Please welcome Maureen from Intuitive Style to Big Undies! Maureen is 29 and lives in the Bay Area, working as a User Researcher on a software team. You probably know her best as the brilliant writer behind the Intuitive Style substack and podcast (where I was lucky enough to be a guest!) I love reading about how Maureen is thinking about style, comfort, and wearability and I’m thrilled to welcome her to Big Undies today!
Style Questionnaire posts are free to read thanks to paid subscriptions! Please consider supporting Big Undies by subscribing. And check out past questionnaires with Cody Cook-Parrott, Dacy Gillespie, and Tembe Denton-Hurst.
What are you wearing right now?
Ooh is this a smutty phone call? Fine, I’ll answer honestly….A white crew neck tank top (similar, 4XS-4XL) and navy blue elastic waist poplin pants—I think this combination will be my summer uniform!
What was the last item of clothing you bought?
The last thing I bought for myself was a pair of chocolate brown leather flip flops. I try not to have too many pieces in any category at one time, but I was feeling really bored with only one pair of sandals for the warmer months. The dark leather sleek shoe brings just the right amount of groundedness to my floaty linen pants.
I love your approach to intuitive style and I was wondering how intuitive style is showing up for you these days!
Thank you!! Practicing Intuitive Style is a survival mechanism—carving out time and energy to listen to my own needs and preferences. Otherwise I get super lost in everyone else’s opinions. Last summer, I mentioned to my friend offhandedly that I loved that my color analysis results validated my personal preference for blues, whites, and other cool-tone colors. She responded along the lines of, “it’s interesting how much you seek other people’s validation.” At the time, I thought that fashion was something you either got right or wrong, and I wanted to get it “right”. Writing about personal style has really helped me shift my perspective to viewing style as subjective, not objective. Instead of following other people’s rules, I have an opportunity to listen to and validate my own preferences. So that’s the practice: Finding my personal balance between staying apprised of what others are doing & staying grounded in what works for me. Learning to differentiate between I should try leather flip flops and I want to try leather flip flops.
Where did you get clothes as a kid? Describe a favorite childhood outfit.
I have always loved a crew neck t-shirt, and buying multiples of the same favorite item. I actually wore the same crewneck t-shirt (in different colors) on two school picture days in elementary school. Funny enough, I would totally wear the same shirt today.
You’re one of my favorite de-influencers! I think knowing what you don’t like can be just as important as knowing what you like—and it’s not always easy! Anything you’ve been de-influenced by/on lately?
Aw thank you! I love that. I have been extremely tempted to buy a white cotton maxi skirt (similar, XXS-XXL) because they’re everywhere and in theory are so “my style.” But, I know nine times out of ten I’ll choose pants over a skirt. I tried a few just to get it out of my system, but none actually wowed me. So, they’re not coming home with me!
Tell me about an item of clothing that you wear only to do a specific activity.
I like to think I don’t have too many things I only wear for specific activities because I prioritize versatility in my wardrobe. I suppose I’d say high heels are basically reserved for weddings or special events. In fact, I use accessories—like high heels—to turn my casual dresses and pants into more formal wear.
What did you wear to the last party or special event you attended?
Not technically the most recent but definitely my favorite. I’m not really into traditional suiting—I work from home and own neither dress pants nor a single blazer. But, I do like matching sets. I created my own matching set from a pair of dark wash wide leg denim & a dark wash denim jacket with a snatched waist and poofy sleeves (The jacket is the sold out Milly Jacket from Aligne) I felt FAB at a friend’s birthday party wearing them together with the metallic platform heels I wore to my wedding!
Tell me about an accessory or piece of clothing that you lost or ruined but still think about.
Not exactly your question, but basically the same thing—I’ve written extensively about my experience with being sized out of my own wardrobe repeatedly over the last few years. So, basically, my entire closet between the years 2021-2024. The hardest have been the pieces where I can’t rebuy the item because the brand’s proportions don’t work for me anymore—including my favorite tank tops or barrel leg pants. I’ve put in a lot of time and effort, but have been able to find versions of my old favorites that fit my new proportions comfortably.
Who do you think has good style?
I’ll start with the people whose style I most want to emulate: classic, minimalist, with a little edge: Scandinavian models / founders of Lie Studio, AMALIE and CECILIE MOOSGAARD NIELSEN dress.
Plus, Keturah from Tibi who I had the pleasure of meeting IRL (she is lovely)
Angie Uh from the Found Journal who always looks great and never overdone, and I’m a long-time follower of Helen J of Daily Helen.
If my outfits looked even close to any of theirs, I’m doing great.
Other stylish people I like include Aidy Bryant—I love her red carpet looks.
Issa Rae for Vanity Fair.
And everyone I featured on the Intuitive Style podcast (including you, Corinne!)
Anything else you want to tell us about getting dressed?
I’m extremely sensitive to how my clothing feels on my body. I have to pay a lot of attention to fit, which can be pretty annoying and slow down my process. But, accepting that fit and comfort are important to me has helped me stop buying uncomfortable things—and improve my shopping success rate.
Thank so much for doing the style questionnaire, Maureen! Pleas subscribe to Intuitive Style for more of Maureen’s style and wisdom.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts in the comments!
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Hey that’s me! Thanks again for the feature Corinne. I’ve enjoyed the series so much it’s a delight to be included.
Thanks for introducing us to another fabulous person. I'm going to sign up for her Substack. What a great community you're creating!