Street Style: Leather & Leopard

Leather & Leopard (Photo Credit: Keri Wood)

Burgandy beanie, studded leather jacket, leopard printed maxi skirt, and a bitchin' pair of Jeffery Campbell Lita platform shoes in black leather is what makes this kitten to stand out in the concrete jungle.

Street Style: Black Beauty

This Sacramento beauty stands out in a crowd.

This lithe and leggy beauty could easily be from a Keane's "Big Eye" painting. Her name is Nicole, and while she looks like a model, she's a Barista at Temple Coffee.

The look is sweet and child-like, down to the crayola styled red-heart tattoo.

What works in this deceptively simple black-on-black ensemble are the subtle textures- from the girl's lank, unkept curls, the horizontal stripes of her tank, to the brilliant vertical run in her black stocking.

On the Street: Tough Tears

Vintage Kate

Kate Ramos Looks Electric in her Bright Green Hair.

This lovely in her bright green hair stood out even in a florist shop. Bold as any blossom, she wore a Prada-esque cobalt blue striped sweater which went great with her bright green colored hair. If there seems to be a trend that is quietly moving into the mainstream it seems to be the ease of wearing  neon colored hair.

Pig Roast & A Haircut

Hair Today: The Mulvaney's crew queue up to donate their locks for the St. Baldrick's Foundation

Here are a few pics I took at  the customer appreciation Mulvaneys pig roast.

Why the fro? Cuz the Mulvaneys peeps were shaving their  heads the next day for the St. Baldricks Foundation. 
                                                                      -Kerry Dolan

(Kristy) Green with Envy

 Oh Kristy Green: I could write a love letter to your inimitable style. HOW for over a decade you have inspired the streets of Midtown with your down-to-earth warmth and unearthly beauty. How you can rock the fuck out of a vintage sweater with minimal effort, and exemplify the quirky character of Sacramento street style. But I will refrain. As I've waxed poetic here, here, here, here and here. Instead I will patiently wait for the next glimpse of your effortless and unforgettable grace. -Bella Q

(Photo credits: Kerry Dolan)

 

Heart Clothing Boutique

Heart Clothing Boutique specializes in fresh contemporary clothing that doesn't break the bank.

Vanessa Lopez is the woman with Heart

Bold details pack a big punch in this tiny boutique

Heart Clothing Boutique is located at 1903 Capitol Avenue, in Midtown's Handle District.

Heart Clothing Boutique opened its doors on a Second Saturday, October 9, 2010. Located at 19th & Capitol, Heart is nestled in Midtown's Handle District. It's a tiny place that packs a big punch. From the bright red wall, distinctive glossy white deer head, and mix of bold black & white wallpapers, the decor somehow conveys a grandness without overpowering Heart's small space.  There's a surprisingly copious amount of women's clothing, shoes & accessories packed into this petite boutique.

“Heart is truly a labor of love. Everything's been done with careful consideration for my customer as well as their pocket books,” says Vanessa Lopez, Heart's warm and friendly proprietress.  “It’s a place where any woman can come in, find a piece that suits them, and leave feeling special.”

Although this is her first venture, Vanessa has been working retail for over 10 years. Most of Lopez's time was spent as the store manager at Ikon, a local boutique re-known for savvy street fashions and great customer service, and that is where, she says, she got her "hands on experience and contacts" which has helped her create Heart Clothing Boutique.

 "What makes Heart different," explains Lopez,  "is the variety of affordable trendy items you can find here on a daily basis. While there is a variety of shops, there wasn't enough cost effective options for new clothing that wasn't Forever 21. Heart offers fresh, contemporary clothing that won't break the bank."  Lopez says she spends hours "researching and finding the best items at the best value." Heart carries many recognizable labels: BB Dakota, Lush, Tulle, Arynk, and Keds. When asked what her current favorite items in the store were, she laughed and thought a moment, "The shoes. Especially the leopard print booties that just came in."

Heart Clothing Boutique is offering a 15% discount for all Street Style Sacramento and the Citizen Rosebud readers. Mention "Rosebud" at the register and get 15% off your next purchase.

