Six Brooklyn Fashion Pros, Six Stylish Takes on Spring Neutrals

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Since founding In God We Trust a decade ago, Shana Tabor and her small team of employees have cemented themselves as a go-to for both cheeky jewelry (sample piece: a heart pendant engraved with the words "bad bitch") and tailored clothing steeped in retro-Americana (high-waisted trousers, swing dresses, and Peter Pan collars are all staples of the line). We stopped by their Greenpoint studio-slash-store to find out what they wear on the job, and—big surprise—it's all equally as easy and cute as the clothing they design (though often thrifted).

Below, we quiz six IGWT staff members—most of them emblematic of the kind of NYC girl who doesn't follow trends and prefers monochromatic palettes to prints—on their personal styles ("apocalyptic cowboy"), first jobs (Dunkin' Donuts!), and favorite Brooklyn vintage stores.

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Alexis Lam, apparel production manager, wears a Twist & Tango jacket, a vintage sweater, H&M pants, Vans sneakers, an ACB bracelet, and Winden earrings.

What's your typical uniform?
Totally just jeans and a t-shirt. I run a lot of errands in the city, so I can't really wear nice stuff all the time.

Are there any brands you're into right now?
I really like Trademark, and obviously Rachel Comey. You can't go wrong with her.

Your closet's on fire! What do you save?
What a horrible question! I'd grab my Hudson Bay coat. It's the classic white wool with the red, green, and yellow stripes.

Is there anyone you'd swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
No way. I like my wardrobe!

What item makes you feel most like yourself?
White shoes—preferably sneakers.

What was your first job?My first job out of college was here, but my first non-fashion job was working at my uncle's Chinese restaurant over by Rockefeller Center.

Where (besides IGWT!) do you normally shop?
I mostly thrift—my favorite spot is Century 21.

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Alexa Maas, graphic design and accessories production manager, wears a vintage Land's End top, a Zara skirt, and Bass loafers.

What's your typical uniform?
Probably black skinny jeans and a boxy top—with or without a mock neck. I feel like I'm always wearing mock necks!

What do you splurge on?
I'd say accessories. I spend a lot of money on shoes and bags and then end up thrifting my apparel.

Your closet's on fire! What do you save?
I have this really pretty vintage dress I got when I studied in Copenhagen that I love, so probably that.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
If I could share wardrobes with everyone I work with, that would be ideal!

Are there any brands you're particularly into right now?
I really love Ilana Kohn's prints, because I studied prints. The work she does is so beautiful. As far as brands we're carrying, I love the Group Partner pots.

What was your first job?
My first job was working at a block printing studio for interiors in Philadelphia.

What's the most important thing you've learned about the fashion industry since working here?
Not burning bridges—especially in the Garment District—and staying on people's good sides.

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Ali Breslin, wholesale, press, social media, and events manager, wears an Apiece Apart top, Carhartt WIP pants, Veda boots, and IGWT jewelry.

What's your typical uniform?
Usually it's pretty monochromatic and minimal—nothing too crazy or fussy, and not any prints. I wear a lot of black, white, or gray, which is kind of boring, but I try to make it a little interesting.

Are there any brands you're really into right now?
I'm obsessed with Nanushka—I just bought two sweaters—and I like Objects Without Meaning, it's very L.A. And Veda, because I love anything leather.

What about trends—anything you're loving-slash-hating at the moment?
I like the whole dad-on-vacation look, I guess they're calling it normcore—socks with sandals, and stuff like that. When it's on a pretty girl it's not weird.

What was your first job?
In high school I worked at a bakery in Maryland. My parents loved it because I always brought home nice bread and cheese.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
My friend Crystal, who's the buyer at Need Supply. She has the best of everything.

Where (besides IGWT!) do you shop in the neighborhood?
I go to Brooklyn Kitchen like, every day, and Homecoming for coffee and plants.

What's the best fashion advice you've ever gotten?
Buy nice classic pieces that will last a long time. Invest in nice things that you know you'll wear.

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Hilary Go, jewelry production manager, wears a thrifted indigo-dyed dress, Ace & Jig pants, and No. 6 clogs.

What do you usually splurge on? What do you cheap out on?
I love Ace & Jig; they're one of my favorite brands right now. I love scoring deals when they have sample sale. I also spend a lot on clogs and one-of-a-kind vintage jewelry. I tend to wear a lot of Uniqlo because it's cheap, and I can wear it in the studio and not think about it.

Are there any fashion rules you shamelessly break?
I mix athletic wear with regular clothes all the time, just for comfort's sake. I always wear my Reebok high tops or Nikes with whatever else I'm wearing.

