Real Life Real Style features everyday women who inspire others through their dedication to work, family and community—and do it all in style. Meet Grace, an art director, mother, wife, and triathlete.

her life

A mother to a spunky and adorable six-year-old girl, Grace starts her day early to get Keegan up and ready for school. She packs her daughter’s lunch, picks her outfit, styles her hair and gets her dressed while husband Tim makes her breakfast.

“As cute as she is,” Grace says of Keegan, “I believe she turns into a monster in her sleep, because she’s a monster when you try to wake her up.”

Once Keegan is off to the bus stop, Grace gets herself ready for work at the Stage Stores corporate office where she is an art director in the advertising department.

She was nominated for Real Life Real Style by her friend and coworker Krista, who says of Grace, “With a very demanding job that requires a commitment to long hours and elevated standards, Grace and her team have continued to impress me with their ability to raise the bar and create beautiful work.”

In her nomination, Krista also noted Grace’s positivity, good vibes and infectious laugh, which can instantly calm any tension among her team members when they’re on deadline. Grace spends each day creating compelling advertising campaigns, leading a team of designers and copywriters, and planning photo shoots, like the one she was on when we interviewed her in Portland.

In her spare time, Grace is an avid marathon runner and triathlete. During one race, she was introduced to an organization that raises funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and was inspired to run for the cause. She has helped raise over $7,000 for the organization thus far and continues to do so through marathon sponsorship contributions.

Grace also completed a half Ironman last year and during her last triathlon, she swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles and ran 13.1 miles.

As Krista said in her nomination, “For any woman, I believe maintaining family and a demanding career is a feat to be acknowledged, but when I learned that Grace also has a strong commitment to her physical health by participating in triathlons I was blown away. The mental strength and determination it takes to train for a competition like that is so special and a rare quality to find in any individual.”

So how does Grace manage it all? “I’m able to balance my work life and being a mom and wife because I have such a supportive husband, to be honest.” When Grace is away at a photo shoot or working late, Tim covers for her at home. “He is not only a super dad,” she says, “but he’s also the most understanding husband. He’s my best friend.”

her style

Grace describes her style as sporty, comfortable, stylish and flirty. “I think my style says that I’m an easygoing person, I’m comfortable in my own skin and I don’t have to be made up all the time. And I like sports! Because I’m always in athletic clothes.”

You’ll most often see Grace in an easygoing outfit that effortlessly combines fashion forward with sporty chic. She loves to pair ripped jeans with a tank, statement necklace, and wedges or heels. Her current obsessions are culottes, colored denim, and taupe footwear.

“Taupe boots, taupe wedges, taupe sandals…if it’s taupe, I’ll probably buy it,” she says with her signature laugh. “I think taupe goes with anything.”

She also admits to having a shoe addiction. “It’s a problem,” she says. “If I like something, I’ll buy it in every color.” And her addiction seems to have rubbed off on her daughter. “Keegan is a little bit of a fashionista,” Grace says. “She loves tiny heels and she loves sparkles. She’s just so cute.”

Working in the fashion industry, Grace knows how important style can be. “It’s the first thing people notice about you,” she says. “That is the first impression you make on somebody. Also, you want to be approachable.”

We’ll be posting more stories of Real Life mothers, daughters,
wives, sisters, friends, customers, and co-workers—so check back often!