What’s In: Angela Galvez
On her non-traditional path, ‘personality pieces’, and getting more creative with your personal style.
What’s in is a recurring series spotlighting the style and stories of Asian women with influence. Get to know who they are, what they’re wearing and what’s in.
There are a few individuals whose style inspires me to step out of my comfort zone—Angela Galvez is one of them. Whether it’s her elevated outerwear or statement accessories, Angela effortlessly weaves what she calls ‘personality pieces’ into classic formulas, bringing to life outfits that feel refined, modern, and just plain cool. Based in San Francisco, Angela splits her time between startup life, styling projects, content creation, and writing Letters We Send Friends, her Substack newsletter, which reads like you’re locked into a captivating conversation with your most stylish friend.
Read on to learn about her experience growing up as a first-generation Filipina-American, which ‘personality pieces’ are on her wish list, and her advice for getting more creative with your personal style.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do.
Hi, I’m Angela! I call San Francisco home with my partner and our Bernedoodle, Levi who keeps us entertained with his three-year-old antics. My career spans the fashion-tech landscape. I’ve spent the last decade helping retail tech startups scale, crafting education and enablement programs that help people level up in their work.
With roots in styling and fashion PR, I bring a creative perspective to everything I do. These days, I split my time between startup life, styling projects, writing, and content creation — a mix that keeps me both challenged and inspired.
Cosmically, I’m a double Sagittarius with Pisces rising. Think fire meets water in a way that shapes both my drive and intuition. I tend to approach life and work through a lens of possibility and expansion given Jupiter’s influence in my placements.
Where are you from? How has your family and culture shaped who you are today?
I’m a first-generation Filipina-American. Unlike the typical large Filipino family setup, my early years looked different. My mom moved to the US when I was two, leaving me with my aunt and grandmother. Most of my relatives had already made their way abroad, chasing better opportunities.
I’ll be candid — my relationship with family and my culture is complicated. Growing up under strict, authoritarian parenting wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. There’s this line in Lola Young’s ‘Messy’ that hits home: “I want to be me, is that not allowed?” Pretty much sums up my childhood and teenage years right there.
Landing in the Midwest almost twenty years ago meant adapting fast, though it never quite felt like home. California was calling my name, and since 2008, it’s where I’ve truly found my place. You’ll still catch me connecting with my Filipino roots through food, whether I’m cooking up adobo at home or checking out the latest Filipino spot in the Bay. It might not be the most traditional path, but I’m proud of the life I’ve carved out for myself.
“It might not be the most traditional path, but I’m proud of the life I’ve carved out for myself.”
How would you describe your personal style and approach to getting dressed? What are some of your favourite pieces in your closet?
My style centers on classic silhouettes with a modern edge. I think of the word ‘playful’ as my permission slip to push boundaries when the mood strikes. Over the years, I’ve gone through a style evolution from my Jenna Lyons J.Crew era to a minimalist Scandi-esque capsule wardrobe. I’m happy with where I am today — somewhere in the middle, built on a strong foundation of classics.
“My style centers on classic silhouettes with a modern edge. I think of the word ‘playful’ as my permission slip to push boundaries when the mood strikes.”
For everyday, I aim for that sweet spot between relaxed and elevated as a uniform: well-worn jeans, an oversized button-up, and leather loafers. Living in SF means the third piece is essential to my style, and I’ve come to love how this necessity for layering shapes my wardrobe. Uniform dressing has been a consistent theme in my style journey — from my grade school and high school years in catholic school to the sleek flight attendant garb during a brief stint in the startup airline world.
I build from a neutral foundation but rely on what I call ‘personality pieces’ to bring outfits to life. These range from statement jackets to my sculptural Agmes cuff or a vintage minaudière (sourced by Gimi Rarity). My wardrobe spans vintage, secondhand, contemporary, and independent labels. Made-to-order shirts from Chava give me that irreplaceable feeling of perfect fit. For denim, I rotate between vintage Levi 501s with just the right fade, Khaite Abigail jeans (the cut is immaculate), and my latest find: the Pistola Lexi jean, with a perfect vintage-inspired midrise fit.
