outfit post: Lady Be Good

 Old Timey Limey. 
  Dixieland on the Delta. 

  She Wore Seersucker in Sacramento. 

 

  You name it, and I sang it.

outfit post: Overall, A Good Day

 Some days are just solid. Nothing too extraordinary, but not dull either. This was one of those days and I dressed appropriately. It's hot, hot, summertime hot in Sacramento. August is doing the usual prep for our annual and predictable "Indian Summer," which seems to last nearly to October. 

California comfort includes jean overalls, and a vintage sun hat.

The aim was to dress simply and rationally- I let my accessories do all the talking. That included two beaded cuffs purchased at Scout Living for a song, if the song happens to be titled "10 bucks each." And please enjoy my newest favorite sun hat purchased last weekend at the Fringe LOT SALE- it's a This N That Thrift and Gift score, and the hat was got for one dollar.

Dressing for comfort doesn't mean you skimp on style.

The Empowerment of a Self-Portrait

One of the most empowering acts I've done for myself in recent years, has been to take my own pictures. Of the many perks of being a personal style blogger, the most powerful opportunity I've afforded myself has been by planting MY face, MY body and MY style in front of, and behind the camera.


On April 9th, 2010 I published my first full-body outfit post taken with my then new digital camera and tripod. That post, entitled "In Full Bloom," was a milestone for me. I got to present myself to the world in the way I wanted the world to see me. My skills as a photographer have improved vastly since then, and while more and more I'm preferring the role of photographer to that of model, I intend to continue to put myself in front of the camera. Because for me, as a woman, it is the ultimate act of empowerment.

Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn.    -Gore Vidal

In a world where women are constantly being fed images of how they should dress, what they should wear, what size they should be, and how they should look, I've created a space in which I present myself to the world with my vernacular of being: I know who I am, and what I want to be. I don't need the dictates of strangers telling me the who, what or wears of fashion. 

Local Takes Aim: Bows + Arrows Hits the Spot

Bows + Arrows takes aim at art, culture and cool in its new space on 19th and S Street in Midtown, Sacramento

Cool culture: The new Bows + Arrows hits it in its rad new space on 19th Street. 

Sacramento artist Jose di Gregorio shows off his style and his art at the new Bows + Arrows

Sactown musician and gadabout, Chad Stockdale sings the praises of the Fat Face Cafe located inside the new Bows + Arrows

Shanley Knox of the Nakate Project shares some bon mots with No Wolf author and artist Richard St. Ofle

Local Flavor/Local Color: My CBS Local article about the new Bows + Arrows space is out. Read about this incredible space by clicking HERE.

A menagerie of revelry: Bows co-owner Trish Rhomberg drinks it up, as Richard St. Ofle shoots it up (with a camera that is)

Colorful soles shuffle soul on the floor of the Bows Collective

Tie one on: Bows + Arrows kids are the coolest.

Bows + Arrows

1815 19th Street

Sacramento, CA

916.822.5668 

hours: Tues-Sat 11-11

bowscollective.com

Sacramento STYLE ICON: Lindsay Rickman

Sacramento STYLE ICON: Lindsay Rickman

"It doesn't take much to stand out,  just be yourself & feel comfortable." -Lindsay Rickman

Bright Spirit: Textile Artist Lindsay Rickman Goes for Unique Pieces in Bright Colors.

Artist Lindsay Rickman is a friend of mine. You've seen her name mentioned here (and here and here) before, and she's even been featured a few times over on Street Style SACRAMENTO. There's a good reason for this: Lindsay Rickman's got style. Loads of it. With her love a super bold prints and bright brights, and her unique way of dressing, Lindsay is easy to spot in a crowd- she's the one everybody's smiling at. She is sweet and fun-loving and moves with a dancer's body, so she often wears clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in, yet never looks an ounce of stodgy or practical. Lindsay's style seems inspired by the 1980's blended with punk rock's attitude, but her way of dress is never imitative or cliche. She is a Sac-town original and a true Sacramento STYLE ICON. 

you are the star for which all evenings wait

"All men have stars but they are not the same things for different people."   - Antoine St. Expery

Wishing the brightest and the shiniest, the happiest. 

