For award-winning chef, television personality, and cookbook author Claudette Zepeda, the daily uniform of a professional kitchen—sturdy Blundstones and a functional, stain-prone apron—stands in sharp contrast to her vibrant personal style. While her professional life requires practical gear designed to handle the high-heat demands of culinary arts, Zepeda prefers to lean heavily into what she calls "dopamine dressing" whenever her schedule permits. Whether she is promoting her new cookbook, Cooking the Borderlands, or appearing as a competitor on the Food Network series Bobby Flay’s The Line, Zepeda approaches fashion with a philosophy centered on whimsy, cultural pride, and a refusal to conform to conventional sartorial rules.
Reflecting on her approach to style, Zepeda shares a perspective that challenges traditional ideas about when and where special-occasion clothing should be worn. Noting an encounter where someone asked her how she chooses what to wear for major events, her response was simple: "Well, I’m the occasion." She rejects the notion that certain garments belong exclusively in specific environments, choosing instead to wear her standout pieces on ordinary days like a Monday.
This fearless attitude toward fashion draws deeply from her Mexican heritage, where the celebration of visual culture, bold accessories, and dramatic flair is woven into everyday life. Zepeda notes that Mexican culture embraces historical figures who were outspoken and larger-than-life, citing influences like Alejandra Guzmán—often dubbed the Madonna of Mexico—and the high drama of telenovelas. She recalls that her hometown boasts an entire shopping destination dedicated solely to cocktail jewelry, proving that for many in her culture, an expressive accessory moment is an essential part of daily existence.
Zepeda’s wardrobe also embraces a darker, more contemplative aesthetic, balancing her bright, whimsical pieces with a self-described "goth heart." Drawing a parallel to Wednesday Addams, she points out that Mexican culture maintains a profound, long-standing relationship with mortality and remembrance, a topic of conversation introduced early in childhood. Because of this cultural framework, she finds inherent beauty in black garments, frequently elevating them with sharp contrasts, such as vibrant candy-colored heels.
Throughout a week of diverse engagements, Zepeda’s outfit choices tell a story of personal history, empowerment, and nostalgia. For one look, she pairs a Zara blazer, Amazon top, and Zara pants with Steve Madden heels, leaning into her darker aesthetic. For another appearance tied to her cookbook promotion, she steps out in a striking dress crafted by her friend who owns the fashion line Ada & Edith, paired with silver thigh-high boots from Amazon. Those boots, she explains, evoke a visceral memory of watching Pretty Woman as a teenager and witnessing the formidable power of Julia Roberts’ footwear, giving her a sense of invincible confidence.
Functionality still plays a role in her daily accessorizing, particularly when it comes to eyewear. Having worn prescription glasses since the age of seventeen with significant nearsightedness, Zepeda treats her frames with casual practicality. Rather than investing in luxury eyewear that might easily suffer the wear and tear of a busy lifestyle, she gravitates toward affordable, expressive styles priced around thirty dollars, frequently turning to brands like Zeelool for fun frames.
Her style choices frequently nod to her youth and family ties. In one ensemble featuring a Zara jacket, a top from the same retailer, and boots reminiscent of Jessica Simpson designs, she wears jeans borrowed from her mother’s wardrobe, paired with a top that she affectionately notes carries "Mr. Luuffleupagus vibes" to remind herself not to take life too seriously. Another outfit—featuring a Zara bandana, Hoops from Hoodland Bazaar, a Zara top and shorts, Amazon socks, and Steve Madden heels—mirrors the aesthetic she favored as a teenager hanging out with friends, complete with ruffle socks reminiscent of childhood photographs.
Behind the scenes of her professional projects, Zepeda’s creative control extended directly into the visual presentation of her career milestones. When art-directing the photography for Cooking the Borderlands, she relied on what she playfully terms "business mullets"—outfits that maintained a polished, camera-ready appearance on top while keeping comfortable in sweatpants out of frame.
The heart of her cookbook and her personal identity is deeply intertwined with the women who raised her. Her favorite chapter in Cooking the Borderlands, titled "From My Mother’s Hips," serves as an homage to family recipes and the maternal figures who taught her how to navigate womanhood. Describing the women in her family as unapologetic divas who taught her the importance of taking up space, Zepeda highlights childhood comfort foods like Bananas Foster as culinary touchstones of her upbringing.
For Zepeda, fashion and food are ultimately extensions of the same cultural vitality—a way to honor her ancestors, maintain her sense of self, and pass down a legacy of confidence to her own daughter.