(Photo credit: Emily McElveen)
Gig: Facebook, User Operations Specialist
Hobby: Fashion blogging (Fashionista Lab)
Spotted: Discarded to Divine
Outfit: Lela Rose dress, rented through Rent the Runway and Maxstudio.com shoes
Recent splurge: A two-piece original design by Aurelio won at Discarded to Divine auction for $400
How would you describe your style?
My personal style is creative but chic, consistent yet experimental. I love wearing color, but I also like to play with the effect of monotone outfits. I really like prints, and I like mixing them to create texture. I also like to use accessories to add texture, to bring outfits together thematically, or to make disparate themes make sense. While there are some trends I like to participate in, I’m not trend-driven. I don’t like wearing long sleeves, or crewneck tops. I also don’t like looking like a different person — I like looking like a different version of myself.
You have your own fashion blog called Fashionista Lab. What inspired you to blog about fashion?
I’ve always liked to write and I’ve always loved clothing. I found myself thinking more and more about fashion. Then one day on my personal blog, which essentially functions as a travel blog, I wrote about my obsession with ribbed tank tops, so I decided that I needed to have a separate blog for my fashion writing.
What fashion accessory can you not live without?
That’s a hard question because I totally believe in the power of accessories. If everything else is the same; changing the bag, belt, shoes and earrings can totally transform an outfit. But if there was one accessory, I’d have to say scarves. I’ve loved scarves for a long time — they can keep you warm and it’s an easy way to add a print or a pop of color. Scarves usually have multiple functions; if it’s a pashmina it can be a blanket, scarf or shawl. If it’s a smaller scarf it can go around your neck, around your waist as a belt, or around your head as a headband.
If you were trapped on a desert island, what item of clothing would you want with you?
I’m trying to think of my most functional piece of clothing. I have a really awesome purple sweater dress/tunic/hoodie from Asos.com. They call it a “snood” dress. It feels like a cocoon and it has enough fabric around the neck to pull up as a hoodie or to leave down as a cowl neck. It’s cool, colorful, and warm!
Which celebrity’s style do you most admire, past or present?
As someone who has lived and dressed myself with both long and short hair, I admire any woman who wears her hair short because it is not easy . It’s not easy to have people think you’re a boy, or compare you to one, and it’s not easy to lose such a easy way to project femininity. That being said, I highly admire both Rihanna and Natalie Portman,who both currently wear or previously wore short hair. I identify more with Natalie Portman’s style as it is independent and seems to be her own, and not trend driven. She always looks different and beautiful. I love the crazy stuff Rihanna wears, and it has inspired me to play with adding more edge to my look. I wasn’t explicitly thinking of her when I cut and dyed my hair, but I’m sure she influenced the decision.
i love the dress; its simple and classic but that beautiful collar adds subtle but effective glamour. About the short hair, my hats off to short hair sporting women, I’ve been comtemplating chopping off mine but haven’t gotten up the guts yet. Cheers to women with guts!