I can still picture the exact moment I knew I wanted to work in fashion. I was 15, a wide-eyed sophomore in Los Altos, California, with a restless curiosity and a love for beautiful things. There was a boutique in the downtown strip that always stopped me in my tracks. Its windows were styled with such care—perfectly balanced, always inviting. The signage was sharp, elegant, and clever. But it wasn’t just the store that drew me in. It was the women who emerged from those doors, carrying themselves with a kind of confidence that seemed stitched into the very seams of their outfits.
“I can dress those windows,” I told myself. And one day, I walked in with a resume in hand. Too young to officially work, I promised the owner I’d get a worker’s permit if he’d give me a chance. He paused, looked at me, and then said words I’ll never forget: “Ok, we can use someone to dress the windows.”
That tiny boutique became my first classroom in fashion. It was where I learned the rhythm of retail, the art of presentation, and the subtle dance between entrepreneurship and creativity. Lawrence, my boss, gave me the freedom to experiment, to put my own touch on those displays I had once admired from afar. Looking back, I realize that was the soil where my roots in women’s fashion first took hold.
Discovering Rebecca Taylor
Of course, not every duty was glamorous. I was the youngest, which meant unpacking boxes often fell to me. But truthfully, I adored it. Every new delivery felt like Christmas morning—layers of tissue paper hiding treasures waiting to be revealed.
It was during one of those deliveries that I first met Rebecca Taylor. Her pieces immediately captivated me. Delicate lace trim, gold lamé with a whisper of shimmer, antique velvets, and silhouettes that felt both timeless and romantic—it was fashion that told a story. I studied every piece as though I were preparing for a test, memorizing the details, the textures, the way a garment came alive when you held it.
With my employee discount, I splurged on my very first Rebecca Taylor blouse. At the time, it cost nearly everything I earned in a week, but to me, it was worth every penny. That blouse still hangs in my closet, not just as a keepsake but as a reminder: this was where it all began.
I worked in that boutique until I graduated high school. The job, like so many things at that age, eventually fell behind me. But my love for Rebecca Taylor never did.
Life Comes Full Circle
Life has a curious way of circling back, of reintroducing us to the things that shaped us. Years after those first boxes I unpacked, I found myself face-to-face with Rebecca Taylor once again—this time through the lens of her creative director, Steven Cateron.
Steven has managed to evolve the brand gracefully, keeping its heart intact while allowing it to grow with the women who’ve been loyal to it from the beginning. What struck me most was his artistry—the way he maintains the brand’s romantic spirit while gently weaving in new textures, silhouettes, and tones that feel fresh yet familiar. It’s no easy feat to honor the past while moving toward the future, but Steven does it with an elegance that feels effortless.
It was an honor to preview a few pieces from the Spring 2022 collection and to spend time at the Upper East Side boutique. As I walked past the store windows that day, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. For just a second, it felt like my 15-year-old self was looking back—smiling, proud, and perhaps a little surprised at how far this journey has carried me.
A Conversation with Rebecca Taylor
The team asked me a few questions, and reflecting on them felt like another layer of coming full circle.
How would you describe your style?
There’s always been a romance in the way I dress—flowing silhouettes, nostalgic prints, and timeless combinations that feel both feminine and refined. My muses are women like Jane Birkin, Grace Kelly, and Jackie Kennedy. They embody grace, elegance, and an effortless allure that I always try to echo in my own way.
What was the first thing you felt when you put on your Rebecca Taylor pieces?
Sophisticated. Elegant. It’s that instant transformation—how clothing can shift your energy and remind you of your own strength and femininity.
If you’re staying in the city, how do you escape?
For me, it’s museums. The Frick is a favorite. Getting lost in the brushstrokes of Fragonard or the shadows of Rembrandt feels like stepping into another time. Their work holds so much emotion, beauty, and sensuality—it’s a different kind of romance.
What does Romanticism mean to you?
To me, romanticism is devotion to beauty. It’s nostalgia woven into fabric, exaggerated silhouettes meeting soft palettes, harmony between drama and delicacy. It’s about creating something that lingers in the heart long after the moment has passed.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
From the small boutique in Los Altos to the polished boutiques of New York, my journey with fashion has been rooted in curiosity, romance, and the joy of discovery. That 15-year-old girl with a resume and a dream couldn’t have known where it would all lead, but I like to think she would be proud.
Fashion has a way of shaping not just our wardrobes, but our lives. It carries our stories, our transformations, and our memories. For me, Rebecca Taylor isn’t just a brand—it’s a thread woven through my personal story, a reminder of where I started and how far I’ve come.
And maybe that’s what fashion at its best really is: not just fabric and design, but pieces of our lives, stitched together in ways that remind us of who we are and who we want to be.
