Amie Gossett

What makes your style unique? How would you describe your style?

“My style would be comfort style. I love being comfortable because I never know what I’m going to be doing from day to day in my job, my life, whenever. I like to express myself through different colors, textures [and] layers. I can look “dressed up” but you better believe I will be comfortable at the same time. I always find the hidden comfort in looking nice. I also have tons of masks in different colors to match my outfits.”

How has virtual school changed your style? 

“Now that I am teaching virtually, comfort is still key. I find myself wearing leggings more often and spicing my outfit up with my makeup instead. Lip color so my students can see my mouth better when demonstrating proper placement of the mouth for speaking differently as a character, or my eyeshadow being more dynamic. I also have a running joke with one of my [teaching assistants], that if you see my hair in a topknot you know that it is the second day of my hair being washed, because I’m trying to train it to go longer between washes.”

How do you think your style impacts the way people perceive you on Zoom? 

“I always try to be collected. I always try to make sure that I look put together and bright eyed and peaceful in my presentation of myself, that way I can present a sense of normalcy maybe to my students, I feel like if I look a mess, or look tired, then I’m not giving [students] the hope that things can be better.”

How does your style match your personality?

“I’m a pretty easy-going, laid-back kind of person. I think that my style reflects that. But, I also have a flashy side to me, and that’s where my make up comes into play and the colors that I wear and the patterns that I may wear.”

How does your outfit affect the way you act? 

“I don’t think that my outfit affects the way I act; I’m pretty true to myself all the time. I am a ‘nose to the ground get things done type of person’ regardless of what I’m wearing. I could be wearing heels, and a dress, and I’m still going to help load a full car full of bricks if I need to, same thing I would do if I was wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I am who I am regardless of what I’m wearing.”

What fashion advice would you give your peers?

“Dress how you want to dress. Things are so much different now than when I was a student. Teachers wore pant suits and dress pants.  To me, [that] seemed unapproachable, seemed better than, or higher than me as the student. As a teacher I want to be approachable. I want the students to relate to me. I want them to see beyond what I’m wearing, and see me as the teacher that is there for them no matter what.”

Why is it important to express yourself through your clothes?

“I think that people need to express themselves when they want to, and how they want to. It doesn’t matter what you wear, you are you through and through always and forever, and people need to start to believe that for themselves.”