Fashionista Feature: Rochelle

This Friday we are proud to feature a very fierce fashionista indeed. Rochelle is a 23-year old fashion design student born in Bermuda, and currently living in London (is that living the dream or what?). As if that isn't enough of an achievement, this truly gathered lady rocks not only amazing designs, but also a tiara as Miss Bermuda 2012! Details on her amazing looks, achievements, and experiences below without further ado... 

1. Name/Age/City/Cultural Background 

 Rochelle/23/ Living in London, born and raised in Bermuda. 

2. Career 

I am currently a Fashion Design Student. I will become a fashion designer and stylist. 

3. Tell us a little bit about your hobbies & interests. 

I love to design,  to shop, modeling and photography, styling, and volunteer work. I enjoy eating A LOT. Also spending time with family and friends when I can. I love vintage shopping in London. I'm very involved in my church community and enjoy going when I can.  When I'm in Bermuda I love to go running, swimming, and boating.

4. Describe your fashion style and influence. 

I believe my fashion style is very eccentric and bold. I love to mix and match colors that wouldn't usually go together. I love EARRINGS! ...And have to wear them  24/7. They are my weakness.   I am constantly influenced by indie and vintage clothing with a combination of high end high street clothing.  I dress according to my mood or occasion, location, and activities that I will be doing that day.  I love London and it's unique sense of style.  I mainly get inspired by street style and what is on display in the shops, especially Top Shop.

5. Who are your fashion icons? 

I love love love, Solange Knowles, Julia Sarr- Jamois, mostly for her style and massive hair. I adore Iris Apfel. She is the coolest old lady i've ever known and I aspire to remain as trendy and hip as her when I'm her age. 

6. You're Miss Bermuda 2012! Congratulations! How very gathered! What was your favorite moment of this experience so far? Your favorite outfit in the pageant? Can you share a pic? 

Yes, I'm Miss Bermuda 2012… My favorite moment of the experience was just being at Miss World and living in the moment.  As I reflect back I enjoyed every part of it, from always looking glamourous and the free clothing (:D) to just being with the girls and exploring the inner depths of China.  My favorite outfit at the pageant was probably my Ralph Lauren yellow trousers with Ralph Lauren blue striped top. 

 

7. You're a model and a pageant winner, in school for design with an amazing sense of style. Aesthetic is obviously a key factor in many areas of your life, and an area in which you are quite gathered. What are some other areas that are important to be a gathered lady? 

My persona and personality is quite gathered, as i can be "a lady" but also express my creative side. Also my  friends, they are all gathered ladies and  we compliment each other so well. 

8. Worst fashion mistake you ever made? 

Worst fashion mistake……..becoming a Vidal Sassoon model and letting them cut my hair in a geometrical Grace Jones hair style and dyeing it purple. Although it was quite extreme, I still rocked it. 

9. If a natural disaster wipes away your entire closet except for 3 pieces, what would you save? 

This is HARD!…. My mint green vintage blazer, Orange Zara tapered trousers, Red polyester tie collar shirt.  Oh and all my accessories! 

10. Best fashion advice you ever got? 

Continue being yourself, wear red hair.

11. Any advice for aspiring models and pageant contestants? 

Remain confident. Be poised. Have fun. Love every minute of it, SMILE, live in the moment  because you will never be the same again. 

Fashionista Feature: Sarah

This week’s fashionista is Sarah, a 30-year-old doctoral student and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist from Los Angeles. Sarah’s style is timeless and feminine. She is an avid reader who enjoys kayaking, hiking and movies. She’s got both beauty and brains and we’re so happy to feature her! Here’s what she had to say about her style:

1. Name/Age/City/cultural background: Sarah/ 30/ Los Angeles/ Costa Rican, Colombian, German and Norwegian

2. Describe your fashion style in 5 words: Conservative, classy, elegant, ladylike, eclectic

3. Who are your favorite style icons? Audrey Hepburn, Jennifer Lopez and Jackie O

4. Surprise! Impromptu date with the man of your dreams in 2 hours! What do you wear? A dress that’s moderately low in cleavage, will show off my curves, and mid thigh length with high heels. I adore big statement earrings to show off my face and hair. I’ll probably add in a cocktail ring. I have so many dresses, it’s just a matter of color and my mood.

5. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? BEBE, Banana Republic, Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann's...

 6. Worst fashion mistake you ever made? Wearing spaghetti strapped dresses with a sleeved shirt underneath. I was raised in a fundamentalist conservative household, so I couldn’t reveal too much skin. It may be a tie between that and tennis shoes with jean skirts. I’m really glad those days are over.

7. What traits make up a gathered lady to you? Which do you have? A gathered lady is a women who can juggle all of the different facets of her life. Even when she’s off, she is still doesn’t lose her composure, and she can still maintain her life in work, home, social, and romantic. It’s all about balance and being organized. You don’t always have to be a fashionista, but you should still feel beautiful and walk in confidence. Even on a down day, you always add some small element to feel beautiful. It’s about self-care and self-love.

