Fresh Picks: Fashion Salad, J'taime

The cool serene shades of greens are really appeal to me right now, and I can't seem to get enough of them. Maybe it's the Seattle influence, as this color palette really reflects the spirit of my city in the Spring. However, as I put this outfit together, I can't help but notice it has an international flavor, and looks a bit French to me, but maybe that's because I know the blazer is a vintage gem from Paris, its moniker Le Lilas, named after a district in France, made famous by a certain swinger, you might have come to know as Serge.

#SECONDHANDFIRST: Style on the Up + Up

Things are looking up for Tim + Linda Arbogast, a husband and wife design team, who also happen to be the collective, curated eye behind Martin Mattox. Martin Mattox is a Bay Area design/style stockist, with a penchant for mixing unique vintage with perennial modern classics. Somehow, they convey a fresh breath of effortless cool. They've recently relaunched their company, and have set up shop in various retail venues.  Most currently, they've added a sartorial service to their repertoire, introducing their line of curated (mostly unisex) vintage clothing and accessories, alongside a sharply honed selection of clean and keen contemporary brands. (Full disclosure: Tim and Linda are personal friends of mine. In fact, Tim's and my friendship, go back as far as high school; we've known each other for nearly 35 years. I've also worked in the past for their company, having worked with them as a social media and marketing consultant, and occasional copywriter.) 

I've long admired their way of seeing the world and am continually in awe in how Tim + Linda see and use secondhand sourced good as starting points in their design work. Recently, I interviewed them via phone and email, asking them a few questions regarding their newest project.

THE CITIZEN: What triggered the genesis of Martin Mattox? 

MARTIN MATTOX: MM started with our love of collecting, sourcing and finding “that” piece. The fun is in the hunt and being able to bring unique pieces to our customers. We love displaying them in a way that makes them feel fresh and chic!

See the Win

A thank-you to Marketplace: Handwork of India for being a company dedicated in creating opportunity for women to thrive and do well. For making incredibly well made garments, by women paid a living wage. For allowing me the opportunity to share my love of #ethicalfashion with my friends and readers. 

A big thank-you to those who have pledged to shop SECONDHAND FIRST™and to those who entered the Marketplace India give-away of the beautiful Elephant Cocoon Shrug from their recent Spring collection.

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of the give-away is #SECONHANDFIRST SHOPPER + SELLER, Becky, of Pink Cheetah Vintage. Becky, congrats girl, on the win- you are going to look GORGEOUS in this lovely cotton jacket!

When it comes to shopping ethically produced fashion, EVERYONE wins. The consumer wins for getting a guilt-free, beautifully made garment; the producers win with a fair wage for their work, and companies  who put people before profits, win for creating a thriving economy built on quality and high standards. Ethical = sustainable, and rather than spoiling the marketplace with shoddy goods, we create a global community by committing to shop #SECONDHANDFIRST. Because, shopping for ethically produced goods is a win/win for everyone. 

And, you, dear friend, ARE A WINNER.

SECONDHAND FIRST™: April Link Up!

You know the saying: April showers brings May flowers? Well, we are in for a blooming May. With the shift of the season, comes some changes- I'm going to fine tune what's WORKING here at the Citizen Rosebud, and what isn't. For starters, I'm considering shutting down the shutters to SHOE SHINE. I'm wondering if it's time to pass on our kicky community event to another blogger, or just retire it altogether. Any thoughts?  

Shiny Sayonara? Say farewell to our Stellar Shoes link-party.

Mind the Music: Avalon (at the Speakeasy)

Bryan Ferry Orchestra – The Jazz Age

This track from 2012’s unexpected (and unexpectedly cool) record, The Jazz Age, has Bryan Ferry – singer from one of my all-time favorite bands, Roxy Music –  re-imagining and re-interpreting songs from the Roxy songbook and his solo albums, taking every last vestige of glam and rock out and replacing it with the sounds of a hot jazz orchestra from the 20’s and 30’s.

Elephant Cocoon: The Ethical Style of Marketplace India

Once again, I'm honored to join the ranks of fashion bloggers asked by Marketplace: Handworks of India to style one of their beautifully made garments. My previous posts discussing this ethical fashion brand, can be seen here, and here. For those who might not have heard of this brand- Marketplace India is a fair trade, not-for-profit organization that "combines the experience of running a business with a variety of support programs designed to effect real, meaningful, and lasting change in the lives of low-income women in India." 

