In this bi-weekly series, we ask female executives, founders, CEOs - basically boss ladies - about their "power suits," the clothes they wear every day to conquer any job. [Entering the fashion industry is like being allowed into a special club, and the stories of those who have made it are often inspiring. Putting in the work, getting to know yourself, and being kind to everyone you meet are the keys to success in fashion, pillars of Lisa Aiken, Fashion and Buying Director at Moda Operandi, the largest luxury e-commerce retailer.

Growing up in Newcastle, England, Aiken knew early on that she wanted a career in fashion. She moved to London and landed an internship at Matches (now MatchesFashion (open in new tab)), which at the time had a store in west London. The fashion industry has always been notoriously tough," she says. It's glamorous from the start, there's a lot of competition, and you can enter through many different routes," says Aiken. But in the end, it's your commitment to the industry that shines through."

That dedication and passion made Aiken stand out among his peers. "At the time, (Fashion and Buying Director) Bridget Cosgrave didn't really like typing. I was like, 'Okay, I can do it,'" Aiken recalls. 'Bridget was my idol. I read about her in the Sunday Times, in books, took her lectures, all kinds of things. Naturally, I was scared. Towards the end, she didn't pause in trying to type as fast as you could, she looked at me and said, 'You spelled the designer's name all right. I said, 'I was a Saturday girl at the only upscale store in Newcastle and I sold a lot of these collections in the store to pay for college. She looked at me and was like, 'Hmm, that's great,' and walked away. ' That was my first impression of Brigitte, and we've had a really great relationship ever since."

From Match, Aiken spent a year testing her limited German language skills at Mytheresa in Munich before returning to London to work as a fashion director at Net-a-Porter (and get married.) Seven years later, Aiken was in a small business where she could work cross functionally as a company She longed to work for a smaller company where she could work cross-functionally as a corporate employee. She landed at Moda, where she leads the buying team.

"I spend my time curating the assortment [of products] with the team, managing the business, talking to multiple areas of the organization about how to support their investments, and working with the US Moda team, which is a trunk show business," says Aiken. The Trunk Show models are designed to connect designers and clients in real time." Essentially, the runway takes place and the consumer can purchase any of the looks. I love that all the power is placed in the hands of the consumer. Because maybe, just maybe, the whole world will move to pre-ordering. It is a more sustainable approach to production, and thus buyers will no longer be needed.

Until then, Aiken is responsible for putting the essentials in front of us. How does she choose which bags, shoes, and new designers to feature?"[11] Aiken says that data on consumer behavior plays an important role in how products are presented to shoppers, a balance between head and heart. In traditional retail, we have historical sales reports to see what sold and what didn't. "In addition to what Moda has and what I have on hand, I can read directly what consumers liked at the trunk show." What is added to the cart, what is liked, the number of page views, all of these things build an image and directly relate to the consumer's attitude toward a given collection."

Despite having access to the latest, most current designer collections, Aiken says that is not how he dresses every day. While she once considered herself a "real fashion fanatic" and loved anything new, in recent years her personal style has leaned toward a more minimalist approach (neutral tones with a statement piece here and there). top purchased in her early teens. Store skirts, to Celine bags from her Phoebe Philo days, to Acne jeans that are no longer on the market, her special items are what she calls "investment pieces."

Earlier, Aiken delves deeper into her personal style, especially her telecommuting attire, and shares some tips on how she made it in the cutthroat fashion industry.

"My alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. every day, including weekends. I'm trying to get out of that, but that's all I can do right now. I am not a speed freak. I run, I do virtual classes. Even if my body doesn't feel like it, a 20 minute run gives me a little mental space without pushing myself too hard. I've also taken up yoga, which has never been my strong suit. After my workout, I have a hot cup of tea and FaceTime with family and friends due to the time difference (my family is in England). If I don't make it to that time in the morning, it's too late (to chat)."

"Before I work from home, I check the weather for the day, take a shower, and come up with something that will inspire me for the day. I like to wear one thing and build everything else around it. Sometimes I'm in the office, sometimes I'm in a showroom, sometimes I'm at a runway show. All those factors come into play (how I dress). Now it's much easier because commute times and weather don't matter as much. It's refreshing to work from home, where it's not really a consideration anymore."

"There are some really nice basic pieces. Simple things like tank tops and skinny ribbed knits are generally worn over them, a little closer to the body. Personally, I like to wear something close to my body, like a jersey or a tank with a neckline on zoom, and wear a slip skirt or wide-leg pants. I only have one sweatshirt. I do laundry more often now, but even on weekends it's hard to spend time in sweats. I'm totally exhausted after fashion week, and I want to spend the day watching a movie or having a cup of tea for myself, but I can't spend it in sweatpants.

My old uniform was an oversized blazer, jeans, t-shirt, and heels. If I didn't know what to wear when I showered, that was my set routine. I have several different choices and mix and match them to keep it interesting. I don't wear denim much now, and I don't wear heels. I don't wear blazers much because they look boxy on zoom. When in doubt, a tank top and a chunky chain necklace.

I styled more of Zoom's background. I have nicer glassware now and more greenery in my apartment. I bought a desk and desk chair that I like. My uniform extends to my homeware as much as what I wear.

Now that I am in Mexico doing WFH, it is quite warm. I'm wearing more resort wear brands like ready-to-wear; I like Totem and Frankie Shop, and Jacquemus has a collection of oversized shirts and shrunken knits that I want to wear now"

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"Simple, maybe neutral, and preferably well accessorized."

"Above all, just be kind. I know it sounds simple, but it is interesting. In our industry, we hear a lot about bad behavior, bad character, egos, etc., and of course we all come into contact with such individuals. But the majority of the people I meet in our industry are wonderful people. I think being nice to each other and in your career will always go a very long way."