2008-01-16

RUMI - FASHION TOAST - INTERVIEW

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FORGET CELEBS FOR A MINUTE: GET TO KNOW RUMI

Myspace / Ebay / Mystylediary / Blog

Rumi was gracious enough to let me interview her.

Rumi I've seen you all over the Internet for a couple of years now, where did you get your start? What made you want to open Treasure Chest Vintage?

Ever since my freshman year of high school, I have had a love of vintage clothing and the thrill of thrift store gem-discovery. Back then, that would translate into ratty little boy's Ts and battered into oblivion '70s Levi's, maybe with a fashionable shoelace woven throughout the loops if I was feeling extra creative (sadly, I'm serious). But it never occurred to me to turn this into a business until after I moved back from a year in Hawaii and randomly asked my boyfriend to take some pictures of a couple odd things I wanted to sell. Soon thereafter, we started styling the pictures a little more and putting more effort into marketing, and we were eventually scouring California for new and on-trend vintage. Finally, I had a reason to buy all the fabulous things I would find that weren't my size!



When did you start becoming interested in Fashion?

Well I was a rather petulant child, frequently insisting upon patent leather shoes, white t-strap sandals, and the flounciest ruffly thing that could be found. From the time I can remember coherent thought patterns, I was extremely aware of how I wanted to style myself, with many a night spent digging things out of my closet that might be able to be renovated. I was in high school when all of this started to materialize further, and I started stockpiling fashion magazines (LOVED the Liz Tilberis era of Bazaar), idolizing Kate Moss and James King (I refuse to use her current Jaime), and growing increasingly bitter that my parentally enforced Japanese school attendance conflicted perfectly with Saturday morning viewings of Fashion File.

Where do you like to shop?

I am in what is essentially perpetual shopping mode. I love to go thrifting in random little suburbs, but I also have a relatively unhealthy addicting to Forever21, which is all too apparent on my blog. I rarely splurge on actual clothing items and instead like to save the funds for extravagant purchases in the form of handbags and shoes. MAYBE the occasional exceptional dress. I also love H&M, though shopping there is mostly an exercise in frustration since all of their small sizes are so infrequently available that I sometimes wonder if they even were produced in the first place. And Ebay, obviously. My favorite place ever to shop is in Tokyo, but I haven't been in over a year.



Where do you find your inspiration from? Your outfits are always flawless!


I am a French Vogue fiend - and actually, a lot of the people I find most inspiring are French too. I like it when someone's not really wearing anything that exciting but the combination of pieces or general effect is simply alluring. Clemence Poesy and Charlotte Gainsbourg definitely personify this, they're just maddeningly chic. But most of the time when I'm getting dressed I just fixate on a garment I haven't worn in a while or that feels fresh again and sort of force myself to update it. Some of the best shopping can be done in one's own closet.

What made you want to start a fashion blog?

Literally, probably Susie Bubble's existence. She has such a fearless approach to fashion that is a little complicated yet simple at the same time because she just wears what she feels. Her writing style is definitely inspiring too, and since I pretty much stopped writing after I was through with college, I thought it would be fun to get back into it again. I honestly didn't think people would be interested in my personal style but when WhoWhatWearDaily asked me to be a Myspace Muse I thought it might be fun to document my outfits online.



Any fashion advice for Mahalo Fashion readers?

I say just wear what you like! I get weird looks and comments all the time but if dressing the way I want to makes me happy, then it's definitely worth it. Dress for the life you want :) Sorry that was cheesy haha.


Final question, out of curiosity have you ever modeled? Cause you seem natural at it!

Aww that is extremely sweet...umm well I did some in college and was with an agency when I lived in Hawaii but I only did horrible cheesy work. Seriously. So cheesy. Awful.





Anything else you'd like to add?

Just a thank you to Mahalo for wanting to interview me! :)

Mahalo Rumi, and thanks for your time!


Mahalo fashion,
Jen

Today's Links: Aisha, Wendy, WendyB, LoveHateSensation, Ceci n'est pas une blogger., bitterbabe, Daphné, The Seeker, Jello on Springs, Imelda, Mash, Marleaux, jadorevogue, deexdeexdreamer, Lady N, copperoranges, Secretista, PrincessPolly, The Clothes Horse, jayne, Jill, discothequechic, Fashion Tidbits, maveri_ck<3, sara, hannah, the iron chic, !*!*!*!*!Fresh and Fab!*!*!*!*!, miss vintage love, Miss Woo, emsie

41 comments:

Unknown said...

id neva heard of her before, but wow! shes exactly why i want to buy more vintage- and i heart her french vogue confession!

Anonymous said...