My outerwear collection is my pride and joy, slowly curated over the years. Some of my favorite pieces include this vintage suede men’s trucker I found via Trash Panic and a vintage Ralph Lauren men’s tuxedo jacket spotted at an antique store in Healdsburg. I can throw them over anything for an instant outfit. For investment pieces, Toteme coats offer incredible value — especially my forever piece: a double-breasted black wool coat that grazes the ankle, channeling MK&A vibes.
Rounding out the favorites are my Siedres personality skirts, my comfiest pair of
boots from Khaite, the perfect evening bag from Savette, and my forever loafers — pieces that adapt seamlessly to my mood-based approach to dressing.
“I build from a neutral foundation but rely on what I call ‘personality pieces’ to bring outfits to life.”
Where do you find inspiration? Or whose style are you most inspired by?
San Francisco gets stereotyped for its tech uniform of Patagonia vests and Allbirds, but venture beyond the Marina and you’ll find some seriously inspired style. Just a few weeks ago on Fillmore, I spotted this woman in an ankle-length burgundy leather coat with a newsboy cap that stopped me in my tracks. Another standout: a girl rocking an oversized suede blazer with wide-leg jeans, retro oval sunglasses, and this effortlessly chic low bun.
When it comes to online inspiration, I’m drawn to women who’ve really nailed their personal style: Elizabeth Benz, Michal Kurtis, and Olivia Lopez to name a few. They each have this incredible way of playing with trends while staying true to their distinct point of view.
I’ll always have a soft spot for Olivia Palermo (yes, from The City days — don’t judge). There’s something about how she’s kept her signature style intact through every trend cycle. These days, I’m also taking notes from Dakota Johnson’s laid-back city looks, and I love how OG fashion blogger Alicia Lund balances that New York edge with California ease.
“San Francisco gets stereotyped for its tech uniform of Patagonia vests and Allbirds, but venture beyond the Marina and you’ll find some seriously inspired style.”
It feels like there’s a shift happening away from the minimalism that dominated fashion in previous years, and people are wanting to inject more personality into what they wear. As someone who often inspires me to get out of my comfort zone through your newsletters, what’s your advice for those looking to push their style boundaries and get more creative with their personal style?
Take it bird by bird. Start with something small — maybe try a sunglass shape you usually scroll past, play with a pop of color instead of your usual neutrals, or experiment with an interesting texture. No need to change everything at once. Pay attention to what clicks and what doesn’t — you're basically collecting little data points about your taste. And don’t skip the important part: asking yourself why something works or doesn’t.
Keep your mind open, but don’t get stuck in your head about it. Sometimes your first reaction to something new isn’t how you’ll feel about it in a week. Things can grow on you, and guess what? You’re totally allowed to change your mind. Focus on how you feel in something rather than what’s “flattering” or what others might think. Actually, skip asking for opinions — it’ll just make you second-guess yourself. Trust that gut feeling.
“Pay attention to what clicks and what doesn’t — you're basically collecting little data points about your taste. And don’t skip the important part: asking yourself why something works or doesn’t.”
Think about developing your own style signature. Could be a scent you wear each season, a piece of jewelry passed down in your family, that perfect vintage find, or even just how you style your hair. Having that one consistent element makes everything feel more intentional with minimal effort.
Something I’ve learned over the years is that real personal style happens offline, in the wild. It’s a reflection of how we actually live, create, and move through the world — especially when that world is constantly trying to tell us what to buy or who to be.
True style isn’t something you discover one day — it’s something you live. Getting offline and into real life — whether that’s diving into new hobbies, nurturing what you love, or literally touching grass — helps keep us grounded when we’re drowning in microtrends and aesthetic labels. And ultimately, when you’re exploring your style, there’s no such thing as failure. It’s all just research.
“Something I’ve learned over the years is that real personal style happens offline, in the wild. It’s a reflection of how we actually live, create, and move through the world…”
I love your outfit diaries, especially your 2024 Greatest Hits. Can you share one of your more recent memorable style moments? Where did you go? What did you wear?
I’ve been leaning into keeping things simple lately. My go-to outfit for the past month has been playing with variations of a shrunken cashmere v-neck from J.Crew paired with my new favorite Pistola jeans.
For daytime, I layer a white tee under the sweater, slip into loafers, and add a scarf jacket. When I’m heading out for dinner, I skip the tee and dress things up with either a statement necklace or some interesting earrings. Plus a textured belt and dressier boots then I’ll grab either my leather car coat or long wool coat.
