Hawkeye Hotels’ Raj Patel. PHOTO GABE HAVEL
By Katharine Carlon
katharine@corridorbusiness.com
Photography by Gabe Havel
Everyone knows Mark Twain’s famous line that “Clothes make a man,” but few are familiar with his follow-up, “Naked people have little or no influence on society.”
Perhaps taking that to heart, Corridor influencers are making a statement and showing the world who they are with attire that’s both stylish and an extension of their personalities.
Whether it’s the Bollywood-inspired touches favored by Hawkeye Hotels’ Raj Patel, the sustainable thrift-store chic of the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce’s Allison Yoder, or the “comfort first, then fabulous” ethic of the Overture Group’s Brandi Mueller, the professionals featured on the following pages are known for put-together looks that not only showcase their impeccable taste, but also reflect their worldview.
“I think if my wardrobe is built around self-expression and what makes me joyful, rather than trends, it’ll last longer and offer more versatility over time,” said writer, performance poet and storyteller Akwi Nji, executive director of The Hook, who describes her look as classic “infused with a touch of whimsy.”
“The fashion industry has roughly 52 micro-seasons per year, designed to make you feel ‘out of style’ after just one week,” said Ms. Yoder, who has adapted her own personal style to fit her values and opt out of a consumption-driven culture. “Thrift shopping makes me so happy because I can keep my love of style while not contributing to the waste stream.”
Even self-proclaimed traditionalists like Shuttleworth & Ingersoll Chairman Gary Streit, who says he has not changed his buttoned-down professional look since college, believes the secret to looking good is feeling good: “Just be yourself and be comfortable with what you are wearing.”
Read on for more tips, advice and wardrobe dos and don’ts from five of the Corridor’s most dapper dressers.
Raj Patel
Chief Development Officer, Hawkeye Hotels
Describe your personal style.
Pretty simplistic. Very casual. Less is more.
Who or what inspires you fashion-wise?
Indian fashion and clothing. I like looking at the fashion trends in India and Bollywood as well as streetwear and urbanwear here in America. My style is usually very comfortable and casual.
Do you have a signature accessory or piece?
Shoes, belts and glasses.
What’s your No. 1 piece of fashion advice?
Whatever feels best for you is what is going to look best. [Style] should be as much interior as exterior, so if you feel good, that’s what you should wear.
What brands or stores do you frequent?
I go anywhere and everywhere. I travel quite a bit and when I travel, I love to go to interesting clothing boutiques, especially internationally – in Canada and in India – and in larger American cities. It’s fun to see what they’re offering. I wear Levi’s skinny jeans about 50 percent of the time and a lot of Vans and Converse shoes, so nothing too elegant or intricate with those main pieces, but then I mix it up with things from all over.
Akwi Nji
Writer, Performance Poet & Storyteller
2016 Iowa Arts Council Artist Fellow
Describe your personal style.
I aim for a classic look infused with a touch of whimsy and I try to remind myself that there’s no reason to overthink things. Sometimes the “grab ‘n’ go” approach to avoid overthinking has led to some fun discoveries.
Who or what inspires you fashion-wise?
I channel the energy of a few of my local girlfriends every once in a while. Some have a sense for traditional business attire that’s classic with a flair and others are wildly brave in an artistic sense. I live somewhere in the middle with a nod to the timeless mixed with pops of color, pattern or texture.
Do you have a signature accessory or piece?
I’m unapologetic about how often I wear my denim jacket. It’s my go-to office jacket because it goes with nearly everything. Plus, I can’t bring myself to take things too seriously, so I sometimes use it to add a bit of urban texture to an otherwise sleek look.
What is your No. 1 piece of fashion advice?
Wear what’s going to make you happy – not comfortable, but happy. Sometimes wearing something that amuses me just a little bit for its unpredictability is all I need to walk out the door in the morning in a great mood. I bought a dress earlier this summer that was tucked in the back of a clearance rack. I was looking for something dressy but also a little quirky and the fabric pattern caught my attention. I tried it on and it was a fantastic cut. The absurdity of it – a dress with sassy architecture and in a pattern that reminds me of a vintage pizza parlor table cloth – makes me smile every time I put it on. I’ve gotten so many compliments on that dress!
What brands or stores do you frequent?
Locally, I rely on J.Crew and Banana Republic for professional staples and then fill in the wardrobe with accent pieces from a variety of boutiques.
Brandi Mueller
Managing Director, The Overture Group
Describe your personal style.
Classic, comfortable and shoes always fit.
Do you have a signature accessory or piece?
I love my denim shirts. You can dress it up with pearls and a skirt, or throw it on with a pair of white jeans and you are set.
What’s your No. 1 piece of fashion advice?
When you find something you love that makes you feel amazing, buy it.
Is being well-dressed about following trends, or more an expression of who you are?
Being comfortable is what matters most to me. Whether I am going to work, a night out with friends or going to an event, it’s comfort first, then fabulous.
What brands or stores do you frequent?
I am at a point in my life where I know what brands work for me. Locally, I love Mode – Anthropologie makes me happy, too. Tommy Bahama dresses are classic and a go-to for me.
Gary Streit
Chairman, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll PLC
Describe your personal style.
Generally, my goal is to present a professional image that tends toward the traditional side. What I really try to do is adapt to the situation and dress accordingly.
Who or what inspires you fashion-wise?
What I like to wear is probably consistent with what I wore in college – button-down shirts, cuffed trousers with pleated fronts. That was the dress for the upper classmen who I lived with. Over the years, these styles were consistent with how many of my work and professional colleagues dressed.
Do you have a signature accessory or clothing item?
I really like good-looking neck ties, as antiquated as that may seem. It is what I think of as the best part of what I am wearing on a particular day.
What is your No. 1 piece of fashion advice?
Just to be yourself and be comfortable with what you are wearing.
Is being well-dressed about following trends, or more an expression of who you are?
It is really the latter. Those who have seen me at the lumber yard or the hardware store on the weekend when I am in the middle of a project can readily attest that I am not a slave to fashion.
Allison Yoder
Director of Special Events and Leadership Programs, Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce
Describe your personal style.
Understated thrift-chic.
Who or what inspires you fashion-wise?
Lauren Singer, an environmental activist, entrepreneur and blogger. She has a stunning wardrobe and a fabulous style that is entirely sustainably sourced.
Do you have a signature accessory or piece?
Shoes. A killer pair of shoes makes every outfit.
What is your No. 1 piece of fashion advice?
Have a color palette for your wardrobe. This makes outfit coordination simple, as all pieces become mix-and-matchable. I swoon when I see a closet full of neutrals! With a curated color palette, you can add interest to an outfit by using pattern, structure and texture. A monochrome outfit with the perfect cut and interesting textures is always a win.
Tailoring is a budget-friendly way to make your clothes feel more couture. Fit is everything.
Is being well-dressed about following trends, or more an expression of who you are?
Perhaps a bit of both. I watch trends for ideas and to see what cuts are in style, but I don’t pay too much attention to them. The fashion industry has roughly 52 micro-seasons per year, designed to make you feel “out of style” after just one week. I felt guilty for following trends, knowing that fast fashion and our consumptive culture are decimating our planet and harming other humans. Thrift shopping makes me so happy, because I can keep my love of style, while not contributing to the waste stream.
What brands or stores do you frequent?
Revival in Downtown Iowa City is my favorite place to shop. I also love the Savvy Boutique and the Second Act. I love that I can find high-end, beautifully made, one-of-a-kind items for a fraction of the cost and support local businesses, all while shopping sustainably.
