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

Gallant and Jubilant Inspiration!

I know: adorable, right? I love her Nordic-prairie-orphan style... (all the pictures until the first etsy socks are straight from prettysmartgirlart.blogspot.com [the object of my current obsession and adoration])
The above outfit was inspired by a documentary on the Roma! You may have noticed it on my Roma (Gypsy) style post. I stuck it on that post.
This is gorgeous! The fabrics are so pretty.

Lots of fair isle here... and I am unbelievably obsessed with fair isle.


The socks in the above picture are available on etsy. Just click on the picture, it's linked to etsy.
Same deal with these socks. Etsy.
Once again, etsy socks.
Feather earrings from... you guessed it! Etsy!
i wonder where this scarf is from...
This is such a brilliant picture. I adore everything about it. Her hair color is so beautiful!
Etsy!!!!!!
No way! Etsy again!!!!
Make it stop!!!!!!! It's all from Etsy!!!!!!
Holy crap!! This one isn't from etsy!
Neither is this!
Not etsy... another go to site for me: delias. Sadly I just learned that this is no longer available for purchase. Which is depressing because I really wanted it.
These boots are awesome and they had better be on my feet by February 27th! (That's my birthday) They look vintage... but sadly they are not. Alas my huge feet will rarely ever fit in vintage shoes! this is a cause of much depression for me.

I discovered that the blog prettysmartgirlart.blogspot.com is the greatest thing since sliced bread and am now following it devoutly. The lovely lady who is the blog's author always wears frocks and wonderful boots and gunne sax dresses and I just adore her clothes! I find myself inspired (fashionably) by posts on other blogs often enough but never before have I been inspired by the author herself! But after looking over her old posts I felt incredibly inspired! I was already obsessing over gunne sax dresses before I read this blog, but after I checked out her beautiful outfit pictures I exclaimed: "Aaahhhh! That truly is quite cute." Actually no I didn't; I just searched Etsy and begged my mommy to dig out her old gunne sax dress for me to try on. But alas! Her dress is in storage! Curse you.... gods of... storage...? Sadly, I couldn't find anyone to curse for that. Anyway... So, strangely enough, I am going to write a blog post inspired by a blog post. Well, inspired by a fashion blogger...
Love,
Belle

The Nomad's Dream

This dress' pattern is inspired by traditional Gypsy clothes.

This outfit is supposed to fit in with the "rules and regulations" for Gypsy clothing but it's a modern, fashionable take.

This picture is from the blog: prettysmartgirlart.blogspot.com. The scarf is Russian and her outfit was inspired by a documentary of the Rom. I love this outfit!

Gypsy Woman from flickr.com

Gorgeous wrap skirt! Gypsy Inspired Skirt from etsy.com

Gypsy Boho Love from stylepantry.com

Definitely not even a remotely traditional Gypsy outfit, but the bangles, earrings, and earth tones are Gypsy-inspired. It's called: Esmerelda Tan Outfit
Isn't this shirt great? I think it's wonderful and I want it! Elle Gypsy Girl, I found it on thisnext.com

I'm not really sure if this could even be considered Gypsy-ish but it's really pretty and it's a brilliant, bright color.

Wonderful outfit! I love, love, love, love, love it!!!

Since I was little I've been completely fascinated by the culture, mystery, and fantasy of the Rom (Gypsies), and I've grown more and more captivated as I've grown older. I'm writing an essay on The History and Origins of Gypsies and I couldn't be more obsessed! Most Americans have a very limited understanding of the Rom because there aren't many here (compared to Europe and other places that I've never been!). But Most Americans are not Anthropology majors! I am, so when I'm interested in a culture I immerse myself in it as much as I possibly can. I've been reading a book that explores the mysterious origin of these nomadic people and I could hardly believe what I was reading! It was so remarkably written and extensively researched that I got lost in it and haven't been able to escape since. Anyway, I'm so captivated by this culture that it's affecting nearly every part of my life! I'm painting and drawing Gypsies, writing a research paper on them, reading up on current political issues involving them, and now I'm writing a post on my blog about their clothing. Let's get to that, shall we? Their style is wonderfully unique and conjures up feelings of magic and the weight of generations of constant movement and restlessness. Or at least to me, but I'm a freak so, hey, what can I say? So! I don't want to misrepresent an entire people or make any ill-fated assumptions or stereotype anyone (because I abhor stereotypes) but this is my modern interpretation of the traditional style of dress worn by many Gypsies around the world for centuries. From what I've read, Roma wear scarves, bright-BRIGHT- colors, tons of jewelry, ribbons, bells, billowy tops, long skirts, and shoes fit for travel! I know this is probably well known by most people. A modern interpretation means that you take certain aspects of the style- tweak it, mix it with other styles- and make it your own. I wear alot of long skirts and tons of jewelry- but with a tank top or t-shirt so I don't look like I'm wearing a costume. Peasant blouses have come to be associated with Gypsy style, too. I read that they wore basically peasant clothes but with their own individual flair (i.e. jewelry and bright colors), at least that's in certain parts of the world. I think Kalderash Romani wear a different style of clothes than English or Romanian Gypsies. I never know when to use the different terms: Rom, Roma, Romani, Romany. I've seen all of them and I find it quite confusing and would like to know when to use each for accuracy's sake. By the way, just a little known fact, when I was little I had sandals with little pictures of Esmerelda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame on the sides. I loved them dearly! Anyhoo, I guess I'll just have to show you some pictures. Once again, I've linked the site directly to the picture, so just point and click. Have fun! I hope I didn't accidentally offend anyone! Good night! Kushti Ratti! Love,
Bellamy
By the way, good colors to wear are natural earth-tone and berry shades as well as any shade of red but fire-engine red (it's considered unlucky because it's associated with blood).

Jekh dilo kerel but dile hai but dile keren dilimata (I love this saying, it means: One madman makes many madmen, and many madmen makes madness [according to http://webspace.webring.com/people/wt/tempestgypsy/romdict.html#PHRASES