Story of Style: Jen Bispo

Leading, working, & speaking from the heart ⚡️

"Summing myself up in two sentences? Well… I am a very creative, analytical, driven person who is passionate about social justice and helping others. There are really no bounds where I go to be in a position to help others.

My name is Jen Bispo, I live and work in Boston as an Immigration Paralegal as well as an interpreter and translator for the Portuguese language. I am a Brazilian immigrant, I came to America with my family when I was one years old, I take a lot of pride in my roots.

As we speak, I am currently mulling over going to Law School and studying International Law so I can grow further down the path I am on. I spent a semester of college in Washington DC and dove into the studies of human rights at American University. I credit that experience for inspiring me to make a difference and help people through my career.

My uncle has been very influential in my life because growing up he would always take me on trips to get books, encouraging me to read and aim high. He himself has been very successful, so he always saw the potential in me and was the constant push to help me reach my goals.

I am so passionate about learning different cultures and getting an inside view of what they represent and how that drives their community.

This has brought a deep love of traveling within me. My favorite trip has been to Vietnam. It was so unique and their culture is so deep. What really stood out to me was how warm and welcoming the Vietnamese were to us Americans. Both they and I have a shared understanding that citizens don't always agree with their government or it's actions based on previous events. They have such a peace of mind and are so welcoming to all regardless of history.

This piece here with gold embellishments is one of my favorite pieces that I bought while in Vietnam. When I travel, I love purchasing statement pieces that will always be with me and remind me of that journey.

The pink blazer I am wearing as well is from the area of Vietnam where the Silk Road passes through. It serves as a motivational piece to me. When I think of the Vietnamese culture, I think of the struggle and hardships they face living in a developing country, yet how rich they are in tradition. Wearing this piece isn’t just me remembering the travel and trip. It’s me remembering the culture and keeping that close to my heart.

Fashion to me is how you want to project yourself to the world. It is a way to creatively express who you are. I try and dress well out of respect for the places I’m going. I feel best when I am well put together.

My mother taught me that simplicity is always the best. I’ve learned you don’t want to be overshadowed by your attire. I love simple style, but accentuating that with beautiful statement pieces - you can still turn heads without being “statement” from head to toe.

I always dress for the occasion - no matter what it is. I never want to be the “underdress” person in the room, so that helps fuel my confidence because I’ll always feel good in what I am wearing.

I am a big fan of online shopping especially on 6pm.com - discounted designer clothing! I also think outlets are key. I am one to mix designer with cheaper pieces all the time. I'll wear a Primark shirt and jacket with Tommy Hilfiger jeans. It provides more variety to my closet.

My mentality is, if it is going to last me a while, I will invest in nicer pieces from Macy's or Nordstrom. But if it is just for the season, I find more budget-friendly places to shop."

#StoryofStyle with Jen Bispo.

Photography & Interview by Mary Fran Hansen