Beyond Boston Chic

It’s style profile time again!  We have Rebecca Pacheco aka Om Gal joining us this time around. I looove Rebecca. She is one cool girl all around.  And since we’ve been running into each for several years at events around the city, I thought it would be fun to take some photos of her as she goes about town.

You know the drill with Style Profiles! Yuppers, it’s the Proust Questionnaire.  Very recently, I used this questionnaire to interrogate a friend’s new boyfriend.  He survived the interrogation, though when it comes to this questionnaire, there is no wrong answer.

Enjoy! And if you haven’t already visited Rebecca’s blog, please do so.  She even has a cool video on detox tips (for those of us who overindulged over Thanksgiving) that you should check out.

Name: Rebecca Pacheco

Occupation:

Yoga Teacher, Writer, Creator, OmGal.com

Where did you grow up?

Cape Cod, MA.

What inspires your sense of style?

My mood.  I love changing my style based on how I’m feeling and what I need to accomplish in a given day.  If it’s a day of writing and meetings, I’ll dress with a sharper, more academic vibe.  If I’m teaching or working on a creative project or collaboration, like a photo shoot, I’m more bohemian.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Doing what I love.  Surrounded by people whom I love.  Preferably with a beach nearby.

Favorite article of clothing or go to outfit?

I gravitate toward dresses—usually billowy and bright, often accompanied by a belt, tights, and a great, boyish sweater or jacket for contrast.  Dresses are also great for concealing workout gear underneath.  I have an affinity for bangle bracelets, so I’m usually wearing a collection of them.

Could you share the name of your tailor?

My late, beloved grandmother was my tailor.  I promise I’ll share when I find a new one.

Favorite shopping hunts?

For everyday: Anthropologie, H & M, J. Crew, Urban Outfitters

For my workouts: lululemon (I’m an ambassador), South End Athletic Company

For a splurge: Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Max Azria

Dream career/job/assignment?

Creating my own media company that produces fun, modern, wellness-related content in print, online, and for TV—basically, what I’m doing now but amplified.

Most overly used word?

Actually . . .

Anything that you avoid wearing?

For years, I avoided wearing the color red, but I’m slowly coming back.  I still loathe maroon.  Blecht.

Favorite quote?

Be a lamp, a lifeboat, or a ladder. -Rumi

Favorite book?

East of Eden by John Steinbeck.  Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson (technically, it’s an essay).  Wherever You Go There You Are by local author Jon Kabat-Zinn.  Each time I pick it up, I remember to exhale.

Favorite book store?

Trident on Newbury Street (have a fresh juice while you’re there).  Brookline Booksmith (the sales tables are amazing).  The Strand in NYC (I just stand in the aisles and swoon).

Which living person do you most admire?

His Holiness the 14^th Dalai Lama.  Nelson Mandela.

Beauty secrets?

Feel good in your own skin; that’s the best beauty secret out there.  Exercise, green vegetables, and not drinking too much alcohol go a long way, too.

What do you love about living in Boston?

Where do I begin?  I love its attitude, athletics, intelligence, and integrity.  For me, Boston has substance.  Recently, we’ve gotten some snarky “awards” for being unstylish and unfriendly.  I attribute these to one thing: haters.

Favorite restaurant in BOS?

Coppa.  Myers + Chang.  Life Alive.

Pet peeves?

People who begrudge the happiness or success of others.  Pettiness.  Bigotry.  Smoking.

The quality you most admire in a man?

Authenticity.

The quality you most admire in a woman?

Generosity of spirit.

If one word could describe you, what would it be?

Deliberate.

What defines success for you?

Having the resources to bring your ideas to life, and feeling proud of the results. 

Perfect day in Boston?

I’d ride my bike to meditate at the Cambridge Insight Meditation Center early in the morning then do yoga on my roof (my perfect day will need to have ideal weather for this).  There’d be some combination of lingering in a favorite coffee shop with a steaming pot of black tea, reading and writing for a while, a run along the Charles River at sunset, and dinner in the South End with my favorite people.  If I could eek in a sporting event or performance of the Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, that would be beyond perfect.
The credits:

Photo 1: Dress – H&M, Boots – J. Crew
Photo 2: Shirt – H&M, Sweater – Vince, Shorts – Cooperative, Tights –  Urban Outfitters, Boots – J Crew
Photo 3: Skirt – Rebecca chose the fabric for the skirt and had it made in India in college.  Sweater – Cynthia Rowley; Jacket –  The North Face
Photo 4: Dress – Joie, Jacket – BDG, Sunglasses – Ray Ban wayfarers.

The weather has been so warm.  It’s all perfect for style-hunting because I get to catch people not swaddled in coats and multiple sweaters.  I ran into Natalie last weekend as we moseyed around the South End.  We went to Patch NYC and to the lovely, lovely jewelery store M Flynn Accessories before heading off to Everett to have truly delicious Haitian food at my cousin’s.   What a day well spent!

As a heads up, the South End is having a shop local, dine local night on December 14th.  Check out their site for more info.

Hullo Everyone!  Hope those of you who are stateside had a very happy Thanksgiving. I think I’m still trying to recover from all the eating. We have a fridge full of yummy leftovers.

Now back to street-styling.  Remember a post I did a while back called Holey Shirt? Well, Honey and I were on our way to the MFA when we ran into Rachel, the young woman in the Holey Shirt.  I’m loving the earth tones of her outfit.  For the pants in particular, I don’t know if it was just me, but they were everywhere this weekend. Have you noticed them?  Do you own a pair?

Off to the office for me!  Check ya, later.

I was heading to the post-office this Saturday when I ran into this gentleman.  Doesn’t everyone wear a three-piece suit on Saturdays! I was wearing corduroys, a button down shirt and a trench coat.  I felt very under-dressed that day.  Man! I should have brought my A game to the post-office…..Next time.

Sometimes even from the back, some people are recognizable.  Can you guess that it’s Logan?

Hope you have a wonderful weekend planned.  We’re going to start getting ready for Thanksgiving.  This year I have two pies to make.  I’m a big believer in homemade pie dough.  Thank goodness we got a food processor as a wedding gift. It’ll make the whole pie making process go by a whole lot faster. Happy weekend!