8. How has your culture influenced your fashion style? The Church has influenced my style. That’s why I esteem Audrey Hepburn. She is such an icon. The ladies of her era always looked stylish and ladylike. That resonates with me. I try to find a balance between looking like a lady without looking matronly. My style has evolved within the last 5 years as I sought a lifestyle outside of the fundamentalist conservative Christian culture. Also, being Hispanic influences my approach to staying more covered. I like natural beauty, so even if I take 2 hours to get ready, the finished product won’t look overdone. Self-care and image is also very important. When I was younger, we walked with books on our heads to learn proper posture. Although I’m still an active Christian, my style has evolved with my new understanding, but modesty remains important to me.

9. Fun fashion fact: I always use concealer on the sides of my nose, to give it slimming structure. I think high heels are always slimming and complement calves even if you don’t have great legs. And mascara just makes your eyes and face pop. I never leave home without it.

Fashionista Feature: Cherith

This week's featured fashionista is one of my favorite people: my sister! Cherith's style is fearless, trendy and fun; she has a real gift for experimenting with colors, prints and textures to create bold and unique looks. Believe me, I'm not gushing just because we're related--the girl seriously knows how to dress. Just keep on scrolling:

1. Name/Age/City: Cherith/21/Dayton, Oh

2. Describe your fashion style in 5 words: Bright, Colorful, Vibrant, Fun and Me

3. Who are your favorite style icons? I honestly don't have a style icon but I do really like Elle Varner's look. I love how she incorporates different prints into her wardrobe.

4. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? I do a lot of online shopping on sites like lulus.com, asos.com and forever21.com.

5. Worst fashion mistake you ever made: It's a tie between tube socks with Vans and white leggings with a denim mini skirt. Yikes!

6. Secret fashion look you wish you could pull off? I wish I could pull off the Versace dress Jennifer Lopez wore to the Grammy's in 2000. That was a true show stopper! lol.

7. Lazy day--what are you wearing? Yoga pants, Converse, a cute tee and a baseball cap.

8. Fashion trend you want to go away. I really dislike leggings and shirts with that cross print all over them. I'd like that to go away forever! Ha!



Fashionista Feature: Sarah

Happy Monday! The Gathered Lady is proud to feature Fashionista Sarah, rocking her super-fun signature style. Straight out of New Orleans, Sarah is an 31-year-old business owner, entrepeneur, and designer of G.U.M.P. Apparel. A self-proclaimed "sneaker freak" with an amazing eye for color, we can't wait to run out and buy her upcoming line! 

 

Cultural Background: Black, French, and Cherokee Tribe

Career: Freelance Designer/ Owner of Drops of NOLA LLC and G.U.M.P. Apparel

Hobbies: Thrift shopping, Styling friends and entertainers, Collecting Black Label Barbies

Describe your fashion style & influence. Corky, Fun, Harajuku-inspired, Skateboard chic, Vintage

How has your culture influenced your fashion style? My grandmother left me her vintage jewelry and her concept of what a young lady dresses like. I took a little of her vintage style and combined it with my geeky style and the rest is history. 

Who are your fave style icons? Dorothy Barrow (my late grandmother), Gwen Stephani, Po Johnson, Rhianna (off stage)

Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? Thrift Stores!!!!!!!!!!
Worst fashion mistake you ever made? Never had a fashion faux pas and don’t plan to!
Tell us a fun random fashion fact about yourself. I have over 30 pairs of Chuck Taylors. I have over 30 pairs of different colored nerd glasses I wear with outfits from time to time.
 
 

Fashionista Feature: Jacqueline

This week’s featured fashionista is our good friend Jacqueline. She is a 26-year-old journalist and always looks amazing. She is currently in the midst of a major move from Los Angeles to Chicago, so we are very happy she was able to find some time to sit down with us!

1. How has your culture influenced your fashion style? Actually, my home environment growing up influenced my fashion more so than my culture, and really more so than anything. My father is an architect. Often he would bring home his drawings and building models, and my siblings and I would often help out at his firm -- so I've absolutely been influenced by his style. I've grown to appreciate a very structured silhouette, how less is more, jazzy angles, and architectural prints.
2. Who are your fave style icons? Kerry Washington, Audrey Hepburn, Michelle Obama
3. Favorite stores to supply your fashion habit? BCBG, Kate Spade, Michael Kors
4. Worst fashion mistake you ever made? I used to cut up and tie-dye my jeans in high school, trying to be creative.
5. Favorite asset to accentuate? How? My height/legs by wearing dark on top and then a bright color on bottom -- or I'll often make my pants or skirt the statement piece.
6. Which celebrity closet would you love to raid? Beyonce!!!
7. Tell us a fun random fashion fact about yourself. My first major fashion experience was when I was in Australia during Melbourne Fashion Week! Being in a new country and experiencing a new culture, I was able to really step out of my comfort zone, and by experiencing a new environment, it helped me to shape, understand, and truly embrace my personal taste.