Fashion Is Power
Last Valentine’s Day, I had the surreal experience of walking the runway at a special event for Runway of Dreams, a nonprofit foundation that supports disability inclusion in the fashion and beauty industries by raising awareness and inspiring change. The show took place at none other than the Victoria’s Secret headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. When I arrived, the team styled me in a chic black-and-white striped jacket that made me look like a hipster NYU professor and I was 100% here for it. They also hooked me up with custom adaptive shoes, complete with hidden Velcro, making them easier for someone with upper-arm strength limitations to slip on.
The evening featured speeches that explored how fashion impacts confidence, self-image, dating, and even just having a great night out. Actor Steve Way gave a powerful talk about his role on Hulu’s Ramy and how style has played a role in his life. The applause was thunderous—and not gonna lie, it brought a tear to my eye. My brother, who came as my guest, might deny it, but I caught him getting a little misty too.
Fashion, in my life, gives me wings—not in the Red Bull sense, but in the metaphorical, "this outfit makes me feel like I can take on the world" kind of way. Lately, I’ve been working remotely from home, spending most of my days in my beloved gray Zara groutfit (yes, gray-on-gray has become a lifestyle). On average, I wear it five out of seven days a week. It’s been a well-earned season of rest after four intense years as an NYU undergrad.
But now? Things are shifting. I recently accepted an internship in healthcare PR and will be moving back to New York City this summer for an in-person role. Naturally, my first order of business—after securing housing—was figuring out my new office wardrobe. I want my outfits to turn heads and fit my lifestyle.
So I started shopping smart. I hit Zara first, where I found joggers that are easy to put on but still look polished when paired with a button-down or a lightweight summer sweater. I went with a green, brown, and gray palette— one of my favorite color combos is almond brown paired with pistachio earth green. It’s subtle, stylish, and totally me.
Next up was J.Crew, where I ordered a knit ocean-blue sweater with a waffle texture (hello, cozy and cool). I also snagged some linen button-downs—perfect for dressing up without sweating through summer commutes.
When it comes to shopping, I’ve also fallen hard for Abercrombie & Fitch’s kids’ line— those pieces hit. But I don’t stop there.At 4 foot 8 inches tall and 80 lbs my small stature means I’ve become a pro at navigating the kids' section across multiple brands, turning it into my own boutique fashion playground. I’ve learned how to scout stylish, well-fitting pieces that bring both flair and function. Recently, I grabbed a pair of dark-wash jeans that’ll look killer with my adaptive honeycomb-green Jordans and that knit sweater I mentioned earlier. For my work-from-home days, I added a dark salmon sweatshirt to the rotation— equal parts fashion and comfort, which is always the goal.
So yeah, the groutfit may still get some love on the weekends, but come summer? I’ll be rolling into the office and the world in full Charley Seckler fashion mode —adaptive, confident, and fresh as hell. Fashion is power. For damn sure.
