STYLE NOTES ON: OFELIA RODRÍGUEZ LEMIALE

A Mexican American in Paris with a wardrobe I wouldn't mind sharing - Ofelia from All The Above has quickly become a style crush.

I discovered Ofelia through her Substack All The Above and instantly fell in love with her effortless yet chic way of dressing and her beautiful and raw photography.

Ofelia has recently moved to Paris so I love to follow her content on here and on Instagram even more. I was beyond excited when she said yes to answering a few Style Notes questions.

Here is our conversation on how Paris has changed Ofelia’s style, on how her wardrobe embodies her intentional way of living and how she finds hobbies incredibly chic.

*all pictures by Ofelia Rodríguez Lemiale
*To read this article in full length, please go to the Substack app or website.

Hi Ofelia, thank you so much for joining me! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Thank you for having me, Anika! I’m excited to be part of your series.

Hi y’all! I’m Ofelia. I recently moved to Paris with my husband and 5 suitcases. Previously, I lived in Austin, TX for about 10 years. I made my way there via Chicago but I’m originally from Washington state. Career wise, I spent about 8 years working in various software engineering roles at tech startups before deciding to pursue a creative career.

I never thought I was someone who was creative growing up. It wasn’t until I started actively exercising my creative “muscle” that I realized anyone can be creative if they’re given the space and time to explore their interests. I feel like a whole new chapter of my life has started. I’m no longer afraid to pursue my creative goals and see where they take me!

How would you describe your personal style? How would you describe your wardrobe in general?

This one is tough and it’s one I’ve been asking myself a lot more recently. I’d describe myself as minimal forward and casual with slight twists that elevate my outfits when the mood strikes. I’m often thinking about how I can swap elements in my outfits to make something slightly more polished. For example, I think a pointy flat or boot can go a long way and it’s often one element I reach for when my outfit feels too simple. I also love playing with accessories to add an elevated flare. Maybe I’ll throw in a pair of sculptural earrings to dress up a sweater and jeans look.

You’ll find a lot of button downs in my wardrobe – they feel like an extension of myself. In the winter, I am almost exclusively found in a good pair of denim, a sweater and with a scarf wrapped around me. As someone who moved from a city that was hot 8 months out of the year, I have a lot of gaps for Parisian weather. Currently I only have one winter coat so I had to find ways to make it feel new again. Summer weather though? I shine with lots of linen and cotton pieces and light and airy dresses. I’m curious to see if my wardrobe and style shifts this year!

In what way has Paris shaped the way you dress?

I’m more willing to go the extra step. I never feel overdressed and even if I am, I never feel out of place. Paris has fueled my desire to get as dressed up as I want without questioning it, which is something I struggled with in Austin where it was very casual but also very hot the majority of the year.

Layering has also become essential for me here. I have yet to nail down the exact formula because two days with almost identical temperatures can feel very different depending on the sun, cloud coverage, wind, etc.

Which of your personal traits do you think are reflected in your wardrobe, which aren't?

I’m very intentional with a lot of areas of my life and I think that is definitely embodied in my wardrobe. I do a lot of reflection and perusing when I’m considering something new to add to my wardrobe. When something catches my eye, I meticulously consider my options and give myself time to breathe and contemplate to make sure I want it.

Something that doesn’t get reflected in my wardrobe as much is my playfulness. Once I get to know someone really well, I’m a silly person who loves a good laugh. If I had to categorize where the silly in me could come out more, I think of color, variety in clothing, silhouettes, etc. Typically though, I go for structured, minimalistic and neutral tones.

Which one is your favorite piece in your wardrobe? Which are your favorite brands in general?

My favorite piece is tough but it’s a toss up between my MOTHER Snacks! ankle jeans and my 501 vintage Levis. My vintage 501s were the first item I ever thrifted and they fit like a glove. I wish every single pair of long inseam denim I had fit like this and I wish Levis had never stopped producing jeans like this. Alternatively, I also really love my MOTHER ankle jeans. They have a great lived-in look to them without stretching too much and I’ve yet to find something that doesn’t pair well with them. As someone who struggles with jeans due to my waist to hip ratio, these two pairs of jeans have been absolutely stellar.

