Fashion is about styles, patterns, and fun. But is that the full picture? Can fashion be seen as an investment in oneโs personal brand? Or is there an intersection between building personal style and building a business? These questions can be answered by Melissa Pegus.
Melissa Pegus is a Partner at the Future Economy Fund, an investor and strategic advisor who supports companies working in areas like commerce technology, healthcare, workforce development, and emerging industries.
Apart from her business activities, Melissa is also a stylist and fashion enthusiast. She shares her views and insights on style, business, personal life, and everything in between.
The Power of Personal Style in Professional Life
The discussion began with a lighthearted conversation about the role of favorite shoes and their impact on the wearer. โI keep the uniform casual, but the shoes are where I have fun,โ says Melissa Pegus. She also elaborated on how her outfit influences her professional life and career.
โI remember when I first started working, I used to get these gorgeous three-piece skirt suits from the ladiesโ suit section at Macyโs or Ann Taylor.โ Early career fashion was inspired by โ90s working women in movies, evolving into a more personalized and effortless approach.
She also shared how clothing can be used as a way to express oneself while staying professional, especially in a high-stakes environment like an investment fund.
Melissa emphasized how important first impressions are in business. On the other hand, becoming overly stressed about clothing can be counterproductive. โIโm not at a place where I want to stress out about what Iโm going to wear. I have a uniformโsomething that is comfortable but makes me feel confident,โ she says, noting that having a work wardrobe that eliminates decision fatigue can save energy and reduce easily avoidable stress.
Yet despite having a classy, professional uniform style, itโs possible to have fun with fashion by manipulating details and accessories, she adds.
Investing in the Future: The Vision Behind the Future Economy Fund
The talk was also an opportunity to exchange thoughts on the modern economy and its potential directions. According to Melissa Pegus, key areas include commerce technology, healthcare, workforce development, and other emerging technologies.
However, fashion e-commerce still struggles with the fact that clothes and accessories are items customers may want to touch and feel before purchase. โEven the best digital-first brands are trying to recreate that experience of walking into a boutique, where the store owner knows you,โ she says.
The Role of Personal Branding in the Investment World
The podcast also provided a space to discuss how the investment community has strongly held views, including those about fashion. Despite this, many women in investing use personal style as a tool for confidence and visibility.
It was also an opportunity to talk about the power of community in business initiatives. Beyond being a tool of the trade, fashion inevitably becomes part of oneโs story.
โI remember every class Iโve taughtโฆ I distinctly remember the final moment of standing on stage with all the founders,โ Melissa recalls. โA blazer, a pair of slacksโit brings back those memories, and I feel all that joy all over again.โ
The Trends We Love (and Those Weโd Rather Forget)
The conversation also touched on fashion trends, as โGood fashion is forever,โ stated in the podcast. Power suits, statement footwear, and sustainable fashion remain classic choices. On the other side of the spectrum are trends like skinny low-rise jeans or slouchy bags, which can be enemies of organization.
Conclusion
โOutfits can speak a thousand wordsโ could serve as a fitting summary. The full version of this episode is available on YouTube.
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