Living genuinely. Celebrating imperfection. Making memories. Embracing wear you are in your life and how you live. This is WEAR THEY ARE: A Snapshot of Fearless Females and How They Got There– a series where all of these concepts come to life through the stories of women who’ve embraced them firsthand.
Women: your sisters, your mothers, your friends, your aunts, your grandmothers, your mentors, your teachers, your peers, your confidants. Your sounding boards. Your cheerleaders. None of us would be here without them. None of us would be the same without them. You know the saying “It takes a village”? Well, it does. I don’t care if you’re a stay-at-home Mom or a CEO- you didn’t get there alone. And you’re not alone now. So let’s expand the village, shall we?
I met Olivia DeFilippo, Registered Nurse and Creator of Style by Liv; a fashion, beauty and wellness blog, at this year’s W.E.L.L. Summit Boston. And like all good millennials, prior to W.E.L.L. Summit, Olivia and I met on Instagram. (What can I say. We live in a digital word and I am a digital girl!) This self-proclaimed devotee of true crime and matcha lattes is the walking definition of a perfect dichotomy- 50% science, 50% creativity, and 100% a girl’s girl. With the strength of what I liken to a mental steel cage, Olivia spends her days working in the psychiatric field caring for patients with eating disorders, with plans to tackle a new specialty when she forays into the field of toxicology at the Poison Control Center. And just in case you think she doesn’t have enough on her plate, she also writes about intentional brands, nontoxic beauty, wellness and an #AskTheNurse series via her blog Style By Liv– her way of helping women achieve health, happiness and balance in all areas of life.
In one conversation with Olivia it’s easy to see what sets her apart from the pack. She cares. And I’m so pleased to share why.
I HOLD A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART FOR NURSES. TO ME THEY ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF HEALTHCARE- THE LINK BETWEEN SCIENCE AND HUMANITY. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE A CAREER IN THIS FIELD? IS IT SOMETHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO DO?
In high school, I was always praised for my organization, people skills and compassion. And when it came time to start soul search about my career options, I immediately knew I was meant to be a Registered Nurse.
YOU WERE RECENTLY A GUEST ON THE DETOX & CHILL PODCAST DISCUSSING YOUR WORK WITH WOMEN WITH EATING DISORDERS. TELL ME ABOUT IT.
It was so much fun! I had been interviewed on podcasts in the past, but as this was about my work in nursing it was a totally different experience. It made me feel so confident in my field. I’ve never been ‘the expert’ before and it was very cool to be able to share my knowledge with the world. The listeners’ response to the podcast was incredible. So many individuals related to the topic and said they felt an immense amount of hope from this episode. And that’s exactly why I do what I do.
I am honestly just so humbled to have the opportunity to be a nurse. I love helping others, especially other women. It is so important to empower and inspire others rather than tear each other down.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please visit the National Eating Disorder Association.
EATING DISORDERS- THAT’S A PRETTY HEAVY TOPIC. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE MENTAL INTENSITY OF THAT WORK AND STILL COME HOME TO A SENSE OF NORMALCY AT THE END OF THE DAY?
As a nurse, this is one question I get all the time. I cannot emotionally detach at work or else I am not taking care of my patients. I need to be compassionate and try my best to understand what my patients are going through. For me, a solid self-care routine is vital. I work out regularly, watch my favorite TV shows, do face masks, drink lots of tea and write for my blog, Style by Liv. Doing things that make me feel happy and fulfilled are so helpful in keeping my body and brain healthy.
LET’S TALK ABOUT WELLNESS, SOMETHING I’VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME WRITING ABOUT LATELY- ESPECIALLY AFTER WE SPENT TIME TOGETHER AT W.E.L.L. SUMMIT! WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU, PERSONALLY?
To me, wellness is all about balance. I don’t believe that anything is all or nothing. Neither my emotions, my health or my spirituality will ever be 100% or 0%. I think that wellness is finding the balance between eating cupcakes and veggies, and between using nontoxic products and toxic products. Our health will never be perfect. Wellness is about understanding that, and working towards a better, healthier version of yourself while still enjoying the things you love.
ACCORDING TO STYLE BY LIV, YOU POSSES A PASSION ABOUT POSITIVITY. HOW DOES THAT INFLUENCE YOUR BLOG AND WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE ABOUT?
I’ve always been a “glass-half-full ” type of girl, and that has influenced just about everything in my life. I’m wear rose-colored glasses, and that works perfectly for me because I want to believe that everyone and everything is good. I have found that, because of my mindset and perception of the world, more positive things have happened to me. (Hello, law of attraction!)
This passion for positivity has impacted the brands I support, the people I follow and the things I write about. I am very proud of Style by Liv because it has become a hub for positivity and a place where my readers can feel supported and loved, all while finding brands that are giving back to society and doing great things. There is so much negativity in the world and it’s important to spread positivity whenever possible.
AS BLOGGERS, SOCIAL MEDIA IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE DO. HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECT THE WAY WOMEN PORTRAY THEMSELVES PUBLICLY? DO YOU SEE IT AS A MEDIUM THAT HELPS FOSTER A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT OR ONE THAT HINDERS WOMEN’S ABILITY TO FEEL SAFE AND CONFIDENT?
From my experience working in an eating disorder facility, I’ve found that social media often diminishes the self-worth of many young women. We so often compare our bodies and our life to other women that we see online when, in reality, social media is a highlight reel and often Photoshopped or fake.
Lately, there’s been a trend in the blogging community where bloggers are being more authentic online. They’re sharing behind-the-scenes pictures, unedited photos and showcasing themselves in sweatpants on Instagram stories. This trend is great for women everywhere, but we still have a lot of work to do to make the internet a safer and more inclusive place for women.
DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS OR TIPS FOR HOW YOU DEAL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA BURNOUT?
Unfollow. Unfollow. Unfollow. // I really love social media, but sometimes find myself comparing my body to others and when that happens, I hit the unfollow button. I try to keep my feed and the people I follow very positive and uplifting. I want to follow bloggers and brands that empower others, give back to the community, spread love and are authentic.
When I am intentional about the brands I am consuming on social media I feel less burnout and actually tend to feel more inspired.
WHAT IS IT YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BOSTON?
I moved to Boston when I was a child and have spent most of my life here. I really love it because we get both city-vibes and the feeling of a small community. I feel that I can make meaningful connections with people here.
LET’S PLAY A LITTLE THIS OR THAT, SHALL WE?
stay up late or wake up early?│
wake up early
chocolate or vanilla?│
vanilla
lead or follow?│
lead
flats or heels?│
heels
jeans or yoga pants?│
jeans
planned or improvised?│
planned
YOUR BOYFRIEND CALLS TO SAY HE’S PICKING YOU UP IN 10 MINUTES FOR A SURPRISE DATE. WHAT DO YOU WEAR?
My go-to options: black maxi dress or a jumpsuit.
WHAT’S THE ONE THING YOU WISH YOU COULD SAY TO THE 18 YEAR-OLD VERSION OF YOURSELF?
You are an incredible woman. You are going to impact the lives of many.
To keep up with Olivia, you can find her at StyleByLiv.com, on Instagram and Twitter at @StylebyLiv, and on Facebook at Style By Liv. To listen to her appearance on the Detox & Chill podcast, click here. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, please visit the National Eating Disorder Association.
Build your tribe. Wear you are now.
xx
Natalie
Natalie
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