Buck Mason and Gillian Stevens are two brands that I absolutely adore. Buck Mason makes beautiful daily wear items (tanks, tshirts, button downs, pants, etc). You can also find some great elevated pieces! Their stores are intentionally curated and stunning. They are also designed by Leanne Ford, who happens to be married to Buck Mason’s CEO, Erik Allen Ford. I currently can’t stop wearing this trench that I consider to be perfect and this button down I wish I owned more of. I can’t wait to rewear my tanks and knit dresses again this summer. Fun fact – this dress was the first form-fitting dress that made me feel beautiful.

Gillian Stevens makes beautiful heirloom quality pieces. I wish I could buy everything she makes. The first item I purchased was a scarf and after receiving it I wore it non-stop. Last summer, I purchased a gingham dress that I wore all summer. It is the perfect weight and drapes beautifully. I also love how she takes you through some BTS of how she designs her collections, has a huge emphasis on quality and produces for longevity. All of her pieces are ones that I can see fitting seamlessly into anyone's closet who is looking for classic everyday pieces that feel timeless while still having a modern twist. She has hinted at a collection with embroidery this summer that I’m very excited about!

At this point in my life, I’m looking to buy fewer but better quality items. Both of these brands place a huge emphasis on quality and craft.

What things do you find incredibly stylish that have nothing to do with fashion?

Hobbies! When someone excitedly tells me about something they love, it makes me smile and gets me excited to continue diving into mine.
We are so over-stimulated by our phones that when someone tells me intricate details about things they love, it makes me want to try whatever they’re telling me about.

Another thing I find chic is complimenting strangers! I’ve gotten more brave to tell people when I love something about their outfit or even pausing for a small interaction. There are so many beautiful moments happening around us and stopping to appreciate something or someone just makes daily life sweeter.

Can you name one or more pieces of clothing that have been crucial for your style evolution - like a piece that has really made a difference in how you dress or how you feel?

My first Wandler purse! It was the first item I truly splurged on 3 years ago. Even though I was buying it 40% off, it still felt like a massive splurge.

It was one of the first times I truly thought about buying items that I genuinely loved and not just because they were on sale (this one just so happened to still be on sale!). I grew up in a household with a “it was on sale, so I bought it” mentality and it took a good chunk of my 20s to move away from quantity and deals to quality and longevity. I pushed myself to look at the product composition, manufacturing process, brand message and more before blindly purchasing like I used to. That frame of mind has deeply shaped how I consume and shop for items today.

It was also the first structured purse I bought that propelled me towards a wardrobe that could alternate between casual and polished with more small, intentional outfit elements.

PS – I wasn’t always able to focus on quality. I talk more about that in this article I wrote about mindful consumption in case you’d like to read more.

What's your favorite occasion to dress for?

I love a good dilly dally, so anything that involves perusing around town – especially now that I live in Paris. I particularly love elevating outfits for casual situations. For example, I wore this outfit to the movies last summer with my husband. It wasn’t necessary and to some probably too much, but something about just going the extra mile when I don’t have to makes me giddy.

Do you shop online or in person? Do you like shopping in general?

I do a bit of both! I typically like to peruse online first to consider various options. Once I’ve nailed down an option or two, I pop on over to the store if it’s accessible. When I don’t have easy access to the store, I revert to buying online first. I generally peruse online a lot even when I’m not in the market for something because I love discovering new brands and it often ends up on my noteworthy list!

Do you plan your outfits or are you an intuitive dresser?

Currently, I am more of an intuitive dresser. In high school and college I would pick my outfit and lay it out for the next morning but not anymore. In a city like Paris, I’m finding out that I need to stick my hand out the window every morning and observe the trees for movement to see how I’m layering that day. Two similar temperature days can feel very different here.

What has been your favorite fashion moment in your life so far?

My wedding anniversary is coming up, so I’ve been reminiscing a lot on our wedding so it's hard not to mention my wedding dress, veils and floral headband. I adore embroidery and my wedding dress was full of it with leaf applique details all over it. I also wore two veils – one that matched my wedding gown and a mantilla veil my mom had made for me. I ended up wearing both on the day of the wedding and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. For the reception I switched into a silky, drapey dress and adorned my hair with a floral headband made with dried white hydrangeas.

PS – We also coincidentally got married on earth day, so the leaf elements in my dress were a serendipitous touch!

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Thank you, Ofelia, for answering my questions in such depth and detail!