Happy one year anniversary to Style Street!
This past year flew by!
I truly can’t thank all of our readers enough who visit the blog weekly, left comments, and those who patiently waited for Style Street to hit newsstands at the end of each month in the Extra section.
The leaders of our area’s style starts with the thrift-savvy students and young professionals. With limited shopping options locally, it seems the go-to place for young adults are thrift stores. Youth has its advantages, but the other stars of the show are our residents over 40, proving there is no age limit on style and beauty.
Southwest Virginia may never become a high fashion capital but the style in our area is uniquely ours and I see a trend of people wanting to be more comfortable instead of conforming to what is fashionable right now. Ultimately I aim to be as open minded as possible so my content doesn’t become predictable.
I’m looking forward to another great year of walking the streets in search of street style. My goals is to visit more areas outside of Roanoke and Blacksburg, and hope to see the men’s fashion in our area progress a bit.
We’ve made several changes since Style Street’s inception last July, most of which came from your comments. Now that we’re headed into a new year, what else would you like to see from Style Street?
July 25, 2012 - 5:04 PM
How about non-western clothing types, like hijabis or other cultures represented in our city?
@Anna, I think that’s a great idea! I do hesitate to ask people in our community for photos who opt to wear hijabis. Mostly because of my time traveling through the Middle East where taking photos of women in traditional garments such as the hijabi was frowned upon. Ultimately I don’t want the person featured have their peers react negatively towards them for agreeing to being photographed by me.
I know from a few of the leading style blogs (namely Scott Schuman’s and Todd Selby’s) there are sometimes themes that are developed and style shots reflect those…could be interesting to see how people here echo seasonal themes. Also its interesting to look outside of the general age range you tend to shoot – it seems to be roughly 19-35? I know on the big blogs they hit all manner of exceptionally well-dressed folks who are in their 40s, 50s, 60s and older. Often they are in real fashion situations but none the less, with a bigger income to spend on dressing, a longer life of travel and career and the fact that our region has many ‘adults’ who come from very impressive careers in design, the arts, science, etc…you could find some fetching looks to shoot.
Keep up the good work. Really enjoy it.
@ Local Colors – Wait, I thought I was one of the leading style bloggers?
I think the main reason the bulk of my age group tends to be in the 18-35 range is because they are the ones opting to walk around town longer distances. Some of the most popular posts of my 40 and up folks, but I do not find people is this age group that often outside lunch time. Work attire and causal wear in our area are drastically different and work attire is fairly conservative, not something I want to photograph regularly. I like the idea of themes and have tried it a few times, it turns out to be harder than I plan for. Bloggers like Scott Schuman shoot street style 4-5 times a week, and are also based in large cities. When you shoot that much in densely populated areas themes are easy to capture since it happens in such a high volume.
I think I’ve said this a few times, but its all about foot traffic. Southwest Virginia’s towns and cities are incredible, I literally walk around in circles for hours on end, but It never gets old to me. I still seem to find something new every time I head out. Why more people aren’t enjoy our towns and cities on foot regularly I still don’t know.
Aside of my little rant about walking more, I agree with you and would love to feature more 40 and older on Style Street.
I love your blog and think you do a wonderful job of finding style in Roanoke. Have you walked around Grandin Village on a Friday or Saturday afternoon – you just might find some great style. Families with small children, young (and older) hipsters, skateboarding poseurs, crunchy Co-op shoppers and regular folks are all there. Love my neighborhood!
“Ultimately I don’t want the person featured have their peers react negatively towards them for agreeing to being photographed by me.”
That sounds incredibly patronizing. As long as they are adults, you should trust people to make their own decisions about being photographed.
I suspect that most people who regularly wear non-western clothing in a place like Roanoke have already encountered judgment about their choices. Such as being categorically passed over by fashion photographers, for example.
@tass, I dont over look anyone, I think your going to have to trust my judgement on this topic.
Is it my imagination or was Meaghan Dill featured in last week’s City Chic Style Street in addition to today’s?
Oooops. My mistake. I saw her on this blog and then a few days later in the paper. Not twice in the paper. Carry on.I really like what you are doing. Ten years ago the idea of a”Style Street” in the RoVa would have more likely been the punch line of a Roanoke hick town joke than the reality that you have made it.
The blog is fun and a nice break from the everyday news.
Thanks David.
P.S I am 67 and love it so you reach older and I say this with all due respect,groups.Keep up the great job.
Lucy raised a good son.
Hey: love your blog! You should come to NW Roanoke, as in the area around Lincoln Terrace and the Y. I sometimes see some killer styles in my hood. Also, you might want to try to the teens/young adults at the mall, if you think they belong. Some of them are way fashion forward. Grandin Village is also a great idea — then venture up Memorial and take a left onto Salem and see what you find in the rougher sections of town. People really try to put outfits together all over town. Keep up the good work.