3 Plugged-In Ladies Share Their Gadget Set-Ups

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Admit it: You’re a gadget nerd just like us. Your apps, your bookmarks bar, and your desktop set-up are even more precious than your packed bags. You care about stuff like how your Instagram app is always to the right of your Music folder and that your top hits are organized by use frequency, and if your unread emails get above 50, you stop being able to think clearly… 

That’s why we’re always looking for tools and tips to make our lives run more smoothly (whether that means checking off everything in your Tasks box or sending that cat video to as many people as possible). 

And to aid you on that front (particularly if you’re justgetting power back and appreciating Internet more than ever, like we we are…), we’ve interviewed three stylish, plugged-in women who are even more gadget obsessed than we are, and mined them for their organizational secrets and product suggestions. Note-taking apps out now, ladies!

 Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile

Erica Chan Coffman, edior-in-chief,Honestly…WTF

What does a run-of-the-mill work day look like for you? 
“I’m in my office for about eight hours most days of the week. Some days are spent shopping for DIY supplies, photographing outdoors, and attending meetings.”

What does your to-do list look like?
“I actually keep lists the old-fashioned way, with just a notepad and pen — I write a list the night before and manually cross things off the next day. I find it cathartic be able to crumple up and toss that piece of paper into the trash can at the end of day.”

Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile

Do you like to get to work early or stay late? 
“I’m an early bird so mornings are when I’m most productive. By 5 p.m., I’m pretty much ready for happy hour.”

What’s in your tech arsenal that you could never part with? 
“I feel completely vunerable without my iPhone and headphones. I also try to have my camera with me at all times. When traveling, my Mophie Juice Pack is a lifesaver as it gives my phone full battery life while I have a million and ten applications running.”

 Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile

What are the most-used apps on your phone?
“Instagram, Flipboard, and AccuWeather (I’m have a small obsession with weather forecasts, right now).”

What’s your desktop background? Your phone background?
“Photos of Alberto Seveso’s stunning ink and water photographs rotate as my desktop background. My phone background is a picture of a pine cone peace wreath I made last year.”

Do you have any sneaky tech tricks you rely on to keep your life organized? 
“I rely on a Google Calendar for all my scheduling. Our Honestly…WTF editorial calendar is kept there, as well as any conference calls and travel itineraries. Although the color coding makes it look absolutely insane, it’s the only way to keep things shared, separated and organized.”

Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile

Lightning Round!

Web browser of choice: “Chrome.” 
Pandora station of choice: “Dolly Parton.” 
Social media of choice: “Instagram.” 
Shopping tool of choice: “Net-A-Porter & The Outnet.” 
Online time waster of choice: “Pinterest (the ultimate time suck).”

 Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Cannon Tekstar Hodge, social media manager, Bergdorf Goodman

What does a run-of-the-mill workday look like for you? 
“When you work in social, there is no such thing as a run-of-the-mill workday. One moment you’re penning a blog post and, before you know it, you’re interviewing a designer, and then, seconds later, you’re helping a customer from Australia, on Twitter, track down a pair of Isabel Marant sneakers while simultaneously testing out the latest BB Cream from Bobbi Brown. And all of that could unfold within an hour. This is a job that expects you to think and react on a dime — you must be witty and creative and composed no matter the hour or day. It’s exhausting and exhilarating, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

What does your to-do list look like?
“I’m a Moleskin addict. There’s something sublimely satisfying about physically crossing something off your to-do list that cannot be achieved digitally (trust me, I’ve tried). The result is a cryptic mess of shorthand and pencil smudges…because, yes, I only take notes with a Bic #2 Mechanical Pencil. My Moleskin is organized by date: Meeting notes are kept to the left side and to-do list is on the right; items not completed the previous day are pushed to the top of the current day’s list. The last thing I crossed off my list was Beauty Meeting Prep – thrilling, right?”

 Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Do you like to get to work early or stay late?
“I’m completely mystified by and envious of those go-to-the-gym-and-get-to-the-office-early girls. I’m part of the BG after-hours crew. I’ve been known to leave after midnight, but lately I’ve been learning to find a healthy balance.”

What’s in your tech arsenal?
“You know I’m always plugged in. During the week, I pack my iPhone, iPad, Mophie portable mini-charger, Mifi Jet-Pack, and USB drives. On the weekend, I streamline it down to my iPhone & mini charger. There’s only so much you can carry in a clutch.”

