Meet Stylist Kat Nephew

We've got a new member on our team, and we can't wait to share her with you! Kat Nephew is the newest Meg stylist at the Boerum Hill store. Make sure you stop in and show her some love! 

Keep reading to learn more about Kat, her work in social justice, and her background with Meg.  

Kat wears the Sam's Jumpsuit in Dark Denim, the Lightweight Turtleneck in Camel, and the Wrap Belt in Black. 

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

A: My name is Katherine (Kat) and I'm 45 years old. I live in Brooklyn and have been a Meg shopper myself for at least 20 years, starting at her East Village location. I'm a clinical social worker and I work in criminal justice. I'm also a producer of documentary films relating to criminal and racial justice. 

Most recently I worked on Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, which is currently available to watch on Netflix. 

Q: What's your background in fashion like?

I started working in retail in a women's clothing store for middle-aged women when I was 15. My primary role was steaming and wrapping gifts during the holiday season, which I was the worst at. I didn't love going to school at the time, but I loved working at that store. 

I've been a huge connoisseur of vintage clothing ever since I moved to New York as a teenager, where I first lived in the East Village. 

I've spent years scouring vintage shops and that's where my love of fashion came from. I used to do a lot of stoop sales that I was able to make some money off of. I never went online, as that was not a part of my generation's vintage boom so to speak.

When I lived in Boerum Hill, my best friend and I would throw vintage parties in our backyard. We would have racks in the front and the back of the apartment, and people would come over and shop and party, which was a lot of fun. 

Q: Tell us more about your background with Meg. When did you first meet her?

A: I have such an admiration for Meg. I watched her start something when we were both in our twenties, and it was so cool to me that not only was she a designer but she had the shop as well. She was so vibrant and knew how to draw people in. She was always so nice and welcoming, I loved shopping there so much. 

When we first met, I was at the age where I was being invited to a lot of weddings. At one point I asked her, "What do you think about making bridesmaid dresses?" That question did lead to me being able to be a bridesmaid in a black Meg dress, which I still have today. 

Throughout the years, I would come in after not visiting for a while, and Meg would always make me feel like I had been there the day before. It's such a privilege to work for her. 

Q: What's one piece that you believe all women should have in their wardrobe?

A: A really good scarf can make or break an outfit and help pull things together, especially in the winter months. I'm always cold, so it not only makes me feel better and more secure to have a scarf on, but it also keeps me warm.

Kat wears the Clara Dress in Moss. 

Q: Is your favorite accessory scarves then, or do you have another favorite?

A: I love belts. I'm very petite, and a belt helps me make an outfit. I have a thick white belt that can add an unexpected twist to a fun outfit and help break it up which I use quite often. 

Q: What does fashion mean to you? 

A: Fashion is a great way to represent yourself without having to say anything. It lets people know who you are without talking. My style is fun and a little quirky, I wear a lot of vintage, which always has an interesting backstory and can give character to my outfits. 

Q: What do you like about working in a small retail environment? 

A: I love being able to talk to people and hear their stories. It's really fun to get to know people through the perspective of what they might like to wear, whether it's for a special occasion, an important event, or just for everyday work. 

It's great to be able to share that with people, especially as a contradiction to the stories I hear as a clinician, which can be quite painful to comprehend. 

Q: What do you have coming up that you're excited about?

A: I am looking forward to a few documentaries coming out. There's been a re-focus on closing Rikers Island and with that, new documentaries are coming out about the issue. Although they are hard to watch, they're very important to view to create awareness. I'll be going with other activists and filmmakers to support these films. 

Q: Is what you wear as a social worker different than what you wear to work at Meg?

A: Yes. I'm not necessarily a conservative dresser, but I work in prisons and other environments where it's important not to bring attention to yourself. I do like to be more covered up in those settings. 

Q: What pieces are you loving from the current collection?

My favorite piece from Meg's collection right now is the 70's Jump. It's so comfortable, and I love the 3/4 length sleeve. I have it in Black and it goes with everything. 

I also own a lot of her pants, because they fit so well. Over the years I've collected many pairs of black pants from her. The Odette Pant is probably my all-time favorite because they just fit so well! 

To learn more about Kat, you can follow her on Instagram here. To learn more about the projects she is working on, visit www.whoweareproject.org.