Mints, Matching Bags, and Motherhood

An ode to my mom’s style, grit, and why I never leave home without a sweater

If you’ve ever seen me walk into a room with matching shoes and a bag, or catch me layering a blazer just to grab groceries, know this: I come by it honestly.

My mom—Colleen Cole—is the most elegant, graceful, and loving woman I know. Growing up, she never left the house without being fully put together. Not for a dinner. Not for a doctor’s appointment. Not even for a grocery run. Her perfume was always the same. Her bag always matched her shoes. And if you ever needed a mint? She has Altoids. Lipgloss? She has liner, lipstick and gloss. Every single time.

She never gave us long lectures about style, but she didn’t have to. She modeled what it meant to treat everyday life like it mattered. Flying on a plane? You dress for it—it’s a privilege. Going to the doctor? You show up with care, because someone is showing up for you. Style wasn’t about status in our house; it was about respect. About showing up with grace and intention, even for the small things. For yourself and for those around you.