Style Files: MADISON BRINNON

Madison Brinnon is a sophomore in high school but her style rivals women much older than her. Madi is able to effortlessly blend age appropriate clothes with pieces that give her just a little more sophistication. Oh, and she’s a singer, actress and in an all-girl rock band! OH and she’s dating my little brother! Basically she is one talented and adorable chica.

How would you describe the evolution of your style over the years? When i was younger I would always dress with the “trends”. The typical Hollister, Abercrombie california girl look. I then branched out and went into a more preppy and conservative look. But I still based a lot of my looks on the clothes i saw in magazines. I always had a style that somewhat showed a different side of my personality. Now i tend to dress more bohemian rock. I take classic pieces and spice them up with a fun necklace or bold sandals.

Do you have a favorite piece of clothing or accessory you always find yourself reaching for? I have always been a jean person. So pretty much with every outfit I wear I am wearing a pair jeans. They range from BP jeans to True Religions. But with every outfit I am always wearing these three antique handmade rings i bought in Scottland.

What is your go-to outfit? My go-to outfit would always be a crisp pair of jeans and simple v-neck. I love this outfit because you can dress it up with a jacket and a necklace or go casual and wear a cardigan with it.

What do you think is the main thing that influences a person’s style? I believe the main thing that influences a persons style is the media. Whatever one sees on a celebrity or someone on tv wearing, they want to mimick the style in hopes that they will look as good as them in it.

Did you take any style cues from family or close friends? I take a lot of fashion tips from my mom. My mom was a fashion buyer in New York City and worked with designers ranging from Ralph Lauren to Betsey Johnson. Her experience in the industry really helped me learn about classic and timeless styles.

Is there a style icon/musician/friend whose style you would love to emulate? There is such a range of fashion on the tv series Gossip Girl. I would love to emulate every style that is portrayed on that show.

Where are your favorite places to shop? Nordstrom is a great store to shop at because you can find many designers and you can find great deals if you look around. I mostly shop at boutiques though. I like them because most of the things you will find there are items that many people will not have. Which will make your style more unique.

Any trends you avoid? Absolutely avoid the trend of wearing wide leg pants. They only work if you are 5’10 and weigh 100 lbs. The number one trend to avoid is the super short shorts. They are not fashionable they are just an invention of clothing to make the female population feel more attractive.

As an actress and singer you perform a lot, do you have any special “stage” outfits? I love outfits that help me develop my character. But any girl would love to dance around in a flashy showgirl outfit. Being covered in diamonds from head to toe while singing on stage would make any girl feel like a star.

You recently had short hair, did you chop it off on a whim?? I actually cut off all my hair for a show. I had long blonde hair and my director asked me if i would cut/shave my hair for the show Peter Pan for he believed it would help us trully embrace our character. So i went and got 10 inched of my hair cut off and got the back shaved. I was a 13 year old girl with no hair. I was very insecure at first but i do not regret the decision and I would cut it all off again if I were asked to.

High school is rough, how do you survive? Many people say “oh high school has so much drama” but the honest truth is it really isn’t that way. Of course you will get in fights with your friends or there may be a rumor. But many immature teenagers put themselves in situations where they become vulnerable and therefore high school can be rough. But the secret is to be friends with people you actually LIKE! Be happy and enjoy your high school experiences. If you allow yourself to become caught up in the drama of “who likes who” you will become just another “high school teenager” which is looked at in a negative way. I always remind myself that none of what happens i high school will matter in college and in the real world. Where you sat at lunch will not matter,  how popular you were will not matter. But how much drive you have and the content of your character does. So in high school we should really be spending our time building ourselves to become more responsible individuals then to become more popular individuals.

Style Files: JOHNNY FOSTER

Johnny Foster is the man. After being cheated out of the highly coveted ‘Best Dressed’ in the 2009-2010 Amador Valley High School Yearbook I have decided to introduce you to my good friend, Johnny Foster. Johnny Foster is always called ‘Johnny Foster’. Not Johnny, not John, not J, but Johnny Foster. His name is very fitting, you see. The Thriving Ink team first met Johnny Foster when he would come shop/hang/sketch/eat at the shop after school. We all instantly became friends and I am so happy to feature our first guy Style File!

How would you describe the evolution of your style over the years?

Over the years i have had good, bad, and ugly fashion choices. When I first became fashionably aware, it was heaping waves of brown! i wore so much brown, and eventually i got out of it. Freshman year was pretty much H&M and then sophomore year was about graphic tees, now I’m down to basics. I like wearing plain shirts and simple plaid button-up along with cutoff shorts. I also have a tendency to be matching rather well or perfectly at times.

Do you have a favorite piece of clothing or accessory you always find yourself reaching for?
I almost always have my beanie and glasses on. Once I started wearing them, we have been inseparable.

