Meet the Women of Work Where?

Workwear has historically been prescriptive. There’s always been a dress code, a uniform with very strict guidelines. We’ve seen example of this over the decades. Starting in the 1920s women wore neat skirts with blazers to the office. By the 80s, full-on power suits (with shoulder pads, gasp!) were the norm. Pencil skirts and tidy cardigans also had a moment. Yet over the last decade, sartorialists, designers and boundary-breakers alike started to rewrite the rules. In the office, power suits have been traded in for anything from denim to jumpsuits—that is, if you even work at the office nowadays.

For our March Work Where? campaign, we explore the changing landscape of work with people redefining the 9-5 and workwear as we know it. We sat down with six women who are leaders in their chosen industries and have found their own spin on the “work uniform.” They aim to be just as happy in their clothes as they are in their jobs. Read below to see how they get to work in styles that works for whatever is on their agenda.

Lea Sabado | Accountant, Café Owner & Vintage Motorcycle Collector

Give us your elevator pitch. What do you do?

I’m a far cry from the stereotypically bookish bookkeeper. While I do have over a decade of experience in corporate and small business accounting, consulting and tax advising, it’s more than my agility with spreadsheets that defines me. I’m a co-owner of Excelsior Coffee, a neighborhood coffee shop in the Excelsior District of San Francisco; a co-founder of Hot Rides, an all-female motorcycle collective in San Francisco; and a team rider and brand ambassador for Atwyld, a women’s motorcycle gear and apparel company based in my hometown of Los Angeles. Aside from my work and lifestyle, I’m a new mother to my 19-month old son, Cruz, and loving every minute of that!  

What does "work" mean to you?

“Work,” to me, is an opportunity to capitalize on the things that I am passionate about. And I’d like to think that things I am most passionate about involve my hobbies and community, such as the coffee shop and motorcycles.

How do you dress for work?

For my accounting practice, you can find me in relaxed business attire such as tailored trousers, a classy blouse and a boyfriend blazer. I like to accessorize with my outfit to exude a mix of a relaxation, femininity and professionalism. However, when I work at the coffee bar, I stick to comfortable basics, like jeans and a tee. I often lean towards heavy-duty workwear to withstand any type of jobs that come along with the preparation and cleanliness of coffee.

What makes the outfit you wore in our shoot perfect for the work that you do?

I just love the functionality of the outfits that I wore in the photoshoot. I was able to be comfortable and safe on the motorcycle without compromising comfort and femininity.

What is a typical workday like for you?

Because I am a freelancer, I align my workdays and that starts with my coffee shop hours. I wake up around 6 a.m. to start my day by 6:45 a.m. By 8 a.m., I’ll sip my cappuccino, answer a few emails and drop off my son at daycare. From there, I head to my coffee shop to check in on my staff and be that “pinch hitter” if they need my help.  If not, I head into my office above the coffee shop for the duration of the workday. Efficiency and time management are super key for my line of work. It’s very easy to get distracted being in a setting where I could do both—accounting and coffee slinging—so I try to space my days where I get chunks of work done. By 4:30 p.m., it’s time to pick up my son from daycare and get some quality time with him.

How do you approach your work?

I try to approach my work with pride, attention to detail and passion. Multi-tasking was always a struggle for me, so I strive to be better with my time management overall.

What did you look for when choosing this career?

Passion and purpose!

How did you reach this point in your career? Take us through your resume.

During college while studying mathematics, I worked as a barista and was first introduced to coffee. While working as a barista in downtown San Francisco, I was surrounded by stockbrokers, lawyers, accountants and other professionals. I met a partner at an accounting firm who was a regular at the local coffee shop. His name was Rich. Through his affinity for consuming coffee on a daily basis, I would see him nearly every day and we would talk about music, his line of work, arts and cultures and our different hobbies and passions. When I finally graduated at SFSU in June, he recruited me and urged me to go for a business accounting degree, as he believed mathematics and accounting were similar fields and that my customer service skills were superb. From there, Rich reviewed my resume and submitted it to his firm, where there was an accounting summer internship position available. It was there and then, that I was first introduced to my current line of work and career in accounting, bookkeeping and taxes. What a godsend! I was able to go back to school to get an accounting degree while interning at a notable accounting firm—and getting paid! It was an amazing opportunity and unique position at that point in my life and for that I am very thankful.

Chinaka Hodge | Poet, Screenwriter & Spoken Word Artist

Give us your elevator pitch. What do you do?

I am a writer, performer and educator. I use words in public to make a living and to make an impact. Sometimes that means I write and share my poetry and music; other times it means I make film and TV as a screenwriter; and on other-other occasions that means emceeing conferences and officiating weddings. I like to say I am an all-purpose writer for hire. 

What does "work" mean to you?

Work is the labor we do that uses our hearts, minds and physical faculties to the betterment of the world.

How do you dress for work?

