Kate D’Arcy, 29, Villanova
Owner of Toggery, an organic and sustainable women’s fashion line
» Book on her nightstand: There’s always a Women’s Wear Daily, the current issues of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Right now, I’m reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. It outlines the similarities among highly successful individuals.
» iPod artist on repeat: I listen to a large range of music, but I love Jay-Z; The Blueprint 3 is such a great album. I always have on some type of Bob Dylan or Led Zeppelin.
» Restaurant of the hour: Most of my family now lives in West Chester, and there’s a great restaurant called High Street Caffe that I love. There’s really good food, and it has a good atmosphere.
» Personal hero: Diane von Furstenberg, because of the fashion empire she’s created and her longevity in the fashion industry. I really look to her as who I’d like to see myself being.
» One thing she knows for sure: The grass is always greener on the other side.
» Very own vici: The fact that I’ve been able to take a concept of what I wanted to create and make it what it is today.
» Zen destination: My family has a house in Avalon, which is great. But so many people go there in the summer. I love going in October, when no one’s really there.
» If she had an extra hour each day, she would: Read more.
» Life view: chance or fate? For the most part, I think it’s fate, but having momentum and vision and direction along the way can definitely sculpt that.
» Pet peeve: Inconsiderate people.
» Most marked characteristic: I can laugh at myself.
» Quality she admires most in others: Compassion.
» Mantra: Keep going. Every single day, I have to wake up and keep plugging away.
