New Vintage Refashioned Jewelry Obsession

Buzz Buzz Designs- how I love thee! 

I have a deep reverence for fine craft and buying handmade products. Kristen Billings creates some of the most interesting and thoughtful jewelry from reused vintage materials. Every piece of jewelry is designed and handmade by Kristen, influenced by her design background and her fascination with architecture and interior spaces and their relationship with the natural world around them. We are so fortunate, here at Model Citizens to carry this great designers work. 

www.buzzbuzzdesigns.com

Necklace above available at Model Citizens

Hello All,

Just to give you faces to names!

Chelsey and Sam- Owners of Model Citizens

Is It Going to be That Kind of Day?

If anyone out there is thinking of becoming a small business owner, know there will be days that you feel you may explode into five thousand pieces due to pressure and anxiety. Today is one of those days for me- feeling pent up anxiety about the winter slow down, trying desperately to change it while fighting your own winter blaws. Sometimes planning can take you a few steps ahead, but this business is entirely unpredictable. So many factors to consider and so little of it is in your control.

So what better way to combat the winter anxiety than with coffee and conversations with your favorite people, family members and/or pets. Let is snow and I will stick my tongue out at the window and play with my vintage clothing here at Model Citizens.

Vintage Find of the Day Jacques Esterel Tennis Dress

 

This dress absolutely inspires me! Created by Jacques Esterel- a sort of jack of all trades in fashion and entertainment, and almost considered a showman rather than a designer. His carnival approach to fashion, theatrics and huge props made his shows wild and engaging! He was said to take "Mods and Rockers" on the streets and translating them into haute couture", which is reflective of todays fashion.

This dress is flirty and summery, made with absolute precision and care. Vintage couture is so far above and beyond current craftsmanship and this dress hasn't got a flaw. 

How to Wear This Vintage Piece

Now, how to wear a vintage couture piece? This one's an easy one- reserved for a petite girl, it can have an ironic "Fred Perry" preppy look and it is best accessorized with flats (ballet or white keds) and chunky sunglasses and a slouchy cardy (perhaps vintage Lacoste Cardy). Important to keep it light and airy- overdoing a look like this will change the outfit from "looking great because you don't care" to a disaster. Awesome look for a hipster who might be traveling this winter- can't you just see this outfit in Greece?

Well its been an exhausting day of frantically and furiously planning for Model Citizens. It has occurred to me that owning your own business actually means less freedom in your life. Before I entered into the land of no return, I had dreams of riding my bicycle to work, drinking espresso and chatting with customers all day long-it hasn't turned out quite like that.

But I am my own boss, I am only accountable to me. And that suits me just fine.

Welcome to My Blog!

Hello friends!

Thanks for indulging my ever pressing need to chronicle my life- this is self indulgence at its finest! Here is a bit about me to give everyone a sense of who I am and what I am about:

My name is Chelsey MacNeil and I am a small business owner (Model Citizens Vintage Clothing, www.modelcitizens.ca). I am a recent graduate of Bishop's University in Lennoxville, QC and have wandered my way across the country to settle in St. John's Newfoundland. 

I will be using this blog to comically  chronicle my stumbling and fumbling through the life of a young female business owner and to pretend I have supreme wisdom when it comes to fashion, giving the readers (whoever you are!) a bit of guidance and information regarding wicked vintage clothing. I am also a huge advocate of sustainable fashion- handmade and local unique products and I look forward to keeping you posted on new obsessions! Also, I feel it is my duty to be a smartass and comment on everything under the sun.

Hopefully this blog will be a bit funny, sometimes informative and overall a good waste of 5 minutes (which everyone needs).