Westporter Nikki Bonacorsi Williams was, quite literally, raised to have great style. “My great-grandmother, Amelia Haboush, believed being put together was a daily ritual, not a special occasion,” Nikki tells Westport Lifestyle. “She exuded an unwavering sense of style, effortlessly adorned even in her kitchen, where the rhythmic clatter of pots was complemented by the elegant jingle of gold bangles on her wrist.” Her great-grandmother, along with great aunts and grandmothers in her Italian-Lebanese family, emulated their glamour icons—Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, and Sophia Loren— and “worshipped at the altar of an accessory,” Nikki says. The classic ‘50s and ‘60s style in her DNA got a twist when Nikki went off to college, playing Division I soccer, and eventually she landed on a look she describes today as “sporty and polished, with a modern edge,” or “a toggle between downtown minimalism and Beirut maximalism depending on the event.” In 2025, it’s not uncommon to walk past outfits that are copy/pasted from algorithmic trends, but Nikki’s taste is uniquely her own. “I see fashion as a form of creative self-expression,” she says. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate your originality; to pay homage to your heritage and the collective experiences that informed your style.”
She’s certainly done that in her own wardrobe, which features an eclectic mix of designers and labels. “I have favorite designers for different occasions,” she explains, and there are a lot of occasions in her life: she’s a digital consultant, a wife, a mom of three, a (recovering) athlete, and an activity addict (SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Earth, Wind, and Fire were recent favorite concerts). “Right now I’m loving Tibi, Toteme, AGOLDE, and Citizens for staples; Nili Lotan and Sea NYC for jackets; LAPOINTE, Alaia, and Khaite for galas; A.L.C., Vince, and Ulla Johnson for work attire; Ganni, Simon Miller, and PatBo for concerts; Sporty & Rich for loungewear; and Gianvito Rossi for heels.”
When Nikki met her husband, basketball player-turned-host-for-ESPN Jay Williams, her love of fashion began influencing his style, too. “When I first met him, he was either in suits or sweats,” she says. Nikki’s brother, Vinny, a sneakerhead and world-traveler who lived in Paris for a spell, “was always ahead of trends and a big influence on my taste,” she says. “He introduced me to brands like AMI, Common Projects, A.P.C., and more. I’ve taken this knowledge and given Jay more range in his wardrobe by elevating his everyday style.” Jay has seen her influence reflected, too: “I don’t believe in following trends,” he says. “I do my best to move through the world with intention. That might look like a tailored jacket or a minimal palette, but more than anything, it’s about alignment. I want to reflect values, and when I get it right, what I’m wearing feels like clarity. [And yes], I may talk about style like philosophy…but really, I just hope my beautiful wife laid the outfit out on the bed.”
Since moving to Westport from Brooklyn in 2020, Nikki, Jay, and their family have stayed true to their roots, but they’ve seen the coastal Connecticut influence creep in, too. “I’ll never forget my first party here, in July 2020— I was the only mom in black!” Nikki recalls. “Since then, I’ve brightened up my wardrobe with pops of cobalt blue and red. And I do enjoy sporting floral jackets and silk scarves to embrace the coastal vibe.” For Jay, “this beach town and the amazing people in it have slowed me down in all the right ways,” he says. “There’s a stillness here that changed how I approached everything, even what I wear. My wardrobe now reflects that rhythm. Quiet luxury speaks the loudest when your spirit isn’t chasing anything.”
While Nikki says their two daughters are drawn to more feminine styles than she is, Jay says what he sees of Nikki in their three children, more than her taste, is her confidence. “Nikki has the eye,” he says. “But more than that, she knows how to let our kids lean into who they are while still giving them the vision to carry themselves with pride and originality. She helps them express their edge. And that is a gift.” It’s a beautiful lens into the power of fashion: sure, they’re just clothes, but they represent so much more than that—tradition, heritage, roots, individuality, self-esteem. “For me, fashion is a form of memory and movement,” says Nikki. “It connects me to the women who came before me and lets me express who I am now: a mom, an athlete at heart, someone who loves to surprise people. Getting dressed is where I feel most creative, and most grounded. It’s not about impressing— it’s about aligning.” The alignment ethos is, truly, at the core of the Williams family. “I never want to chase attention— I’m chasing alignment: with who I love, who I lead, and the example I leave behind,” agrees Jay. “My wife grounds me, she challenges me, and her influence touches everything I do. She sees the version of me I’m still working towards. I lead with family, and everything else— business, style, legacy— follows that. If my style says anything, I hope it says ‘I know who I am, and I am still becoming who I am meant to be.’”