Friend Friday:Location Influences Fashion

Katy at Modly Chic asked a compelling question for this week's Friend Friday. Does where you live influence what you wear? I didn't think so until I started answering the questions. Now I believe it has. A big part of my style is dependent on what I'm doing. I tend to move around and do a lot of different things. Have little mini-rebirths all the time (I was born on a New Moon. Does that have anything to do with it?) Anyway, here's what I came up with:


1. What part of the world do you blog from?

Burbank, California

2. If you had to describe the overall mode of dress for where you live what would you say?

Burbank is like a small town just on the outskirts of Crazy Town (Hollywood). People dress really normal here. Not flashy. Not super fashionable. But most people look pretty put together compared to how I remember people dressing when I lived in the South and Midwest.

I also work in downtown Los Angeles at a Fashion/Applied Arts college so the dress there is uber stylish and creative.

3. Do you fit in with the status quo around you or do you break the mold?

I fit in pretty well. I did my freaky "look at me" phases when I was younger. If a place is too boring I tend to act out and dress more wild. It's a small enough town here that there's a good chance of running into someone you know at the store or something so I try not to ever look too awful.

4. If you have lived or traveled to another part of the country/world did your clothing choices evolve?

I'm a chameleon. Seems like I'm constantly starting over. Growing up in Texas I was very conservative and always just trying to fit in (even though everyone called me weird. *snort The nerve) Then I saw the Ramones in "Rock and Roll High School" at the drive-in when I was 17 and it changed my life.



Went to college in Austin and got into Punk Rock and Rockabilly.

Moved to NY and mostly wore black.

Some other stuff happened...

Moved back to Houston. Started doing more acting and stand-up than costuming so my wardrobe was pretty normal.

I've been in CA for almost 9 years now? Wow. That went by fast. I think there's an inherent expectation to stay on top of the trends a little more here since this area is so influential to fashion. And you really can't go anywhere without being reminded that you're in the heart of the Film Industry. Especially in Burbank where most of the studios are.

For a little visual history go here

5. If you had to describe your style by naming a specific city, what would you be?
My own private Idaho. Oh, wait. That's a state.

Friend Friday: Labeling Yourself

This is my first time participating in a Friend Friday topic. I especially feel like I have something to say on this since it's indirectly why I started a new blog.

1. As a someone who writes/blogs about fashion, have you placed yourself into some sort of blogging category? I had a blog that was kind of a mish-mosh of things I'm interested in including sewing, thrifting, costumes, costume history, wardrobe posts, designers, fashionable icons and whatever else. I felt it was kind of all over the place and I didn't post much and eventually abandoned it. A few days ago I felt inspired to deal with my impending birthday in a few weeks when I'm turning 50. I have been so inspired that I have more ideas than time and have been obsessively blogging and researching for the past few days. Placing myself in the 50 and over category is actually a relief and focuses me. I enjoy blogs of younger women, but dealing with my deal feels right.

2. What keeps you from or encourages you to label yourself as a certain kind of blogger? No one can understand the physical changes that happen for women after 50 unless they go through it. It's kind of like pregnancy. I feel passionate about feeling good about myself and want to be one of the people who reinvents what 50 is supposed to look like. I believe that that passion is what's going to keep me and hopefully others interested and coming back.

3. When picking blogs to read and follow are you drawn to ones that indicate a certain group or way of thinking/being? I'm drawn to bloggers who have the same interests as me. My daughter is almost grown so I'm not as interested in little kid clothes. I do like wardrobe posts, sewing and DIY tutorials and I love beautiful pictures. Some of these blogs inspire me to become a better photographer (which won't be too hard since I am crap right now)

4. Do you think there are benefits in labeling yourself or others? Honestly I believe our brains naturally or instinctively label or judge quickly to make sense of things. A first impression is made in 4 seconds or less. I think we, as bloggers, should identify the difference between labeling and niche marketing. It may just be a difference in semantics or point-of-view. In life, I believe it is a trap to believe our own labels too strongly because each person's true essence is too big and awesome to be defined or confined by words.

5. Agree or Disagree – We’re all just people; we don’t need all the labels. Kind of disagree because it is part of our survival mechanism to quickly judge and deduce what something is and if we like it or not. But I do believe first impressions are often wrong. I also believe that labels can put unnecessary boundaries around people or things and that sometimes we believe our own labels too much e.g. I'm just a mom or I'm a teacher or I'm divorced. I don't believe we can completely get away from labeling but I think it's important to remember that labels are words to describe aspects of who we are. They are not who we are.