We had the amazing opportunity to speak with long term customer Alicia Levine. Along with having a fabulous sense of style, she is also Head of Investment Strategy. We got to talk about how she gets dressed for work and how she pulls it all off so effortlessly.
What is your current job position and what is the dress code?
I am Head of Investment Strategy at BNY Mellon Wealth Management. I am responsible for all the asset allocations for our client capital and for putting forward our macro and investment views. This is a role with a heavy public- and internal-facing component. Elegant business clothing is the unstated way to be most effective. I use color for public-facing engagements particularly in crowded rooms.
How did you come across our brand and what caught your attention?
I had just started doing more public speaking and media and my closet was full of the New Yorker uniform--black, beige, and gray. These colors look appropriate in a business situation but they fade on camera, and tend to look drab when at a lectern. I needed color, a lot of choices, and fast! I walked past Nora's store and saw the rainbow of gorgeous, well-fitting and business-appropriate clothing. And everything fit! I was hooked!
What are the main things you look for in your work clothing?
I need solids that look great with a variety of different graphic backgrounds. I also need work clothing that doesn’t wrinkle and that easily travels. I can’t tell you how important it is that work clothing doesn’t make you worry about it during the day.
What is your favorite thing to wear on a big day?
Ok, that depends. If it is a public event I will wear a cobalt blue, pink or red. If I am sitting on stage I will wear a bright jacket with pants. When standing, I always prefer a dress. People now associate my work wardrobe with color. My goal is to find the perfect purple! I'll still reach for black and white.
How do you deal with stress and maintain a healthy work-life balance?
I work out on a regular schedule. It keeps me happy and feeling positive about what I can achieve. My family is the best and weekends are for doing a lot together. I also try to see friends as often as possible. This is taking on more importance as I get busier with work.
What advice would you give to your young self?
That is a bit loaded. I would say to my insecure self “Trust your instincts and trust your ability to be resilient." I started in academia and always felt I had to know everything. It was freeing to accept that actually, I don't have to know everything, and that experience provides a deep cushion for decision-making in times of uncertainty. The other thing I would say is that anything can happen. The world is open and if you walk through every open door and not stop yourself out of fear, you will be very happy.
How has your relationship with workwear fashion changed over the years?
When I started on Wall Street all the women were wearing matching skirt suits with tucked-in blouses or tops. Matching pants suits were also hot. I loved shopping for work-appropriate clothing. My mother would lend me her elegant clothing when I had an important day and needed a fabulous jacket. I actually still wear her "hand-me-downs" and we both love it. I always gravitated to dresses because it is one and done. No fussing and no matching and no lost tops to find at 6:45am. I worked at one firm where every day was a fashion show. Fabulous clothing, shoes and bags. We all participated in the collective daily fashion show. Everyday casual always made me uncomfortable, and as my roles increasingly became more public-facing, I never really bought in. I'm now in a business where elegance and proper presentation is important for the role. What has changed is that there is now a wider range of appropriate choices. I've embraced color and the ease of wearing a dress all day long, packing it, and pulling another out of my suitcase which looks perfect for the next day. True story--I tried to buy a simple, straight knee-length skirt with a side zipper yesterday. Nobody makes them anymore; nobody is wearing them. And neither am I.