Personal style
Colorful neons, mostly bold; handmade; somewhat casual; and low maintenance.
DIY mentors
My mom taught me [the basics of] how to sew when I was very young—7 or 8—and I had a sewing machine. [Then] I took art and sewing classes. I really got into it with YouTube and blogs when I was in my 20s. I took my skills to the next level by reading, watching videos, and immersing myself in the craft.
Sewing circle
I find things on Instagram [she’s @lauraneon_crafts]. When someone uses a pattern, there’s usually a hashtag, which I’ll follow. I see who else is using it, where they shopped for fabric, and what other patterns they use. That’s how I find patterns, fabric stores, and unique fabrics.
The crown prints
I’m all about prints—the bolder, the better. I love florals, anything celestial, plaids, checks, and ginghams.
Slow fashion
The fast-fashion industry makes money at the expense of the environment, and many of the people making the clothes are exploited. I love balancing my love of fashion with my passion for the environment. I’m not perfect; I don’t always know if the fabric is sustainably produced. But I do my best. And instead of buying three shirts that last a year and go to the landfill, I can make something that will last.
What’s old is new
[Vintage shopping is] not my favorite—a lot of sizes are smaller than today’s sizes, and it’s hard to find clothes that fit my shape. I’m more likely to create from scratch. I have bags of my old clothes, and I may repurpose a shirt or make it into a dress. I have old sheets from when I was a kid. I’m just waiting for the right moment to make them into something.
Time-capsule treasures
I can look at clothes and remember when I wore them and what I was doing. Certain items remind me of high school friends or college friends. So I have a stash of old clothes I can’t part with, even though they don’t fit me anymore. I also collect tie-dyes and band T-shirts from concerts.
Effortless dressing
I love dresses. [They’re] just so easy. You don’t have to match your pants or skirt to a shirt.
Top accessory
My eyes are very sensitive, so I love hats. Some are fancy and stylish, but mostly I have baseball caps.
All that glitters
I make jewelry. I’m obsessed with beads. I also love gold earrings—I collect them.
Favorite fashion era
Anything from the ’60s to the ’90s, when there were bold prints.
If money were no object
I’d buy unlimited fabric and yarn. I love shopping and looking at fabrics. Most nights, when everybody else is watching TV, I’m scrolling for fabrics. Of course, I wouldn’t have unlimited time to use it all—that’s the other side of the dream.
True style is…
Whatever floats your boat. As long as you can get yourself dressed and you’re happy. You can tell when somebody feels good about what they’re wearing.
Related: Wilmington University Professor Kimberly Richardson Shares Her Top Style Picks