I love her style! i check her blog everyday! and i love the vintage clothes too!
kisses
muah

Ângela Brito said...

Love, Love herrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Style 1000..., great interview!!
Kissesssssssssssssss

Jen (MahaloFashion) said...

^ x one million hahah!

Secretista said...

LOVEEEE HER STYLE! If I only lived in a more warmer place, I'd so wear everything she owns.

S said...

Wow, her outfits really are flawless. I love her style. And about the F.B.A, is there a specific form to fill up or something?

Great blog, by the way!

<33

Grace said...

Rumi's style it totally ace!

Unknown said...

That is a great great post !
You do an amazing work here!
great service for the bloggers.
I just congratulate fashion toast (i told that it was thank's to you)

i am very busy these days because it's the end of a long process for me with press groups and potential investors meting

i will suscribe to the competition soon

kamel

Marleaux said...

Thanks for introducing her. I love girls with real style. Her style is so effortless west coast chic. Oh and I looove the pic with the blue shoes, marc jacobs bag and the knitted cap. And all the other pics too.

Edirin said...

she looks stunning,i love her shape

Seeker said...

I didn't know her, but she's really nice. Thanks for telling us about her.
I'm going to check her blog, because I might get inspiration.

xoxo

Ana said...

i've never heard of her before so thanks
she has cute style!

Mash said...

I have never heard of her before you write about her but she seems very nice and intersting :) you did a great interview , congratulations ! and ohhh she's sweet because I m french ahaha ;)

FeiraChic said...

great, great post. she's got great style!

Jay said...

she has a nice style
congrats on interviewing her! you are becoming famous!

In Yr Fshn said...

Never seen her before but wow! Amazing style.

Kira Aderne said...

She seems to be a real fashionista! And she is beautiful and funny...cool to see :)


a kiss

your blog is sooo great!

Elle said...

wow great personal style! thanks for the introduction!

Hildur said...

wow, she's got an amazing style. the outfits are really interesting and lively.

Michelle said...

I check her Ebay store regularly but I had no idea she has a blog. So many pretty dresses!

Ella Gregory said...

She does have amazing style
fab interview!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm impressed with (and a little jealous) of people that can wear colors. I hate feeling awkward, and thats what I feel like when I wear basic colors like blue or red or yellow. I can model colors, but I can't wear them without feeling like a neon sign. So peeps like Rumi are awesome, like heroes to me. Great interview!

LoveHateSensation said...

Her style is amazing and fresh. Your interview was great!! Good job.

Blue Floppy Hat said...

The girl is every bit as articulate as she is stylish...great interview! And I so seriously <3 that tartan jacket and sequinned blue dress.

NonchalantMod said...

rumi, i love your style!!

PrincessPolly said...

Never heard of her before (I don't really know a lot of fashion "names") but really liking her style and she seemed really cool from your interview!

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

She's got great style. Why do all the cool cats have vintage shops?

Romeika said...

I didn't know her, that's so nice you got to present her to your readers through an interview, I really liked her style and the pictures look so natural. I admire people who wear anything they want, as long as they feel good about it, without caring on what other people would say.

Secret Agent said...

Wow, Rumi is hot and her outfits look awesome.
As far as Kirsten Dunst for Miu Miu. I actually think those ads look mighty awesome. As an actress, Kirsten isn't bad, as a person...I dont know. But from being judgmental and a trashy-magazgine whore, I kinda hate her.

Andrea Martínez Maugard said...

I just saw a post about her in Allure... She's one stylish cyber girl hahah

Wendy said...

Before this I totally did not know her. I'm so glad I do now because her style is simply amazing! Very inspiring indeed.

And those ads for Miu Miu are so cool.

Mash said...

I love the new ads for Miu Miu , Kristen is gorgeous , seems like Alice in Wonderland :)

Zornitsa said...

Great interview.BRAVO

A.N said...

She has really really nice outfits!
I'm pretty amazed actually. Great interview.

Rebecca, A Clothes Horse said...

I LOVE Kirsten Dunst's dark circus Miu Miu ads. The colors are so rich and perfect, the clothes decadent and Kirsten stunning.

Lynn said...

Love Kirsten's big glasses and the short flouncy skirt. Sexay!

Anonymous said...

I love those two sparkley blue dresses & yay Kirsten Dunst is awesome. :]

Grace's said...

Very cute these picture! I love them!!! This style is very nice :) Kisses my dear and pss a good W-E!

Jill said...

I've loved her blog for a bit now, great style.

kokostiletto said...

You look like such a model!!! You should get back into it!

K. said...

seriously fabulous stuff! Thanks for the post- I've never heard of her before this!!

and my God! The Miu Miu ads are some of the finest I've seen for a designer/celeb pairing!