THE WARDROBE_REMIX(ER) BEING REVEALED:
name: Emily Ogden
flickr handle: Emily O.
age: 22
location: Ohio, between Dayton and Columbus
website: www.emilyeverafter.blogspot.com
other important basic details about yourself that you'd like to reveal, if any: I was home schooled my whole life; from kindergarten thru high school.
DEEP(ER) QUESTIONS:
what do you do for a living? or, if you are a student, what are you
studying?
I work at a local library; I have an Associates Degree in Interior Design, and am currently studying Photography.
what are your passions/obsessions/hobbies/aspirations?
God, life, photography, my family, fashion and music; I love photography because it’s a medium in which you can capture all those things.
what inspires you?
My sisters. I have two wonderful sisters, who are my muses (as anyone who stops by my Flickr can see). I am also inspired by music, both by the physical presence and style of the band, as well as their musical presence. Photography is also a huge inspiration. From quick street style snapshots, to breathtaking shots of life in other countries, it all has the power to inspire me. Also movies that are very visual. Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette and The Virgin Suicides, Memoirs of a Geisha, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, movies where you can tell the director, or someone, took every little detail into consideration, and the movie is amazing because of it.
how do you define "style"?
Style…Its not just dress, it’s the essence of a person. How they carry themselves. What, and who they are, the whole package. Who and what they surround themselves with. What their passions and loves are. What makes them, them, and different than anyone else.
how would you describe your personal style?
I always use the word eclectic when describing it to people…I’m girly, but not too glamorous, comfortable, but not frumpy…a touch of quirkiness. One thing about me is, even though I love the look of heels, I’m cannot wear them more than a couple times a year. Flats. Its all about the cute flats.
how does your background (personal history, passions, culture,
nationality, etc.) come through in the clothes you like and wear, if
at all?
My love for art is something that comes through in my dress. I love to mess with color combinations that to the mind don’t sound right, but somehow, they work. My family, and Christian life also are reflected in my dress, as I have always been taught to respect modesty in dress, and it is something I still take very seriously. But I truly believe one can be stylish, creative and modest, all at the same time. When it was younger, I took a certain pride in that no one usually pegged me as the “frumpy home-schooler” on appearance.
choose one item in your closet that you feel completely expresses
your personal style and/or aesthetic. describe it. what is it and
why is it "you"?
I definitely go through phases with what expresses my aesthetic at what point in my life, but one thing that I’ve never been able to really shake is the beret. When I was eleven, and twelve, I wore wool ones with thrifted plaid skirts. That was my thing. And a few years back, the passion hit again, and I’ve been collecting and buying them wherever I can. Colorful ones. Textured ones. Knitted, crocheted, or sequined. Right now, the one that’s my love is a royal blue, loosely crocheted one from Urban Outfitters. Maybe it’s the “artist” in me, or the love of being able to toss it on over a bad hair day, or the way it just immediately adds something to an outfit…whatever it is, its love, and its become a trademark.
do you collect anything? if so, what?
A few years back, I started collecting rainbow mugs from thrift stores, these ones with a half bow on them…but I think I cleaned out all the local stores…since then, berets, scarves (winter, vintage, silk, knit, cotton), and shoes; namely, cute, unique, colorful flats.
what are some of your favorite places to shop when you want to add
to your wardrobe? online? locally? anywhere in the world? why are
these places favorites of yours?
I shop in the sale section at Urban Outfitters (especially for shoes), Forever21, St. Francis is a local thrift store I frequent, Goodwill, and occasionally Plato’s Closet, but I sell more there than I actually buy. I catch an H&M whenever I’m in a city where there is one, and Old Navy for comfortable basics. I’m really not all too selective when it comes to shopping though. If its screams me, who cares where I bought it? I once found a pair of HUGE shades in a grocery store accessories aisle, when I couldn’t find any in my area at the “cool” stores.
does your location (where you live) affect your style? if so, in
what ways? describe what your city is like in regard to fashion.
My city. That’s humorous. I actually live in what’s called a /village/. It’s a nice place to live. But its not what you would call fashion focused. And neither are the cities surrounding me. I live in the middle of Ohio. I get stares when I wear a dress. (Even if it is Sunday). Both my sisters and me all are into fashion, so wherever we go, it’s times three. People are always making comments about how…different we are. Usually it’s a good different, but some of them just don’t “get it”. But I love it, because whether its good or bad, we get pegged as an inseparable “style trio”.
what do you think is next in terms of fashion? perhaps something
that is currently flying under the radar, but could be really cool an
popular later, or perhaps something amazing you'd like to see more
of that needs to come back or be the new thing?
From what I’ve seen, bits of the 20’s are slipping back in. Flapper references, and drop waists. I’m totally in love with the whole, 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. There was an undeniable glamour, and appreciation for dress and style then. Women wore dresses and skirts, did their hair, donned heels and lipstick on a daily basis, and it was normal. I know we’ve progressed as a culture, and I love jeans and hoodies as much as the next person, but I’d love to have a little of the classiness appreciation back.
you are super creative with your clothes! share a creative tip or
idea about a way people can remix/style their clothing in a fun or
innovative way.
One thing I’ve learned, as I’ve gotten older, is how to love who you are. I’m a normal girl. I have a love/hate relationship with my body type. But I’ve learned that its part of what makes me, me. Certain items like empire waists and slim skinny jeans make me look better than fitted blouses, t-shirts or baggy jeans. They make me feel better about myself too. When I feel good in what I’m wearing, it’s a whole lot easier to be a confident person.
style icons: do you have any?
Street style is a big one. wardrobe_remix, Adore Vintage (their forums are very inspiring), Zooey Deschanel, Kirsten Dunst, Rachel Bilson, anyone with an seemingly easygoing, but still eye-catching, quirky style.
how did you come across wardrobe_remix? why do you post there? What do you like about it? has anything positive come about for you as a result of posting to the community?
I think I was browsing DIY sites, and came across Frecklewonder.com, which led me to wardrobe_remix. I’ve had a Flickr for ages, but I probably lurked for a good, year, year and a half before I started posting. I felt intimidated at first by all the amazing people and talent. But everyone seemed so welcoming and sweet, that I started, and I almost wish I had never started. It’s addicting. I’ve made contacts with some very creative people, and had part of the wardrobe_remix spread in N.E.E.T. Magazine this past month. That was encouraging and exciting.
other favorite wardrobe_remix(ers)? who, and why?
There’s so many amazingly stylish people, and it keeps getting harder to keep track of everyone…liebemarlene, because she has the most amazing dresses, and her personality is always in her pictures, softspoken always looks girly and amazing, TheVintageSocietyGirl is creative and classy, bitsandbobbins of course, because she has an amazing eye for color and silhouette…and I could go on and on. [eeep! thanks again...i swear i'm not paying these people! :D -ed.]
anything else you'd like to say?
“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
thanks emily!
if you have any intelligent questions you'd like to hear wardrobe_remix(ers) expound upon or wardrobe_remix(ers) who you'd like to see revealed, feel free to send those suggestions my way! thanks!