owning your style - part 2





today i'm continuing the discussion on owning your own style and if you are even slightly interested in the subject you are in for a real treat today.  today vix from vintage vixen is sharing her thoughts on the subject with us.  i adore vix and admire her commitment to thrift and how that commitment actually makes her life and style richer.  i must have read her blog for about a month before i made my first comment b/c our styles are so different.  i wasn't sure what she'd think of me but in true vix style, she was as gracious as could be.  in this huge blog sea of sameness vix stands out like a shining psychedelic star.   her authenticity overwhelms me with each and every post she writes.

so before you read what she has to say, let me tell you a little bit about her.  vix makes her living selling vintage clothes on ebay.  she makes it look easy, but i know from experience it is a lot of hard work.  she and jon love travelling to the beaches of india often w/o any advance reservations at all.  they really are free spirits.  they save all year long, carry no debt (not even a mortgage) in order to follow their travel passions and to attend music festivals all summer long.  a penny saved is a penny toward the beach!  she makes clothing out of vintage drapery and drapes out of vintage clothing.  i'm not kidding!  plus she is a vegetarian.  i'm very honored to call her my friend and very grateful to her for taking the time to answer my question.  vix you are awesome!




so vix, what are your tips on owning your style?

I've been pondering on this all weekend (with a break for booze and shopping, obviously)! 

Where do I start? To own your style you'll have to find it first. For me this came about by ditching buying retail completely and only shopping second-hand. Buying from fashion stores limits your choice to what the buyers consider fashionable (the same shaped pants and skirts, in-season colours or "it" prints)  whereas charity (thrift) shops are a hotch-potch of absolutely everything and you just have to learn to trust your eye and instinct. After six months of limiting yourself to thrift shopping you'll soon get a taste of what you're attracted to.

Regularly cull your wardrobe (closet) and give away/donate/sell anything that doesn't make you feel fabulous, if you have to ask others whether something suits you then it needs to go.





My trademark style includes statement pieces of ethnic jewellery, aged denim & vintage leather or suede and bright colours and loud prints. Including just one of these elements to any outfit means that everything I wear always looks and feels like me. 

Never allow an item of clothing to "wear" you, own it by adding tried and trusted pieces so that the real you shines through.  A necklace fiercely haggled over in an Indian village, a 20-year old denim waistcoat roughly patched together, a tote bag hand-made from a curtain salvaged from a relative's rag bag or a top remade from your boyfriend's old band tee shirt add personality, substance and texture to any outfit I dress in.










thank you dear vix for sharing your thoughts.  besides being so fabulous, you make me think and rethink just about everything i do.  

pop over and say hi wouldya?

vintage vixen

xo
janet





61 comments

  1. Hello Janet:
    Well, we are all for individuality and so Vix definitely gets a vote of confidence from us. In these days of mediocrity and bland uniformity, it is always a thrill to find someone who strikes out on their own and creates their own sense of style.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My thoughts exactly! She is very refreshing.

      Delete
    2. i couldn't agree more jane and lance. i'm thinking you guys can relate.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. vix says there is a fellow in her downtown district that calls her cher.

      Delete
  3. Thank you so much, Janet! I'm honoured and overwhelmed to be featured on your fabulous blog. I'm off to lie in the sun and to bask in your kind words. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ahhh, it's me who should be thanking you my dearest.

      Delete
  4. Vix, I love that you are who you are. It is hard to tune out external influence and live/dress/be true to your self. You are very inspirational, thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i so agree. i don't know anyone who tunes out current fads better.

      Delete
  5. Vix is amazing and she's so right, for most of us our style is indeed dictated by what the buyers have opted for that season.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tabitha, i so agree. vix has really opened my eyes to the dictates of the fashions industry. she encourages me even more to shop 2nd hand.

      Delete
  6. It is so cool when someone wears their own skin so easily--I love your eclectic style, Vix. I have a sister and our style tastes are similar to Janet (me) and Vix (my sis). We've always appreciated and respected each other's authenticity. Thank you Janet for bringing a different perspective to the question you were asked! ~Blessings, Lina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i think that is the beauty of owning your style. just being yourself!

      Delete
  7. Wow! She is a goddess! Great advice! I love a woman who can look that commandingly into a camera!!!! Thanks Janet - Vix has some amazing advice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you for the original question! her advice really is quite amazing, i'm afraid a lot of people missed it though.

      Delete
  8. I can only echo what others have already said - it is great to see a woman with the confidence and self-awareness to dress in a way that completely reflects who she is. Our styles are very different (although I adore her jewellery and do love some vintage clothes too...so not completely different :) ), but it is clear when looking at her photos that she is living a life that is truly her.

    I'm looking forward to the next post in this series!

    Melusine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes, you got that right! just because we are different doesn't mean we don't share the same philosophy. she's one of a kind!

      Delete
  9. You've captured Vix perfectly. Her confidence and style are inspiring. She always looks great because she is true to herself. And so do you, Janet. This series is enlightening. Thank you! - Julie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you. and it is her confidence in herself/style that really shines.

      Delete
  10. Vix has a great sense of her style.
    She looks like a free spirit and the fact that she travels without reservations illustrates that for me.
    I love women who stand out because they have style. I think cookie cutter clothes are so boring if they are not accessorized with personal flair.
    I enjoyed "meeting" Vix.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks hostess. yes she really does live her style. and i agree w/you re the cookie cutter statement.

