This petite thrifting bombshell, Style Icon JeanGreige is your go-to girl if you need vintage-inspired and jewelry advice. Find out what her thrifting tips are and how she manages to pull off that layered look effortlessly!
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JeanGreige is known as Madeline, 24, Marketing Coordinator for Konstantino (a jewelry line carried at high-end stores like Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s)
Blog: JeanGreige
Tumblr: JeanGreige
Favorite quotes:
1. “There is no beauty without strangeness.” – Karl Lagerfeld
2. “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.” – Oscar Wilde
3. “I don’t want for anything, other than more clothes.” – Taylor of www.thingsonhangers.com
Congrats for having about 600 fans here on Chictopia! Many Chictopians love your style. How would you describe your style? And, do you have any muses/influences?
My style is eclectic, sloppy, and silly. I try to never take myself too seriously. Fashion is the only art form in which every person is obligated to participate on a daily basis. I figure that if I have to get dressed everyday, I may as well have fun with it all.
I am most inspired by pop culture icons of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. I am also extremely inspired by my peers, including my friends and other fashion bloggers. I love seeing bright, quirky girls express themselves visually; the end result is always extremely inspiring.
What recent fashion faux-pauxs that you think are absolutely dreadful?
Oh no! This is sure to earn me a few fights. There are a few things that I always dislike. [With] that said, I recognize that for a lot of people, these are staples of their wardrobe; these are things that just are not for me. Anything “classic” tends to frighten me – pumps, A-line mini skirts, and white collared shirts. [These] will send me into a near state of anxiety-induced hyperventilation. They are all items that can be beautifully worn, but I don’t aim to dress beautifully – I aim to dress wacky.
You such a great sense of humour, but I believe that many people enjoy your looks because they seem so natural on you. Any advice for other Chictopians on finding their own style?
Don’t think too much about it! Try to enjoy the process of getting dressed just as much as you will enjoy the end result. Every once in a while, it’s good to make yourself buy one thing that you like, but would not typically wear. Force yourself to wear it the day after you buy it — it will keep your style fresh and always evolving.
We know that you have a fashion blog titled, Jean Greige, but your real name is Madeline. How did you come up with the title?
My blog title is a play off of a few things. Jean Grey is an X-Men character; I wanted to work something into my blog that expressed my nerdy side. Believe me – I am a total nerd. I was even the captain of my high school’s speech and debate team, and I graduated Valedictorian as a Junior. Being that academic, the nerd label will always be a part of my identity. I also liked the fact that “Jean” could refer to denim, which is a staple of my wardrobe being a Californian. I chose to use a homophone of Grey and instead went with Greige, which is pronounced the same, but is part of the term “greige goods,” which are the raw materials that are used to make clothing. I was a Fashion Design major, and I still do a lot of DIY, so the name seemed to be a perfect fit.
You’ve got sense of humour and creativity! Since we’re on a roll, can you tell us more about your own thrift store?
When I was 22, I co-owned a vintage clothing store in the Mission District of San Francisco with two business partners. We sold affordable, fashion-forward vintage, as well as new apparel and accessories from local independent designers. The walls of the space operated as a small art gallery. I also sold some of my own clothing designs out of the shop. I loved owning the store and doing the buying and marketing, but I hated working IN the store!
I moved to Los Angeles with the hope of getting out of the retail side of things, and was fortunate to find my position at Konstantino. I love my job now, and it sure is nice having a consistent pay check now!
Despite working in the retail aspect, we know that you love to shop at thrift/vintage stores. Can you give us a few tips on how to snag some awesome deals?
My number one tip is to never thrift in popular areas. Take a day and have a mini toad trip. Getting just 30 miles out of town means that the stores are less likely to be over-picked, and you are more likely to find killer pieces.
Do you have plans on working in the fashion industry? We’d like to know some deets!
Since completing my education, I have had the pleasure of working a lot of great jobs in the fashion industry. Obviously, owning my store was an amazing experience, even if it wasn’t exactly right for me. And I absolutely love working the marketing and creative direction aspects of my position now with Konstantino. I also had some wonderful experiences working as a freelance designer after college, through which I was able to design men’s and women’s knits and wovens for a wide variety of companies. One day, I might be designing men’s collared shirts, and the next, I’d be designing women’s formal gowns. I even had the chance to design costuming for Sony video games, which was awesome!
Despite differences in styles, what 3-4 staple items should every Chictopian have in their closet?
1. A good leather or faux leather jacket
2. A statement purse
3. A pair of comfortable but stylish boots
4. A great assortment of jewelry!
Your skin looks absolutely gorgeous, and we know it’s not because of the camera! Care to share any favourite beauty products you own and love?
I actually have not-so-awesome skin! I won’t even go to the grocery store without wearing makeup. I am at a lovely age now where I still suffer from acne, but also see fine lines emerging around my eyes. My friends are often surprised when they hear me say that I am addicted to makeup because they think that I really don’t wear too much. I pile it on, but I think the secret is that I really have found the best makeup regimen. Here is what I swear by:
1. Clarisonic Face Brush. This thing is the ultimate exfoliator. Using the brush every morning creates a consistent canvas upon which your makeup can sit – it is essential to creating a flawless face!
2. Hourglass Veil Primer. This primer is a bit costly, at $50 for a supply that lasts roughly two months, but if you can fit it into your budget, it is a great investment. It has an SPF for daytime sun protection, and it makes your makeup blend into your skin extremely smoothly.
3. Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer. This is actually a combination of foundation and concealer. It works better than any other foundation or concealer I have ever used. It is extremely dense and comes in a tiny little pot for $45, but it will last you for a year. If you use it with the Hourglass Veil Primer, a pea-sized dab will cover your entire face as a foundation and spot conceal where necessary. It works over dry skin, fine lines, and acne, and it works so well that I suspect it might be made of magic.
4. Translucent loose powder (any brand – even drugstore makeup will do) applied with a large soft brush. Dab translucent loose powder over your face to set. A tip I picked up when living in San Francisco: if your skin is on the dry side and you live in a dry climate, forgo powder altogether, as it will make your makeup appear “cracked”. I resumed use of powder only when moving down to LA, where it is hot enough to create more moisture in my face.
Sounds like you should also be a makeup guru! Lastly, if you had to choose one brand to wear for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
Phillip Lim. The man is an artist, and the store on Robertson [Boulevard] here in LA is architecturally astounding.
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Thanks Madeline for giving us fashion and beauty tips! Have any questions for her? Leave them here!
Or, let us know via EverybodyIsUgly’s Twitter! We try our best to tweet back! (@EverybodyIsUgly)
By Crystal (watermoolen)
All images provided by Jean Greige’s blog and Chictopia blog
