When Nelly Carreño started working as a meteorologist 14 years ago, she had two wardrobes: polished outfits for work on air and edgier clothes for real life. Today her style is more a hybrid.
“I’ve merged on screen and off as I’ve gotten older,” she said. “Now I usually wouldn’t wear a skirt that goes above my knee.”
The Mexico City-born Carreño, who works at New England Cable News, described her look as “classic with a Latin flair.” She loves flowy skirts, and dresses that cling and flatter, but not too tightly.
“Having a curvy body, people can be offended by it very easy,” she said. “I get a lot of e-mails.”
The petite blonde is loyal to North End boutique Twilight, her go-to for dresses. “I get a lot of stuff there because the owner [Alison Barnard] will tell me the truth.”
Favorites include ABS by Allen Schwartz, Zara, Vince Camuto, and Ralph Lauren. Given that she tries not to wear the same dress twice in two months, Carreño is not a fan of high-end designer goods.
“I don’t subscribe to spending $5,000 on a purse,” she said. “That’s never going to compute in my head.”
Digitizing fashion has changed her life: She uses Wardrobe Journal, a fashion app that allows her to rate outfits and reminds her when she wore it last. “If my boss doesn’t like it, I’ll only give it one star. This oatmeal dress I wore March 9 got three stars. It was probably too snug.”
Her most revealing on-air wardrobe: “Telemundo [where she worked 2007-10] was more racy. That’s a closet that doesn’t even fit me now.”
On viewers’ expectations: “People judge you every day on what you’re wearing. You can’t have an off day. Someone last blizzard complained I wasn’t wearing a belt or jewelry. “Nelly looks very plain today. Maybe she should wear some jewelry.” I had slept at the studio the night before because there were no hotel rooms. Are you kidding me?”
WHAT SHE’S WEARING
Gray tank and flare dress with nude mesh midriff band by Bailey44. Bought at Twilight in Boston last week.
Brown suede BCBG boots. Bought at Rue La La last fall.
A FEW OF HER FAVORITE THINGS
Black leather studded belt by ADA collection. Bought at Twilight a couple of weeks ago.
Long chain necklace with crystals. From Twilight.
Black perforated faux leather skirt by Sugarlips. From Twilight.
Jill Radsken can be reached at jill.radsken@gmail.com