Starting a Work Wardrobe: Olympian Maya DiRado Gears Up for Her First Office Job

March 10, 2017 | Filed in: Woman of the Week

It’s not every day we get to dress an Olympic gold (and silver, and bronze) medalist. But earlier this year, swimmer Maya DiRado reached out with a particularly thrilling request. Having won four medals in Rio this past summer, she is hanging up her goggles to start her next career—as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company. Maya’s ask: Could we help build her work wardrobe?

After we briefly fainted, it took us about a nanosecond to say yes. Not only is Maya one of the most accomplished athletes of her generation (if you haven’t seen her triumphant 200-meter backstroke swim, do yourself a favor and spend the next two minutes and 5.99 seconds watching it here); she’s also a brilliant scholar with a degree in management science and engineering from Stanford. In other words, she’s the ultimate “ampersand woman.”

You can read our full conversation (and find out why she’s the Most Even-keeled Woman in the World) here. But below, it’s all about the Bento Box. See what Maya received in hers, and learn why she dresses for her Myers-Briggs type.

Maya wears the Keene top in black and the Greenpoint skirt in black.

I’M AN INTJ on Myers-Briggs, and when I read about how INTJ types tend to dress, I thought, “Oh, yes. I totally identify with that.” My style is really basic, and built around what’s useful and makes sense. I’m not trendy or frilly. My closet is full of blues, grays, blacks, and neutrals. I gravitate towards simple silhouettes that are comfortable and flattering. Nothing super crazy.

Maya wears the Keene top in black and the Greenpoint skirt in black.

AS A SWIMMER, my shoulders have always been the toughest part of me to dress. You know that weird trend right now of cut-out shoulders? Absolutely not. I can’t do off-the-shoulder. I have a long torso, so anything too boxy or short is tough. I like long sheaths that are a bit form-fitting. It took me a while to learn that fit is super important.

Maya wears the Etsuko dress in deep indigo.

WHEN I START MY JOB at McKinsey, I want to look classy and professional, but also my age. I don’t want to look too formal or too mature. I’ll definitely need travel-friendly garb. Most weeks, we’ll fly in Monday morning and go straight to the client’s office, so I’ll have to be ready to go straight from the plane. I was talking to one of my colleagues who recently started, and she’s already presenting in meetings with the CEO of the company she’s working at. That’s intimidating, but if you’re in the habit of dressing well every day, then you don’t have to worry too much about it. I’ll probably err on the formal side. It also sounds like consultants go to a lot of client dinners after work, so being able to throw on jewelry to dress up an outfit is important.

Maya’s Bento Box.

MY CLOSET is pretty minimalist. Once I find things that fit and look good, then I’ll just wear them a lot, rather than buy a lot of trendy stuff. The Etsuko is the perfect work dress: no-nonsense, flattering, comfortable, makes you look like a boss. I also love the Deneuve top and the Keene top.

MY GOAL for my work wardrobe is to look good, and not distract from what I’m trying to say. I think your outfit should enhance your voice, not overpower it.