Heart Clothing Boutique is also offering a $15 Heart gift card to one lucky local reader! Be sure to follow Street Style SACRAMENTO, and leave a comment below. The lucky winner will be selected at random & announced December 20th.

Heart Clothing Boutique

1903 Capitol Avenue

Sacramento, California

- open 7 days a week -

Street Feet: Holiday Sparkle

Hot pink leggings/ knee-hi socks w/ Nordic folk motif/ gold lame boots = HOLIDAY SPARKLE

The feet you've seen already, and the same charming Folkloric socks. HOWEVER, when paired with shiny not-so-lame, lame' cowboy boots, and hot pink legging you are sure to be put in the holiday spirit. I don't even care WHICH holiday. 

(Photo credit: Kerry Dolan)

Sweater of the 70's.

I have seen Jessica walk the streets of Sacramento before. Like a crane, she moves with grace and her clothes drape  her like a bird wears it feathers.

What caught my eye as quick as a hawk was that gorgeous sweater. It wasn't purchased from Free People, Anthropologie, or even a local boutique. This was handed down from her mama many years ago.

If this was replicated today, the quality would be hard to beat. This sweater has been around for decades and was in perfect shape!

Her jewelry was purchased in Costa Rica and a handful of jewelry shops in the valley.

Her amazing soft, well worn in leather messenger bag was found thrifting. 

She is so beautiful .  I hope to see her again.

Street Style: A Couple of Cuties

Loressa & Ethan share a kiss on the streets of Sacramento

 Meet Loressa & Ethan.

Newly transplanted via Truckee & Tahoo, this lovely couple now calls Sacramento their home and Midtown their stomping grounds. Ethan is a graphic artist, and Loressa, a nanny by trade has also added a new hat to her titles: BLOGGER. 

Encouraged by Kara over at Crimson & Clover, this adorable fashionista recently took the plunge and started her own blog on Wordpress. Entitled "L on Sac," Loressa hits the pavement and explores her new city. When SSS met Loressa & Ethan, Loressa was wearing an all thrifted outfit, including that killer red vintage wool hat scored from an antique mall, and a LBD freshly plucked from the hangers at C&C.

A couple of cuties, doncha think?  
Street Style SACRAMENTO would like to personally welcome L & E to the neighborhood.

If you'd like to check out Loressa's blog, click here.

Local Color: Meet Jacque Marie

Name: Jacque Marie

Occupation: Stylist/Make-up artist

How would you describe your style? "My style is always changing..you don't have to be tied down to one style. Mix it up a bit! Today, it's just a nice black shirt, some fitted jeans, of course some boots."

Style inspirations: "I am inspired by life, and the ever changing styles I see just walking around downtown."

Style icon: "Marilyn Monroe."

Favorite quote: "Fit in, don't blend in."

Where do you work?    Bia The Salon
                           1320 20th street
                           Sacramento, CA 95605
                           916-443-3044
Your website:               www.biainternational.com/

Photo credits: Bella Q

Street Style: The Artist's Way

I actually followed this cool-cat of woman a block before I worked enough courage to ask for her photo. We were both on bicycles; I was riding the opposite way. 

She was game, but very nervous. Me too. I'm still getting used to walking up to strangers and asking to shoot them. I'm hoping it gets easier over time. What struck me was her mix of patterns: animal prints with plaid AND argyle. Genius!

Guessed she was an artist. Yep. Her name is Casey, and she and her boyfriend are artists. They live and have their art studio in a Midtown flat on P Street. She's into "monster art."  After  a few minutes of yakking, we both relaxed a bit. Took better pictures. My favorite: the close-up of her leopard coat, tiger print scarf and vintage bra.

After few more minutes of chatting we felt like old friends. One of these days I'm going to have to hunt down her art studio on P Street.                           -Bella Q

Photo credits: Bella Q

Bella Q is a street-style crazed blogger from Sacramento. 
She currently writes for the Citizen Rosebud.

The Mayor Of Midtown: Steven Michael Millington

Photo credit: Bella Q

Photo credit: Nora Mattes-Kniveton

The self-proclaimed "Mayor of Midtown," presides over the Sacramento Midtown Bazaar every Saturday, where he sells vintage and hand-made jewelry. Mr. Steven Micheal Millington and his partner create original one-of-a-kind jewelry re-using a variety of objects including scrabble tiles, old jewelry bits, and vintage buttons. You can see examples of his work here.

