Name: Desiree Gaitan
Company: Conde Nast Publications
Position: Executive Administrator to Editor in Chief of Architectural Digest
Current location: New York
Hometown: San Fernando Valley
What do you do on a day-to-day basis?
I work a 9-5ish contract job on Madison Avenue in an Editorial Office. My job varies on a daily basis, but mostly it involves assisting the editor in chief with her daily agenda and also helping the art director with anything from magazine submissions to daily office management. During the evenings I try to keep up on my studies for my RN license.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The experience of working with very creative and extremely intelligent people, it’s a challenging environment to be around people who are very seasoned and sophisticated in their expertise.
What are some clothing or accessories you can’t live without?
I would definitely have to say perfume, is that an accessory? Because I love perfume, I feel like perfume helps set my mood, it can help make or break a good day from a bad day . Also black in my wardrobe, I love black, and I wear it quite often. It’s always so smart feeling.
If you could do anything other than what you are doing, what would that be?
I really hope to one day combine things, I’ve always had a mindset for social entrepreneurship, combining good business with communities of people who need resources to better their lives locally and internationally. I love seeing contrasting worlds collide and collaborate to make good change.
If you could live anywhere other than where you live, where would that be?
I feel really content where I am now but I’ve always had a love for western Europe. It would be amazing to have an EU passport! Probably somewhere such as London or Paris would be exciting. I’d love to learn a new language too. It would have to be a big city for sure. I love how big cities have such a concentration of the best art, culture, fashion, knowledge, and music.
Do you own any Quail? If so, what is your favorite item?
I most certainly do, I’d have to say it’s a toss up between my grey Florette Bomber Jacket, and my black Bandeau Bra. I love my jacket because I can dress it up or down, wear it day or night, but my black bandeau bra is practical. I love wearing my tops oversized so it’s nice to slide that on underneath and I feel really comfortable while I’m moving around quite a bit.
What is the most inspiring thing someone has ever told you?
Some old English gentleman in India told me that … “as a woman you should never settle, to know that you can have dreams and fulfill them, but to also know that you should always expect to work very hard for the rest of your life.” I found that to be very simple but very sobering, and for some reason it stuck with me.
What is your favorite feature on yourself? And why?
Oh geeze, um I would have to honestly say my nose because sometimes I actually hate it, I have one of those bumps in the middle of it, and I always wanted a smaller nose. However, I realized it just adds character quality to me and makes me real, which I often have to remind myself of when I attempt to compare myself to others.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I have an “art journal,” I would never in a million years call myself an artist but I have a journal that I sketch in, write poetry, tape pictures in that I have taken, or post things in there that inspire me, and I’d die if anyone looked through it.
