Before 2011, Dave Sluberski’s wardrobe was limited to that of a classic sound engineer: baggy t-shirts, comfortable pants, and a favorite pair of sneakers. As his children entered adulthood, Sluberski decided he was ready for a change. He made his health a top priority and transformed into someone brimming with confidence. He looked at his wardrobe, which no longer fit the person he had become, and decided it was due for an upgrade. Sluberski thought, “I never could do this my whole life, what can I do differently and enjoy?” Quickly he learned it wasn’t about investing in the most expensive pieces, it was about taking the time to find pieces he truly loved. “A simple lesson I was able to teach myself was the fact that you don’t have to spend on expensive clothes. You just have to have a good tailor.”
A year later, Sluberski was running the sound booth at his local church when his life changed once again. Sandra Sluberski fondly recalls, “There was this gorgeous guy. Slim, wearing a three-piece tailored suit, sitting back at the audio board, and I was like, ‘God, he’s good-looking.’”
After realizing they knew each other from previous years of Hochstein and WXXI collaborations, a coffee date was put on the books. Then there was a dinner date, and nearly two years later they were married and have been inseparable ever since. Sandra admits with a soft smile, “I just knew there was a vibe that was undeniable.”
One of the things Sandra found most enchanting about Dave was his transformation. His wardrobe was the perfect reflection of the investment he had made in himself, and she wanted a slice of that life. Always one to dress well, after partnering with Dave and turning to a healthier lifestyle, Sandra was ready to upgrade her closet and explore styles she had previously been too nervous to try. They spent much of their first two years together shopping, and Sandra was always utilizing her secret weapon: Dave. “He had developed such an excellent eye for color and line that I used him as my advisor . . . little by little he really helped me amass a beautiful wardrobe. Even to this day I’ll get his opinion before getting something because I trust his taste implicitly.”
The couple also has a special taste for vintage cars, and they own four in total. Today we are taking a look at Sandra’s red 2008 Mazda Miata and Dave’s 1955 Studebaker. When it comes to coordinating their outfits with their vehicles, it seems to come naturally for the couple. While not looking to match the vehicle or each other completely, they strive to be the perfect complement. “Coordinate all around, top to bottom, head to shoes.”
Take, for example, Sandra’s eye-catching Miata. Dressed up for the perfect date night, Sandra wears a handmade jacquard gown with a corseted sweetheart bodice, drop waist, and perfectly ruffled hemline. She completes the look with black suede heels, a matching jewelry set, and mesh elbow-length gloves. Dave slides in wearing a debonair look mostly crafted together from clothiers in Canada. From the flashing red of his fedora to the slick sheen of his dress shoes, Dave perfectly complements Sandra, and together they exude timeless elegance.
As we turn our lens to the Studebaker, the couple embrace the beauty of 1950s fashion. Dave wears a linen fedora with an expertly tailored velvet jacket. Both looks feature Dave in button-downs from the designer Bertigo. With their slanted buttonholes and additional three-button feature at the chest, these well-crafted shirts add a visual interest that Dave adores. Sandra wears a floral print white dress plucked straight out of the pinup era. She truly brings this look back to the fifties by adding white Mary Janes, wristlength lace driving gloves, and a white picture hat featuring an extravagant pink bow. Exuding confidence and comfort, this couple looks ready to go on the perfect afternoon cruise in their vintage ride.
“I’ve always been myself . . . I’ve gotten to the point where I can look in the mirror and say, ‘That’s not it,’” Dave says with pride. As they gear up for fun summer events where they will show off their cars and style to the greater Rochester community, the Sluberskis encourage those interested in improving and expanding their style to give it a go. Shop at thrift stores, research the history of fashion, try things out, and do it with confidence. Style is all about investing in you, and, as Dave says, the payoff can certainly be life changing. “It was like a whole new attitude. I reinvented myself.”
Models: Dave and Sandra Sluberski
Outfits: All outfits from the Sluberskis personally curated wardrobe
Photographer: Autumn Layne Stein
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of (585).
Views: 69