What are the most-used apps on your phone? 
“First: Echofon, Facebook, and Instagram don’t count because they’re so obvious. 

“Second: I could not function without GroupMe (for keeping in touch with our SM team), iTransNYC (it’s the best subway app I’ve found), and Zite (my super-smart and customized e-reader) — and I highly recommend subscribing to the Bergdorf Goodman New York Lifestyle channel. 

“Third: Let’s give a bonus round of applause to iPhone Messages. There’s a certain level of decorum when it comes to texting but I find it quite useful. On any given day I’ll receive texts from Linda Fargo (typically photos to tweet or Instagram), store associates (also photos to socially share), and other social-savvy friends. Just the other day I pitched a panel to Tina Craig via text. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done.”

 Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

What’s your desktop background? Your phone background?
“Currently my desktop is our Starburst Anniversary Background based upon our 111th-anniversary shopping bags (you can download them on 5th/58th). What can I say? The stars feel like a party. My iPhone features my dog, Fred – call me a sap, but when things get stressful, all I need to do is look at his giant ears and I instantly feel better.”

Do you have any sneaky tech tricks you rely on to keep your life organized? 
“You can’t feel truly geeky until you’ve fashioned an entire iPad Keynote presentation during rush-hour on the Q train (while standing up in heels, no less). Simply put: Keynote & Evernote for iPad have changed my work life.

“Evernote is great when you’re attending day-long conferences and want to streamline your notes to your computer – it’s easy to format and, once you return to the office, you can access your notes from your computer or iPhone. Keynote is fantastic when you’re in a meeting and need to quickly create a breakdown recap that’s to the point and pretty. Oh, and I’m also hopelessly devoted to my Lotus Notes Calendar.”

Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Lightning Round! 

Web browser of choice: “Chrome.”
Pandora station of choice: “Spotify”
Social media of choice: “Twitter, obviously. And Instagram.”
Shopping tool of choice: “Do 5F associates count?”
Online time waster of choice: “Pinterest.”

 Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Kellee Khalil, founder and CEO, Lover.ly

What does a run-of-the-mill workday look like for you?
“I start off my day with an early yoga class or a run by the West Side Highway. I grab my pup Oliver and stop in my fave coffee shop, ORO Bakery in Nolita, and head to the office. The first hour of my day is usually spent sorting through emails and reviewing analytics and performance from Lover.ly’s weekend traffic. 

“We have a company kick-off meeting around 10:30 to review goals for the week and discuss upcoming features and projects. A typical day may be filled with calls with our bloggers, meetings with retailers, talking to the media, potential partners, or even our investors. Some meetings are in the office but most are scattered around NYC so I grab my iPad and I’m off! I usually spend a few hours at the end of the day answering emails and prepping my to-dos for the next day.”

What does your to-do list look like?
“My to-do list is organized in a silver notebook that I take everywhere. There is something therapeutic about hand-writing out everything I need to do. I usually write my to-do with a next action step so I know exactly what needs to get done. It will have anywhere from five to 30 things on it. I love lists and make them for business, my personal life, fitness… basically everything! The last thing I checked off my list was to hand-write thank you notes to Lover.ly partners.”

Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Do you like to get to work early or stay late? 
“Both! When you work at a start-up you have long days. I love what I do and so I get to the Lover.ly HQ around 8:30 or 9 (which is early at a tech company) and I stay until 8ish.”

What’s in your tech arsenal?
“I always have my iPhone and iPad in hand. I keep my Macbook Pro at the office (it weights a ton). I have Apple TV at home because I rarely watch TV and I hate commercials.”

 Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

What are the most-used apps on your phone?
“Quicklytics (analytics app), Instagram, Runkeepr, and Pandora.” 

What’s your desktop background? Your phone background?
“My desktop background is a photo from my sister’s wedding! My iPhone background is a photo of my little dog, Oliver.” 

Do you have any sneaky tech tricks you rely on to keep your life organized?
“I leave my Macbook Pro at the office every day so I can try and get SOME type of down time at home. I do however have an iPad case with a bluetooth keyboard so worst-case, I can type out a long email or two while I’m at home!”

Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Lightning Round!

Web browser of choice: “Chrome.”
Pandora station of choice: “‘Falling Slowly’ (I’m emo).”
Social media of choice: “Twitter.”
Shopping tool of choice: “Amazon.”
Online time waster of choice: “Lover.ly (the product sucks me in!).”

Photographed by Amelia Alpaugh

Photographed by Anna-Alexia Basile

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