Chic People: FashionSheSays
FashionSheSays is one of my all-time favorite Chictopians. Her vintage-perfect ensembles look like they’re straight from the pages of a faerie-tale story book, modernized with short hemlines and bold accessories. For almost a year, this modern day Alice in Wonderland has been gracing Chictopia with her ethereal and romantic outfit posts.
1. Q: How did you hear about Chictopia & why did you decide to join?
A: I learned about Chictopia from noticing the links on many of my favorite fashion blogs. It’s one of the first style communities I joined & has remained one of the best thanks to its well curated style galleries, warm user comments & regular brand-sponsored contests.
2. Q: What’s your favorite thing about being a member of Chictopia?
A: My favorite thing about being a member of Chictopia is the chance to see the most stylish girls from all over the world in one place. Chictopia is a fount of inspiration & a great time-saver if I don’t have time to read all my favorite blogs. It’s also ideal for discovering new blogs: if I like someone’s style on Chictopia, I check out their blog – it’s a fashionable pre-screening process.
3. Q: How did you get interested in fashion & outfit blogging? What did you dress like as a little girl?
A: I’ve loved fashion forever; getting dressed is the best part of each day. My style hasn’t changed much from when I was a little girl… It’s an eccentric mix of Victorian-bohemian-lady-who-lunches founded on fancy frocks, ballet flats & a mishmash of costume jewelry. I became interested in outfit blogging after stumbling across style blogs; I was inspired to start one after realizing my vintage-designer style is unique & could contribute to the virtual conversation.
4. Q: We love your contemporary-meets-vintage style! Do you have any tips on how to incorporate vintage-style clothing into a modern wardrobe?
A: Vintage clothing is my passion because it elevates shopping to a treasure-hunting art form. My best tip for incorporating vintage clothing into a modern wardrobe: mix it up. In the same way one shouldn’t wear a single designer head-to-toe, it’s important not to wear all vintage – or risk looking like you’re stuck singing the Time Warp. Experiment fearlessly: I love juxtaposing pieces representative of eras to make a hodgepodge timeline.
5. Q: Although you wear a lot of high-end designer pieces, you never let the brands behind clothing dominate your wardrobe. Can you give us some advice on how to wear well-known labels without looking like everyone else?
A: Wear well-known labels without looking like everyone else by mixing designers, seasons & vintage. Lookbook offers impeccable inspiration but aren’t meant to translate directly to real life. I go to fashion shows, search Style.com for runways I missed & peruse magazines to learn about seasonal pieces. Of course I also shop stores to see what was actually produced; some runway items won’t be manufactured or will be reinterpreted for the floor – there’ll also be non-runway pieces too.
6. Q: Career-wise, are you involved in the fashion industry? What do you do for a living?
A: I always fantasized about fashion but used to work in advertising; now I make my living from blogging. I’m a lover & collector of beautiful things – surrounding myself with loveliness makes my corner of the world a better place. Style is more than the superficial sum of its parts; honing a keen aesthetic makes for a beautiful life. I feel so happy & lucky to do what I love day & night.
7. Q: Do you have any fashion inspirations or style icons?
A: Most of my style icons live in the past circa 1960: Edie Sedgwick, Edie Beale, Twiggy, Jean Shrimpton, Jane Birkin, Penelope Tree, Marianne Faithful, Charlotte Rampling, Nan Kempner, and Doris Day.
Much of my fashion inspiration comes from films (costuming is the largest determining factor in how much I like a movie): Kate Hudson in Almost Famous, Kirsten Dunst in Marie Antoinette, Audrey Hepburn in all her Givenchy-designed roles, Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief, Amy Adams in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Yvette Mimieux in Where the Boys Are, Rachel McAdams in Married Life, Renee Zellweger in Down with Love, Brittany Murphy in Uptown Girls, and Scarlett Johansson in A Good Woman.
8. Q: What’s your #1 favorite item in your wardrobe?
A: I hate to play favorites, but the #1 item in my wardrobe is probably a 3.1 Phillip Lim sequined jacket from resort 2009: white frayed chiffon cut like a classic Chanel cardigan & decorated with colorful paillettes. I chased it across the country before finally tracking it down in my size in my hometown of NYC. This jacket jazzes up plain & fancy clothing alike & never fails to make me smile.
9. Q: Are you looking forward to any particular fall fashion trends?
A: I look forward to fall trends because they seem more substantial than summer – perhaps it’s because the fabrics are richer. Autumn always brings back-to-school cool clothes, but this fall seems especially predisposed toward Ali McGraw in Love Story (one of my holy style inspirations). I’m especially excited about: shearling jackets & camel coats, burned velvet dresses & leather skirts, thick knits & Fair Isle prints.
1. Little Miss Muffet
2. Hayseed-
3. Violet Femme
4. The Red Balloon
5. Shape Shifter
Longing to see more of this girl’s fanciful outfits? Check out her Chictopia page and her personal blog for more!
~Pink_Champagne
