THE CITIZEN INDEX

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

May-Day. Hello You.


Today is the first of May, and this is my 620th post.
I've been blogging as the Citizen Rosebud for about 4 years. You can read my very first post (on Wordpress, no less) by clicking HERE. While some things have changed,  much has stayed the same. I'm still mad about mixing prints, in particular polka dots, stripes, florals + plaid. In reviewing my early attempts at blogging, I can see a pattern in my love of patterns; there are lots and lots of pictures of stripes shirts with floral skirts. While reviewing these old posts, I'm wearing a plaid jacket, a striped shirt, a leopard print cardigan and a pair of leopard print shoes (w/ striped socks)  as I write this. Worn, of course, with a floral tapestry shoulder bag. 

While my style is more or less unchanged, some things have evolved since those early blogging days. Besides my blog's early move from Wordpress to Blogger, I've recently uprooted and moved from Sacramento, California, to Seattle, Washington.  I blossomed from a nearly neo-Luddite into a social media butterfly: Tweeting, Facebooking, Pinteresting, and posting on Instagram almost daily. I'm now a freelance writer, as well as pursuing a venture in selling vintage clothing. Probably one of the most notable changes to this blog is that it now is monetized via affiliate links and various forms of sponsorships. 

And this month, I am proud to be supported by the following businesses:


Then:  
Mixed Prints in black/white featuring POLKA DOTS. August 9th, 2011- it was a hot Sacramento summer day, and I wore a cool rayon polka dot romper from Target. Since it was too hot to layer, my mix had to come from accessories- a floral framed pair of sunnies and a thrifted vintage cotton checked scarf. You can see the original post HERE

Now: 
Mixed prints in black/white featuring POLKA DOTS. Posted in February of this year, right before I left Sacramento. It was a mild California winter so my layers were light weight- a cotton striped sweater, batik leggings and a thrifted vintage cotton scarf. The dress is a '50's gem, a cotton print sun dress, a gift from my dear friend Lindsay.  See original post HERE

Then:
Plaid + Leopard print. This was my premiere attempt at mixing plaid and leopard print. Inspired by the leopard/plaid stylings of Mis Papelicos and Pull Your Socks Up!, I paired an animal print belt with a vintage plaid blouse and bolo tie. Here's the original post.



Now: 
Plaid + Leopard print, as worn the day before yesterday in Seattle. Not shown: a plethora of stripes and a floral. Wearing two marvelous thrift store finds: an animal print chunky hand-knit cardigan found in a Sacramento Goodwill and a recent Seattle Goodwill score- a Roxy brand lightweight nylon plaid cropped parka.

My wardrobe is still teeming with plaid, stripes, animal prints and polka dots. Better still, I have more confidence in how I wear them than I did when I started the blog. Thanks to all of you reading this- you are part of my style community, I not only cherish the wearing, I relish the sharing.

And, I appreciate your visits and your comments!                              -Bella Q

21 comments:

Unknown said...

I adore all of your wonderful pattern mixing, Bella, and I LOOOOOVE your new hair. You and Sacramento and Desiree all inspire me endlessly with your fabulous colour/pattern/texture/era combinations. Sarah xxx

Sara Kristiina said...

Really nice pattern mixings ! that first photo of you is so cute:) happy may day!

Pull Your Socks Up! said...

Congratulations darling woman, you are all the things you describe in your first post and so, so, so much more!!!! I absolutely love your new Seattle style and HAIR!!!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxxoxxooxooo

sylvia @ 40PlusStyle said...

Fun Bella. You really stay true to your style and in my book you are still the pattern mixing queen!

Miss Simmonds Says said...

Long may your blog continue! I can't wait to see more of your pattern clashing

Curtise said...

You've come a long way, baby!
All sorts of developments have happened in your life, but never change the genius pattern-mixing, it's your signature and it's fabulous! xxx

A BRIT GREEK said...

Yowsers, 4 years huh? Well, I feel like I've known for all that time lovely!

I am loving the scarlet mop of gorgeous hair and all the plaid and polka dots! I still love you most in florals though!

I hope you have a terrific MAY!
x.o.x.o

mispapelicos said...

I am so glad for you, and so proud to be your friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Anupriya DG said...

Aren't you the Goddess of print-mixing??? :)
Waiting to see many more such wonderful mixes of gorgeous prints on you in the posts to come!!!

P.S.: I've used the same Picmonkey frame for the photos in my latest post! Great minds think alike? ;)

Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] said...

Congratulations Bella on how far you have come - with your blog, your style and your home. You have something to be really proud of here and you are one of the women who inspire me to be braver with my clothes. Here's to the next four years of bringing a new bloom to Seattle!

xxx

The Holly Rivers Show said...

me likey the red hair - shmokin hot!

Forest City Fashionista said...

Happy May Day Bella! I am so loving the fire-engine red hair. Congrats on 4 years of putting yourself and your awesome pattern mixing skills out into the blogosphere!

Luxus Finds said...

Congratulations to you! Here's to 620 more posts!!

http://luxusfinds.blogspot.ca

The Style Crone said...

It was great reading your first post four years ago. Congratulations! You have remained true to yourself and you have always inspired me with your fearless, adventurous style and talented writing. Keep blooming!

Heather Fonseca said...

What a cool post! So glad I found you and so happy to be sponsoring you too.

lasophia said...

Awww vintage you. Amazing how blogging fuels our style. I'm so happy to be a part of this community of bloggers and to have met you IRL!

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I'm so glad to have found you. Every time I visit your blog, I leave with a smile! How's Seattle?

citizen rosebud said...

:)

Krista said...

I dig how no matter what you wear you own it! Your style has me grinning and Seattle is a brighter better city because you are in it!

Stacey said...

Congratulations! I've loved seeing how your style has evolved over time, and I'm so happy that your blog is always growing & changing. Here's to Bella Q, the queen of print mixing.

doradadama said...

Congrats Bella!
I love your bright red new hair.
Your estilo is always inspiring amor.
You have blossomed into the flor that you are.
besos