Story of Style: Cailin Flannery

The Drive to be Different ⚡️

Meet Cailin Flannery, a 23 year old designer for the brand Nic and Zoe, Orange Theory Fitness guru, avid reader, proud momma of two fur babies and a cheerful, free spirit. All in which makes her classically Cailin.

"I'll always be a New Jersey girl at heart, but life brought me up to Boston for college and soon after, I started my career as a fashion designer here in this city.

Growing up, I knew I didn’t have the mind for a monotone career. I have always been drawn to inspiring atmospheres and opportunities that push me to break through boundaries. From a young age, the fashion industry captivated me and I had a feeling a career within it would take me to those goals.

Going into my second year as a full-time designer, I see how the job is a lot more than the traditional idea of sketching all day. I am constantly researching, trend forecasting, color concepting, and finding inspiration for fabrics. It keeps the creativity flowing and I'm constantly learning about the evolution of the industry.

My passion for design comes straight from my grandmother, Mimi. She was the most glamorous person I’ve ever met. She would always come over for dinner with a full face of makeup and lots of jewelry. She would tell me about my grandfather who was the president of Coty Cosmetics and how her world was intertwined with all fabulous fashion things through that. I would just sit and listen to her as a little girl and be mesmerized thinking, 'Wow, I want to do THAT.'

When it comes to style, everyone always asks, 'What are the rules I should be following?'

Well, the rules are arbitrary. Make the rules yourself. That’s what fashion is all about. It is meant to be self-expressive and unique.

For myself, I don’t have an easily defined style. I wear what makes me happy and mix many different looks together. My biggest style tip is to find pieces that work with layering so you have more of a capsule wardrobe. My closet is an assortment of many things that becomes this hodge-podge of what makes me, me.

Learning about sustainability within the fashion industry has changed the way I shop as I’ve gotten older. It’s pushed me to do my research on brands that are using sustainable fibers and fabrics. I know shopping sustainably can be very pricey, but if it keeps trending in the way it is now, there’s hope that eventually it will be very accessible.

If I could tell my younger self anything, I’d tell her not to worry about what others think of what you are doing. Don’t be afraid to fail, and if you do, great. Mistakes are needed for growth. It’ll be worth it to not go the safe route. Be different from the rest, and put yourself out there, you can only gain from it."

Photography & Story of Style by: Mary Fran Hansen