seaofshoes

1 Briefly introduce yourself. What's your name? Birthday? Location? Job?
My name is Jane Aldridge, I'm 17 years old, and I live in Trophy Club, Texas. I am currently a junior in high school.

2 When did you first blogging and why?
I started blogging one summer when I was bored. I wanted my blog to be like a style diary where I could show things that I like and the outfits that I wear. It's fun to photograph your outfits because you can see how your style evolves over time. Where I live, people look at me like I'm an alien because of how I dress. It's funny to me that people on the internet embrace my style!

3 What is your signature style?
I'm not sure that I have one! My style can be really random. I always love flashy vintage pieces mixed with fabulous shoes. Beautiful shoes are a constant in my style.

4 When and how did you come about establishing your own style and look?
I have always collected beautiful clothes and I think that my style changes as my wardrobe expands-a certain piece of clothing can inspire me to dress in a whole new way.

5 What is your fashion/styling rule?
Always have fun and don't take fashion too seriously. I try to stay away from most trends too. 

6 Explain how you get dressed in the morning, step by step.
I have so many clothes and it's hard for me to wear them all, but I try to give everything in my closet equal circulation. I usually start with one item: a certain pair of shoes, a skirt I haven't worn in a while, or a jacket I just got at the thrift store. I like to match things according to color, so my closet is color coded. 

7 What is your key fashion item?
My key fashion item is a flattering high waisted, knee-length skirt. Any color, preferably in silk or organza. They're the easiest thing to wear for me.

8 And what's your favorite way of styling the item?
With crazy belts and playful shoes. I like to wear a green organza skirt I have with a lion head belt and Miu Miu dragonfly shoes.

9 Explain how you mix and max color palette.
My favorite colors to wear are beigey-nudes and soft pinks. These colors look good on me and they go with a lot of other colors. I love flashy neon colors too!

10 Who's your fashion icon and why?
My fashion icon is Tina Chow-her style was eclectic but at the same time she always looked so elegant and timeless. She was very passionate about collecting vintage haute-couture too, and had an exquisite collection of Christian Dior, Balenciaga, and Madeleine Vionnet. I admire her passion for beautiful clothes.

11 Where do you shop? What are some of your favorite shops and why?
I shop a lot on eBay for vintage clothing. You can always find something amazing if you look hard enough, and it's fun to collect cool vintage clothes. My favorite vintage designers to collect are Kansai Yamamoto and Kenzo. Buying shoes is h
arder: to track down just the right pair I get in touch with the brands directly, or buy online from overseas.

12 What are some things you keep in mind when you shop? Do you have any shopping rules?
I try to never buy anything that looks trendy or cheap-quality. Other than that, I'll wear anything that catches my eye. I love to go to thrift stores and pick up something really crazy.  This has led to me buying way too many clothes-we just had a closet built in our garage to hold all of the vintage clothes my mom and I buy.

13 What's your most recent purchase? Can you give any tips on how to wear it?
I recently got a shearling and suede black bomber jacket by Richard Chai. It has an aviator feel to it and it looks very tough. I like to soften it by pairing it with feminine, high waisted skirts and strappy, whimsical shoes.

14 What's your favorite show from 2009 S/S collection? Has this show affected the way you dress in any way?
Martin Margiela's 20th anniversary show was so incredible. The way he consistently challenges the preconceptions of fashion is inspiring to me. I appreciate the ideology behind his label.

15 If you can buy one item for the summer, what would it be?
Every pair of shoes from Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2009!