Street Style: Meet Anne Marie Koch
Home isn’t always where your story begins. Sometimes it’s the place that quietly shapes who you become.
For Anne Marie Koch, that place is Alexandria.
Raised just outside Atlanta, Anne Marie grew up playing tennis and spending summers at her family’s lake house and in Florida. After graduating from Florida State University, she followed an opportunity that seemed too good to pass up—one that would connect her with her family’s heritage. Her grandmother was originally from Panamá, and when a close friend from college suggested she move there for a marketing opportunity, Anne Marie decided to take the leap.
“I thought it was such a unique chapter to have post-college; it didn’t feel so traditional,” she says. “I was very grateful for that opportunity.”
When that chapter came to a close, a dear cousin encouraged Anne Marie to give Alexandria a try. Six months later, she met her future husband, Bo, on a ski trip through mutual friends.
“He had love eyes for me,” she says with a laugh.
The rest, as Anne Marie puts it, was fate.
From 2012 to 2019, Anne Marie lived in Old Town and taught preschool at The Basilica School of Saint Mary. She fell in love with Alexandria’s history, charm, cobblestone streets, small businesses, and its proximity to the water. In 2019, Anne Marie and Bo moved to Annapolis to be closer to his family and begin their own. Their daughter, Brennan, was born in 2020, followed by their son, Bohan, in 2022. As her children grew, Anne Marie began to feel ready for a new professional path.
“I felt like my teaching chapter was closed,” she says. “I wanted something that would be a new challenge for me, but equally as fulfilling.”
That opportunity came in 2024 through another Alexandria connection. Adrien Cotton, a longtime Stylebook contributor, suggested Anne Marie might be a good fit for Alexandria Stylebook. In October 2024, she officially joined the team.
Anne Marie Koch
Self-Styled
Dress: Coniglio Palm Beach
Shoot Location: Belle Haven Country Club
Today, Anne Marie serves as Editorial & Digital Assistant, reconnecting with a city she still considers part of home. One of her favorite parts of the job is discovering the stories behind Alexandria’s local businesses.
“When I used to live in Old Town, I frequented these restaurants and shops,” she says. “But now, being part of the team that conducts Street Style shoots, I get the backstory of how they were inspired to create their own business.”
She is particularly inspired by women who leave traditional careers to pursue something more meaningful.
“These women are starting whole new lives in their 40s and 50s and doing what makes them happy and what brings them joy,” she says. “I think that’s been the beauty of it.”
For Anne Marie, Street Style is about meeting people, hearing their stories, and helping them feel comfortable enough to share them—a natural fit for someone who has spent her life building connections across communities and cultures.
Travel has always been an important thread in Anne Marie’s story. After pressing pause during the early years of raising their children, Anne Marie and Bo have begun finding their way back to it.
Her recent travel experiences, including trips to Cambodia, Singapore, and Portugal, have left her with a renewed appreciation for perspective and the many different ways people experience the world, as well as an appreciation for the places that shaped her.
Atlanta gave her childhood. Florida gave her a sense of self. Panamá gave her a connection to her heritage. Alexandria gave her community. Annapolis gave her a family of her own.
For Anne Marie, home has always been less about a place and more about a sense of connection. From Panamá to Annapolis and everywhere in between, she has been drawn to communities rich in culture, history, and character. But no matter where life takes her, Alexandria is a place she comes back to—a town that reflects her love of local businesses, the people behind them, and the belief that every destination is best experienced through those who call it home.
ABOUT ANNE MARIE
Your neighborhood: Annapolis, MD
Your hometown: Atlanta, GA
What would surprise people about you?: I've been skydiving
Favorite book or movie: Book: Oh, The Places You'll Go - Dr. Suess | Movie: Almost Famous
Guilty pleasure: Bravo
Latest binge-watch: The Five-Star Weekend
Last place you traveled: Portugal
Bucket list travel destination: Gstaad, Switzerland - SO chic
What would your walkout song be? I don't have a walkout song, but "Funky Tonight" by John Butler Trio, live at Lollapalooza, is one I'll never skip.
What motto/quote do you live by?: "This too shall pass"
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less: Effortless. Eclectic. Elevated.
The go-to piece in your wardrobe: Anything linen. Or a set.
Favorite trend: Following my own intuition
Boots, dress shoes or sneakers?: Barefoot
WELLNESS
Favorite way to stay active: Tennis
Wellness goal: Incorporate more strength training; thank you Adrien Cotton Wellness for bringing awareness
Want to try: Padel
Proudest wellness achievement: Prioritizing fitness for myself and my kids
HOME
Favorite room in your home: Bedroom
Antiques, modern, or a mix? Modern
Last item you bought for your home: Patio furniture
Favorite way to entertain: Being home with a few friends, good wine, and Bossa n’ Stones on repeat
Clutter-free or well-lived in?: Clutter-free
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about Alexandria Stylebook? Being part of the Stylebook team, I get to meet local business owners, learn their stories, and celebrate their contributions to the community. That feels especially rewarding.
Favorite spot in Alexandria: All of the Street Style shoots
Your go-to shop: The Hive
Best food spot: Pops Ice Cream
Annual Alexandria event you most look forward to: Scottish Walk Parade or Art on the Avenue Del Ray
