At the Table With: Mya Gelber
Ft. dinner in the Italian countryside, charcuterie, and of course, a palette of primary colors
At The Table With is a monthly interview series that explores the ideas of creativity and personal taste through the eyes of my friends (or people I would like to be friends with.) This month’s guest is
’s Mya Gelber!
No one populates my outfit inspiration folder more than Mya does: Mya in a boxy red cardigan. Mya in a crisp poplin skirt. Mya in a perfectly worn-in cowboy boot. If I scroll past a flash of butter yellow, tomato red, or indigo blue (or any combination of the three,) it’s probably Mya casually wearing an outfit I’d like to copy piece for piece, immediately.
I think it’s pretty rare for someone to have a signature style these days, but Mya definitely has hers nailed down—one filled with primary colors, breezy cotton dresses, and a great knitwear collection. A Brooklyn-based writer for NY Mag and Architectural Digest, Mya is clued in to (and leading the charge towards) what’s exciting in fashion and design. I never skip one of her pieces on The Strategist where she hunts down the perfect [insert elusive clothing item here]. The one about white t-shirts was Pulitzer-worthy. (Spoiler alert: her winner is $5 and from Old Navy.)
Another thing I like about Mya: She’s a law student—one who ultimately wants to do important public interest work around decarceration and impact litigation. Maybe it’s my 6th grade obsession with Legally Blonde, my own aesthetic tendencies towards academia, or my quarterly wonder whether I should have gone to law school myself, but I think it’s endlessly fascinating that in between writing about color analysis for your home and dark wash jeans, Mya’s studying and doing some truly meaningful work. In a world where it’s rare for visual creativity and the bureaucratic systems that run our society to cross paths, I really enjoy watching Mya live life with a foot in each world, even though, as Mya mentions in our chat below, it maybe can’t last forever.
In the meantime, though, I can’t get enough of the content Mya creates. Whether she’s curating dozens of wedding guest dress options (organized by color!) or building an ongoing encyclopedia of independent brands (alphabetized!), you can always count on Mya to share thoughtful and original content both on her Instagram and in her newsletter, which is cleverly called
. I can’t imagine where she finds the time, but the girl does it all.
I asked Mya a few questions…
Ali LaBelle: First things first, tell us a little about yourself.
Mya Gelber: I’m originally from Redondo Beach, California, a surf town in the southernmost part of Los Angeles where people say “locs only” a lot. I studied international relations at Bard College and always planned to pursue a career where I could make a difference—cheesy as that sounds!
After college, I worked as a paralegal assisting 9/11 victims, a job I stayed in for far too long. I was burned out and deep into the grueling process of applying to law school when I started posting on TikTok in 2022. My dinner party videos took off just as I was beginning my first year of law school. With the intensity of school, I posted less frequently and gradually shifted toward fashion content.
For the past two years I’ve balanced law school with freelance writing and creating style and lifestyle content. I graduate this May and am still figuring out my next steps!
AL: I’ve always loved your content because it feels like you really *know* your point of view when it comes to what you wear. How did you hone that perspective, and do you have any advice for someone who might struggle to find their own personal style?
MG: I just love getting dressed, it’s one of the best parts of my day. I wouldn’t even say I have a great or unique personal style; I just enjoy wearing what makes me feel good. I think of myself as a very emotional dresser.
Here’s a little exercise to try: Instead of focusing on trends or rules, think about the emotions behind your style. What feelings or words do you want to express today? Maybe it’s powerful, confident, or wacky. Once you have your words, take 60 seconds to scan your closet and grab something that reflects them. Trust your instincts and go from there.
AL: What or who is inspiring you most right now? Is there anything you’re particularly
drawn to that’s influencing your style?
MG: I've always felt inspired by whatever city I'm in. Spending so much time in LA has made me even more drawn to my Western roots—by which I mean the West Coast. I’m struck by the effortless coolness of everyone there: flat caps with sweatshirts and cowboy boots, lots of lace and cotton dresses. It all feels so easy and wearable.
The older I get, the more I prioritize comfort, and lately I’ve found myself leaning into a more Western style. I think this was sparked by watching Landman and developing a newfound appreciation for suede. More specifically I’ve been obsessed with Desperado, the 1995 neo-Western action film starring Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek. Their outfits are the perfect mix of cool, sexy, and rustic.
