Fashionand the Non-Traditional Job by Laila Silva
“ Dress for the job you want , not for the job you have .” Working in the corporate world full time , I often hear this phrase . In fact , I am one of the people who utilizes it for inspiration . I often dress up , probably more than I need to , because I hope to one day have that lakeview offi ce I ’ ve always dreamed of . However , what if the job you want has nothing to do with becoming a CEO ? How do you dress if you want to be an artist , an athlete , or maybe even a performer ?
Lily Molina is a Floridian who was raised in Orlando for most of her life . From the time she was fi ve years old , she knew she wanted to be a dancer and choreographer . Coming from a family that didn ’ t necessarily support those types of careers , she had to fi nd other ways to stand out and make sure her dreams came true .
“ I was not your typical kid dancer whose parents put her in ballet classes since she was three years old . Dance was not something they approved of , so all the way until I was 18 years old , I was self-taught .” Watching DVDs and MTV videos — think back before YouTube — helped Molina learn the latest moves and eventually encouraged her to keep dreaming . In the meantime , she had to fi nd other ways to stand out and use fashion to help her defi ne her career .
Orlando ’ s Art Scene , v . 1.5
Lily Molina , photo by Tony Cortez Photography
“ Whenever I would go to free dancing classes or networking events where I knew dancers and choreographers would be , I made sure I dressed like a dancer . I ’ m not talking about ballerina shoes and tights ; I ’ m referring to unique hairstyles , interesting patterns in my clothes , and shoes — always interesting shoes .”
There was a point where Molina had over 100 pairs of sneakers . She slowly started being known in the Orlando dance world for her
photo provided by Emmy Freevele fi erce moves , unique style , and , of course , her collection of shoes .
Once she turned 18 , she started taking classes and her dancing improved more and more . With time , she began teaching , choreographing , and eventually moved to Los Angeles for opportunities she never could have imagined . But how was life once she was in the land of entertainment ? Did fashion still matter , or was her talent enough ?
“ I defi nitely have booked gigs because of my dancing abilities , but I also attribute that to my style . Imagine being in a room full of girls all auditioning for a Justin Timberlake video . They all looked similar — same color hair , similar type of bodies . I learned early on that I had to stand out . I have tattoos , I have changed my hairstyle at least eight times in one year , and I always look for interesting outfi ts to audition in at thrift stores and fl ea markets . I enjoy evolving and changing , but I also know part of my job is to be a chameleon and adapt . If I book a gig and they want to dye my hair , shave my eyebrows , or do extreme makeup , I am all in . I know it comes with the territory and I love it .”
Some of the gigs Molina has booked are national dancing commercials for Target and other major retailers , as well as videos with Justin Timberlake , Jordin Sparks , Enrique Iglesias . She has also appeared in the critically acclaimed movie , Straight Outta Compton .
Most recently , she got to choreograph and style the country hit “ How Not To ” by Dan + Shay . “ How Not To ” has close to half a million views on YouTube and will be featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live this month .
“ For me , this was my biggest accomplishment yet . They believed in my concept , from the choreography to the clothing , and it all came together . You can also see that my style has evolved into a more mature feel .”
Molina knows her career would not be as successful if it weren ’ t for her attention to fashion . So , what are her thoughts on my earlier phrase , “ Dress for the job you want , not for the job you have ”?
“ I really feel that phrase is one-sided . If your goal is to work from home and own your own business , I would not recommend you wear pajamas all day . I think it ’ s all about wearing clothes that motivate you , make you feel good about yourself , and help you fi g- ure out your path in life — whatever that is .”
You can see more at : LilsMoDance . wix . com / LilyJ
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