Introducing Myself

Who I am, how I got here, and what I hope to achieve with this Substack.

I posted my first TikTok on May 16, 2022 — it was a video explaining my vision for Dressed for the Law, an account that would chronicle my outfits and life as I studied for the LSAT.

My philosophy was (and still is!) simple: look good, feel good, do good. I’ve always felt deeply empowered by fashion, like a great outfit enables me to work at the top of my game. I leaned into this self-understanding and decided to document my outfits each morning before I hit the LSAT books.

Summer 2022 outfits

If you’ve been around since those early days, thank you. I see every like, comment, and message, and I am so grateful for your continued support. While I’ve been a less-than-consistent creator and have deleted many of my old posts (the cringe is too real), you continue to see something valuable in me. This Substack is for you.

When I posted that first TikTok, I was freshly twenty years old and had just finished my second year at the University of St Andrews. I dedicated that summer to the LSAT and planned to get it over with, one-and-done. Spoiler: it was not a one-and-done.

I took the LSAT five times. It was a tumultuous, ego-shattering, anxiety-inducing shitstorm. I could write a novel about my LSAT journey, but I’ll keep it to next week’s Substack post.

To the unfamiliar reader, I most definitely sound dramatic. But anyone who has taken — or knows someone who has taken — the LSAT knows that it is a beast of a test, something that requires 110% of what anyone can possibly give. And that’s exactly what I gave it. Again, and again, and again and again and again.

The more I struggled with the LSAT, the less inclined I felt to share online. The internet is an unpredictable, scary place, and I felt intimidated by the idea of anonymous trolls making me feel smaller than I already did. So I kept things surface-level — outfits of the day, workwear inspiration, styling videos. I still do.

While I will always appreciate an OOTD, I feel largely uninspired and unfulfilled by this shallow dance. I want to add value to my audience’s lives, not give them the URL to my jeans.

So, here I am, putting myself out there again.

Yet this time around, I want to share in a way that is sustainable, thoughtful, and safe, with people who respect me and what I have to say. Over the past two years of posting on TikTok, I’ve certainly gotten caught up in the race to virality. That isn’t my goal here. It wasn’t ever my goal, really. I want a small and strong community of readers who I trust to tell about my life.

That is why I’ve decided to take to long-form, written content, and charge a small fee for it. It’s not a money grab, or that I think I am above free content, but that I only want the right people here. I’m hoping that the right people — and only the right people — won’t mind spending $5/month to read my insights and advice. I’m hoping that that’s you.

Whether you’ve been here from the start or just recently found my page, allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Portia. I grew up on Long Island, New York, I’ll be twenty-two on May 9th, and I’m the youngest of two daughters. My parents are small business owners; my sister is a (uncharacteristically gorgeous) CPA and my best friend.

Me and my sister, summer 2006

I began working at my parents’ business from a young age, and continue to step into my role as manager whenever I’m home. My early exposure to the realities of business ownership informed my desire to work at the highest level of business; rather than hacking the weeds of daily operations, I want to work among the trees and assist many businesses across industries as a corporate lawyer.

I am over the moon to announce that I’m one step closer to making this dream a reality, and will be attending Harvard Law School this fall. It’s been five weeks since I received the call and two since I visited campus, and I’m still in disbelief. I’m not sure when — or if — I’ll shake this feeling. I’m overwhelmed and so unbelievably grateful.

So, what can you expect from me going forward?

This Substack will offer my insights and advice and a glance into my life. I’ll post every Wednesday morning on topics relating to the LSAT, law school, fashion, and lifestyle. You can expect a post about my LSAT journey, law school admissions cycle, and experience living in Scotland for four years, to name a few. One Wednesday each month will be a (free) fashion recap — things I bought, outfits I wore, styling tips and propositions.

Whether you’re studying for the LSAT, applying to law school, someone that likes my style, or my friends and family (hi all!), I think you’ll find that there will be something in here for everyone.

I will never claim to have all the answers or promise you infallible advice. I only have my experience, and I hope that you find value in it.

Thank you all so much for giving me the space and encouragement to continue sharing my life. It’s a weird thing to open yourself up to public scrutiny, but with you all, it often feels like I’m just chatting with friends.

All my best,
Portia