blogger/ MUSE: the Citizen

"Style is the perfection 
of a point of view."

                  -Richard Eberhart

When I was in 3rd grade, I wrote out a list of clothing I wanted my mom to make for me. The key article of clothing on the list was a bright yellow linen double-breasted pants suit. I was very specific: YELLOW. LINEN. DOUBLE- BREASTED. I'm not going to to go into the reasons I felt I needed this in my young life. I lived in my head, and I wanted to dress who I envisioned was the real me, who apparently needed a yellow linen pants suit.

My mother, not realizing how keen (or specific) my vision was, made me a yellow POLYESTER version of my vision instead. I WAS MORTIFIED. She probably figured for practical reasons polyester worked better on the playground. But Polyester had no room in the  wardrobe of my interior world. I needed LINEN. It took me 20 years to realize that yellow linen double-breasted pants suits aren't the typical fantasies for 3rd graders. 

I LOVE costume. I love the ability to express oneself in clothing. To convey the inner workings, the inner life of the costumer by a dash of color, a glint of sparkle, a hint of rouge. And I'm quite fond of clothes. I like a good cut, a strong silhouette and beautiful fabrics. And I could spend all day playing dress-up.

Even when the looks don't rate well on Lookbook.nu, or Chictopia. Or Weardrobe. In fact, I have almost zero fans, and very few "hypes." But I like the way I dress. And I dress myself FOR myself. I like a quirky take on a classic item.

Like a LINEN dress. And this striped dress is such a joy. Cool, loose and comfy, it is the perfect slip-on for a hot summer day. And this day of the photo-shoot was a scorcher. 

Instead of jewelry I like to wear buttons. So I sew buttons all over everything. Like this dress. And there's one my crazy '60's floral broaches that I wear like a Latina version of little Edie Bouvier of Grey Gardens.

So by using a few different accessories and the same linen dress, I had some fun being inspired by some of my friend's blogger style. Lots of layered accessories and, mixed prints and platforms like Jemina; Big hats and little boots like the girl from Isquisofrenia, and yet still my style is my own.

My style is much more pared down to essentials than my beloved stylish blogger friends, Jemina and Isquisofrenia. I'm a plainer Jane. These shoes are classic Citizen Rosebud finds: scored at a thrift store, they are mint,  from Clark's limited edition "Artisan" line of shoes. Rich leather, hand-stitched, in a slightly funky shape. I LOVE THEM. They are, like yours truly, an "everyday eccentric."

The people I admire don't dress like me. They dress like themselves. And that's what I love about fashion. It's a venue for everybody to express themselves. It's a language written in the weave of your dress. So, I ask you, what does your style say about you? Who, or what, inspires YOUR style?

Now Wearing:

• Polka-dot scarf/ headband, thrifted
• Clear plastic sunglasses, Target
• Button-embellished linen dress, the Citizen's own
• 1960's vintage b/w floral broach, Crimson & Clover
• Clark's, black leather heels, thrifted (Thrift Town)

Citizen BELLA

Meet Citizen Bella.

Her motto is “Bloom Madly,” and she is a riot for colorful, individual style. “I love eccentrics,” she declares while sipping tea with her toast. No stranger to eccentricities herself, she fills her life with colorful people. “All sorts are my favorites,” she says, and goes on to describe the dapper old man who walks his dog every Sunday. “I mean he wears a Porkpie to walk his dog, for chrisakes, a PORKPIE!” She tends to talk and laugh loudly.

One may suggest that she dresses loudly, but that’s not quite true. “I just like a good outfit,” she purrs, “something that is right for the occasion, something that expresses style, pizzazz.” She doesn’t like to ever look over-dressed, or seem out of place. “But I REFUSE to wear sweats in public, I must look presentable.” And what was presentable today? A black & white buffalo plaid dress, circa 1990’s, with a circle skirt, layered over a black lace slip. Belted with a polka-dot scarf. Simple black ballerina flats. With her super short boyish haircut, I suggest she looks like Judy Garland meets Grunge. She shrugs,” Maybe.” She says she’s on the hunt for a grown-up pair of ruby slippers. “That’d be the ticket, doncha think?”

One could easily imagine this gamine romping around in a pair of red sequined mary-janes. Oh yes, I nod back. Round trip. All the way.