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Sukhie Patel is a global security consultant in Seattle. “My industry is very male dominated, and I’ve gone weeks without interacting with another woman at work,” she says. She also does letterpress printmaking, as well as cooking and backpacking, on the side. Here, Sukhie talks about power suits and where to get the world’s best curly hair cut…
Dress: Zuri, from Hello Momo. Coat: JNBY, similar. Shoes: Louise et Cie, similar. Head wrap: Velouria. Earrings: The Salt Empire. Watch: Larsson & Jennings.
“This dress has a print from Kenya. My mom is from Uganda, and my dad is from Kenya. I was born in India, adopted by my parents and then moved to Seattle. So, I was raised among these different cultures. And the older I get, the more I find myself reaching for them and being unabashedly brown. It just feels right and incredibly true to myself. This dress is a massive tent with massive pockets, and even when it’s wrinkled it doesn’t look wrinkled. The coat is by a Chinese brand. It feels like a cape, like you could maybe go to Hogwarts in it.”
“This head wrap helps protect my curly hair. When you’re a kid, your parents and grandparents tell you how to take care of your hair, but you’re like, ugh, I don’t want to do that! But now once a week, I use different oils, like castor oil, which is good for growth. My curly mane is one of my favorite things about myself. For Seattle-ites: Julia at Bang Salon gives the best curly hair cut in the world.”
Shirt: J. Crew (on eBay). Pants: J. Crew (on eBay). Heels: Sam Edelman. Lipstick: NARS Heatwave.
“I love these comfy Sam Edelman heels — I can run for a bus in them. Stretching out your foot with a tennis ball at the end of the day is great, too, since you carry so much tension in your feet.”
“I have really small breasts. I remember in college I was self-conscious and would go to Victoria’s Secret and get padded bras, and it was like wearing a brick on your chest. Now I wear Nippies, silicon covers, under T-shirts and dresses. They’re seamless and reusable and just go over your nipple. They’re also my go-to for travel.”
Blouse: Joie. Jeans: Zebra Club, similar. Belt: Madewell. Watch: Larsson & Jennings.
“Lenny’s is the official dive bar of my twenties. I’ve taken first dates, I’ve gone through major breakups, I’ve had business negotiations. The bartenders have seen me in the whole emotional range! This shirt reminds me of Beyoncé’s dress in her Lemonade video. I feel like I can channel her energy. Vibrant orange is a flattering color for people with darker skin tones.”
Coat: All Saints. Boots: vintage. Ring: Karazi Designs.
“These boots are a prized possession. If I had to grab one thing from a burning building — aside from my cat — it would be these. I have small feet (size 4 1/2), and I’ll find great shoes like this at thrift shops because other people don’t fit into them.”
Suit: Dries Van Noten, similar. Shoes: Marc Fisher, similar. Earrings: Cargo.
“I have a hard time smiling in this suit. This suit is my way of saying I will put you in a blender and drink you as my breakfast protein shake if you dare to f*ck with me. My industry is very male dominated, and sometimes I’ve been the only woman working in the entire company. Carving out a path for other underrepresented folks is important to me. I try to engage as much as possible with local communities — colleges or domestic violence shelters — to ensure that I’m paying it forward. I always think of Toni Morrison’s quote: ‘When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.'”
Flannel shirt: vintage. Corduroy pants: Topshop. Shoes: Trotters.
“My hobbies — printmaking, classical guitar, backpacking and cooking — keep me sane. I volunteer and help teach letterpress at the School of Visual Concepts. I love getting inky and sending wood chips flying. When you have a computer-driven job, it’s gratifying to do something tactile.”
“Around the machines, I need practical attire — my nails have to be short, and I have to wear closed-toed shoes and comfy clothes. These Topshop corduroys feel so good, and they’re dark enough to wipe my hands on. This shirt is vintage. I love that Seattle is super casual — people go to the opera in their flannel shirts!”
Thank you so much, Sukhie. xoxo
P.S. More women share their week of outfits, including a lawyer in Denver and Maine antique dealer.
(Photos by Belathée for Cup of Jo.)