What draws me most to Western style is the silhouette: long, straight jeans over boots, boxy button-ups, chunky metal belts. It’s a look that emphasizes quality basics—pieces that only get better with time. And honestly, that’s something we could all use more of.
AL: I loved your piece for Clever last summer on the “foodification of color,” which took a look at trends related to food (i.e. “tomato girl summer,” butter sculptures, the olive/martini craze,) and how they translate to trends in color. Now that we’re in 2025, do you foresee any particular color trend taking over our closets and homes this year?
MG: I don’t purport to be a good trend forecaster, but I have been extremely drawn to grey and brown, which is a huge departure from my primary colors!
AL: I also really enjoyed reading your piece on Substack in December about your “double life” and how it makes you feel when someone from the law school part of your life stumbles onto your social media content. You write, “I’ve been told that being online, especially in Big Law, is off-limits and a major liability. To be honest, would you want your lawyer to be an influencer?” Given the ever-evolving landscape of social media, (I mean, doctors are on TikTok!) do you see potential for a world where both lives can coexist?
MG: Realistically, I think it will be a while before we see that happen, as it would require major changes in the field. Most Big Law firms are still 1. predominantly white and 2. predominantly male, despite the fact that women now graduate from law school at higher rates than men. I think these demographics lend themselves to an environment that is not accepting of my “double life” lifestyle.
There will always be exceptions—I’ve noticed that many of the lawyers and doctors on TikTok are solo practitioners who own their own firms or practices. But the challenge for lawyers in particular is that they handle highly sensitive information. Being so visible online could potentially put their clients at risk.
For example, this summer, I worked with domestic violence survivors, representing them in court against their abusers—whether for custody, divorce, or orders of protection. If someone from the opposing side, the judge, or even the other lawyer recognized me from social media, it could jeopardize my client’s safety, especially if the judge wasn’t particularly progressive. Women already struggle to be taken seriously in this field, and while I don’t want to sound overly pessimistic, I also don’t know if it would even be feasible to balance being a full-time lawyer and a content creator.
AL: Lastly, if you could only wear one outfit for the rest of 2025, what would it be?
MG: A great pair of jeans, my Frye cowboy boots, and a chunky knit or good button down!
AL: Let’s do a little visualization exercise! Imagine your dream dinner party. You can invite anyone (living or not, famous or not), serve anything, and host it anywhere. Where’s the party?
MG: Ideally, somewhere in Northern Italy, under a wooden gazebo with heavy metal chairs. It’s summertime—think the scenes from Call Me By Your Name.
AL: What’s on the table? How are you decorating?
MG: A vintage tablecloth drapes effortlessly over the table, its surface overflowing with an abundant spread of cheeses, cured meats, and sun-ripened fruits. Crystal glasses catch the evening light, scattered among plates stacked haphazardly, as if this feast were an effortless, nightly ritual. It’s a casual dinner party in the best sense—no one frets over the décor; we’re too lost in laughter and lively debate to notice.
AL: Who’s invited?
MG: All my friends and family that live far away in other states and other countries that I don’t get to see often. People I rarely get to host.
AL: What are you wearing?
MG: Casual, easy, and breezy. I’m wearing some jean shorts, or a long skirt with a tank top, or an oversized button-down shirt, and some worn-in leather sandals on my feet.
AL: What’s on the menu? What are we drinking?
MG: Lots of natural wine, plus Negronis for apéro!
AL: What music is playing?
MG: Ottmar Liebert!
AL: Quick fire round. What’s your favorite scent or smell?
MG: Sandalwood or the ocean.
AL: Favorite artist?
MG: Luis Barragán.
AL: Last thing you read?
MG: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin. I may have read something more recently but this was my most memorable recent read.
AL: Comfort food?
MG: Vodka pasta with chorizo and peas.
AL: Something you bought recently?
MG: I bought myself the Connolo Shoulder Bag from St. Agni (it’s sold out now, unfortunately, but it's incredible.)
Mya, thank you so much for being here! You can subscribe to Mya’s Substack Primary School here, and follow her on Instagram here.
See you on Friday for February’s Specials.
x
Ali
Loved this interview and love all the important advocacy Mya does.
Mya's use of colour is so inspiring! Subscribing to her Substack asap...