Willa Monday style OR "Beauty cannot be eaten with a spoon"

 So, today I'm going to talk about Willa Monday- a character on The Finder. The very first time I saw this show (the short mini-pilot in a Bones episode) I liked the overall idea. It's cool: this brain-damaged guy can find stuff because he "follows the vibrations" of the Earth, I guess. Then when the show finally came out to stand on its own, I totally fell girl-crush hard for Willa Monday- a teenage American Gypsy parolee who lives in a trailer and works in a bar owned by Walter (aka: the guy who finds stuff). Sometimes I feel like the show is a little heavy in Gypsy stereotypes, but I think it manages to do it somehow inoffensively. Willa is a badass Romani girl with a chip on her shoulder and an awesome sense of style.

I am in love with her messy braided hair styles and eclectic ("bohemian" though I hate to say it) tops and jewelry. She also wears these very utilitarian boots and crochet berets. I weirdly relate to her, too. I'm not a juvenile delinquent or anything, but I can relate to a part-Romani girl who enjoys braids more than the average person.


When I had long hair I was always experimenting with crazy braids. I'd sit in class and be French braiding my hair upside-down and putting fishtails and twists and whatnot. I chopped my LONG hair to my shoulders for its health, but I still like to braid it, just not as complex as my old braids.

 This is a waterfall braid. I LOVE these braids! Here is a tutorial. I do these on either side of my head. It's one of the few complicated braids I can still do with my hair shorter. When it's long again I'll do it like the picture. I don't want to seem like I don't like my hair short, I do!

Robin Calhoun was a pro surfer in the 60s and 70s. She inspires me immensely, especially this picture. Anyway, the point is: I like my hair short because it reminds me of awesome female pro surfers.

 But I'd also love to have it long again, because then I could do my hair like a cool fictitious bar-working Gypsy girl with awesome shirts.

   I have this shirt in two colors: ivory and turquoise.

 Willa's also got loads of great jewelry.

 Oh yeah, and in case you're wondering, "Beauty cannot be eaten with a spoon" is an old Romani (Gypsy) proverb, according to "special-dictionary.com". I don't know what it means but I like it.

This hat is from the Etsy shop Softspoken. Click on the picture to go to the shop.

 This ^ is the life I want, exactly.

I'd better stop. I could just keep going! 

Love,

Belle

La Belle Bohemian dans le Cafe...

Woo! My first blog post on blogspot, I must be a pro now- I'm moving up from myspace blogs! So this post is about boho-cafe style with a twist of my signature love of all things French. The key is in the small details: you can wear a plain white t-shirt and jeans and still make this look work if you have the right accessories. Abstract/eccentric jewelry (like my peacock feather earrings and tons of unique bracelets) is really important for pulling this off. Birks, boots, Oxfords, and booties are probably the best shoes, especially in burgundy or brown, but keds and converse can be great, too. I have a whole collection of French t-shirts (dis fromage; Le Chat; Du Chat Noir) which look tres belle with a knee length skirt, tall brown equestrian boots (which are sadly extremely hard to find cheap new or vintage in my size. if you're one of those ninnies with size eight feet you can find them vintage on etsy for really cheap- and I'm horribly jealous of you). Sweaters are always a safe bet for this look except in summer. In summer you can wear a funky paisley tank top, shorts or cargo capris, birks or folksy-print flats, and layers of jewelry. My favorite hairstyle for this look is a messy braid or messy bun, unless you have Long hair and blunt bangs which is really cute just down and natural but a real booger to grow out when you want a change later on.
Hey! I'm editing this post almost a year later! I found some pics to go along with these lovely words I wrote. Here they are!
PROPS TO: rvablogs.com for the pic of Jessica Alba in her cute cafe-ish outfit, liverpooldailypost.co.uk for the 2 cute dresses, Miss Pandora for her perfect sense of style, teenvogue for some super outfits, vanessajackman.blogspot.com for a beautiful Italian coffee shop outfit, 12bags.com for the cute boho/cafe outfit with the hat, alibaba.com for the gorgeous bag and fringe booties, psychicgirl.wordpress.com for the awe-inspiring necklaces, and the sweet picture of the lady with a striped shirt and adorable hat is Coco Avant Chanel. Okydoke dears, I feel better with some pictures on this previously amateurish post (t'was definitely not premeditated [ that's the word of the day today {and today is 1/3/11!}]) Love,
Belle