“My go-to outfit for the past month has been playing with variations of a shrunken cashmere v-neck from J.Crew paired with my new favorite Pistola jeans.”
What pieces are currently on your wishlist?
I’m on a mission to find the perfect leather blazer with just the right cinch at the waist. Being broad on top makes it tricky, but I have this vision of wearing it as a top with jeans, kitten-heel mules, and a fun bag. This one from Magda Butrym looks promising.
My wish list for personality pieces keeps growing. There’s this gorgeous ivory and tassel necklace and leather pouch from Ayllon I can’t stop thinking about. For spring, I’m dreaming of pairing this fringe top from Sea with vintage Levi’s and my fav leather flip-flops. Then there’s this butter yellow Alemais shift dress that’s basically begging for a tropical getaway. Speaking of getaway, I’m dying to wear this Renata.Q seashell necklace and the chicest Underwater Weaving basket bag on my next beach trip.
Been diving into new scents lately too — I want to try the discovery set from Xinú, this enchanting, niche perfume house out of Mexico City.
“I’m on a mission to find the perfect leather blazer with just the right cinch at the waist.”
What’s in right now for you? Whether it has to do with fashion, beauty, wellness, hobbies, books, podcasts, other media you’re consuming, etc.?
I’m deep into this creative self-discovery thing right now. Working my way through The Creative Act for the second time and I’m in the trenches of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron — it’s a 12-week self-guided journey that helps you tap back into your creativity. Each week brings new reading, reflection work, morning pages, and these things called Artist Dates.
These morning pages — just writing whatever comes to mind first thing — have been a total game-changer. And I’ve come to love my weekly Artist Dates, where I basically get to play and reconnect with my inner creative kid.
“I’m deep into this creative self-discovery thing right now. Working my way through The Creative Act for the second time and I’m in the trenches of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron…”
I’m not a podcast person, and TV hasn’t been my thing lately, but you’ll definitely find me glued to White Lotus on Sundays. I’m obsessed with Parker Posey’s take on the Southern Charm matriarch — the accent is killing me (Piiiper naauux! BUDDHIZMMM)
My Substack rotation shifts with my mood, but lately I’m into:
● Feed Me’s comment section and chat
● The Love List and Magasin for top tier shopping content
● Take Your Time by Dianna Cohen for The Artist’s Way community
● Club Reticent by Valerie when I need those hit-home self-exploration essays
● Curation Club by Zoë Akihary to geek out on art direction
● Style Toast’s personality quizzes (they’re addictive!)
● Trademarked by tariro makoni for Elusive (International) Hot Girl lore, in-stock alerts on highly-coveted goods, ultra niche recommendations on chic flatware, among other things.
● All the vintage shopping curations: Trash Panic, The Weekly Roundup by Katie Casper, Long Live, Ilana’s Substack
On beauty, I’m all about investing in skincare over makeup. I’ve been getting these Korean regenerative facials — the results have me hooked. I’m also a fan of at-home devices, as long as they’re legit. My Omnilux red-light mask has been a staple for years, and I just started using the ZIIP Halo facial toning device. My skin looks snatched after each session so I’m eager to see the long-term results.
Other things I’m into right now: sneaking offline without announcing it; building real connections both online and in person; repeating outfits; anything made-to-order/custom; daily electrolytes (makes such a huge difference in how I feel); proper soda (give me DC or Coke Zero and I’ve got a soft spot for root beer too); Elleno’s mango greek yogurt; figuring out who’s hosting the next dinner party in the group chat; pet nat; steak au poivre with frites; chic flatware; my new self-care ritual: a nourishing mug of saffron latte as my post-dinner treat; florals that look like they were just picked from a garden; sending flowers to a friend just because; acts of service as a love language
“Other things I’m into right now: sneaking offline without announcing it; building real connections both online and in person; repeating outfits…”
Thanks to Angela Galvez for being part of the series! For more on Angela, subscribe to Letters We Send Friends and follow her on Instagram.
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Absolutely honored to be featured 😭 and forever grateful to you, Maria! 💕
So chic! Would die for those JuJu Vera earrings!!