Create a style that honors who you are.

Welcome to our Style Story conversation with Taylor Joy Riley. We chat about her journey from dressing by the rules to embracing creativity and comfort plus how motherhood and nostalgia shapes the way she gets dressed today. 

Let's dive in!

Name: Taylor Joy Riley
City: Austin, TX

Hi Taylor! For those just discovering you, how would you describe your style in three words?

Colorful, comfortable, and unapologetic.

How did you begin defining your personal style?

If I’m being totally truthful, I think I was born with it. Expressing myself through clothing and accessories has been important to me since I can remember. Lucky for me, I was the same size as my miniature mother when I was in 5th grade.I was sneaking into her closet and wearing a 40 year old woman’s blazers and velour jumpsuits to elementary school. I always begged for photoshoots, and I can still remember my favorite pieces from when I was a kid. I really think my adult years have been a journey to get as close to that young version of me as possible.

Over time, how has your style evolved?

I see this in three major phases of my life. Throughout my teens and twenties, I trapped myself in a lot of rules that didn’t need to be there. My main priority was dressing for the male gaze and looking as thin as I could, which resulted in, well, boring stuff. The first real iteration of my style was when I found thrifting back in 2013 and fell in love with hunting for vintage. The second was a bit more radical, through therapy and educating myself in every way I knew how, I started to untangle the ideas that thinness = goodness. Once that clicked, I was able to really start playing with volume and color. The third was motherhood, that basically just put the nail in the coffin for anything uncomfortable. Now, a huge pillar of my style is how it feels.

What’s your favorite thrifted item? Do you have an item you ended up not thrifting and still regret not grabbing?

Hands down my Lucky Brand 2000s leather / suede patchwork bag. Good lord that thing was an insane find. And thank you for reminding me of the 90s leopard print skirt I decided I didn’t need a few weeks back. Yes, I think about her often. 

What are you currently inspired by?

How much time do you have? 90’s airport fashion, the movie The Birdcage, primary color vintage wooden toys, patterned tights, my friends who are all incredibly stylish, my sister who dives into whatever hobby she’s passionate about with the force of a thousand suns, all the mothers I know, the trees, the strange workings of my own mind….. A lot I guess.

As a fellow Texan, how does Austin influence your style?

Austin, from a practical stance, has helped me lean heavily into accessories because I don’t have all the layers to play with most of the year. What am I supposed to do with a tanktop and shorts?! Better add about one million accessories so people know it's me in there!

Do you have any favorite Austin foodie spots?

I have to shout out my brown sugar miso latte from Desnudo. Best latte in the world. I also love the burger at Lil’ Darlin and literally anything from Este! 

You’re a mother! Any favorite thrifting shops for the kiddos? Or your favorite part for dressing a little you?

I love thrifting everywhere! However, I have to be honest, the Village Discount in Roscoe Village in Chicago will always have my heart for children’s clothes. I just love having really playful prints and crazy colors to play with when shopping for him! It inspires me a lot more than I thought it would.

Walk us through a typical morning. What are your daily rituals before you step out the door?

I am forever lucky to have my husband who wakes up with my toddler and gets coffee ready for me so I can have a few minutes to myself in the morning. I typically wake up and try to get my skincare and hair done- two things that make me feel SO much better. 

I love having my coffee and a good “cunnle” on the couch, as my toddler puts it. We’ve been putting on the radio more in the morning which has the comfiest nostalgic feeling and is a great way to start the day. 

After that, it’s the (sometimes anxiety inducing) task of picking my outfit out with my son weaving between my legs, pulling things out of my drawer, and trying to eat one of my $40 lipsticks. It’s nuts, but I simply can’t put forethought into an outfit. Spontaneity is where the best fits are born!

I was working as a sales manager in tech up until last August and now I make content and stay home with my son full time and as chaotic as it is, I will never take for granted how special it is that we get to spend these mornings together. Plus, he loves going to Desnudo with me for my second coffee of the day.

Where can people connect with you?

You can find me on Instagram and Tiktok @Taylorjoyriley where we are talking about all things thrifting, style, motherhood, and loving yourself!