top, a Dries Van Noten skirt, and Céline loafers.
Who are the industry’s unsung heroes?
The assistants!
What are your beauty must-haves?
Josie Maran Argan Daily Moisturizer SPF 47 and Shu Uemura Essence Absolut Nourishing Protective Oil.
Who’s your professional role model?
Joan Didion.
What do you splurge on, and what do you cheap out on?
I splurge on the things I can’t get for cheap.
What was your first job?
Tutoring younger kids in math.
What’s your online shopping guilty pleasure?
Books on Amazon.
Katharine Zarella, Associate News Editor, is wearing a Lock & Co Hatters bowler, a Dion Lee leather jacket, a vintage Comme des Garçons top, a Junya Watanabe skirt, Prada shoes, a Chanel cuff, and a Solange Azagury-Partridge lip ring.
What’s your online shopping guilty pleasure?
Trolling 1stdibs.com and eBay for vintage Comme des Garçons, and then binge-buying everything in my size.
Who are the industry’s unsung heroes?
Fashion professors like the late Louise Wilson of Central Saint Martins and Parsons’ Shelley Fox.
What are your beauty must-haves?
Red lipstick (I rotate between Chanel, Lipstick Queen, and M.A.C., and I seal whatever I’m wearing with Beaute’s Fever lip stain), Laura Mercier face moisturizer, Chanel lip balm for when my smackers need a break, and sunglasses. Because everyone looks beautiful in sunglasses.
What’s the best piece of shopping advice you’ve ever gotten?
Shut up and buy it already.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
I quite like my wardrobe to be honest, but I wouldn’t mind swapping with the late Isabella Blow or Elsa Schiaparelli.
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
I believe that there are no rules in fashion other than that you must not be boring. That’s a rule I religiously avoid breaking.
What’s the number one thing you’ve learned about the fashion industry by working at Style.com?
You’d better work.
Nicola Kast, Photo Editor, is wearing an A.P.C top, Acne Studios jeans, Tabitha Simmons boots, and earrings from Garnish and Adorned.
Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
“Two Bit” from The Outsiders 1983 movie.
Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
I have a Lindsey Thornburg cloak that I’ve been wearing for the past four years that I’m still pretty much obsessed with. It’s like being wrapped up in a comfy blanket. Recently I bought myself an Acne Studios leather jacket, which would also have to come with me, and obviously one of my favorite pair of jeans, which currently are acid-washed hole-y Rachel Comeys.
What’s the best piece of shopping advice you’ve ever gotten?
A good friend of mine who also works in the fashion industry once told me that the best style is about being subtle, and that’s something that I adhere to. It’s about evoking a feeling, not a brand.
What’s the number one thing you’ve learned about the fashion industry by working here?
Smarts first.
Noah Johnson, Deputy Editor, is wearing a Norse Projects shirt and pants, Common Projects sneakers, and a Polar Skate Co. hat.
What fashion rule do you shamelessly break?
I wear hats indoors.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about the fashion industry by working at Style.com?
Fashion has a long history. It isn’t just what you remember seeing on the internet.
What do you splurge on, and what do you cheap out on?
I splurge on everything and cheap out by only buying what I need.
What was your first job?
Paperboy.
Your closet’s on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?
My closet is always in flames because everything I own is fire, but I’d probably grab a few pairs of the original Padmore & Barnes Wallabees I have tucked away.
Dirk Standen, Editor-in-Chief, is wearing a Polo Ralph Lauren jacket, an Our Legacy shirt, 3×1 jeans, RRL shoes, and a Standen New York scarf.
Who are the industry’s unsung heroes?
I’d have to say the Style.com team. People know the names and faces of our editors and reviewers. But there is also a behind-the-scenes crew of art and production people who work around the clock during fashion season to keep the site running and looking good. Their dedication is amazing.
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