Most days I wear sweats, stretch pants or jeans because the generative part of my work happens in my house. If I perform, I tend to wear all black. If I am in the classroom I go for stylish comfort. If I am hosting or officiating, I tend to wear white or African prints. I wear a hoodie almost every day.

What makes the jumpsuit you wore in our shoot perfect for the work that you do?

The outfit I wore would be great for the work I do in classrooms. It allows me to move and be free. The jumpsuit is professional enough to wear in the teacher's lounge and cool enough that the 7th graders respect me. The denim jacket has pockets large enough for dry-erase markers. It layers well, which is important for public schools—most of the ones I visit are very cold in the morning and very hot in the afternoon.

What is a typical work day like for you?

There is no typical work day! If I am staffed in a TV writing room, I have some routine. Most of the time, my schedule varies from day to day. In the last week I have been working on a few screenwriting projects, I taught an after-school workshop to teenagers, I gave a sermon at a progressive church, I consulted on a photo shoot and I counseled some mentees on their artistic process. Next week is completely different.

How do you approach your work?

I approach my work with a sense of destiny and a sense of humor. When I take on a job I ask myself how it feels in my body, if I am truly excited to do it and if it will challenge me. Often, when I am working on a big writing project, I will take on a smaller, less front-facing project. I'll bake a cake or redesign a bedroom's decor. I like having something in which I am taking a risk being balanced by something I know I will like for certain—like pound cake.

What did you look for when choosing this career?

I started writing and performing at age 13. I think the career chose me.

How did you reach this point in your career? Take us through your resume.

My first job was teaching gymnastics at a black-owned gymnastics studio in the ‘90s. I taught toddlers on Saturday mornings. This is how I got good at engaging any audience. My first critics were two-year-olds. My second job was working as classroom support staff at Oakland Freedom Schools—a summer literacy intensive. I must have been 14. Because I had experience with toddlers, I worked with the youngest students on site. I remember how much joy I felt when my first students read their first words. When I turned 15, I started working at Youth Speaks and The Living Word Project. This non-profit seeks to amplify the voices of young people, everywhere. At Youth Speaks, I worked as a Poet, Poet-Mentor, Program Director and Associate Artistic Director. I learned how and when to facilitate safe space for burgeoning ideas to thrive. There I co-founded two literary festivals. The first is The Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival. The second was Life Is Living, an outdoor culture and sustainability fest. I worked at Youth Speaks through college and then full-time for the better part of 10 years. At age 24, I left Youth Speaks and became the Interim Executive Director of The Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse. My principal job was to build awareness and support for a blighted historic landmark. We aimed to turn the unused building into an arts center.

My quarter-life crisis sent me reeling. I felt I'd given a lot to everyone else's art but not enough time or attention on my own. I left The Car Barn for graduate school. I studied Writing for Film and Television at USC's School of Cinematic Arts. Since completing my studies in 2012, I have worked primarily in television. My first TV writing job was for Jason Katims, who created “Friday Night Lights”. He gave me my first TV break on a show for NBC called “Rise”. Then I worked on a staff for a TNT show called “Snowpiercer,” which is led by the talented Graeme Manson. He show-ran “Orphan Black”. My most recent TV writing job was on a show called “Amazing Stories,” which is executive produced by Steven Spielberg. At present I am freelancing, working on a few screenplays, hosting and emceeing events and developing two TV shows.

Mari Swim | Real Estate Developer

Give us your elevator pitch. What do you do?

Work as an intermediary between landlords and local entrepreneurs to cultivate sustainable and engaging communities through creating innovative retail neighborhoods and environments.

What does "work" mean to you?

Work means something different each day. Some days it's a few hours at a computer emailing or making calls, whether that's at home, at an office or occasionally a cafe or other shared space. Other days it's traveling to a new city to check out a cool new project or retail street to discover new retail concepts, brands, restaurants or even a great public space that incorporates the surrounding retail in an innovative way. Most often it means meeting with people right here in Oakland, working to connect local homegrown entrepreneurs and larger brands alike with vacant retail space.

How do you dress for work?

I dress for the day, meaning my dress varies greatly from day to day. Some days are more formal while others are quite casual, depending upon who I am meeting with and what the setting is. There is no "work uniform" in my world.

What makes the outfit you wore in our shoot perfect for the work that you do?

I find that it is much easier to strike up conversation with a shop or restaurant owner when I am dressed in a relaxed and casual way—sometimes I will even bring my dog with me when I explore a new neighborhood and make a fun day of it. At the end of the day, everything in my world is about making a connection with people. If I am meeting with an international developer in an office tower, I'm not going to wear shorts and sandals and if I am spending the day strolling a neighborhood, stopping in each interesting shop to chat with the staff or owner I am not going to wear a blazer and heels.

What did you look for when choosing this career?

