Her Style is a bi-weekly article on Southern New Yorker, showcasing one fashionable woman styling a current trend of her choice, accompanied by an interview with her on fashion, beauty, career, and more!

Lucero (Lulu) Gamez is originally from Upstate New York, and moved to NYC to attend The Fashion Institute of Technology. She is the first in her family to graduate college, and now works as a Product Development Coordinator at Dreamwear! Lulu and I met our freshman year of college, and her bubbly personality instantly made me want to be friends! She always has a smile on her face, and a margarita in-hand, but she’s also the friend you can go to for unconditional love and support!

Lulu has a style all her own, that’s just as vibrant as her personality, and mixes her Latina flair with whatever style she chooses to take on that day! Get to know Lulu better in her interview, and see how we both styled the Boiler Suit trend:

How would you describe your style?  

My style seems to go through stages depending on my mood. 

Don’t get me wrong, my friends see things and think, “this is so you”. But I feel like I don’t necessarily have a set style.

Sometimes I want to be edgy and in your face with red pointy booties and a big in your face graphic tee that’s basically a dress (and of course a Fenty red lip).

But sometimes I want to be more sweet and bubbly with a simple mini floral dress and a pair of white sneakers (and some classic Glossier gloss). 

Where do you find inspiration for your style?

Oh wow. I mean everywhere. When I was younger I used to look on Pinterest for inspiration (can you tell i came from a small town with little inspiration). But now I have Instagram, my friends, movies, people I see on the streets of NYC. Honestly, inspiration is all around me.

Do you have a clothing item that's sentimental?

I guess the most sentimental item I have that always makes me smile when I where it is my fathers cardigan. My mom told me he was wearing it when he proposed to her over 25 years ago. Well the second (proper) time he proposed. He originally proposed over the phone after he was promoted from private to specialist in the U.S. Army. He told my mom that he did not want to get married until he was more than just a private in the military. I guess he wanted to be special enough to marry such a special woman. Their stories are always both cheesy and adorable, so this sweater is just a small reminder of their gushy love story. 

What's one thing you're passionate about right now? 

One thing I am very passionate about is enjoying life. I am at this time in my life where I am free from school, living in NYC, have a well paying job etc. I have this sense of fulfillment that I have been working hard to get too and now that it is finally here I want to enjoy every last moment of it with no regrets, a lot of smiles, and delicious food. I’m also very passionate about food. 

FOLLOW LULU ON INSTAGRAM

What's one piece of style advice you wish you knew when you were younger?

DON’T GET STRAIGHT ACROSS BANGS. JUST BECAUSE CHRISTINA AGULERA PULLED THEM OFF IN BURLESQUE DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN. 

What's one thing you're proud you've accomplished, and one thing you want to accomplish?

I am most proud I finished college. I know that’s just the norm now but neither of my parents finished college and no one from the Gamez family had ever done it either. I was the first in the family and making my parents proud is the greatest accomplishment I could hope for. I also have 4 younger siblings and being able to set a good example for them is most important to me. 

One thing I want to accomplish is giving back to my parents. This is an accomplishment that I have been working for since before I left the house. My father immigrated to America when he was 10 and my mothers mother came to America so she could be born here. They both worked in fields to help support their families growing up. And now they own a Mexican restaurant and work 6 days a week from 8am-10pm. They are the hardest working people i know and have given their lives to make sure me and my siblings have everything we need and have more than what they had growing up. If I could help give back to them what they gave to me, all my hard work would be worth it.

I hope you loved seeing how Lulu and I styled the Boiler Suit trend, and learning more about her! If you want Her Style delivered to your inbox, you get get it here!

xoxo,

Audra