Hi, i’m Tanya. I was born in Russia and immigrated to the United States when I was two years old. My family left Communist Russia speaking minimal English, with little money and a young toddler to raise and assimilate into a foreign culture. I only mention this because being an immigrant has been a defining factor in my life. It has taught me two key things: the drive to hustle to achieve what I want and the ability to quickly adapt to new conditions. Though I don’t remember much about the journey from Chernovtsy to Brooklyn, NY, I do remember the need to do more with less and attempting to fit in with my classmates while not understanding the language or culture around me.
I started writing as a way to contextualize my thoughts and make sense of everything I was going through, like being bullied at school for being the new girl. Mostly, it was a way for me to create new worlds, with different people and settings. Writing became more of a hobby when I graduated high school and decided to pursue a doctorate of pharmacy. Six years later, I became a pharmacist and now work in Medical Affairs at a pharmaceutical company.
StreetStylePhilosophy is for the girl who is femme, playful, glamorous, and entrepreneurial when she needs to be and relaxed, bohemian, effortless and obsessed with her family in her off-duty time. At all times, she is intelligent, confidant, curious and always learning and discovering something new about the world. StreetStylePhilosophy is a way to connect with other readers and make you feel like you’re having a cup of coffee at Sunday brunch with your best friends. I hope the blog inspires you to pursue your dreams with the childlike innocence that we often lose as adults.
My style consists of mixing feminine pieces, like a lace or ruffle blouse with masculine alternatives like skinny leather pants or a structured blazer. I love the contrast of soft with structured, masculine with feminine, high fashion with fast fashion and the chance to instill a whimsical element into everyday reality. My goal with every outfit is to incorporate unexpected pieces with timeless classics.
My style is often a reflection of my mood and unplanned until the night before I need to be somewhere. Style isn’t just about the clothes you wear. It’s how you choose to present yourself to the world and a reflection of how you feel about yourself that day. It’s the way you walk, the way you talk and the version of yourself you choose to share with those around you. It’s who you are, manifested in the physical sense. As Street Style Philosophy grows, I am continuing to learn about fashion, writing, photography and being completely honest with myself and who I am.
The idea of having a creative outlet fueled by all that inspires me is exciting and challenging. The blog originally started as LaptopsAndHeels and morphed into StreetStylePhilosophy. It has given me incredible joy, wonder, happiness, vulnerability and a chance to keep learning and stepping outside of my comfort zone. My goal is to continue creating original and relatable content to connect with readers who are going through the same things I am, whether it’s building a career, nurturing a family or expressing their personal style.
I currently live in Philadelphia with my husband, Julian, our beautiful little girl, Perry and our Ridgeback/giant teddy bear, Brooklyn. Thank you so much for stopping by! Your time and interest in supporting Street Style Philosophy means everything to me. Email me anytime at streetstylephilosophy@gmail.com or you can find me on Instagram and Snapchat @streetstylephilosophy.
