All Dressed Up With Nowhere To Go: Ally Shapiro

Who isn't absolutely, completely, hopelessly desperate for an excuse to get dressed up these days?

While Ally Shapiro is far too busy doing the absolute most these days - sending meals to medical professionals, helping them get to and from work, tie dying masks for the masses - to get caught up in such silly feelings of sartorial nonfulfillment, we couldn't be happier to have her indulge us for a brief moment. The society staple strikes a pose and dishes on her and mom Jill Zarin's amazing new charitable adventures.

What are you wearing?
An Alexis dress and Dior sandals.

Where are you riding out the storm?
In Boca Raton, FL with my family.

What's been the most amazing thing about giving back?
The community we have created and the relationships we have made with thousands of healthcare workers, police officers, fire fighters, and front liners. Our Go Fund Me, Noshes for Nurses, started with me reaching out to my community of friends and family on the frontlines. But in the three months since we launched, it has become a platform where people from around the country can reach out to request meals, transportation, and masks. 

I constantly check in on these heroes to make sure their basic needs are being met since they barely have time for themselves. While we started by donating meals to nurses, we quickly learned that another huge need was getting to and from work. One doctor I spoke with said she was paying $125 to get to and from Elmhurst hospital every day. That of course is the exception, with other workers still taking public transportation. So, we partnered with Lyft to provide free ride credits in NYC for hospital workers. 

Once masks became a required part of daily life for everyone, we pivoted again and decided to not only sell our non-PPE masks to the greater public, but for every one purchased we donate one. From Arizona, to Boston, Wisconsin, Illinois and NYC, hundreds of essential workers and front liners have shared their story of needing a comfortable and reusable mask when they are off duty. Not only are our masks better for the environment, they are comfortable, breathable, and chic!

How would you describe your mask style?
More is more! I love wearing a tie dye mask with a fun outfit. My mom actually prefers the ombre look and really pushed the plain tie dye masks.

What's been making you the happiest lately?
Seeing how much of an impact we are really having. I knew that we had an engaged audience of people that loved my mom from the RHONY days, but I never realized how large our reach was. Waking up to texts and DM’s of gratitude from complete strangers who I may never meet IRL has humbled me in more ways than I can express.

Favorite thing you've watched so far?
Since I am on my feet tie dyeing all day I haven’t had too much time for TV! But, I love the new season of “Dead to Me” and “Killing Eve.”

What's one little luxury of normal life you miss the most?
Being spontaneous. I love starting a day or a night off with one plan and ending up meeting new friends and going to new places you had never been to or heard of before!

What's the most fabulous thing you've done in quarantine?
I went from being laid off on March 13th to starting Noshes for Nurses on the 15th and raising over $55k, feeding over 25,000 front liners, and launching a business! If you had told me this is what 2020 would look like I would never have believed you.