About TenKeyPieces – Kairee Tann

Welcome to my first blog post on WordPress. I’m excited to share my journey with you. First things first, I’d like to share a bit of information about myself, so let’s get started!

So,  who is behind the blog TenKeyPieces?

Kairee Tann is a wife and mother of three who works full time in the commercial construction industry. She has been known to smile in photos from time to time.

Seriously!?! You fashion blog in your spare time?

Given my background, many would consider it “frivolous”to spend time writing a fashion blog. Being a numbers person for most of my  life (I have a degree in Civil Engineering) and having pursued a career in a male-dominated industry, I feel it’s within reason to spend a bit of my time on a creative hobby such as fashion. I recall taking a Psychology of Clothing elective class while in engineering school. I learned about the important role that clothing and style plays in our lives whether we realize it or not, condone it or not.

On the jobsite I have to wear a hardhat, however I don’t need to look like one of the guys to be good at what I do. Once people realize that you are the person in charge of a project, what you are wearing is secondary; at the end of the day it’s about your work product, your ability to solve problems successfully.

Also, life is about balance; no matter how serious our day jobs are we all need down time to pursue hobbies without the pressure to make a difference or be the best. If you need people to see your accomplishments, LinkedIn is a great place to track all of that.

I want this blog to be for me and for people appreciate fashion.

What is your style?

My style is minimal, with a dose of tongue-in-cheek (I’m wearing Alexandar Wang x HM scuba pants in the above pic). I love making people smile because of the humor in something I’m wearing. I’m actually very serious in nature, so fashion helps me to not take myself too seriously and is a great ice-breaker.

I’m also a life-long lover of vintage from the 20’s, 30’s, & 40s. Additionally, being a teen of the 80’s, I sometimes incorporate classic sytle from this era as well as the 70’s.

How do you dress at work being that you work in construction?

“I pretty much stick to my aesthetic, wherever practical. I LOVE skirts and dresses which can be a challenge to wear on a jobsite (I keep a pair of jogging pants at my desk just in case).  I spent the first 10 years of my career wearing chinos and company logo polo shirts. This wasn’t a requirement, rather I just didn’t have a sense of my own personal style back then. I was a pretty terrible dresser!.”

Today, my approach to dressing is pretty technical; I don’t consider myself to be “artistic” and I need a formula or else I will step out looking like a hot mess; I build my seasonal capsule wardrobes from a foundation of 10 basic essential or “key” pieces. I like to look great without spending a ton of time putting a look together. (I also use construction terminology in my posts!)

What is your blog about? I endeavor to highlight one or more of the following 10 key pieces in my blog posts:

My 10 Key Wardrobe Essentials

1. Trench
2. Blazer
3. Statement Coat or Jacket
4. Button Down Shirt
5. Breton “striped” T-shirt
6. Midi Skirt
7. Jean (Skinny, Boyfriend, and Flared)
8. Pointy Flat
9. Black Pumps
10. Ankle Boot

I believe these 10 key pieces are a great foundation for a wardrobe from which one can build infinite possibilities!

Xoxo,

TenKeyPieces