the itch for twitch

An interview with Robyn of Twitch Vintage:



So, I'm kind of in love with this girl, shhh don't tell her boyfriend. I don't quite remember how I stumbled upon Robyn's blog, but I was immediately drawn in by her sharp, sarcastic wit, relatable sense of style, and gorgeous curly hair! You know what they say, grass is always greener on the other side- this is coming from the girl who needs an entire can of hairspray to get curls to stay. Since then, I have enjoyed following her blog and life happenings and buying a couple things from her ebay shop along the way. The girl's got good taste.

I wish I lived closer to Florida, I think we would have a lot of fun. Sipping beers or some ridiculous fruity, girly drink and cracking jokes (legal in SIX months, might as well be an eternity). Is that weird to say? It's so strange online because you feel like you know people so well and yet have never met face-to-face. Do you guys well the same way? Anyway, I'm not sure how much of my personality comes through on the blog, but I have a very sarcastic sense of humor. A good friend of mine here was telling me how she has to get readjusted to me every time we come back to campus haha otherwise, she forgets and takes the jokes personally. I may be small, but do not be deceived.



Drumroll please! And here's our interview:

1. How did you get interested in blogging?

I was a blog lurker long before I started my own blog. I decided to start my own to promote my eBay shop, and to connect with the blogs I was already reading.

2. What is your thrift shopping plan of attack? I tend to get really overwhelmed in places like Goodwill.

I am a crazy tornado in thrift stores. I wish I had the patience to go through the racks piece by piece, but it's just not my style. Basically I go through each section way too fast, grabbing anything that catches my eye for any reason, and throw it in my cart. I don't bother to check condition, size, or price until I am done with the whole store and standing in front a of a mirror. I end up putting a lot back, but it's effective.

3. If you could steal anyone’s closet (present or past) whose would it be?

My great grandmother had a shoe collection that would make a grown woman cry. She believed that a woman needed a pair of shoes for every single outfit. My hero.



4. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up? And now?

I've always been a math geek. I knew I wanted to work with numbers or money for a long time, and ended up going to college for Statistics and Mathematics. Now I want to sell vintage, blog, and someday start a family.

5. What do you do from 9-5?

I am a full time eBay vintage seller and blogger. The hours extend way past 9-5, but most fun jobs do.

6. If you could have any one talent that you do not already possess, what would it be?

I would love to be able to dance gracefully. My signature (drunken) dance move was once likened to "a baby bird stuck in a car." Now I don't know what that means, but I do know that it's probably not good.



7. If your house caught on fire, what would be the first thing you would grab?

I will say my Macbook, but I'd probably just make a run for it with nothing. My house is so full of flammable polyester that speed would be a priority.

8. What are your top 5 can’t live without pieces of clothing?

I'm a sucker for V neck T shirts, high waisted shorts, maxi skirts, trench coats, and the perfect jeans.



9. What is your proudest blogging achievement/moment?

There was a tiny photo of me in the January 2011 issue of Glamour Magazine. It was nice to have something tangible to show my friends who don't read blogs.

10. What is your best piece of advice to bloggers?

Less is more. If you are writing about something that you are truly passionate about, then go ahead and write an essay on your blog. If you are writing about your outfit, then more than a paragraph is really unnecessary.

11. Where do you hope to be in 5 years (physically, professionally, mentally, whatever-ly)?

Professionally: I'd actually love to still be selling vintage online, and blogging. I'm done with school, and I love my job. I see plenty of from for growth and improvement, but I really have no major overhauls in place.
Physically: Let's pretend I'm going to take up jogging.
Personally: I love my boyfriend. Fingers crossed he's still around.



Thanks so much Robyn! Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did.

xo,
A.

