Emelie sports a short slicked back brown bob and is a self-proclaimed “business clown.” As a student in the College of Business trying to find a balance between self-expression and professionalism, I can relate to clowning the business world. The way she dresses is counter-culture to the setting we share as business students. This is even more so in her case. As an accounting graduate student, industry standards for appearance are very conservative and bland.
Her recent style inspirations come from the late ’70s and early ’80s. She also describes her style as Menocore, a deviation from normcore but with a middle-aged menopausal twist. In her clothes, she wants to feel comfortable and confident in what she wears. Larger silhouettes flared pants, and puffy sleeves are the diction of her narrative style.
While she calls herself a business clown, her style and fashion sense is definitely no joke. Emilie’s style is bold and commands attention in the boring appstate world of Greek event shirts, L.L.bean boots, and Patagonia fleece coats. However, she actually doesn’t like any of the attention she receives for her appearance. In a recent interview, she reveals that her presentation to the world is an intimate, personal, and self-fulfilling process. I think that is inherently beautiful, organic, and refreshing.
She curates her closet from thrifting, Pixie Market, and Depop. Her socially ethical choices resonate through her purchasing habits as well as her appearance. She is a firm believer of voting with her dollar by supporting ethically sourced companies. Ironically enough, she used to sell grills at Lowes Hardware as a vegan. In her own defense: “Mama’s gotta pay those bills.” Emelie’s style teaches us how to be unapologetically ourselves. Her refined and over the top business clown aesthetic is what we need more of in the world.
