Guest Brand: A Cat of Impossible Colour

Our grand finale guest brand is: A Cat of Impossible Colour

Name: Andrea

Age: 24

City of Residence: Christchurch, New Zealand

Pithy Title for your hybrid of Signature Style
Erm ... cute and colourful vintage chic?

Brief Narrative on your Personal Brand of Sartorial Fashion:
I love colour and prints - particularly plaid, polka-dots and gingham. I am inspired by 40s and 50s looks most of all. I hardly ever wear black, and I hardly ever wear trousers. I see fashion as a way of injecting colour, creativity and joy into everyday life. Oh, and I usually only buy second-hand or vintage clothes!

How old were you when you figured out your sense of style?
It has been an ongoing process. I have always dressed 'weirdly.' In high school this meant bell-bottoms, ponchos and headscarves. In university, this meant long leather jackets, lace gloves and corsets. I feel very comfortable with the style I have now, however. I started wearing a lot of vintage in 2008, when I was 22, and I learned quickly that 1950s styles suited my personality and body shape very well. And I haven't looked back! I feel very comfortable with my style now.

Who is your style icon?
There are a few. Piksi from wardrobe_remix is definitely a big inspiration for me, as are many more of the lovely bloggers whose blogs I follow. I am inspired more by real people than by celebrities - although, having said that, I do love Zooey Deschanel, Audrey Hepburn and the character of Chuck from Pushing Daisies. I know, I'm a walking cliche!

What's your best piece of fashion advice for women?
Wear what makes you happy!

Where do you shop when you want a bargain?
There are lots of wonderful op-shops (thrift stores) around, and I buy the vast majority of my clothes from these places. So I suppose everything I buy is a bargain, really! I actually feel terribly guilty when I buy a new garment at full price, and nearly always regret it. I like to hunt for treasures in thrift stores, and I also like to know exactly to whom my money is going - not always possible when buying from a 'first-hand' store.

Where are your top 5 places to shop overall?

1. Tete a Tete Vintage, Hereford St, Christchurch
2. Two Squirrels, Cashel St, Christchurch
3. Savemart, Battersea St, Sydenham, Christchurch
4. The Great Opportunity Shop, Riccarton Road, Christchurch
5. Toffs Recycled Clothing, Gloucester St, Christchurch

What body issue do you dress around, and how?
I'm a bit self-conscious about my bum and thighs, which is where I carry my weight. I wear a lot of dresses and skirts and I always emphasis my waist, which draws attention away from the problem area to a slimmer part of my body. I feel terribly frumpy if I don't accentuate my waist in some way - I guess if I had a rule, that would be it.

Of course, on my more confident days I also like to accentuate these curvier parts with a pencil skirt. I guess it just depends on how I'm feeling.!