What is your go-to outfit?
Black cutoff pants, button-up or tee depending on weather, nylon nike cortez, beanie, and possibly glasses and headphones. its rather bland i suppose but it gets the job done.

What do you think is the main thing that influences a person’s style?
Music. There are two styles that I have merged into one over the year, and both are influenced by the music i listen to. I have had my electro-funky sort of style, and also my indie sort of attire, but now what I wear matches both rather well.

Did you take any style cues from family or close friends?
My brother has always had a good sense of fashion. We have a reputation of always having nice shoes. Every now and then i will see something that looks good on someone and try it out for myself.

Is there a style icon/musician/friend whose style you would love to emulate?
David Bowie.

Where are your favorite places to shop?
I get almost all my shoes online, and I get my clothes at The Goodwill, H&M, and Urban outfitters at times. Where i wish i could shop: www.yesstyle.com

Any trends you avoid?
Whatever everyone else is doing. Somebody once asked me why i was wearing such a weird shirt, and i replied asking if i should wear LRG, Obey, and Vans. They said yeah. thats what I avoid.

You skin appears to be smooth as a babies bottom, what’s your secret?
I don’t really have a secret. I have always had baby smooth skin and its just wondrous! I do love some good aloe lotion though!

High school is rough, how you survive?
Well, it is much easier if you have at least one good pair of pants, and not durable and mountain worthy, I’m talking clean, slick, and properly fitted. Other than that, friends.

What planet are you from Johnny Foster???
Wherever funk originated from.

Style Files: MICHELLE LANNING

I met Michelle around the same time I met Lo. Back then Lo was known as ‘Baywatch’ (for her sexy run around the track in PE) and was Michelle was known as Mischa or ‘Noodle’. The three of us used to hang out on Livejournal–I wonder if our “journals” still exist? Oh the fun we used to have! Michelle has always been very unique and stylish and so it was a no-brainer to feature her as one of our Style Files.

Style Files: KATIE SHARIFY

I have always loved my friend Katie’s style and knew I needed to interview her ASAP. She is effortlessly chic. Katie was the person who inspired me to rock a blazer–making her a very important woman in my world.

<3Jenelle

Girls In Boots: How would you describe the evolution of your style over the years?
Funny you should ask because I was just looking through some old albums the other night and oh boy! Middle school and everything before it- I’m pretty sure we’d all like to forget the awful outfits we wore/were forced to wear. In high school I dressed to blend in. Didn’t we all? My closet was filled with items from Abercrombie & Fitch and Hollister. So basically jeans and tshirts. Shorts and flip flops.
Today I’m a lot more willing to take risks and try new styles. I don’t necessarily dress to stand out but I like to retain my own style and not just follow what everyone else is wearing/thinks is cool to wear.

Girls In Boots: Do you have a favorite piece of clothing or accessory you always find yourself reaching for?
It’s constantly changing. My current obsession- blazers! I have way too many and just can’t get enough. I dress them up, dress them down. I’m always wearing a blazer over everything. They are flattering on everyone and always add a touch of class to any outfit.

Girls In Boots: What is your go-to outfit?
Skinny jeans or leggings, long flowy top, either a blazer or leather jacket, flats or knee high boots.

Girls in Boots: What do you think is the main thing that influences a person’s style?
For me personally- current trends and just observing what other people wear. I love walking around in big cities and seeing the eclectic mix of every style imaginable. I’m the random girl that walks up to you gushing “where did you get that?!” Mixing what I see around me with my own personal taste always makes for an interesting new outfit.

Girls in Boots: Did you take any style cues from family or close friends?
Definitely. One of my best friends is a fashion design student at FIDM in Los Angeles and I’m inspired by her everyday. She’s very over the top/edgy and while I could never pull off some the looks she rocks, I still love her style. It’s very lingerie inspired and all about lace, leather, and sequins. She reminds me not to take fashion so seriously and to just have fun with it.

Girls In Boots: Is there a style icon/musician/friend whose style you would love to emulate?
I love Lauren Conrad’s style. It’s not groundbreaking and original but she always looks very age appropriate and classy.

Girls In Boots: Where are your favorite places to shop?
Everywhere and anywhere! I don’t discriminate I just love clothes. I’m a weird person to shop with because I walk into random store and basically speed walk my way around and just wait for something to catch my eye. However, my top three most visited stores are probably Urban Outtfitters, Zara, and H&M.

Girls In Boots: Any trends you avoid?
I’m not a big fan of the fringe on EVERYTHING. I don’t know if that’s still a hot trend or not. I believe jean jackets are making a comeback? And what about the overalls I saw on several mannequins last week? Those will definitely be the upcoming trends I’m going to avoid for as long as I can.