Ready

are you ready to be heart broken?

Woke up with a boat-load of attitude, and somehow the usual uniform of cut-off jeans and a sugary sweet vintage top wasn't going to cut it for the day. You know what did? A shredded T-shirt pulled over an favorite thick acetate black slip, the kind I use to wear as dresses back in the '80's. The hat just seemed like the perfect topper for this slight nod to the dark and slouchy decade of my youth. Anyhoo, the look just fit my black mood, and immediately put me in brighter spirits.

Speaking of bright and broke, I'm going to be taking a mini-vacay of sorts so while you'll be seeing some scheduled posts, I won't be able to respond to your comments or visit your blogs for a bit. I hope you don't mind. This girl needs a little R&R and such. But I'll see you on the flip side, peeps. I still love you. -Bella Q

"Your heart is my pinata."  -Chuck Palahniuk

Now Wearing: 

• thrifted houndstooth trilby hat 
• black sunnies w/white bows, Target
• D.I.Y. shredded black tee
• vintage acetate slip, worn as dress
• black leather strappy shoes from Target
• a boat-load of attitude and some new bangs

Inspiration: The Nakate Project

Last month, with the intentions of an interview, I met Shanley Knox, the founder of the Nakate Project. Inspired by her recent trip to Uganda, Shanley decided to do more than just wish for a better world, she decided to, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi: be the change she wanted to see in world. She started the Nakate Project and sells the necklaces made by women in a small Ugandan village in efforts to help them help themselves. 

I was so enamored with Shanley and her vision, that I decided to join her on a trip to Seattle, where she was invited to participate in a Sugar Does Production, an L.A. based company that promotes independent designers, art, music and culture. The result of my trip are the following pictures as well as a renewed sense that the future of fashion is ethical fashion.

Founder Shanley Knox, prepares a model for the runway of Sugar Does Seattle.

My article about Shanley and the Nakate Project was recently published at CBS Local Sacramento. You can read my article here:  Nakate Project: Fashion For a Cause.

"Our plan: start a woman off making beads and pay her well above market rate while teaching her business management skills while she works. The added income allows her to save money for investment in a new business which she can then start without the risk and burden of debt."-Shanley Knox, The Nakate Project

outfit post: Cinnamon Girl

Sweet & Spicy: Bella gets into the Fall ready hues of cream, tans, and cinnamon.

People I am soooo ready for Fall. Perhaps it shows by my recent craving to wear all sorts of shades of browns, tans and creams. All of a sudden my love of pop colors (bright reds, cobalts and white/navy) have taken a back seat to a more demure color scheme. I think this happens to me every August, but each time it feels like I am falling in love with Autumn for the first time. So, here's to a late summer blaze of skin paired with subtle shades of creams, caramels and cinnamon.

Falling for Fall. Hurry Up!

At Week's End

Saturday night, I had the honor to attend the Second Annual Designing Dreams Fashion Show, featuring Sacramento designer Tiana Vega and ten other designers, who showcased their Nor-Cal talents to benefit the Sweet Dreams Foundation. The event was held at the historic, and lovely Memorial Auditorium for the second year running, and this year I had the pleasure of attending with my good friends and collaborators, Mary Lahr and Lindsay Rickman. 

It was kinda of funny to see that we all showed up wearing eclectic ensembles featuring black and white, with both Mary and Lindsay sportin' the polka dot. With front row seats, we all had a blast checking out the fashion-able audience as well as the fashions on the runway.

I'll be posting the pictures of the fashion show over on Facebook later this week, but in the meantime enjoy this runway pic:

outfit post: K.I.S.S.

Keeping. It. Super. Simple.

