For certain fashion enthusiasts, closets are a place where they can express themselves and keep their pieces organized. But as Catherine Aganmayo proves, you don't need to own a downtown penthouse or racks of over-the-top designer duds to look like a million bucks.

The director of marketing for Legacy Settlement Services, Aganmayo recently turned a bedroom in her apartment into a walk-in closet that holds all of her favorite finds. Here's a peek into her closet—which is as dynamic as her personality—and her fashion philosophy, which is all about fun and affordability.

 

 

 

 

 

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Why did you decide to turn one of your rooms into a closet?

"It’s always been a dream of mine to have a closet with dual functionality—a lounge area where I can plan my outfits and actually see all of my clothing. So when I finally had the space to do it, it was high on my priority list. 

"I have a lot of clothes, and I want to be able to see what I have so I’m not buying anything that's too similar to another piece. It also makes getting dressed easier and a lot of fun. My closet is like my own dressing room!"

Who designed your closet?

"Stephanie Domnick of Sorting with Steph. I was referred to Stephanie by a coworker. The process was really great and collaborative. I gave her a tour of the room via FaceTime and told her what my vision was, then gave her freedom to do whatever she thought would look best.

"The week she worked on it, I was at jury duty—I really had no access to my phone, so I couldn’t see the work she had done until I got home for the day. She did an awesome job of bringing our vision to life. She used almost all of the furniture I already had;  she just moved things around, installed hardware and brought in a lot of organizational pieces. 

"Before she turned the room into my closet, the room was my office,  but I had four or five racks of just clothes lined up in here. Stephanie was able to consolidate a lot of them, hanging some in my closet in my bedroom and some in my dressing room closet."

Is fashion important to you?

"Yes! Fashion is so important to me. My first real job was in retail and I loved buying the newest item and seeing upcoming trends and styles. Fashion is one of the first things people notice about you, and I think it’s important to make a great first impression. I love putting outfits together. Fashion can boost your confidence; when I dress up and feel good in what I wear, it makes me happier."

How would you describe your style?

"I feel like it changes often. It’s classic and girly, but modern and trendy at the same time.  I try to stay on trend, but put my own twist on it. I love dressing in neutral colors. I watch a lot of styling videos from social media to see what’s in or coming back in terms of trends. I’m starting to see a lot of the things I wore in high school or college are coming back around, which excites me and scares me at the same time. Flare leggings, I love. Peplum tops, I could do without."

What's your most recent favorite purchase?

"A pantsuit— the first one I've ever purchased."

Where do you like to shop?

"I love to support local boutiques. Every time I visit a new city, I like to find a boutique and buy something that I can’t find at one of the big stores. That said, Zara, Cotton On, Dillards and Nordstrom are a few of my staples. The online stores I usually shop at are Shein, Hello Molly, and Showpo."

Tell us your overall fashion philosophy.

"I think it’s important to know that you don’t have to spend a fortune on clothes to look and feel good. If I see something I love and the price tag is high, I can usually find some variation online at a lower price. Of course, there are things that I will splurge on, like jeans or a handbag, but you can be fashionable at all different price points. I love to find a good deal or dupe!"