DORÉ

Man, do I love Nhi Mundy. Let me just start by saying that half-way through the shoot she whipped up a lunch that my dreams are made of—gnocchi in an olive oil & garlic sauce with a touch of sage, the freshest Greek salad I’ve ever laid my eyes on, and a small side of kalamata olives because, come on, everyone loves a good, salty kalamata olive. I could spend the rest of my days eating that lunch and sitting at a table with Nhi.

She is so full of wisdom and is so open to sharing it with her community. To no surprise, that is the sole purpose of her creative endeavors through Dveight magazine. She shines light on the opportunity and lifestyle of creatives who have chosen to live their lives on their own terms and away from the pressures of the city. So with love, I give you, Nhi Mundy!

Describe your style in 3 words.

Understated, uncomplicated, unassuming.

What’s most important when it comes to style: comfort, beauty, or innovation?

Comfort in the country, and beauty in the city.

Most valued thing in your closet?

Many moons ago I worked for Giorgio Armani, so I have a closet full of power suits that still look great to this day.

Do you have a fashion muse?

Not really.

Are there things you don’t wear?

I don’t wear mini skirts because I’m not a teenager anymore. And as much as its adopted in the restaurant industry, I refuse to wear Crocs. I avoid synthetic materials at all costs, and absolutely hate anything that is excessively monogrammed.

Like many people in the community, you left the city and have created an entirely different life for yourself in upstate New York. How has the slower lifestyle influenced the way you dress day to day? What do you love most about dressing now and what do you miss most about dressing for the city?

You have to be practical upstate. You’ll look silly wearing high heels (because they fall into the earth) or flip flops (because you could damage your feet) or an ostentatious designer bag (because it’s just not acceptable to flaunt). You can’t be too precious. I’ve adopted a J. Crew ballet flats, Chuck Taylors, or Frye boots). I think what I love the most about this evolved style is that it allows me the mental capacity to really focus on my creative projects and my family (both of which are thriving). But, to be honest, I’m really a dress-up kind of girl. Prior to moving up here, I wore heels almost every day and dresses almost every weekend. I miss that girl sometimes.

Your magazine Dveight is impeccably curated and features stellar local creatives. What do you look for in your subjects and what do you want readers to take away from each issue?

Living in the country can be very isolating because everything is so far away. Sometimes you forget that there’s this supportive community with people who are creating things, making things happen, or maybe just dreaming. I created Dveight to shine a light on these people—the underdogs, the undiscovered and the truly accomplished—and to inspire our readers and show them that moving outside the city limits can be as fulfilling, if not more.

You have an infectious entrepreneurial spirit. I left your home feeling so inspired to create. What do you feel has been the key to your bravery in taking risks? From restaurants to magazines, you have found ways to be creatively fulfilled and successful. Tell us about the journey from ideation to final result, what do you love most about the process each time and what have been the biggest challenges?

Any successful person who claims to have done it alone isn’t telling the whole truth. I couldn’t have achieved any of this without my partner, husband and father of my children, Michael Mundy. We are truly a team. He is always there to guide me when I am feeling insecure or overwhelmed; he is the source of my bravery. There are three things that I’ve learned from him: One, trust your instincts (especially your initial one!), hone it, and strengthen it. Two, if you don’t know what to do, then just do something. It’s a process of elimination. You learn firsthand what works and what doesn’t. And three, surround yourself with the very best people—your heroes. Every issue I launch and every new restaurant I open, I apply those values. I make decisions based on my instincts, I am not afraid to be wrong, and I surround myself with positive, creative, talented, and hardworking people. I think the biggest challenge for me as an entrepreneur is learning when to quit.