Issue 48. A Pacific-Northwest-based administrator on the boots that give 2012 Tumblr vibes, and her favorite outfits
She also happens to be my long-time friend...
Style Stories is a guest series exploring how real people navigate personal style, blending self-expression with practicality, evolving tastes, and the realities of daily life.
Our guest today is Cierra Tollefson-Purdom, a DIY enthusiast, civil-servant, co-creator of YouTube channel Walk Away with Me, and resident of the Pacific Northwest. Cierra also happens to be eloquent, hilarious and a long-time friend! Without further ado:
How would you describe your current style in a few words?
I think I am most consistently going for comfort or practicality mixed with at least one unexpected element - that could be a texture, a silhouette, an uncommon color combo.
I love trying something on a whim and then having the feeling of “yeah, I really like this” throughout the day as I wear it.
Big collars, high waists, and straight- or wide-leg pants have been things I’ve gravitated toward over the last couple of years. Notably, this has coincided with the period of life in which I discovered Gene Kelly musicals. Make of that what you will.
What’s a go-to outfit that makes you feel your best? Can you share a photo example and what you love about it?
My weekend outfit recipe recently has consisted of a ribbed, long-sleeve turtleneck tee under a sweater or sweatshirt, jeans or pants that are more of a relaxed cut, and my beloved peach beanie. I can go on a long walk in this, I can run errands, I can meet a friend for lunch - anyone who has seen me on any given Saturday in the last two months has probably seen me in some version of this outfit! It’s casual, very cozy, and I feel cute every time. I love that the turtleneck tee adds something more visually and also an extra layer of warmth as the weather has been colder. I love that I can switch out the top layer, so it can be a sweater in a fun color (pictured) or an oversized old crewneck sweatshirt.
You have such a playful sense of style—how do you balance self-expression with your work in the government sector? Do those ever conflict?
This is a great question! I will say my office is not a shirt-and-slacks situation, which I am grateful for - the perk of working in an office post-2020. Funny enough, I feel less restricted in what I can wear in my current position than I did when I was a barista - when I was making coffee, I was wishing I could wear something other than black, shoes other than Vans. I wear a lot of sweaters, blouses with interesting textures, patterns, or collars, and I have a few pairs of shoes that are both really comfortable and (I think) stylish. [Editor note - yes, stylish!] I feel like I can be creative in the way I mix those pieces and the result is usually not *too* much. If anything, I just wish I could incorporate more of my graphic tees! I have a couple in rotation that get paired with a nice cardigan or blazer. But the Carly Rae Jepsen metal tee? Probably not.
A lot of us experience a gap between what we want to wear and what we end up wearing. Does that resonate with you at all?
I have certainly felt this before, but not as much recently. I’ve had seasons where I have felt either a want or a want to want to wear more dresses and skirts, similar seasons with shoes like pumps, mules, etc. At this point, I have come to the conclusion - after trying! - that these items are not for me, not right now. I feel like myself in pants, or in shoes that have a small heel or a super chunky sole. So that’s what I wear!
How do you decide what to wear or buy? Or what NOT to buy or wear?
I will really only shop online when I have identified a hole in my wardrobe! If I find myself thinking about, say, a particular color of cardigan across multiple days of getting dressed, I know I would get a lot of wear out of that item if I were to buy it. I don’t enjoy aimless online shopping, especially new, since I find the cost stressful as well as the volume of things. If I do find something I want online, I will ruminate on it for anywhere from a week to several months before buying. To be honest, most of my wardrobe was purchased secondhand - this is partly a money thing, sure. But I have also found that being limited to what’s in my local Value Village1 means more layers of “vetting” clothing - do I like these jeans? Are they different from what I already own? Are they free of stains, tears, pulling? Being that they are used, do I think they’re “worth” 12 bucks? If the answer isn’t “yes” to all of those questions, I’m not buying the jeans.
Is there an item in your wardrobe that you return to again and again? Can you share a photo and tell us what makes it essential?
I have a double-whammy with this photo! My dark brown alpaca sweater from Everlane and my lace-up black ankle boots from BY FAR (got them for a bargain on Poshmark). I’ve had this sweater for over five years and I still feel amazing whenever I put it on. The espresso brown color feels unique for a sweater in a world of gray and black, and I feel it compliments my complexion and hair color. It is lightweight but so, so cozy and the neckline is exactly what I like in a sweater - not tight, but close!
As for the boots, I walk to and from work, so comfort is essential. I can walk several miles in these and be fine, and they work with every pair of pants I own. Boots often leave a lot of space around my ankles, which I do not like, and the fact that these are lace-up (with a zipper on the side!) means these fit snugly, but still comfortably. They’re a little Victorian, a little witchy, a little 2012 Tumblr. Perfect!
If you could give your past self one piece of style advice, what would it be?
Oh boy! My style was pretty zany back in the day. I would smash as many patterns as possible into one outfit. If I am going for one unexpected element now, I was going for all surprise back then. I was met with mild-but-daily resistance from some friends (“what are you wearing??”) and I’m sure people had their comments when I wasn’t there. But I honestly love that I was having fun and listening to my own voice, how I wanted to present myself (shout-out to my parents for not quashing this). So I guess I’d tell myself: keep it up, keep listening to yourself! You know who you are and what makes you feel like yourself. Also, you do not need 25 pairs of pants.
Thank you Cierra!
Such fun answers and great outfits, as always.
To wrap-up: Proof of our friendship and Cierra’s incredible DIY skills!
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I believe that Value Village is part of the thrift enterprise Savers, for those outside of the West coast.
So fun, thank you, Maureen!!!! The Gene Kelly pic is spot on!
How cute is Cierra's style!? I just pinned her flared pant + brown sweater outfit -- it's goals for sure!