outfit post: MOD about you.

I couldn't resist.
And YOU know who you are.

Now Wearing: 

• white heart sunnies
• 1960's vintage cotton red/white dress, thrifted
• UK printed linen dishtowel bespoked bag, BUTT UGLY
• white boots, gift of Annimal House
• mad mod attitude

outfit post: Minor Swing

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open.  ~John Barrymore

Trust me: I'm smiling BIG-TIME on the inside. I recently wore my newest favorite outfit, cobbled together by two of my most recent purchases- a grand vintage straw hat from the charming Crimson & Clover boutique AND a bitchin' striped blouse from the new Goodwill that opened last week in Midtown. I feel at once modern and vintage, with some sort of Renoir-esque retro thrown in for good measure. The outfit was comfortable and looked sharp- so you know I loved it!

As of late, there's been a lot of opportunities in development, and while I want to wait a bit to officially share it all with you, let's just say I've got some tasty tidbits on my plate and I am looking forward

outfit post: Casual + Effect

Somebody take me on a picnic!

 I almost didn't do an outfit post with this outfit- I had deemed it too casual. Totally got up for a day of yard work and errands, and am unimpressed by said outfit's lack of glamour. But thinking about it, this is what I wear when no-one's watching, so thought maybe I'd share it with you all anyways. Note the chronic use of red-black and white- one of my favorite color combinations and the now signature Citizen use of mixed prints. Have a great weekend, peeps!

Now Wearing:

• cotton polka dot kerchief
• white heart sunglasses
• hand-me down red print top
• d.i.y. t-shirt shrug
• vinyl cuff (made from a recyclced record)
• thrifted shorts
• red converse

Life's (not) So Black and White

If a things loves
it is infinite.
        -wm blake

outfit post: Spin it, Spinster

When I'm in the street, the only people I notice, are usually at least 70 years old, because they look really stylish. -Vivienne Westwood

When I was in my 20's I tried to blend into the crowd. My greatest fashion joy was when I could transform, chameleon like, into the look of whatever tribe I was running around in. I think we try on our various personas when we're twenty, slipping them on like a dress, and trying them on for size. Perhaps, this is how we "find" ourselves.

By age 30, I knew who/what I was. And I grew comfortable in my own skin. The persona worn became my own, the chameleon suit retired. No longer set on blending or fitting in, I relished the fact I got to come and go as I pleased, and no clique or group could contain me. My friend collection grew varied, and became more interesting. Life offered options. I dressed for it.

Peoples, Places + Things

Here are some people, places and things that have captured my eye in the past couple of weeks. I thought they might may a refreshing counter point to the plethora of outfits posts I've been posting. Think of it as a palate cleanse, and a reminder that even in the blogging world, it is good to step outside a bit for stimulation and inspiration. 

outfit post: Short-n-Sweet

It's been an incredible, busy, sea-change sort of week. I am wiped-out, and wordless. Sacramento is serving up its signature summer heat, but I am unfazed- I just pared down my outfit to a whisper of a dress, which is actually a vintage navy swiss dot skirt, hiked up and worn muu-muu style.

Little navy blue with white trim shorts were worn for modesty sake. Keeping it simple, I wore my red knit hat to cover my now rather alarmingly unruly growing out hair, fave heart sunnies, white brogues and this vintage souvenir totes regaling old New Orleans.  Which is for sale by the way, $30 bucks including shipping, if in the United States.
Message me at shop@shopthecitizen.com if interested.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

For Sale: $30 includes domestic shipping

Red and Blue (P.S. I Love You)

Bella feeling red hot and blue.

Yesterday I found these pictures that I'd taken a week or so ago, when we were still in the cooler mode (hence the layers) of spring weather. We are now blazing into the famous Sac-town cooker. So instead of the layers I was wearing the same hat and dress, with the only addition being a pair of cherry-red Converse low tops, and that was all. Pretty much the same ensemble outfitted for a different forecast. 

That is how I dress: variations of a theme. So I should warn you: my summer time is colored with hues of red, white, and blue, so you'll be seeing a lot of those colors here. In fact as I'm typing this I am wearing a blue/white outfit, and the day before the aforementioned red/blue outfit AND even the day before that there was MORE play on reds, blues and black-black-blacks.  I'm like jazz on a hot summer day- playing the standards, but riffing on them bit by bit. I like to improvise. I'm a blogger. I do that.

