Welcome to Working It, where Racked follows street style into the office. Forget pedestrian khakis and button-downs—these fashionable professionals take dress codes to a whole new dimension. Quick, somebody call HR!
Photos by Driely S. for Racked
This week's Working It takes us to the offices of The Fader. The music, style, and culture magazine, which launched in 1999 and is celebrating its fifteenth year in the biz, was co-founded by the founders of Cornerstone, a creative agency that they share an office space with inside New York City's Free Mason building. Since then, they've covered every act worth knowing in every genre worth listening to. They were also first to write about Kanye West, and gave Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Outkast, and The Strokes their first U.S. magazine covers.
After the jump, see photos of what seven of the staffers wear to work, interspersed with nuggets of music industry wisdom—including which bands they'd kill to see, their strangest celebrity interactions, and what's currently playing on repeat at their desks.
Mobolaji Dawodu, Style Editor-at-Large, is wearing a Burberry shirt, a Levi's jacket and jeans, Moscot glasses, and Allen Edmonds shoes.
What do you typically wear to work?
Usually a pair of Levi's or sweatpants and a button-down shirt and hat.
Does your office have a dress code?
We have no dress code. Crossing the line would be having the thought that you might have crossed the line!
Who, dead or alive, do you want to see perform?
Miles Davis.
What was your first concert?
Janet Jackson's Janet tour.
When did music first become really important to you?
I don't remember a life without music being important.
What was your first job?
Salad bar attendant at Shoney's Restaurant.
Elizabeth Raiss, Style Assistant, is wearing A.P.C. jeans, a Helmut Lang top, a Tess Giberson jacket, Tommy Hilfiger socks, Zara booties, and an Hermès watch. Her rings are from Sorellina and a "gumball machine uptown."
What was your first concert?
Five friends and I rented a white limousine to see the Spice Girls. I kept a glow stick from the concert in the freezer for six months afterwards because one of my friends told me that would make it glow forever.
What music do you listen to while you work?
I listen to a lot of dancehall to get through afternoon slumps, and Hank Mobley's Soul Station or Arthur Russell when I need to zero in and focus.
Who, dead or alive, do you want to see perform?
I would have loved to see Ali Farka Touré. I got to see his son, Vieux, last year and that was really magical. Francis and the Lights, Blink 182 circa Take Off Your Pants and Jacket.
What do you typically wear to work?
It really switches up, but most frequently some variation on all white. I have a lot of white clothing. Too much.
Who are your professional role models?
Joan Didion, Studs Terkel, Agnès Varda.
When did music first become really important to you?
After I downloaded Limewire.
What musician's style do you admire the most?
Young Morrissey.
What bands are relationship deal-breakers for you?
That's a really funny question, but I don't know. I feel like I'll know it instantly once it actually happens.
Deidre Dyer, Style Editor, is wearing a Theory dress, Nike sneakers, a Time's Arrow x Kate Foley bag, Erica Weiner necklace, Macha Jewelry ring, and earrings from Bing Bang, Etsy, and Adorned.
What do you typically wear to work?
I usually wear a mix of vintage Levi's jeans, old R&B concert T-shirts, black pencil skirts, Nike Air Max sneakers, low-key dresses, crisp white button-downs, ankle boots, and a solid rotation of Hanes tees.
Does your office have a dress code?
There's absolutely no dress code. I wear denim cut-offs in the summer, so I really don't know what would be considered crossing the line.
Do you think your taste in music influences how you dress?
Regardless of what I'm listening to at the moment, my style always flip-flops from lazy tomboy steez to feminine minimalism.
What music do you listen to while you work?
Alice Coltrane, FKA Twigs, Ravi Shankar.
Who, dead or alive, do you want to see perform?
Diana Ross, Central Park, 1983.
What was your first concert?
Alicia Keys and Maxwell at Hammerstein Ballroom.
What musician's style do you admire the most?
Rihanna! Her style embodies IDGAF to a T.
Who's your professional role model?
Oprah.
Duncan Cooper, Senior Editor, is wearing a Burberry jacket, Maison Kitsuné shirt, A.P.C. pants, Timberland shoes, Moscot glasses, Swatch watch, a vintage belt, and Uniqlo socks.
What do you typically wear to work?
For ten months a year, I'm pretty steady in dress shirts tucked into pants, but in the two hottest months of summer, I'm in bathing suits and old shirts with paint stains.
Do you think your taste in music influences how you dress?
Not music per se, but working at The Fader has definitely influenced it—more so because of trying to dress as well as my coworkers.
What music do you listen to while you work?
My go-to is an album called Pacific Bridge, from my favorite while-I'm-working record label, Nature Bliss. It's an instrumental record made with just two traditional African and Japanese instruments, and it makes me feel like I'm writing in a cave behind a waterfall.
Who, dead or alive, do you want to see perform?
I'll be upset when I'm old if I never see Gucci Mane, and I'm scared that it won't happen.
What was your first concert?
The HFStival in 2002, I think. Eminem caused a stampede that was national news. My mom took me.
What musician's style do you admire the most?
