Ladies We Love: Editor and Artist Bianca Valle

If you’re not following Bianca Valle on Instagram yet—prepare for lots of double-tapping. We’re big fans of her uniquely personal style that’s equal parts tomboy, vintage inspired and unexpected. Originally from the West Coast, Bianca now lives in New York working as an editor and pursuing creative projects on the side. She shared her inspirations, most-frequented Chinatown spots and more, below.

Hello, we love you. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi! I’m Bianca. I’m the community manager/news editor at VFILES and I live in Chinatown.

Let’s talk go-tos…

Coffee order: Almond milk cappuccino
Outfit: Vans, straight-leg pants and a hoodie
Neighborhood spot(s): Little Canal, Dimes
Album/playlist: Depression Cherry by Beach House
Weekend plan: Taking a day trip or having a dinner party!

Seems like you’ve been hard at work since you moved to New York! Tell us about some of your experiences and what you learned from them.

I came to New York to attend NYU and was really excited to dive into interning right away. I had an internship at a new company every semester, from NYLON magazine to Milk Makeup to Refinery29. I graduated as a film and TV major with a minor in art history, right before landing a job at Milk Studios as their community manager. Then I became a beauty editor for NYLON. I was there for two months, enjoying every moment of being a part of the print magazine, when it folded.

Two weeks after the lay-offs, I got a call from VFILES asking if I wanted to join their team, and today I’m the community manager and news editor there. I’ve learned more from my experiences so far than any textbook could have taught me. Being resilient, endlessly positive and optimistic and surrounding yourself with good people is necessary to live the most fruitfully in this city. Also, keeping your head up and believing in yourself is key.

Now that’s some good advice. You also have a lot of artistic interests, from photography to painting to zine-making. What’s your main focus these days?

I’m so lucky that I’m able to express myself in many different creative ways. Photography will always be something I do, whether it’s for personal enjoyment or for a media outlet. But in the past year, I’ve gotten back into painting. When I was younger I would paint the day away, and now I crave to do the same.

Tell us about some standby sources of inspiration.

I get inspired by so many things. It could be a film, a moment on the street, a memory from a vacation. I often remember a quote from Grace Coddington, which goes something like, “always keep your eyes open, because you never know what’s going to inspire you.” My eyes are very open, to say the least.

What are some goals you’d like to accomplish this year?

I’d love to have another art show this year. I’d also like to continue paving my way through the beauty world.

And finally, who’s a lady you love in your life, and why?

My mother. Hands down. She’s the most selfless, strong, inspiring, kind and loving person I know. Not only do I have big shoes to fill as a mother but big shoes to fill as an individual. She’s a queen!

Thanks for the chat, Bianca! Love those jeans she’s wearing? Shop them here or check out the full Denim Bar.