Former dancer Olivia Villanti didn’t plan for a career in fashion, but it seemed to be inevitable. Influenced (in part) by the journals she kept as a teen and a passion for grunge style (i.e. Converse, ringer tees, baggy pants), she maneuvered from PR girl to Lucky magazine editor to Madewell copy director to, most recently, the co-founder of Waiting for Saturday, the off-duty style destination featuring inspiring women in their downtime. “Looking back, it makes sense that I ended up in this industry. Ultimately, I’m so grateful that things took this route. I feel incredibly fulfilled.” —Jennifer Henderson
Her style story: “I was aware that clothes could make me feel a certain way from a young age. I was a fan of everything from princess dresses (which I wore well beyond an acceptable age) to baseball jerseys (when I decided I wanted to dress like my brother).”
Her success secret: “I think seeing yourself as ultimately responsible for how things turn out forces you to give 110 percent. It makes you proactive, a problem solver, a utilizer of the skills of those around you. You can set yourself up for success if you join forces with people who inspire and challenge you.”
Her site: “On Waiting for Saturday, we share the things that make the women we profile tick, via personal stories and intimate imagery. What are the things they do when no one is watching? What are the things they wear when they’re not dressing up? What was their most recent Netflix binge? We’ve also introduced our shop, featuring things we truly love ourselves. Coco (Benuska, co-founder) and I are both product junkies, so prepping the shop every month feels like a guilty pleasure.”
Her look: “I’m a tomboy and really classic. I wear denim 360 days a year (the other five, I’m probably somewhere it’s simply not permissible). I love a perfect T-shirt and all denim trends: wide legs, flares, cropped flares, raw edges, mom jeans, vintage.”
Her summer must-haves: “There is nothing like a late afternoon glass of rosé when things are dusky. I always find myself nostalgic in the summer and I tend to listen to favorites from my high-school days: Mary J. Blige, INXS, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen. I also spend a lot of time on the North Fork of Long Island—my husband and I are fixing up a house there, and it’s my favorite place in the world.”
Her life lesson: “Having my son, Lalo, has given me some much-needed perspective. It’s made me more efficient, better at multi-tasking, and forced me to learn to prioritize. It’s also taught me not to take myself so seriously.”
Her social circle: “My daily hits are Garance Doré, Joanna Goddard’s A Cup of Jo, , and Ulla Johnson’s gorgeous account. does an excellent job at filling my feed with images I want to see, as does .”
Her advice: “My dad is a great advice-giver and he’s always encouraged me to take risks, in life. My mom has always encouraged me to take risks with my style. I can’t say I’m the biggest risk taker in either, but I do think their encouragement has given me the confidence to fail.”
Her future: “I’ve entered the world of working for myself, so I’m excited and motivated to see where that leads me and Waiting for Saturday. And I’m still trying to get the hang of this mom thing, but Lalo’s infectious smile gives me hope that I’m doing an okay job so far.”