Steal Her Style: Refinery 29's Alyssa Coscarelli - The Talent Fairy powered by Ed2010

By Shelby Toompas

Alyssa Coscarelli is the girl you see at Starbucks at 8 a.m. Monday morning looking super stylish, and you wonder, “Where does she work? And will she be my personal shopper?”

A photo posted by alyssa coscarelli (@alyssainthecity) on Feb 1, 2016 at 6:34am PST

Like picking her outfit today, Alyssa says that landing her job at Refinery29 came out of thin air. But her killer wardrobe and writing savvy make it clear that Alyssa works hard to be the popular fashion writer she is.

Ed: Have you always been interested in fashion?

AC: I really didn’t know I wanted to be a fashion writer until the opportunity arose and someone asked me if I was interested in applying for it. It’s funny that I didn’t know sooner because I always loved fashion and writing. I loved dressing myself and shopping from a super young age. I even went to a college specifically for the business of fashion, called LIM.

Before Refinery29, I was interning at different companies in the city, from BCBG to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Then, I landed an internship at R29, which turned into a job a year later. A few months after that, I landed the fashion writing job.

Ed: Why is fashion so important to you?

AC: Fashion is a sign of the times, a way to express yourself, an art form, a hobby, a passion. It’s so many things. And it will never, ever go away.

Ed: Do you keep a lot of extra pieces at your desk for last-minute plans?

AC: My desk has slowly accumulated a mini-wardrobe. I probably have three pairs of shoes at my desk at any given time. One time, a friend invited me to a last-minute workout and I had enough stuff under my desk to scrounge together an entire exercise look without going home.

People come to my desk when they need something to wear on a first date later that night. It’s kind of a problem, but in the best way.

A photo posted by alyssa coscarelli (@alyssainthecity) on Jan 31, 2016 at 12:11pm PST

Ed: How exactly would you transform your professional look into a fun, casual outfit for happy hour with friends?

AC: If I’m changing, I’ll swap the shoes, touch up my makeup, and dry shampoo. Then, you can take the essentials out of your larger bag and stick them in something smaller and more nighttime. If you work somewhere super professional, it’s still all about changing the accessories or the outerwear rather than the core pieces. It’s quicker and easier to change the styling rather than the whole look.

Ed: What is your favorite one-stop shop for a day and night look?

AC: Zara and Aritzia are my go-to’s for one-stop shopping for office-appropriate pieces to “going-out” clothes.

Ed: Do you have any tips on being a smart shopper?

AC: Don’t try to carry too much. It just makes shopping miserable. Ask a sales associate start a dressing room for you or just take multiple trips to the fitting room as not to overwhelm yourself.

If you can’t picture yourself wearing something three different ways, using what you already have, don’t buy it. Don’t be afraid to ask for an item in your size if it’s not on the floor.

Ed: Is there a way to style your wardrobe so that if you wake up late, you can leave the house feeling confident in your #ootd?

AC: It’s all about how you style it and how you carry yourself. I used to be such an outfit planner, always planning head to toe the night before. But these days, I find that if you have a solid wardrobe of strong pieces you love, you can’t go wrong, even when you throw something together in a pinch.

Make sure your closet is 100 percent made up of things you truly love and will wear any given day. That way, you can reach into your closet blindfolded and still pull out something you feel good in.

Ed: What is the one item everyone should have in their closet?

AC: When you find the perfect pair of jeans, never let them go. Mine are a high-waisted, slightly wide leg pair from Topshop They have great denim for petite girls. Everyone should have a pair they feel amazing in—and you really don’t have to spend a lot of money to find that. Some of my favorite pairs are $30 vintage Levi’s.

Ed: Is there a trend you’re seeing for 2016?

AC: Anorak jackets like this one were huge on the runways last season, and they’re definitely popping up in stores now. I think they’ll really catch on.