{"id":85308,"date":"2024-10-01T21:33:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T21:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/01\/a-week-of-outfits-maura-cheeks\/"},"modified":"2024-10-01T21:33:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01T21:33:47","slug":"a-week-of-outfits-maura-cheeks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/01\/a-week-of-outfits-maura-cheeks\/","title":{"rendered":"A Week of Outfits: Maura Cheeks"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"Maura<\/div>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

Have you ever dreamed of opening a bookstore one day? For novelist Maura Cheeks<\/a>, that day was June 23rd when she opened Liz\u2019s Book Bar<\/a> in Carroll Gardens. (It\u2019s also a caf\u00e9 and wine bar!) Here, she talks about her work outfits, favorite novels, and $60 wedding band\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

Shirt: Liz\u2019s Book Bar<\/a>. Shorts: Everlane<\/a>, similar<\/a>. Hoops: similar<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSince my bookstore is called Liz\u2019s Book Bar<\/a>, people assume I\u2019m Liz, but she was actually my maternal grandmother. When I was growing up in Philadelphia, we went to bookstores together, and she\u2019d hand me these thick books I probably shouldn\u2019t have been reading. She made me believe that writing was something I could do. Naming the store after her felt like the right way to honor her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

Jumpsuit: Everlane, on resale sites<\/a>. Tote: Liz\u2019s Book Bar<\/a>. Shoes: \u201cSenderos clogs from DNA footwear,\u201d similar<\/a>. Hoops: similar<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m often in the basement or behind the bar, so comfort is my top priority. I mostly wear loose pants and closed-toed shoes. But when I\u2019m running short on time, I grab this jumpsuit, which I wear at least once a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

Pants: Paloma Wool<\/a>, on resale sites<\/a>, also similar<\/a>. Shirt: similar<\/a>. Shoes: \u201cSenderos clogs from DNA footwear,\u201d similar<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFor pants, I love Paloma Wool\u2019s<\/a> louder prints, like these checkered ones. They also have the best sweaters<\/a> \u2014\u00a0I\u2019m always wearing one in the winter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we got married, my husband and I wanted simple rings. We found these iblack bands<\/a> on Etsy. My husband will pick up a shift if we\u2019re short staffed, which I really appreciate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

Jumpsuit: \u201cstreet festival in Philadelphia,\u201d similar<\/a>. Hoops: similar<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNew Yorkers wear a lot of black, so when I wear bright things, our customers notice: \u2018Oh, wow, in a good mood today?\u2019 I really enjoy working the bar shift at Liz\u2019s. We already have regulars, which feels so nice, and our staff picks<\/a> do well. It\u2019s a great community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

Shirt: Rag & Bone<\/a>. Pants: 33 Field Trip<\/a>. Shoes: \u201cSenderos clogs from DNA footwear<\/a>,\u201d similar<\/a>. Hoops: similar<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2019, I wrote an article<\/a> about the racial wealth gap in the U.S. After finishing it, I still had a bunch of questions that I wanted to explore. So, I turned to fiction. Acts of Forgiveness<\/a><\/em> is about what happens after a reparations act passes, looking at what that could mean for one family and the country more broadly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Maura<\/p>\n

\u201cRunning a bookstore is more stressful and exhausting than I\u2019d ever imagined, as many things are. There are a million small details, so you\u2019re making decisions on the fly every day. But it\u2019s rewarding. There aren\u2019t many Black-owned businesses in this neighborhood, and I\u2019ve had a lot of Black women come up to me and say they\u2019re so proud of what I\u2019m doing. I\u2019ve finally stopped crying when that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thank you for welcoming us into your bookstore<\/a> and your world, Maura<\/a>! <\/strong><\/p>\n

P.S. More women share their weeks of outfits<\/a>, including a pattern lover in Seattle<\/a> and an antiques dealer in Maine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(Photos by Yumi Matsuo<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

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11<\/span> COMMENTS<\/p>\n

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