PS. Sorry in advance for any M.I.A-ness, it's finals time aka I'm barely staying afloat in a seemingly endless ocean of paper and flashcards.

from the horse's mouth

An Interview with Rebecca of The Clothes Horse:



Rebecca was sweet enough to answer a few questions I had about her and her blogging endeavors. She is among one of the first bloggers I found this past summer including Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky and Tieka of Selective Potential. It is because of these lovely ladies that I became interested in pursuing my own blog. They proved to me that personal style can be more than what people generally say it is. Justifying my passion and curiosity for fashion is something with which I have struggled. It is easy for others to write it off as materialistic, self-absorbed and superficial.

To me Rebecca is a perfect counterexample to these stereotypes. I chose to interview her because I can sense her broader intuitiveness for art and for life. She is extremely introspective, something I can relate to, and very intelligent. You can feel the thought and emotion she puts into her outfits and written reflections. It is people like Rebecca who help me muster the courage and pride to continue doing what I love. Personal style is about expressing who you are and being proud of that unique identity. Being self-confident is something I have lacked at different times in my life. The power of clothes does not come from their innate qualities, but rather in their ability to empower you.




Without further ado, here's our interview!

1. How did you get started blogging?

I was reading a lot of other blogs and eventually reading them wasn’t enough for me, I had to have my own! I think the first blogs I started reading were poetry and food blogs, but I did eventually stumble across street fashion and really fell hard for personal style blogs.

2. As a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? And now?

When I was little I wanted to be an artist. What type of artist changed fairly often and it wasn’t really a driving force; even as a kid I didn’t know with certainty what I wanted to be. I’m still in that place of uncertainty; I really don’t know what I’d like to be doing in 10 years. I just hope I continue to enjoy my job.



3. What did you study in college? Are you still currently pursuing that area of interest?

I studied Marketing and Business and while I’m using some of the skills I learned, I’m definitely not pursuing that area. I chose the major because I didn’t know what I wanted to do and I thought I could learn some useful skills through it.

4. Do you have a favorite post of yours? I know there are a few that tend to draw me.

I really don’t think I have a favorite post. There are some I really love for different reasons, but one favorite? I think a fairly recent one I really like is “Pale But Not A Ghost;” I really love how the pictures came out—it was a really wonderful, eerie day.



5. How would you say your sense of personal style has shifted since beginning blogging?

Since I began blogging I’ve graduated from college and I think my personal style reflects that; I’m not a college student so in some ways I’m more adventurous with heels, but I’m also experimenting less as I try to look somewhat close to my actual age. I think overall my style is getting more refined; I’m really beginning to figure out what I really like.

6. If you could only play around with only one element of style, what would it be? Color, pattern, proportion/shape, or texture/materiality?

Color! I’ve always been really intrigued by color, I think it comes from having a color blind Grandfather. From very little I had this awareness of color as something significant, something I noticed because I knew someone who didn’t see it the same way as me at all. In high school my AP Art portfolio focused on color and color theory. So, it’s still an important element in my wardrobe and something I pay attention to.



7. Could you describe the mental process you go through when putting together an outfit?

Every outfit is a little different; I usually start with one piece and build from there. It could be a dress or a headband, but I start with a narrow focus and just pull pieces that I think will go with it.

8. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Telepathy! It would probably be super rude and intrusive, but I’m such an introvert that I often wish I knew what other people were thinking. Human beings can be such a mystery!



9. What is your proudest blogging achievement?

Oh goodness, I don’t know! I mostly just focus on the content and I’m happy when I’m producing photographs I’m not ashamed to share. I’m also really honored by the opportunities I’ve had; being allowed backstage at a number of fashion shows during NYFW was definitely a wonderful experience.

10. What is your best piece of advice to other bloggers?

Blog about what you love. If you want your blog to last, then figure out what your passion is and something that you won’t get tired of doing. I also advocate generating as much original content as possible; it makes your blog unique, but it’s also a chance for you to express yourself creatively.

11. Where do you hope to be in 5 years? (physically, professionally, mentally, whatever-ly)

I have no idea! I’d like to be doing something I love and be surrounded by people I love. Unfortunately, all the other details are hazy. I’m not entirely sure where I will be or what I will be doing this fall. 



Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!

xo,
A.