Author: Kate Vitela

I woke up in a sunlit room at the Hotel Hendricks in midtown and starred at the skyline. I had my quintessential I love NY coffee mug in hand. It was Monday, February 14th, and Valentine’s Day was the farthest from my mind. It was the long-awaited day of the Break Free 2022 NYFW showcase. My friend and designer Alexandra Nyman @iamladycat had fitted me immediately when I landed in the city. I was looking forward to my first time walking a major runway. While packing my “model kit” (nude heels, iced coffee, and a ton of snacks) I…

Wait, what’s your name? I said while I was scrambling to open my computer. “It’s Jenn, but fashionistas call me Firty. It stands for fifty is the new thirty!” F*ck, yes, I thought. I cannot wait to learn more about this woman. And being the die-hard fashionista that I am, I will refer to her as Firty. Meet sober model, entrepreneur, and fashion influencer Jenn Ancelin. She is the creative fixture behind the brand and logo Firty @firtyfashion. With over a hundred thousand followers on Instagram, she has made a big splash on the fashion forefront. The Firty trademark combines…

We live in a time when “mental health” is a pandemic buzz phrase. So, it’s no shock that people are coming out of the woodwork to participate in Break Free NYFW. A fashion showcase dedicated to mental health and addiction recovery. Regardless, I have remained adamant that I interview people with true stories and real-life experiences. No offense to the bandwagon fans (#mentalhealthmatters), but I continue to seek out those with witness authority. Fortunately, I crossed paths with photographer Rob MacNeil @robmacneilphoto who has a personal and professional commitment to this work. MacNeil will be photographing the event, and he…

“I gotta run; I’m late for my treatment team meeting,” I said to my husband. Gulping down the last bit of cold brew, I shoved some dry cheerios in my mouth. I was wearing pleather pants and a Ramones logo tee with a pair of scuffed-up Doc Martins. My outfit was topped off with a distressed denim jacket and my signature array of eight-hundred gold bracelets. I was off to save the world, lip gloss in tow. Allow me to introduce my authentic sober self… If you are wondering what professional setting in corporate America allows me to roll up…

“Mija….you smell like beer,” my mother-in-law said reluctantly as I climbed in the back of the SUV. “You may want to go back inside and brush your teeth.” It was 2015, and my husband drove us to my mother’s annual Christmas Tea. I was hungover as usual and dressed in a tacky Santa ensemble that I threw on last minute. I ran back into the house to gargle mouthwash and spray on more perfume. I looked at myself in the mirror; I was disheveled, bloated, and fighting back nausea. I plastered on a smile and forced myself out the door.…

Last week I came home to find a couple of deliveries that my husband had plopped on the kitchen counter side by side. One was a shipment of Teetotaler Wines from Boisson in NYC @boisson.nyc, and the other was my December issue of Vogue magazine. Sarah Jessica Parker graces the cover in a gauzy pink Dolce and Gabbana Alta Moda gown with metallic floral embroidery and Dior bracelets. She looks every bit the part of our beloved Carrie Bradshaw from SATC. The caption reads, “And Just like that SJP is….Back!” “And just like that the gals on SATC trend Teetotaler”…

Something divinely auspicious happened to me this fall. I was digging through my closet and planning for the onset of colder temperatures when I realized it was time to “let go and let God”. I made a giant pile of nice clothes, clothes I wore and loved, and put them in the Goodwill pile. And then I happily donated them. I am talking about real wool sweaters, vests I have worn a hundred times, jackets in shades of olive green, and even a faux Burberry print shawl I’d been holding onto for years. I realized that this November my favorite…

I am an animal in October. And I am referring to more than just dressing up like Big Foot and gorging on Halloween candy… (although I do that too.) Let’s face it… animal print looks amazing in the backdrop of early fall. It’s the kitsch neutral. It’s the cat’s pajamas. The bee’s knees. The dog’s tuxedo. You get the picture. I love all things animal print. And there is no better time of year to rock this seemingly haphazard, caramelized mixture of brown, black, camel, and rust. I don’t discriminate on animal print, leopard, cheetah, tortoise, or snakeskin, …. bring…

In the letter to the editor, fashion icon and editor in chief Anna Wintour of Vogue magazine opens the September 2021 issue with an almost obligatory mea culpa “American designers are at the forefront of the conversation around diversity, inclusivity, gender fluidity, and body positivity.” It’s about damn time.  

What the hell was I getting ready for? I look back at the foggy image of myself in my 20s “getting ready for a night out”. I imagine the song lyrics were “It’s Britney Bitch” roaring in the background while up next on the playlist was Rihanna or Fergie or even a little trance with Tiesto. Don’t judge. This was the early 2000s and spray tans and sparkly jeans were a thing. There was always a sprinkle of glitter, a dash of desperation, a layer of bronzer, and the act of soaking my entire outfit in the saccharine smell of…