Food for Thought…and Fashion
You may know him as the informal “Mayor of Hampden.” Lou Catelli is someone who I’ve enjoyed following on social media because of his fashion, flair and originality. I firmly believe a person’s style and how they dress tells a lot about them, their personality, and the image they want to project. Without boring you with psychological details, I will say that Lou’s fashion presents such an entertaining and appealing image, that people just want to be around him.
Lucky me, I finally got the chance to meet Lou Catelli in person and he was everything I thought he would be, and more. Lou was seen sporting his trademark vintage OP corduroy shorts purchased from the former DeBois Textiles thrift store that is now – sadly – closed. Who says a “Mayor” can’t wear short-shorts, be respected, and have fun? His shirt – gifted to him on National Doughnut Day from Center Cut Donuts – was hand cut by Lou to give him a “super duper V” silhouette. Most of Lou’s T-shirts represent stores or events in Hampden. No wonder that he is an ambassador of this quirky and charming neighborhood!
Lou uses accessories – like chopsticks and pens – to create his own version of the man bun. He made it clear to me that he had this look years before it became mainstream. He went through a Samurai phase, but also found these chopsticks to be both fashionable and functional since he loves to eat sushi. Like most pieces in his outfits, they remind him of good times and good people. These chopsticks came from Ruby8 restaurant; a gift from the owners of Cloud 9 Clothing. His brown oversized chic sunglasses came from Sandy’s Bargain Center. Where Lou is concerned, telling a story with your look is an understatement!
While I was a judge at Taste of Three Cities in Patterson Park, I became intrigued by the style sported by Emily Brungo, another judge at my table. She was wearing a colorful striped shirt by Alloy and a pair of light blue chambray pants – both purchased from the same online store. It was a fun weekend-wear look that really popped because of the color choices and accessories. Emily’s espadrilles from ASOS, and her white heart sunglasses (that she stole from the photo booth at her cousin’s wedding) really gave the outfit a winning signature retro look. She refers to her fashion as “Macgyver’d”. Because Emily’s style is inspired by the 1960’s and 1970’s, she buys a lot of vintage clothes and alters them to custom fit her body frame.Emily – a.k.a. Yinzerella – has her own food blog called “Dinner is Served 1972.” Her articles gravitate to retro recipes, just like her style. She believes “every day is a chance to play a different character.” She keeps Little Edie Beale from “Grey Gardens” in mind when she picks her outfit out, saying “I think this is the best costume for the day.”
A day in the sun at “Taste” left me exhausted, but as I made my exit, I still had the energy to focus in on the most incredible little treasure beautifully wrapped around the neck of Regina Simpson, owner of Recherche Jewels. She was wearing a striking silver necklace that surely had to have caught the eye of anyone and everyone within a hundred yards. I soon imagined all the different looks that this dramatic piece could go with…a dress for a night on the town or even to spice up a blouse and blazer combo. I couldn’t resist snapping up one in gold!
Found – It wasn’t long before I lost myself in Regina’s wide collection of interesting jewelry and various clutch options. A few multicolored stoned necklaces were showcased alongside an assortment of comic book handbags, depicting the creative artwork of Roy Lichtenstein.
Another find that particularly grabbed my attention was an oversized gold coin medallion chain-link necklace. I think it is safe to say, nothing about these rare finds could ever possibly be labeled ordinary!
