Grace, Grit, and the Power of a Red Cora Sweatshirt
Kairee Tann of @tenkeypieces
The first time I saw Kairee Tann on Instagram, I stopped scrolling.
There she was—effortlessly composed in a crisp oversized blouse and trousers that walked the line between runway and real life. No over-filtered glow. No try-hard aesthetic. Just clean, modern style that looked lived in and incredibly intentional. Her handle, @tenkeypieces, wasn’t just catchy—it was a whole system. Minimalism, with backbone. Ease, with edge.
So imagine my surprise when I realized we were practically neighbors. A few DMs later, I invited her to my studio in Oakland and we were geeking out over our favorite sustainable brands, vintage finds, and why Psychology of Clothing should be required reading for anyone with a closet. Since then, she’s become a friend, a creative collaborator, and a woman I genuinely admire—not just for her timeless style and career smarts, but for how she shows up in a world that’s often quick to write off women once we hit a certain birthday.
This is why I sat down with Kairee for a real conversation about style over 50—what it actually looks like, why it matters, and how she’s finding beauty in the unexpected.
Name:
Kairee Tann, (pronounced ky-ree)
Occupation:
Director of Innovation and Community Impact for a commercial real estate company, overseeing company policy and practices in sustainability and real estate technology adoption, as well as overseeing the community engagement program.
Insta:
Currently residing in:
El Cerrito, CA
Let's start with the basics—Innovation and Community Impact sounds impressive (and intense!). What does a typical day look like for you, and what part of your work brings you the most joy?
Sustainability is top of mind during my typical day and as an ethical style blogger for many years, I’m fortunate my day job dovetails so nicely with my passion for conscious consumerism. I work in commercial real estate and as you have probably heard buildings are responsible for roughly 40% of all carbon emissions. In my day job I’m responsible for managing and implementing the decarbonization road maps for the office buildings in our west coast portfolio to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030 and attain net zero by 2040. This is a big lift and not all of it can be tackled at the building level. Technology plays a large role in this, so on a typical day I’m interacting with technology companies to implement solutions to help our buildings consume less fossil fuels and to operate in a more energy efficient way. Sometimes this includes interviewing startup companies, or networking with other sustainability directors from peer companies who have already implemented these solutions.
We work with several nonprofits in the Bay Area and it can seem like I’m wearing a different hat, however one of my great joys is in finding unique ways to engage with our community impact partners through the lens of sustainability. Last month we recruited a construction crew of over 30 workers to clear an overgrown school garden that will be used to grow vegetables for the school’s culinary program. And next year we are sponsoring a beehive program at this location. We also have hives on the rooftops of many of our buildings. The students will learn about biodiversity through hands on workshops and will be able to use the honey in their culinary and science programs. Next year we are working with a digital arts non-profit in Oakland who train students in high quality film and photography. The students will create a series of photos for our annual sustainability report. In return the students learn about their role as content creators in the real estate industry, and by procuring work in this way we are also acting as conscious consumers.
You've been known to rock a killer ensemble and a timeless beauty look. Any advice on how to keep things polished even when life feels like a whirlwind? (Asking for the rest of us juggling work, family, and life!)
For me it starts with organization and being able to see everything on a rack (or multiple racks) curated for the current season. For many years I stuck to a 10 piece capsule for each season and rotated through combinations from these pieces (hence my blog handle!) This still works for those whirlwind days when I need a classic look for the office. But to create killer ensembles I moved away from limiting myself while still being as sustainable as possible. For inspiration I look to the runways and take written notes of 1) what resonates and 2) whether I can recreate the look from items already in my closet or supplement with vintage or consigned. I still use the 10 pieces list for my foundation, but amplify that with more fashion forward runway inspired items. For example, I was so moved by that olive green wool coat with the mink collar on the Prada runway, that I tracked down a vintage version (almost the exact same look from the runway) on Etsy.
Are there any rituals or practices you lean on to stay grounded? (Especially on days that don't go according to plan!)
When days don’t go as planned I’ve been known to shake up a dirty martini from my vintage bar cart! Kidding aside though, I try to start each morning with a brief meditation and breathing exercises, and remind myself that I’m doing the best that I can. I’m going through quite a few personal life changes and outright curveballs at the moment and so it helps to remind myself of the things and people I’m grateful for.
What's one myth about women over 50 that you're thrilled to debunk?
That fashion is frivolous at our age. I don’t know why there’s a perception that looking disheveled is a sign that you are 100% focused on your profession. There’s a tendency to think women of a certain age should not take fashion seriously and that if we look stylish, we must not be working hard enough. Being put together is a sign that you are organized (see question 2) and when you set foot in that door, you CAN focus on the job because you’ve planned several steps ahead.
What's a question you wish people asked you more often? And, of course, what's your answer?
This goes back to the above question. When I was in engineering school I took an elective called Psychology of Clothing and learned so much about how we are wired to connect by external appearance, specifically clothing, body jewelry, and tattoos. I wish people would ask me about what I’m wearing! And don’t take this as wanting to talk someone’s ear off about what I’m wearing. Quite the opposite, I like to hear about how others think and feel about fashion and style and what their joys or pain points are. Fashion is a wonderful ice breaker and when people talk about clothing it opens doors for more ways to connect. We all need more of this during these times.
Finally, do you have a favorite Lacson Ravello piece? If so, how and where do you wear it?
I love so many and choosing just one is difficult. It would have to be the Cora sweatshirts which I have in grey and red. They really elevate any look from casual to corporate. I like to pair the grey Cora with dark barrel leg denim for weekend errands. The red Cora was a game changer for me. I actually shy away from wearing red but when I paired it with a camel trouser from Victoria Beckham it was chef’s kiss, perfect for dinner and afterwork cocktails.
Why This Matters
Here’s what I love most about Kairee: she’s proof that fashion over 50 doesn’t have to mean playing it safe—or fading quietly into the background. In fact, it’s the perfect time to take a few risks. To wear the bold color. Try the unexpected silhouette. Mix the vintage pieces with your weekday staples. Kairee’s days are spent driving sustainability in commercial real estate—a role that’s anything but surface-level—and yet she still believes in the value of showing up polished and pulled together. Not for appearances, but because a few key, well-chosen pieces can help you move through the world with more clarity, confidence, and ease.
If you’ve ever stood in front of your closet wondering how to make style feel exciting again—or wondered if it even matters anymore—Kairee is your sign that it does. That you do.
Her handle may be @tenkeypieces, but her real gift? Helping us see that less can be more without being boring.
If you’re looking to build a closet that actually reflects where you are right now—confident, curious, and over everyone’s expectations—I can’t recommend our Cora Sweatshirts enough. It’s not about chasing trends. It’s about pieces that work—and feel like you.
Follow Kairee on Instagram at @tenkeypieces for more clean beauty, sharp style, and zero-filter realness.
Related Reading:
• Lisa Haukom: Empowering Women through Self-Portrait Photography
• How Feng Shui Can Transform Your Space—and Your Life: A Q+A with Amanda Gibby Peters of Simple Shui
• Turning 50: 10 Things I've Learned