BUT: a Blogger is more than just a blogger. She is also a reader. And then she becomes your friend. Here are a few reasons why I am proud to call myself a Blogger: 

Anika: A Love Letter to Personal Bloggers
Elle Enchantment: Body Envy
The Dusk Zone: Me Deep...
HELGA von TROLLOP: Bouquet Glow
Stylish Thought: Festival of Memories
Annimal House: Unexpected Acts of Radness
Mrs. Bossa Does the Do: What Have Fem-Fash Bloggers Been Up To?
Queen VII's Reveries: Outfit: Tribal Ruin
Dress With Courage: How to Shop at a Thrift Store

outfit post: What I Wore Second Saturday

What I Wore: Lace trimmed Floral Dress and BCBG Girls Leather Boots

This is what I wore this past Saturday. It was Second Saturday, and I was part of the open house at the ThinkHouse Collective. Lots of lovely folk milled around, nibbled on cupcakes, listened to music and looked at art. Then I scooted over to the grand opening of Scout Living, a wonderful new place that seems like a hipper, hotter version of an antique mall, only focusing on Mid-Century Modern pieces. The stuff there was fantastic and it was hands down the best looking set of vendors I've ever seen in my life. I snapped a photo of the Best Dressed Man in Sacramento which you can view over at my street style blog, Street Style SACRAMENTO here. 

This post is part of Everybody, Every Wear and this month's feature is LACE. The dress worn has a wonderful back lace insert and lace trim at the hem. Last spring I wore the dress in this post: Blooming Madly. I love the texture of lace, especially in black but have a few pieces of white lace that I think I need to bust out. What do you think? Are you a fan of lace? And is there a certain kind that you prefer?

Check out the LACE insert detail in the back- my favorite part.

Necklace: vintage Catholic charm

Now Wearing: 

• Target Sunnies in Mint
• Vintage Catholic Charm Necklace
• Floral Rayon dress with Lace trim 
• Military-Style Jacket
• BCBG Girls Leather Boots in Caramel

By Any Other Name

"My name is Bella.
And I am a personal style blogger."

This is my personal style blog. I'm saying this, an obvious stating of the obvious because I've just realized that it might not be so obvious. I mean, I've come to realize that not all of you know me. Many of you are new here, having stopped by from a blogger event I've taken part in, or stumbled upon my +40 Blogroll,  perhaps liked what you saw, and stuck around. 

Well HELLO. Forgive me for not saying hello sooner. I've been motoring forward as if you all have been around since the beginning but the humble fact is this blog had less than 1500 visits for the entire month a year ago, and that a post written exactly one year ago today had a mere 8 comments. You can read it here. (note: Blog is almost 3 years old- I'm just noting the stats from a year ago. -Bella) A LOT has changed since then, and all of it, thanks to you folks, to you friends, for the better. So HELLO, and THANK-YOU. 

outfit post: Raindrops on Roses

Right now, it is hard for me to imagine that last week-end came with rain. A set of cold grey drizzly days that seemed more like late winter than early spring. But it did, and I was layered up in knit caps, tights, a sweater and a couple of kittens. The silver lining to this cloud cover was that I had just gone thrifting and scored for $3.98 an awesome winter jacket- A black wool Erin Fetherson for Target number that came equipped with a ruffled shoulders, velvet trim, heart pockets and on the back of the coat, a black-as-your-soul heart applique. Oh you know I will be wearing the sleeves off of these hearts next winter, don't you? Well, I was glad to have it on hand (I've packed up all my winter coats already) to sport around town last Saturday. Which is when I wore this outfit. 

Prints Charming (a FTF Community event)

"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn." 

-Romeo and Juliet

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of a happy mix of prints. Yes, mixed prints brings out the romantic in me even though I am clearly from the wrong side of the tracks. Lucky for me this was one of the key trends for Spring. Also lucky for me, I don't really let my happy-ever-after come from following trends.

Pillbox Moxie

"Pillbox Moxie" series of self portraits taken at the new HQ

outfit post: Mexican Milagros

            Lambent

           (for Lyssa)

           You are the flame that burns

           late nights, ash-wicked

           your grin all flash and glare

           the orange trick of sunsets

           the coral and lipstick vanity

           of a Mexican starlet

           the candies and candles 

           of alms on the altar

           You are the pink of mariachis
           the blush of flamenco
           the heat of cuban cha-cha-chas

           You are the honeyed sweetness of las hermanas,
           with names like Lourdes y Guadelupe
           

           the young ones
           with the velvet skin
           that reek of salt and cinnamon

           the dusky brown girls

           with thick rose-petaled mouths

 

Babes + Bevvies: 3 bloggers, 4 friends, and a Flower on mah Head

Hey Ma, check me out. I've got a flower on my head!

I am puffy from all my birthday celebrations. Plenty of food and libations peppered my 5-day weekend. That's right, I started celebrating on Friday, and it continued until Tuesday early evening. What a blast. A BIG hearty thank you for all your sweet birthday wishes, and bloggy kisses for my dear friends who made my birthday feel special. I love you, and YOU know who you are.

Some can be seen below. All taken over the course of my lovely weekend, so that might explain the show of beverages and restaurant settings. 

Lindsay. Chicago Fire.

Ari. Crepeville in Curtis Park.

Ann. The Annimal + Stanimal Deck. You can see more over at Ann's blog here.

Kelly. Ella's.

These beautiful faces may look familiar to you. They've all appeared more than once here at the Citizen. Well, they all play a starring role in my life. Lovely, lovely people and they each add so much!