Where do you draw the line between what's too casual for work?
Honestly, we wear everything and everything here. Anything goes, pretty much. But being a jeweler and being on the bench a lot, you have to be careful about what you wear, because it can catch on fire or get metal all over it.

What jewelry trends are you into?
People are really into delicate stacking rings right now, and I'm all for it. It's a great way to get pure gold rings that are more affordable.

What's the best thing you've ever seen someone get engraved on your "Sweet Nothing" necklaces?
Someone got "kiss me where I pee." Or sometimes people get "poop." We've gotten that like, three times.

Where else do you like to shop?
I love Narnia Vintage, and the flea market that's right off Madison Square Park. I find a lot of awesome vintage jewelry there, and it's actually where I got this dress.

What was your first job?
This is actually my first job. I started here as a metalsmith, and before that I interned for other jewelry designers and then I did a one-year metalsmithing program at FIT.

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Catherine Freeman, operations manager, wears a vintage Lauren by Ralph Lauren top, a Free People sweater, Urban Outfitters pants, and Baker Fiorentini Boots.

How would you describe your personal style?
It's very apocalyptic cowboy. If the world were to end, I would fit in.

Your closet's on fire! What do you save?
I have a camel-hair fur collar coat that was my grandmother's. I never even wear it but it's kind of precious.

What items do you typically splurge on vs. cheap out on?
I spend a lot of money on shoes. I have a really awesome shoe collection, but I don't really wear that many of those, either! I buy classic shoes that will last a long time—Fryes, cowboy boots.

Have you ever bought anything you regretted later?
No. Really. I think really hard about what I'm buying, and it's not very often that I do, so it is usually an expensive shoe. I'll spend about a week thinking about it, and if you're thinking about it that whole entire week, you have to have it.

What item of clothing makes you feel most like yourself?
This belt! It's black and studded and I wear it every day.

What brand are you really into right now?
If I had my choice, I'd wear Helmut Lang 24/7.

Where else do you like to shop?
I live very far away, in Ditmas Park, but there's a lot of great stuff in south Brooklyn. Collyer's Mansion is beautiful. It's a home goods store that has super simple classic pieces. It's so much fun if you have a day off to go in there and see pretty things.

What was your first job?
I worked at the public library in Westport, Connecticut, in the children's department. I really love anything with numbers, and my main job was putting books back in order.

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Shana Tabor, founder, wears a Liz Claiborne Sport jumpsuit.

What item of clothing makes you feel most like yourself?
I actually very recently discovered sweatpants—real sweatpants, not fashion-y ones; the kind with the fleece on the inside. The first time I put them on I was like, ‘Oooh, I totally get this now.' I also just had twins, so the second I get home I rip my clothes off and put on sweatpants and some shirt that doesn't matter if there's breast milk on it and that I can easily get my boobs out of.

Any trends you're into right now (or hate)?The one trend that's happening right now that I absolutely despise are those bras with the straps that show. I was complaining about this the other day and then I watched Broad City and realize Ilana wears one in literally every episode. I hate it! It's too sexy, for no reason. I'm cool if you have some strappy situation going on or if you can kind of see it through your shirt, but to intentionally wear it so that's coming out as a thing, it drives me fucking crazy. I can get pretty prudish with fashion though sometimes. Sideboob: not into it. Not interested in your bum hanging out the bottom of your shorts. I'd like to say that it's because I'm getting older, but if I was 22 I'd be like, no fucking way.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat?
This is super lame, but Kate Moss, just because you know that bitch got a lot of good shit, because she's old and has been around forever.

What was your first job?Technically, my first job was doing grounds keep in my hometown of Concord, New Hampshire. It was like, picking up trash and raking lines into the children's sandbox. We smoked a lot of weed. I was too young to work legally, but if your family was poor enough, they'd allow you to work. My real first job was at Dunkin' Donuts. I wore a taupe stone gray pleated pants with elastic in the back, and a maroon polo with an orange stripe on it—name tag, headset, visor. I also used to shave my head in high school so the visor looked really cool. I was a little punk girl working at Dunkin' Donuts. (Laughs)

Where else do you like to shop?
I recently discovered an outlet mall near my house outside the city, Woodbury Common. But I really do enjoy shopping at Forever 21, I'm not going to lie. I actually bought a Marni skirt at that outlet mall, and I walked in and Alexis was like, ‘Don't tell me you bought that at Forever 21,' and I was like, ‘No, it's Marni,' and she was like, ‘Oh.'