Now Wearing:

• sunnies from Target
• simple black tank
• "mom jeans" cut-offs
• assorted bracelets
• Dr. Scholl maryjane platforms

SHOP THE CITIZEN: This Sunday on the Fringe

Shop the Citizen this Sunday, August 14th:

This coming Sunday, down the street from the Antique Faire, on X and 21st Streets, you'll find a handful of pop-up shops in the parking lot next to Fringe 21. AND.... you'll find ME there, selling bargain vintage and secondhand lovelies, all things priced to go, and priced to go quickly. 

HERE'S A PEEK AT SOME OF THE VENDORS:

The Antique Company: Antiques, Antiques, Antiques.

The Antique Company will be offering 10% off GARDEN ACCESSORIES. 

Citizen Rosebud: <----HEY! That's me! I'll be there with 2 racks full of vintage and a table full of fun and priced-to-go treasures.

The Citizen will be offering a $2-5 dollar rack and for readers, a 20% off any purchase over $50 bucks or more. (use code: ROSEBUDZ)

Fringe 21: Funky charm awaits you in this premiere Sacramento decor fun-house.

Fringe will be offering (inside the shop) 20% off men's and women's vintage clothing.

Karma Collars: The hippest dogs collars this side of the Mississippi!

Scout Living: Certainly one of the coolest new places to open up in Midtown, Scout Living offers the best of eclectic mid-century modern.

This N That Thrift: Nearby thrift-store treasure trove, This N That will be bringing vintage textiles, silver plate flatware, hand tools for the gents, .25 cent pottery, loads of buttons and $1.50 garments.

SHOP THE CITIZEN this Sunday at the Fringe

SECOND SUNDAY ON THE FRINGE

(POP-UP SHOPS IN THE LOT)

August 14, 2011

10 am - 2 pm

2409 21st Street

Sacramento • CA • 95818

outfit post: Iambic (Everybody Everywear)

EVERYBODY, EVERYWEAR: Pattern Mixing

 

Patterns are easy to mix is you think of it as rhyming.

Today's post is part of Everybody Everywear- a group event where bloggers join together and post outfits based on an agreed theme. This month the theme is: PATTERN MIXING. For some reason, wearing mixed prints is easy for me, I love mixing up a good cocktail of patterns. I sort of think of pattern mixing as writing poetry with clothing- you seek out rhythm and pattern and meter in poetry, the same elements that make up a good outfit. One of my favorite pattern mixes are polka dots and leopard print. As I've stated before, I think that polka dots are the animal print of the urban jungle.

It's hot here in Sac-town, so layering isn't really an option, so you're seeing  patterns stripped down to their essence: Checks (head scarf), Florals (sun glasses), Polka Dots (Romper), and Leopard (Shoes). The secret to a good pattern mixing is to find a unifying element- in this case the color black and similar size of pattern.

What are your favorite patterns to wear together?

Polka Dots in iambic pentameter. (Photo credits: Bella Q, The Citizen Rosebud)

 Now Wearing: 

• thrifted cotton checked scarf
• floral sunglasses, Target
• rayon polka dot romper, Target
• thrifted leopard slides
• vintage white wicker purse

Leopard is the polka dot of the animal kingdom.

outfit post: Peeping Tomboy

Vintage Casual: Bella Plays Rough + Ready

I felt every bit of a tomboy in my super casual outfit of a vintage '60's  men's short sleeved shirt, paired with the now ubiquitous cut-offs.  The awesome top, was a gift to me from the remarkable Ann Tindall of Annimal House. The itsy-bitsy jeans, I think you've seen them in the last five outfit posts. I wasn't crazy about these Target purchased mid-thigh shorts before I hacked them to bits, but now, a mere whisper of a pair of jeans that they are, they are in high rotation.

So today it's sky-high wedge platforms, super short shorts and a blue-plate special of vintage served up with a smile and a double helping of sass. Like what you see? Leave a comment and tell me about your favorite "Tomboy" outfit.

This girl has No Reservations about NOT being a girlie-girl. 

Now Wearing: 

• Mui Mui Sunnies
• vintage Men's shirt, gifted
• Porkchop Rules pins
• jean cut-offs, D.I.Y.
• Wild Diva platform wedges, Heart Boutique