I’ve always leaned toward a feminine, funky style, even in business settings. I used to paint my nails blue in 1993, before it was mainstream.

Blakely frames personal style as an early, everyday form of nonconformity—choosing “feminine” and “funky” presentation even where corporate norms reward neutrality. The detail about blue nail polish in 1993 functions as a timestamped example of being out ahead of trends, implying comfort with standing out before social validation arrives. In a business context, the quote also suggests that authenticity and individuality can coexist with professionalism, and that small acts of self-expression can signal a broader entrepreneurial temperament: willingness to take social risks, resist conformity, and trust one’s own taste. It subtly aligns aesthetic boldness with the mindset that later supports innovation and brand-building.