No stranger to fun and fabulous, this warm hearted, honey-throated gentleman makes a perfect candidate for any party. When it comes to Sacramento style, this man's got our vote.

Midtown Bazaar

I Street (between 16th & 17th)

Saturdays 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For more information: info@midtownbazaar.com

Halloween 2010

Have a safe and happy HALLOWEEN!

                   - from the kids at Street Style SACRAMENTO

Street Style: the Monster Mash

Gabby is a shop girl at Prevue's on K Street. She just started there last week. An artsy sort, Gabby makes "trinkets & boxes" and sells them at Spanglish Art, and craft shows when she can. Originally from L.A., Gabby, (short for Gabrielle) moved up to Sacramento 9 years ago and has been happily living here ever since.

Her fashion inspiration is "Vintage." She loves the vintage styles of the 1950's and early 60's.This, she tells me was her "casual day." Normally she dresses up more. More what? I ask. More vintage, she says. Even on her "casual", Gabby is wearing a handful of vintage-style references that dress her casual up . 

While mixing up the retro, her choice of pattern play is all modern. A bold mish-mash of prints is a much fresher approach than past season's overly matchy-match looks. From the pop of color from her "monster green" barrettes and shoes, to the "in season" elements of denim, stripes and leopard print, Gabby is thoroughly a 21st Century girl.

Gabby's great retro touches: her Breton-striped shirt, the leopard accents, a classic black pencil skirt.  She deserves bonus points for her relaxed version of a bouffant hair-do, her femme fatale red lips and killer pin-up girl eyeliner. For tips on how to recreate your own version of pin-up eyeliner, click here.

She loves monsters, monster motifs, scary movies. Which is why she bought her rad monster ballerina flats. "Got them in L.A.", she says," they don't sell any stuff like this  here." 

When the Melody jumps, does your heart skip a beat?

Photo credit: Bella Q

This is Melody Stone, journalist, future media mogul. Recently transplanted from Humboldt county, Melody now lives in Sacramento, and has been writing for various newspapers and media outlets for quite some time now. She has recently begun contributing to the Midtown Monthly magazine. 

I met her for the first time at the Sacramento Fashion Blogger Meet-up, and took this photo of her caught in mid-jump. In true Midtown/Sacramento fashion, Melody rode to the event on her bike, and came wearing a sweet vintage styled dress and some bad-ass, broken in cowboy boots that she scored from a vintage shop in Eureka. 

Like the media tycoon that she is, Melody Stone has a website, a Facebook page, tweets, and is LinkedIn. If you're in the Midtown area, you can probably introduce yourself the old fashioned way: in  person. Just look for a girl in a dress on an old blue Schwinn cruiser with back baskets.

Street Style: Stand the Heat

This is Kristen. As in Kristin O'Connell. She was crossing the street on S & 21st when I rode my bike past her. I noted her careful study of neutrals and this kickin' pair of cowboy boots. I decided to pull over and ask her to let me take a picture of her. I loved the earthy color of her dress and its nubby texture, and felt that the whole look captured Sacramento essence: laid-back style with touches of interest.

Her dress, you'll note is a wonderfully textured knit, and is very au currant in it's neutral hue. A nice contrast to the minimal lines of the dress, Kristen wore a few well-placed pieces of jewelry that added texture. My favorites were her necklace & ear-ring set, black metal work medallions, picked up for cheap at Forever 21. And adding even more heat to the fire was her magnificent bag, a shoulder bag made from an old Basmatic rice sack and some cotton ticking. I loved how texture of the rice back and the stripes of the ticking echoed the texture of her sweater dress.  I won't even mention the wow factor of her incredible studded Frye cowboy boots, a score she said, found at Nordstrom Rack.

She was just walking home from a job interview. Which she got, by the way, thank you very much. Kristen will begin working at Tuli's within the week. She's also a personal chef, and she runs Kristen's Healthy Kitchen, which you can fan over at Facebook. Go ahead and fan her here. 

I'd like to thank Kristen for stopping for a stranger, for letting me take her picture, AND  for having fantastic Sacramento street style.