      Delete
  11. I absolutely agree with, "Regularly cull your wardrobe (closet) and give away/donate/sell anything that doesn't make you feel fabulous..." I've been practicing this lately with much more intensity than usual, and not just with clothes, but with any household item I own. I've become conscious of not just settling for something that I don't totally love just because I have it. I have four bags that are headed toward the little local thrift store here in our lakeside town as soon as she's open again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i think that is key too. instead of having a full closet w/nothing to wear or worse, nothing that reflects you, better to have just a few pieces that you really own.

      Delete
  12. Janet,
    She is AMAY-ZING. I can understand why you love her. Don't you just adore it when someone has a very defined sense of style? I agree, she totally owns her style. What great advice. Thanks Janet and Vix!
    -Missone

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. she is amazing. and yes i do adore her commitment to her look and values.

      Delete
  13. What a great style and a beautiful woman! I used to travel without reservations but I'm such a stick in the mud now - should rejuvenate my VIx!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i know. i would love to have the guts to travel that way. so inspiring.

      Delete
  14. OMG, she is gorgeous!! And so are you Janet! Thanks for a fun series, you have the best blog...

    Theresa

    ReplyDelete
  15. My, she's gorgeous! I love a confident person who does their own thing...

    You are just as awesome. :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. She's very pretty and unique.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i agree. her uniqueness adds to her beauty, don't you think?

      Delete
  17. wow.
    vix.
    a bird of paradise amidst sparrows!
    ahem...
    i'm a happy little sparrow.
    but it's an exhilaration to see you b's of p's!!!
    ajj...
    you are too cool. confident and classic. but with
    a huge generously, unselfish and loving heart...
    just like the other tiny audrey.
    major bear hugs,
    tammy j

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ahhh tammy j. she really is a bird of paradise, well put.

      Delete
  18. Thank you for sharing a great post. Love her creativity and confidence.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I adore Vix and you've got some great quotes from her regarding true style. I think you nailed it when you said her every post is filled with authenticity. That might explain her huge devoted following, many of whom would never dress as "boho" or "free spirited" as her. But she inspires! I also love her warmth and support of others- this is a woman who lives life fully and generously shares with others. Great interview!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. welcome bella q. i think your comment is so perfect. you def get it!

      Delete
  20. Your interview with Vix is wonderful. You have somehow managed to synthesize all the things I love about her magnetism and charisma into your opening statement. AUTHENTIC, yes. And her answers to your questions are another glimpse into this woman's allure. A flower in the desert. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. welcome and thank you. another perfect comment. magnetism and allure, that's vix.

      Delete
  21. Vix is amazing! I love her style x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Yay Vix! She's so cool and also very sweet. I'm a big fan and happy to have read this. A good introduction to your lovely blog!

    Loulou

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. welcome lou lou. i love that she is sweet too. good to see her real fans over here.

      Delete
  23. YAY!!! Vix is a fashion and lifestyle icon to many of us!!!
    X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. welcome helga. i know vix loves you and thank you for dropping by. she is an icon in the blogworld!

      Delete
  24. Very beautiful and I definitely agree about owning your own style. Viv's confidence and style are refreshing.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've been reading Vix's blog for two years now, I like her because she's so coherent in everything, her house too is decorated according to her fabulous taste with second hand furniture and fabolous stuff she buys for a pittance, viva la Vix!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. viva la vix indeed! i love that about her too. her style is all-encompassing.

      Delete
  26. Vix has fab style just like you! I adore her statement that if you have to ask someone if it suits you it has to go. I think you both own your look very well.
    xxj.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. well joanie. thank you for leaving a comment. i know fashion is not your thing but i'm glad you took the time to read about vix. thanks sweetie.

      Delete
  27. I can see why you like Vix so much. The two of you have such different styles, but you have the same spirit and mojo!!!
    Just like you, she is one hip lady with great confidence.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Janet, first of all I wish to say, thank you for having Vix interview on your blog, I also adore Vix and I follow her passionately. I think her ways of dressing, thinking etc is just unique. She is so bang on about if you have to ask others if something suits you, don't wear it.

    I would love to meet her one day.
    Am following your blog, hope you can also follow my blog, would mean alot.
    www.personalautographs.blogspot.co.uk
    Jatinda

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hi Janet,
    I just found your blog via Vix's. Thank you for featuring her. She is truly a rock star of the blogosphere. She and I share a love of India, so I'm always thrilled to see her travel pics and Indian jewelry, clothing, and accessories.

    Lovely to discover your blog, too. It's so nice to meet another vegan. Thank you for showing how easy it is to be vegan and how joyful it is to live in accordance with one's values.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Fantastic interview. I love what she says about thrifting encouraging us to truly find our personal style. I SO agree. New retail only offers, like Vix said, what it feels is fashionable and it gets so hard to find "me" amongst all the crap. I find that finding "me" in thrift stores is much easier.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Janet, I was reading some of your older posts, mainly the ones concerning facials and skin care.
    I live in Oregon but will be visiting SO CA in August. Would it be possible to get an appointment with you for a facial? Thanks from Kathleen B.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Janet (& Vix)
    I truly think if more people dressed like you and Vix, we would have peace in the world.
    Peace out you hot dames. I am getting to the nearby thrift store asap.
    pve

    ReplyDelete

kindness is never out of style.

Back to Top