Every creative entrepreneur has a unique spark that fuels their drive and imagination. Surprisingly for Monica San Luis, it’s her corporate job that keeps her creative hobbies feeling the most exciting. And vice versa, as well.
San Luis is a menswear buyer by day and content creator by, well, all other hours of the day. Both jobs have spelled success for the Hawaii native and New York transplant, and she is prepared to convince us why two jobs are better than one. What else fuels her very on-the-go schedule? SOREL’s latest Viibe sandals.
Just in time for Spring, San Luis has taken the new platform slides for a spin. She shows us just how versatile these sandals are for an influencer on the go, a work-from-home pro, and even a soon-to-be Coachella audience member. Ahead, San Luis shares how she juggles all her creative endeavors and the way these comfy, versatile shoes make the hustle all the more enjoyable.
To get started, what does your on-the-clock, 9-to-5 schedule look like?
“I work in men’s buying at Macy's. I work from home predominantly but it's so different from day to day because there are a million things to do. If my days looked the same all the time, it would be really boring. That's also why I love my 5-to-9.”
You’ve been building your career as a content creator since college, how do you find balance between that role and your full-time job?
“Well, I moved home to Hawaii from June 2020 until September 2021 and was doing a lot of my series content creation there. But by the time I moved back to New York, I noticed that everybody hustled so hard over the past year and there was this wave of friends who had quit their full-time job to be full-time content creators. For me, that never crossed my mind. I love the corporate world, which is such a hot take. I love the idea of having a day-to-day job and being a content creator. I felt like it was super important for me to keep both my 9-to-5 and my 5-to-9 because it gave me that sense of normalcy.
“I also feel like if you start to rely on content creation to pay your rent and to pay your expenses, it just doesn't become a passion anymore. You kind of lose that drive. So being able to have two careers in my life—each that gives me some stability and speaks to my creative side—is really exciting.”
With such a jam-packed schedule, what does your style realistically look like day-to-day?
“When I'm working from home, I’m always in a sweatsuit or loungewear and comfy house slippers. Then, depending on the time of year, there could be a lot of influencer events after work. Unless it’s a fancy dinner, I'll wear a pair of jeans with a cute top and jacket. But typically after work, I like to work out, so I’ll also wear a cozy workout set with a good pair of slides, like these Sorel sandals, that I’ll throw on before I head to spin class.”
As someone who lives in a major city, has multiple jobs, and has varied responsibilities, how important is the right footwear for your schedule?
“It is actually the most important thing. Because of my lifestyle, I have so many shoes that I can throw on and walk out the door because they look good with everything and I can wear them for hours. And the Sorel Viiibe sandals are like that, too. They mold to my feet—which makes them so comfortable—they're cute and easy to throw on. I also love that they’re neutral colors because they match everything.”
How would you dress up a shoe like this for perhaps a slightly more special occasion, like a dinner or casual date night?
“The Viibe sandals are awesome because they go with everything. I think they look so cute with a great pair of jeans, giving more of a retro vibe with their platform heels. It’s an easy way to make a casual outfit feel special. I’d also style them with a sundress in the warmer weather. They’re the perfect complement. That's usually how I’d approach dressing for dinner with friends or my boyfriend: throw on an easy outfit formula and go.”
Location: Ryan’s Daughter
We hear you may also have plans to head to Coachella this spring. How would you put together outfit formulas for that kind of setting?
“I've gone to Coachella for the past three years, but I go with my siblings, which is so fun. We all live in different states so it's such a good way for us to reunite, bond, and have fun for a few days. It's also a good time to detach a bit—which is so counterintuitive because of all the influencers who also go to Coachella—but that’s why I love it.
“That said, it is the hardest event to plan outfits for because it needs to be killer and it needs to be weather-appropriate for long, hot days and freezing nights. Plus, the footwear needs to be the coolest shoe, but also something I can walk miles in and jump around. For me, my Coachella style is very much about statement pieces paired with comfortable shoes. I travel light and I don’t carry extra pairs, so I look for shoes like the Sorel Viibe slides that can last all day”
Location: Ryan’s Daughter
In general, how do your creative endeavors fuel you and carry over into all other parts of your life, on or off the clock?
“If I didn't have this creative outlet, I would be so stressed. I think it's awesome that I'm able to monetize content, but it started as a hobby. It started as me wanting to share my outfits, curate a grid on Instagram, and make fun videos. Now it's a way to express myself and document my life. I find joy in it and it makes everything else I do—from traveling to my day job—a little bit more joyful, as well.”
