Photograph-Illustration: by The Reduce; Photograph: Joe Schildhorn/BFA
Rickie De Sole is a bonafide vogue veteran. She began her profession as an assistant at Vainness Truthful, adopted by three years in PR at Prada. From there, she went to Vogue, the place she remained for twelve years, holding numerous roles in print and digital till lastly changing into Government Style Director of the positioning in 2020. Then, one 12 months in the past, De Sole determined to deliver her skills someplace new: retail. At present she is the Girls’s Designer Style & Editorial Director at Nordstrom. Her position includes working with groups throughout the U.S. and in Seattle, and getting in face time with designers and types within the showrooms and at vogue weeks. One of the crucial thrilling components of the job, she says, helps smaller manufacturers develop and giving them a platform with SPACE, the corporate’s boutique purchasing expertise. When she’s not connecting along with her crew, she’s in conferences and at occasions, or listening to audiobooks and podcasts on her strategy to work. She’s at present revisiting outdated favorites like Joan Didion’s The 12 months of Magical Considering.
As the vacations method, she’s curating reward guides and styling guides along with her crew (whereas grabbing just a few presents herself — it helps when your workplace is above a division retailer.) So how does a Nordstrom skilled store? Her philosophy is to purchase it once you see it, whether or not it’s one thing cute for you or a future reward for somebody you discover unimaginable to buy. Simply don’t neglect you obtain it. One other tip: Meals and snacks make good, simple presents for colleagues. After the vacation rush there’s downtime, which she dedicates to her household. She lives in New York Metropolis along with her husband, three and half 12 months outdated son, and two 12 months outdated daughter. Right here, how she will get it executed.
On her morning routine:
I get up round 6:30 to the sound of my two babies. Mornings are usually very hectic round our family, making an attempt to get everybody out the door. I do a fast electronic mail scan — I’m a kind of individuals who must get up and examine my telephone and see if there’s any disaster. If there’s, I deal with that after which transfer on. I’m very fortunate that my husband units the brew each evening so {that a} cup of espresso is prepared very first thing within the morning. Regardless of my mad rush I all the time carve out time for a fast magnificence routine, however it’s minimal at greatest. My mornings usually are not about me, they’re about my youngsters.
On a typical work day:
If I’m right here within the metropolis and never touring, I drop the children off earlier than heading to the workplace or to market appointments. Nordstrom is a Seattle-based retailer, so mornings are usually quieter on the assembly entrance. I prioritize getting in-person conferences and showroom visits executed then and saving the afternoon to do extra on-the-computer Zoom calls with my colleagues throughout the nation.
I do choose to do conferences in particular person. There’s some magic that occurs once you meet folks in actual life. That trade of concepts is so integral to a task like mine. I work actually carefully with quite a lot of totally different groups at Nordstrom and may usually be the glue between shopping for groups, advertising groups, occasion groups, after which additionally actually liaising with the manufacturers themselves. A lot of my position is about effervescent up what’s taking place in vogue, whether or not it’s new manufacturers or developments that we’re seeing. The factor about working on this position, and in vogue generally, is that no two days are the identical. I feel that’s why all of us thrive. Style is all the time evolving and all the time altering and my day is reflective of that.
On essentially the most annoying a part of her job:
The tempo of the business has picked up a lot. Popping out of the pandemic we’re nonetheless so centered on conferences on the pc that I neglect to think about journey time when coordinating and navigating the limitless market schedule and getting across the metropolis. However that’s additionally what makes my job nice. It’s enjoyable, and also you by no means know what you’re gonna see once you stroll right into a showroom. Manufacturers could shock you or there may be inventive path adjustments and abruptly you’re seeing a model in a brand new mild.
I’m additionally working with colleagues throughout the nation. Through the exhibits is once I really feel it essentially the most, as a result of I’m in Milan and Paris after which I’ve obtained colleagues in Seattle. Style Week all the time sounds enjoyable and glamorous, and it’s, however you may have a full workday and inbox. You come residence from the exhibits and dinners and also you sit down in the course of the evening to make amends for electronic mail whereas Seattle continues to be open. That takes some getting used to.
On the significance of being nimble:
If I ever needed to give a tagline to how I see my position, from my time at Vogue to Prada, and now my position at Nordstrom, it’s “discovering options.” Numerous occasions it’s about reframing. If I’m feeling pushback, I don’t again down simply, and generally I’ve to give you a special method. It’s about rethinking how I’m going to get what I would like to perform executed.
On the vacation purchasing season:
We’re ensuring we’re placing the perfect product in entrance of our clients. Frankly, I’m all about sparkle and shine. I like a present information. I feel that’s my editorial background at play as a result of I did a lot of that at Vogue. Having the ability to curate from Nordstrom’s assortment for the vacations is a giant a part of what I do and what I like in regards to the holidays.
On managing stress:
De-stressing is taking a pause. I attempt to take emotion out of it, take a deep breath, name a pal, then get again to the duty at hand or no matter’s stressing me out. When I’ve free time, wellness tends to be the factor that de-stresses me, like going to acupuncture or getting a therapeutic massage.
On winding down:
Throughout my evenings there are quite a lot of work commitments. Weekends for me are my downtime. I actually attempt to prioritize household time on the weekends. I do all the time have my telephone in my hand, and I feel it drives my husband nuts. Even on trip days I’m accessible as a result of I hate to show it off after which flip it again on and have to select up the place I left off. I get extra anxious when issues accumulate versus taking good care of them within the second.
This interview has been edited and condensed for size and readability.
