The Working Wardrobe: Lisa Ing Marinelli

“In every work setting, I’ve always been the loudest. I know it and I relish in it,” Lisa Ing Marinelli tells PORTER. With more than 10 years’ experience serving as a legal counsel in Mergers and Acquisitions and a board advisor to fashion start-ups, dressing to command authority is her most acute sartorial skill. “When I first started out as a lawyer, I bought a suit because I thought that’s what I needed to wear to feel like I belonged in a corporate setting. But soon enough, you realize that a black suit is not really an expression of anything. I started playing with the idea of ‘power dressing’ by finding the colors that made me feel the most confident, and unexpected necklines to add a detail to my look.”

“I have quite strict ‘fashion rules’ when it comes to workwear,” she says. “I don’t show too much cleavage and I would never show my midriff or wear a short skirt to the office. A lawyer exudes professionalism and is expected to be a bit more formal than the rest of the business to command respect, but other than that, everything else is fair game.”

While Ing Marinelli admits that having it all is an illusion, she also reveals that it’s not entirely unattainable. “It’s about prioritizing your time and being content with slowing down in some areas of life to invest in what is most important – and, for me, that’s my kids,” she says. “You have to be able to manage your own expectations, because there is no one who can do it all. There is always going to be more, especially when it comes to work. I’m not saying I never prioritize work, because I do, but I never give my time and energy to the point where it’s damaging other parts of my life. I often ask myself, how much can I put into what fuels me and serves me today?”

Read on to discover more about Ing Marinelli’s tips for great style and her beauty must-haves…

“The turquoise blue is such a powerful color, and the design of this Givenchy dress ticks all my workwear rule boxes. The neckline is beautiful and high, which means it’s office-appropriate, but you can also accessorize it quite nicely. Because it’s such a bright, bold color, the nude mules are the perfect pairing. I love a good pair of heels to make my legs look longer.”

“The print on this Alexander McQueen dress is beautiful; while the Ferragamo heels are so sculptural, they offer the perfect fishing touch. The shoes are a lot more comfortable than they look, and they work really well with the dress. It’s such a fun look; one that I would wear to a wedding, dinner or cocktail event.”

“This Altuzarra jacket is incredible and really works for my body shape. I like my shoulders, but don’t love my arms, and this caters to that really well. When I was working in corporate offices, I found that playing with necklines was a great way to dress for a more formal setting, while still showing a bit of skin.”

“This Toteme dress is beautifully sculpted. It’s shaped almost like an upside-down triangle – and, for me, with wider shoulders, that shape works well to cinch my waist. I don’t normally wear yellowy tones because I don’t think they complement my skin tone, but lately I’ve really enjoyed wearing them. This very pale-yellow shade is really pretty, a nice midi dress for a day out at the races or watching tennis courtside.”