Christopher Owens.
What bands are relationship deal-breakers for you?
If someone earnestly likes something, I'll never have a problem with it. I feel like people with strong negative opinions or being closed-minded is more of a deal-breaker.
Rebecca Silverstein, PR Director, is wearing a Dolly Parton T-shirt, a Madewell flannel and jeans, boots from Target, and rings from Urban Outfitters and Erica Weiner. She's also wearing jewelry from her grandmother and mother, plus a bracelet from Bali.
What do you typically wear to work?
You'll always find me in black jeans, some form of stripes, or a denim top. I usually have a good amount of accessories, and if I have a meeting, I'll throw on lipstick and heels and call it a day.
What music do you listen to while you work?
I'm seriously all over the place. Whenever we have new bands on the cover and I'm writing press releases for them, I'll always listen to those artists to get in the zone. Otherwise it ranges from Philip Glass to Jeremih to Beyoncé to Fleetwood Mac to SWV.
What was your first concert?
The Rembrandts, who opened for Sheryl Crow. Dream team right there. This was when Friends was on and everyone flipped out for that one clapping song.
Who, dead or alive, do you want to see perform?
Other than Fleetwood Mac, who I'm still trying to get tickets to see, it's Nina Simone.
When did music first become really important to you?
I grew up echoing my parents taste in music, which is still relevant today. It ranged from Genesis to The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and the Rolling Stones. I then proceeded to go through a questionable period of music taste. It wasn't until college in Austin, where I took a history of rock music class and learned so much about its roots, that I was able to really define my taste and develop an appreciation for it.
What's been your weirdest celeb interaction?
Lou Reed was the person that I grew up wanting to meet. One year he was the keynote speaker for SXSW, and our team produced a tribute show for him at our flagship event, The Fader Fort. We had some great bands performing all of his songs, and he showed up to perform "Walk On The Wild Side" with Moby at the end. This was my first year working here, I was totally clueless. I remember being on the side of the stage, standing between Moby and Lou Reed with the biggest look of "WTF IS HAPPENING" on my face. They hopped on stage, performed the song, and I cried. I have no shame for that moment.
What bands are relationship deal-breakers for you?
I used to take it personally if a guy didn't also have the same appreciation for Peter Gabriel as I did, but I've learned to cut down on my list of standards a bit.
What was your first job?
I was a babysitter at karate studio in Houston. They fired me when I didn't know how to work the vacuum cleaner.
Robyn Baskin, Marketing Director, is wearing a Cameo shirt, J Brand jeans, Givenchy shoes, a Cornelia Webb necklace, Bijules rings, Target earrings, and a cuff and watch that were her grandmother's.
What do you typically wear to work?
Black pants or Levi's and Converse if I don't have meetings. Also lots of layers—our AC is super cold, so I always have a scarf!
What would be crossing the line when it comes to office dressing?
I hate see-through shirts and visible bras. Save those for the weekend.
What music do you listen to while you work?
I'm on the phone most of the day, so I don't get time to listen to a lot of music at work. I get my fix when I'm watching video edits from our events and content programs. On my commute, I listen to artists we're currently covering, The Fader playlist on Spotify, or artists we're booking for events.
Who, dead or alive, do you want to see perform?
Biggie. Right now though, I'm really sad I didn't get to see Joan Rivers live.
What was your first concert?
The Backstreet Boys.
When did music become really important to you?
My dad and grandma were always playing music around the house, and I took voice and dance lessons when I was younger, but I really got into listening to music in high school when I started going to shows. In college I knew I wanted to work in events, but then I met a tour manager who made me realize I could have a real career in the music industry. From there I pursued combining my passions.
What musician's style do you admire the most?
Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power. She was the face of Chanel for a minute a few years ago, and I thought the campaign was really beautiful.
What's been your weirdest celeb interaction?
P. Diddy and Bradford Cox of Deerhunter meeting backstage at The Fader Fort. I took a picture of them on Bradford's phone so he could send it to his mom.
What was your first job?
Wet Seal. I went to the mall right after I turned 16 to get a job at my favorite store so I could get a discount on clothes. Don't judge me, it was the '90s and Wet Seal/Contempo Casual was cool in New Jersey.
Jon Cohen, Co-Founder of The Fader and Co-CEO of Cornerstone, is wearing a J.Crew shirt and belt, a Mason's jacket, Citizens of Humanity pants, Corgi socks, and Converse sneakers.
What music do you listen to while you work?
I listen to Sirius XMU, BBC 6 Music, and a ton of new music via Spotify, HypeMachine, iTunes, and of course TheFader.com.
What was your first concert?
The Kinks at Nassau Coliseum. I was nine years old, my dad took me. It was incredible.
When did music first become really important to you?
Music has been important to me since I was a little kid. I was lucky to have parents who loved music. My dad always took us to shows and mom always took us record shopping.
What musician's style do you admire the most?
I'm always inspired by London: David Bowie, Jarvis Cocker, Damon Albarn.
What was your first job?
Stock boy, Trees. Cedarhurst, New York.
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