Today we’d like to introduce you to Telly Brodd.
Hi Telly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a born and raised Texan who now calls Houston home. I am a single mother of two amazing kids who keep me on my toes every chance they get between Soccer, Lacrosse, school functions and their own social calendars. I feel my days are nonstop until my head hits the pillow. I work as a Litigation Case Manager for The Connolly Law Firm and that is honestly where my story, in regards to fashion, began. I started modeling when I was 18 years old and fell in love with the world of fashion. It is so fun to be behind the scenes in the hustle and bustle of shoots and fashion shows. I have never had a “style” so to speak, however, I have always worn what makes me feel good that day or what fits the vibe. When I moved to Houston in 2009 I entered the Professional world but I still wanted to maintain my own twist with fashion in the workplace. I enjoyed mixing classic styles with modern elements. I had my social media page already setup for my modeling work as an “online portfolio” so to speak. However, I decided not to renew my agency contract so my page was kind of sitting there until I had the ah-ha moment of “I’m already dressed up for work, I might as well snap a picture and tell everyone where they can achieve the same look.” This idea was sparked when people would stop and ask where I bought something or send a message asking the same when a selfie would get posted. I am ‘that girl’ that will brag when I caught a great sale or say “thanks, it has pockets too!” So, between my quirky style and personality, I decided to help women with fashion and how to dress chic and cut some costly corners. I love combining SHEIN, Target or Amazon finds with Gucci, Valentino, Prada staples and making it all work together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest obstacles I face regularly is being taken seriously in the workplace because I am a woman in a pencil skirt and polka dot blouse. I always laugh because I feel my style is my outlet in my day to day life. I always say when describing my job is that “I literally get paid to argue all day”, so I need fun patterns and amazing shoes to maintain a balance mentally. My daughter likes to call me “Elle Woods” from the movie “Legally Blonde” and while I am not ditsy I do deal with the stereotypes of not being smart enough to maintain my composure in a Courtroom because of my appearance. It is my ace in the hole though. Let them judge and assume then I will shock them when the moment strikes.
Another obstacle is being a single mom and loving fashion like I do. I understand how pricey it can be. However, e-commerce has come so far and now you can really find some amazing pieces for a lot less. I always tell my followers and friends, be smart in their purchases. Invest in the timeless staple pieces that will never go out of style like shoes, belts or handbags. Be more frugal with the items that tend to fade with the times like blouses, pants, skirts. Build your closet with staple pieces for everyday life and the workplace, then grow from there.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work for the Connolly Law Firm and essentially I am Kevin Connolly’s right-hand ‘man’. His firm specializes in personal injury law and it is something I fell into but love every minute of it. The firm has some amazing women who are like family to me now as well. We all work cohesively together and it’s almost like a dance to witness. Kevin and I love going into court together. He kind of has this ‘bad boy’ look to him and we will coordinate some on our trial attire so that it looks uniform and intentional. We both do not look the typical part when it comes to law but we know to use it to our advantage in court and love walking out of the courtroom with a jury verdict in our favor. Together we have this “blindside them” approach and it seems to work.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
There is so much to like about Houston but one of my most favorite things is probably the endless options in regards to dining. I LOVE to cook and food is something I have always been passionate about. When I moved here I immediately fell in love with the food culture Houston offers. You can easily find something to suit any craving you may have; and yes, I will dress to fit the restaurant vibe always. It’s my two loves, beyond my children, merged cohesively into one. You can find a foodie paradise to fit any occasion. Casual weeknight spots like Loro or Squabble are always perfect and the food and service is consistently good. Girls night out at The Annie Café and Bar overlooking The Galleria. Brunch at a’Bouzy on a Sunday Afternoon with a great group of friends. Or hitting up somewhere fun and local like Trash Panda where they are always having cool and unique pop up’s that is an attraction in itself. I love how TikTok has also opened up our eyes to neat little secret spots all around Houston. For me, food and fashion go hand in hand because food is a presentation in itself and when done right or plated right, the textures, flavors and colors paired perfectly is as pleasing as a perfectly tailored suit.
I don’t feel that I am alone when I state my dislike when it comes to Houston though, the Traffic is awful. I feel no matter what time of day it is, there is always traffic. Working in Personal Injury you would assume that wrecks and such should make me a little happy as it means that business is coming in but I dread my drive into work. Houston is so big and so many roadways merge or cross over that people just get jammed up all the time. We also have a large populations so it makes sense as we are all just trying to get to where we need to be in that moment but I would not complain if we figured out some type of short distance teleportation. Audiobooks saves my drive in to work and court in so many ways. I can almost escape in that moment and let my brain take a detour into whatever book I am listening to and it helps make it a little less mundane. Some of my favorite books I have read on my drives in are “The Alchemist” and “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”. Highly recommend each of those if you want a mental escape from the hustle and bustle.
Contact Info:
- Website: theconnollylawfirm.com
- Instagram: @telly_b_styled
Image Credits
Jacqueline Ann Photography
