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This year, early childhood educator Gay Cioffi, 66, is retiring from the preschool she has run for the past 38 years in Washington, D.C. “Kids have become my world,” she says. “My style depends on practicality and being able to move, but I still love dressing up.” Here, Gay shows us five outfits she wore in a week…
Blouse: Theory. Pants: Theory. Shoes: Nisolo. Watch: Swatch. Fedora: similar. Sunglasses: similar.
“There’s no question that spending my life with children — doing art and music, getting on the floor with them, and dancing — has informed my look. For more than 30 years, I’ve worn a uniform of jeans or leggings with tunics or button-downs, and I tend to wear solid colors so I can throw anything together. And I really love OxiClean. There have been so many times when kids have run up to me and gotten paint all over my clothes.”
Dress: Porto, similar. Shoes: Robert Clergerie, similar. Clutch: similar.
“When I was in my twenties, I spent a summer working in New York, and I fell in love with a guy named Mark. When fall came around, we went our separate ways, eventually marrying other people. Decades later, we both found ourselves single again. We became friends on Facebook and the rest is history. Now we’re married. Mark still lives in New York, so we see each other on weekends. Because I’m casual at work, this is my time to wear what I call my ‘weekend clothes.’ When we have friends over for dinner, I will put on jewelry, lipstick and heels — I’m okay with being the most dressed up person at the party.”
“Because my clothing tends to be simple, I like to add fun accessories. I always, always wear bracelets and a watch. Ten years ago, my friend mailed me this soda tab clutch because she thought I would like it. Every time I go out with it, someone will say, ‘Oh, I love your bag,’ and then get closer and realize it’s made of soda tabs! It’s a good conversation starter.”
Dress: Steven Alan, similar. Jeans: Gap. Loafers: M. Gemi. Purse: Cole Haan.
“I bought this yellow bag from Cole Haan and used it so much that I bought the exact same one in black. The bag is expensive, but I’m okay with spending my money on durable pieces I know I’ll use constantly. I like to do my shopping like I do my cooking — you keep all the basic ingredients in your kitchen forever and then you add some gourmet things every once in a while.”
Jacket: Everlane. Blouse: Hope, similar. Pants: Hope. Boots: Nine West, similar.
“Right now I love the stores Porto, Steven Alan and Theory. A lot of my friends shop for pleasure but I don’t. When I find stores that I like, I’ll shop there over and over. I have a closet full of black dresses, and I also love red shoes! They’re a little surprise. Red clothing doesn’t look good with my skin tone, but it doesn’t matter with shoes.”
Jumpsuit: Vince, similar. Shoes: Gentle Souls, similar.
“A couple of years ago, we were having a school dance with all the kids. The theme was School of Rock, where people were supposed to come dressed as rock stars. So, I had this idea that a black jumpsuit and a wig would be perfect. Although the jumpsuit started as a costume, I now wear it to parties, out to dinner and sometimes to meetings. I can dress it up or dress it down — it’s incredibly versatile. With maturity, I grew to understand what complements my body. There are lots of things that are hard about getting older, but that’s one of the good things: you really know yourself.”
Thank you so much, Gay!
P.S. More women share their week of outfits.
(Photos by Kate Headley for Cup of Jo.)