Mind the Music: Not Mocked

I’m Dennis and welcome to the soundtrack of Citizen Rosebud! Bella and I have been friends since college back when there was a ‘teen’ in our ages. I’ve been a crazy music collector and (fairly sane) writer for a while and love to share songs with people. When Bella asked me to guest DJ for her Mind the Music series, I said, yes, of course! She’s great at the visual and I’m pretty decent with the sonics so this looks like a dream collab!

I hope you enjoy the songs! 

Outfit: Grunge (& Bear It)

Move over '80s. The kids have just discovered the 1990s. And I couldn't be happier- I have always loved the '90s- the hi-lo culture, the music, the fashion, the flannel. So whenever I read news that there's a return of 90s style (gotta love the maxi, the mini, the cut-offs and the fringey!) it kinda makes me happy.

Buzz it UP! Digital Art with PicMonkey

Blooming Gladly: Making Digital Art + Graphics with PicMonkey

 

I've really enjoyed making digital art collages using PicMonkey. In fact, it's been a couple of years now (I've just renewed my premium subscription). Here's one of the first collages I made using one of my images and the PicMonkey free options.

Fresh Picks: Bold Spring Graphics in Black + White

 We've been stocking the shop with some of our favorite wardrobe staples- polka dots, stripes and a whole lot of bold black and white. Our goal: to offer items you'll wear with joy and gusto,

#SHOESHINE April Showers

When it Rains, it Pours: Life, Liberty (print) and the Pursuit of Happiness

Nothing says Spring has sprung more resoundingly than a good floral print. And I can't think of a more cheerfully classic and lovely floral print than one by Liberty London. I've been lucky to collect my share of Liberty scarves, a vintage skirt or two and top, and when Target did their Liberty collection, I confess I bought more than my share. So when I saw these great pink and floral rain boots in a thrift store for $5, I had to throw down. They are children's boots, but my feet are small, and they fit like a charm! So glad I "shopped outside the box" and explored the kid's shoe section. So even on a rainy and grey day, I feel cheered in my #SECONDHANDFIRST™ Liberty boots, and find the strength to take the world by storm.

An InLinkz Link-up

Blue, Blue, Emerald City

#SECONDHANDFIRST: Weathering life in a vintage sundress and Seattle showers

I'm calling this dress, the Dorothy Dress. It's a sweet 1950s cotton confection, in baby blue and white gingham checks. Sprinkled with sprays of flowers, a sassy bodice, and a full circle skirt. Pure bliss. And just the thing to bring in spring while "April Showers brings May Flowers."

SWEET MEET: Meghan of Cirque du Frock

Hi! My name is Meghan and I'm from the blog Cirque du Frock. Bella asked me over to talk to some awesome second hand shoppers and style icons on why they shop second hand, and I think that's just the best thing!

Second hand shopping has always been, to my mom's chagrin, a huge part of my life. I love rooting through flea markets and thrift shops for clothes and making them into my own treasures. I love the hunt! And I have to say, I love standing out in a crowd. 

Beauty

Mind the Music: Stranger to My Happiness

The Vintage Vandal: Jasmin Rodriguez,  a modern-day pin-up (Photo Credit: Bryan Sansveiro)

Jasmine is the face (and smokin' hot body) behind the popular pin-up blog Vintage Vandalizm, and I love her! She has great style, and is at once retro and a very savvy modern business woman. Having met her just once, I immediately became smitten with her kittenish good looks, down to earth demeanor and mad sense of style. Kinda like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings- both have a look and sound of the past but are terribly right, for right now.

#VINTAGE LOVE My Life as a Fashion Model: Confessions of a +40 Something Regarding Life in Front of the Camera

Not Famous. Just Floral. Plus 40 fashion model, Bella Q, poses in a signature vintage rose print.

No one recognizes me on the street, probably because I am in no way famous.

When I was younger, I remember a number of people coming up to tell me that I was beautiful, and why wasn't I a model? I realized that it was meant to be a compliment- that question, "are you a model?" I remember saying I'd rather look like the rich women who could afford to buy the outfits, than to look like a model. It was a profession that never was tempting to me, personally.

I'm not the typical fashion model material. I'm 5'6" and have crooked teeth, permanent dark circles under my eyes (there since childhood) and a few curves too many to make a perfect clothes horse.