I knew I wasn't cut out for a traditional "desk" job where I stared at a computer all day every day, but I didn't necessarily seek this exact career out. Now I love that no two days are the same, I get to travel, explore neighborhoods locally and afar, and work with passionate and creative individuals trying to connect with their communities through their shop or restaurant. It's not a perfect industry—as none are—and I do struggle at times with elements of it that are directly against my personal values. That pushes me to work harder to seek out clients and projects that have a bigger conscience and awareness for their impact on local communities, and to find people to partner with from within the community to ensure that the local creatives and entrepreneurs are not overlooked or pushed out.

Saint Sinner, aka Hannah Cottrell | Recording Artist

What does "work" mean to you?

Work to me means discipline, treating people well (business = people), and making intelligent moves to make money while incorporating your own creative boldness. Letting neither prioritize over the other. I try to put my best into music. If it has to do with music, it's my most fluent language.

How do you dress for work?

I could change 3-4 times a day depending on my mood! I do love practical street fashion—where the pants are rolled up so they don't get wet and one side is a little higher than the other—but only when it's natural and it happened in a moment.

What makes the suit you wore in our shoot perfect for the work that you do?

It’s elegant, clean and timeless, comfortable, barely wrinkled and looked great with my favorite accessories and shoes. I wore it on a big stage [the Grammys]—thank you for that.

What is a typical work day like for you?

I’m working all the time! Listening to new ideas late into the night, on the airplane, placing them in or out of projects. Sometimes I get an idea first thing in the morning. I also set up writing sessions that go on until the song is done.

How do you approach your work?

With intention and fluidity. Which might sound like they clash, but it’s like running a free-form marathon. You have your finish line, and you can turn any way you want to get there.

What did you look for when choosing this career?

That’s a really interesting question, because I don’t remember choosing this career until I was already working on it. I think it became apparent and so I chose to chase it.

How did you reach this point in your career? Take us through your resume.

Faith. Talent. Hard work. In 2013 I released an acoustic album as Hannah Cottrell. I was just writing what I had learned of life in the language of music. I moved back to the states, played some live shows and shifted into studio mode to develop. Here we are. Being with Tycho truly turned a dream into a career. I'm very happy.

Halee Edwards | Social Media Manager

Give us your elevator pitch. What do you do?

I work at a soap company doing social media.

What does "work" mean to you?

For me, work is essential. But, the people I work with are even more important. Wherever I work and whatever I am doing, I want to be happy. I want to be around people that are inspiring and that are encouraging, supportive and truly genuine. I also care a lot about other things outside of work, so having a work-life balance is very important to me as well.

How do you dress for work?

Luckily I work for a company where a dress-code is not enforced. I am able to wear whatever I want and express myself in that way. I am pretty casual and laid back. Most days you will find me in jeans, sneakers with a tee and sweatshirt. Some days I will mix it up and wear a colorful sweater with boots and a nice coat. The weather usually dictates how I feel and what I wear.

What makes the outfit you wore in our shoot perfect for the work that you do?

The outfit I wore in the shoot is perfect for the work that I do because it is comfortable and something that I would wear in real life. I walk to and from work most days so comfy shoes are key. I also need a good, comfortable pair of pants. And layers are everything. Again, walking to and from work up those San Francisco hills can get sweaty, so having a layer on underneath a jacket is beneficial.

What is a typical work day like for you?

My work day starts around 8:30-9 a.m. I usually have an iced matcha in my hand before I start checking emails and doing community management. There might be some meetings to attend or briefs to work on before lunch. I usually eat at my desk, but always try to step out for a quick walk. Then it's back to work until about 5 p.m.

How do you approach your work?

Again, work is important to me and I take it very seriously. I don't like to be late, ever. I don't like to let things sit in my inbox too long. I like to make checklists and cross things off from my checklist ASAP. I appreciate the relationship I have with my boss and anything and everything I can do to learn and grow. I believe I am hard-working, and I truly enjoy being on a collaborative team.

What did you look for when choosing this career?

After working at my first job in social media at a PR agency, I knew I wanted to be somewhere that made me happy. And that meant working with people that made me happy. I wanted to wake up and not dread going to work. When I landed my current job, I felt that and still do a year and a half later. I feel lucky.

How did you reach this point in your career? Take us through your resume.

I tell people that I'm basically a cat and I have 9 lives. My career path isn't a traditional one. I got my degree in teaching and taught for a year. Then moved to England and started baking, blogging and exploring. This is where my life in social media started. I was featured by Instagram as a suggested user and my blog was doing really well. I moved back to San Antonio where I'm originally from and started baking professionally and doing some influencer stuff. When I moved to San Francisco, I decided to use what I had learned in a more professional setting and landed a job at a boutique PR agency. Now, I work at a soap company doing social media.

See it all come to life in our Work Where? campaign for her and him. Then show us how you’re evolving your workwear style on Instagram by tagging @bananarepublic and #ItsBanana.