Maggie, you mentioned you grew up in the Richmond area but spent many years in New York. Since moving back, what are some of the biggest changes you’ve noticed in the city? And what have you enjoyed most about returning to your hometown?

Growing up in Midlothian, my idea of Richmond was pretty limited: the National, River Rock, the occasional fan house party. So coming back to what the city has actually become felt almost unrecognizable, which is the best possible thing to say about a place. The food, the art, the culture; Richmond has quietly built something genuinely special, and I mean that without a single ounce of hometown bias. It reads like a miniature Brooklyn in the best way.

But the real story is the people. Richmond has this almost inexplicable ability to attract and hold onto real creative talent. People who came from somewhere else and chose to stay, people who never left and built something worth staying for. Getting to actually know this community has been the unexpected gift of coming home.

Your audience connects deeply with your perspective on consumerism, chaos, and culture. How does Na Nin fit into that world of taste, intentionality, and the way you engage with what you bring into your life?

I think I try to live as authentically as I can and this really translates into the pieces of clothing and products I’m buying. It also extends to the people I surround myself with, the activities I do, and where I put my energy. It’s all intentional. I try to make choices that are grounded in my personal values while also being able to look ahead at what could be next and set out to make those goals happen, and I hope that translates to what people see from me on socials.

Your personal style feels both effortless, yet extremely chic and classy. If someone were completely new to Na Nin, what are three pieces you’d tell them to start with, and what makes those items quintessentially Na Nin? 

Wow - thank you! That’s exactly what I aim for every morning when I’m rushing out the door. I wish it was more purposeful but as a time optimist, I’m always throwing on what feels easiest and best and running out the door. One of the best lessons I’ve learned over the past ten years is how to dress for my body type. It makes all the difference. I always look for pieces that are versatile, well-fitting, and can be worn from day to night easily. Also, anything sheer — give it to me. Something about a sheer piece makes me feel feminine and confident. So, the first piece I’d recommend is the Elliot Silk Sheer Dress. It’s the perfect piece to take from a day at the pool to a night out with friends. I’d layer it on top of the Wyonna One-Piece swim (white) for the daytime and then put it over a pair of boy-shorts and a bralette for the night. One of my favorite new pieces is the Georgina Halter, specifically in the red color. The perfect pop of color for all seasons and the cut of the top is flattering while still being sexy. 

You’re experiencing so many different chapters of life all at once! With grad school, wedding planning, and everything in between. How are you navigating this season, and what practices has helped you stay grounded throughout it all?

I’ve definitely been living in survival mode for the majority of the last year, to be so honest. Going back to school after a long-term, stable corporate career is one of those decisions you make quickly and then spend a while getting comfortable with. Chaos has been the operating system. But the thing nobody tells you about chaos is that it can also be kind of fun, and it has been, mostly.

What's actually saved me is learning, for the first time in my adult life, to slow down. I am a go-go-go until I physically can’t anymore be that kind of person, and this season has had a way of making that strategy very obviously unsustainable. So: movement, sleep, and deliberate slowness. My actual lifeline has been staying present: heated movement (shoutout The Hot Yoga Barre), long walks, coffee with people I love, time with family, The Cutting Room Floor podcast, and a phone "Brick" that physically removes me from the scroll. Presence as practice. It's not always pretty, but it's working.

It can get pretty hot here in Richmond during the summer! Do you have any plans to escape the heat and travel somewhere? If so, what are your three essentials (can be Na Nin or an independent brand) from our online shop that are without a doubt making it into your suitcase?

As luck would have it, I'm actually in Miami this weekend visiting my best friend, so I can confirm these are not hypothetically in my bag; they are currently in my bag. My summer is shaping up to be a full embrace of the in-between: no school, some fun freelance work and partnership opportunities, and a lot of intentional time with people who matter.

First: the Le Bon Shoppe Girlfriend Socks, non-negotiable for the airplane or a long morning coffee walk with sneakers. They're the kind of thing that makes an outfit feel considered without trying. Second: the Na Nin French Twill Cargo Pant, which at this point has become basically a character on my TikTok in its own right. One of my favorite pants I own, full stop. And third: the Ametta Skin Brightening Collagen Face Masks, plural, always plural. Travel skin is a different beast and these are the interventions.