Vogue Girl Korea!

I've been in a sorry state the past few days with an energy-draining cold I've been grappling with, so when the postman rang the doorbell yesterday I didn't manage to answer it in time and had to flag him down barefoot in my sick uniform of yoga pants and cardigan. Must have been quite the sight, but I signed for my package and got really excited when I saw that it was from Korea and in magazine form. I tore it open and the editor that had contacted me for the World Blogger feature had kindly marked the page with a Post-it note. It's quite surreal seeing photos of myself in print (though I can't decide how embarrassed I am to be wearing the same shoes in almost every photo..heh..), and I'm very honored to be included in this story - so thank you very much Vogue Girl Korea! I was so happy to see a diverse bunch of familiar blogger faces from all over the world, but I won't ruin it by posting their pages too. I actually haven't ever been able to look at an issue of Vogue Girl since I never see it for sale anywhere here in the US, but I must say it's really fun to flip through even though I can't read a single bit of it.

Now to work on getting better so I can get back to posting outfits and filling the store with all the crazy cool stuff I've found lately. And partake in drunken 4th of July festivities, of course.

The interview in English:

1 Briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Rumi Neely, I run an eBay store and do freelance fashion work from the San Francisco Bay Area.

2 When did you first blogging and why?

I first started it as an extension of my eBay store, Treasure Chest Vintage - I would receive a lot of message asking where I got my accessories from and if I had an online diary of my personal style. When Whowhatweardaily put me in one of their Myspace Muse features, I finally decided to really give the blogging thing a try.

3 What is your signature style?

It's very California - slightly messy and bohemian with an edge. I like to wear really casual, nondescript items alongside crazy heels, and most of the time I incorporate vintage into my look to give it a special touch.

4 When and how did you come about establishing your own style and look?

I've been into clothes since I was a little girl, but of course like anyone else, I've experimented and been through a bunch of phases. I think the mark of coming into your own look is when most of the things you buy you still love and wear years later, and this happened for me a couple years ago.

5 What is your fashion/styling rule?

I think my only rule is to not have any rules! I love to take something that is generally perceived as ugly and try to make it work, like a strange '80s fringe jacket or oversized men's denim shirt.

6 Explain how you get dressed in the morning, step by step.

For me it isn't about a method, it's more just pure randomness that affects what I wear. Some mornings, I'll try to pick something out of my closet that I haven't worn in a while and try to rework it, other times I'll base it on the shoes that I want to wear that day, and sometimes I even just put on whatever's on the floor of my bedroom since it's the most easily accessible.

7 What is your key fashion item?

I have a strange fascination with denim shorts, currently my vintage Levi's are at the top of my list.

8 And what's your favorite way of styling the item?

Since they're so tomboy-ish and rugged, I like to wear them with high high chunky heels and lately I've been loving the look with my vintage fur vest and tons of jewelry.

9 Explain how you mix and max color palette.

I like to wear colors that aren't so obvious to put together, I recently wore an outfit with a red bandage skirt and army green strappy heels and really liked that combination. I like neutrals just as much as I like brights, so it really depends on what mood I happen to be in. If I think an outfit is too dull, I'll add in colorful bangles or an obnoxiously bright bag.

10 Who's your fashion icon and why?

Erin Wasson - she has such a way of mixing up simple clothing to create unique looks and always knows exactly how much to accessorize or layer.

11 Where do you shop? What are some of your favorite shops and why?

I shop everywhere! From Barney's to thrift stores to eBay to cheap stores like Forever 21 and H&M, I think there are treasures to be had most places if you look closely enough. I love to put together looks that incorporate pieces from all of these places - I think it really adds dimension and personality to one's look.

12 What are some things you keep in mind when you shop? Do you have any shopping rules?

I always ask myself if I really love something before I purchase it, my closet is too small to buy everything that catches my eye. I never really go shopping in order to look for a specific piece, I just go when I'm in the mood to hunt and buy whatever sticks out to me, be it a feathered headband or a mirrored jewelry box. I've found that if I go looking for something in particular, I'm bound not to find it! So my main shopping rule is to be open to anything.

13 What's your most recent purchase? Can you give any tips on how to wear it?

A pair of triple strap Chloe maryjane heels from the spring '06 collection that I bought from Yoox. I imagine I'll be wearing them the most with summery minidresses, but my first look with them was a simple knit top and fringed skirt worn with long chain necklaces.

14 What's your favorite show from 2008 S/S collection? Has this show affected the way you dress in any way?

My favorite show was Balmain, the tough hippie look really appealed to me. I love that Christophe Decarnin made everything from tie dye to sequin vests look fresh again.

15 If you can buy one item for the summer, what would it be?

Balmain's moccasin ankle boots to wear with shorts and minidresses - they are the ultimate shoe to me.