SLUG Style: Delaney Gagliano

Delaney Gagliano is a waitress at Purgatory Bar and a staunch advocate for reducing waste and environmentally unfriendly practices in the world of fashion. Follow Gagliano on Instagram @delaneyrose.png.

Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct and unique member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.

SLUG: What are your stylistic influences? This could be a band, decade, fictional character—anything.

Delaney Gagliano: Thrifting, the ’70s and preppier silhouettes have been my biggest inspiration lately. I also adore elegant details like lace, fur and pearls. Pairing these typically luxurious items with a $3 thrifted sweater brings me a weird sort of satisfaction.

SLUG: What are your interests or hobbies? What is the hobby or interest that you have that no one would realize to ask you about?

Gagliano: I love spending time with my people, making a variety of arts & crafts, cooking, thrifting and hanging out with my kitties.

If you didn’t know me, you might be surprised to know I adore Dungeons & Dragons and video games.

SLUG: Are you always “on” or would someone see you at the grocery store, for example, with less elements of your style?

Gagliano: I absolutely have off days—sometimes you’ve got to value comfort. I do, however, try to make sure my comfy clothes are intentional and fashion-conscious. At the very least, I’ll always match and have good shoes.

SLUG: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would those be?

Gagliano: Bubbly, sharp and kind

SLUG: How has your personal style evolved over time?

Gagliano: I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago wearing athleisure like every other 16-year-old girl—moving to Logan, UT, for college drastically changed the clothing I had access to. I wasn’t a fan of what was in stores there, so I relied on thrifting things that felt more like me. That’s when I truly started experimenting with my style and getting fun statement pieces or quirky accessories. This environmentally conscious practice also helped me experiment without being unnecessarily wasteful or break the bank.

SLUG: You work at Purgatory! Can you please talk a little about your experience working there?

Gagliano: I’m a waitress there and I enjoy every aspect. I like the fast-paced environment, delicious food, creative cocktails and the incredible people that give the place life. I can’t say enough wonderful things about my coworkers, and it’s refreshing to work in an environment where people genuinely enjoy spending their time.

SLUG: Your fashion seems to combine different aspects of different eras of fashion. How do you see different decades informing your looks and sense of style?

Gagliano: I draw a lot of inspiration from the ’70s, with chunky boots, flared pants, fun tights and high-waisted silhouettes—not to mention the most incredible color palettes. The ’80s inspire my love for funky prints and pattern mixing. The ’90s had oversized pieces and a bit of grunge, which inform a lot of my streetwear. I just take the aspects of each decade I appreciate the most and mesh them into one.

SLUG: Anything else you wanted to bring up?

Gagliano: Fast fashion isn’t sustainable. It’s a gross misuse of resources, an abuse of workers and a great way to pack landfills. Buying 30 items off Shein because it’s affordable isn’t okay, and it doesn’t mean you have a sense of style. I think thrifting older garments gave me an appreciation for a variety of styles and helped me find myself. Searching with intention for pieces I wanted to add to my closet made them that much more rewarding to own. Putting so much thought behind how I would dress everyday has allowed me to feel the most “me.”