In The Old Fourth Ward: A New Friend

"We're Facebook friends," he said at our introduction outside Danneman's. Blame blogging and city cycling. Someone thoughtful placed a lovely bit of crochet work overthe signpost to protect bicycles from scratches while his diamond point bow tie and argyle socks coordinate with a shade of vintage Fuji burgundy. Ride with us this Saturday from Woodruff Park to Oakland Cemetery in The Seersucker Social.

Shades of Blue In Virginia-Highland

Much has been said both here and elsewhere about the
stylish affinities that unite couples. Whether one co-opts
another's look or they share a vibe, it's there for all to see.
So what about people who may be just getting to know each
other? Such was my sense of what was happening at this
Virginia Avenue crossing. Everything here had been
carefully chosen, those tights artfully distressed.

Georgia Tech Style

Cindy Wang remembers her life before fashion. The Georgia
Tech sophomore was then 14 years old when she discovered
Dior and Chanel runway shows on television. "When I got
back to my closet I was mortified." Following that epiphany,
the self-described tomboy began modeling for her dad's
designer friends in China. The styles were "edgy with an
Asian influence, but tailored for Americans or Europeans."

European travel broadened her fashion sense when she
realized how both the natural and built environments can
influence sartorial choice. "I definitely noticed this in Sweden,
where it gets dark early and people wear lots of solid and dark
colors-wooly, comfy clothes." Parisians appeared "sweet and
polished" amid their romantic architecture.

Today Wang distinguishes herself in a ruffled neckline Ann
Taylor blouse, ruched Zara shorts, patterned tights and shoes
from Betsy Johnson and Banana Republic, respectively.
"It's a soft, feminine look that I can wear day and night," she
explains. That litany of labels needn't be a budget breaker.
Last year she discovered thrifting at places like Salvation Army
and Rag-O-Rama.

Her friend, Tech Junior Heidi Vreeland, grew up with the habit.
"Mom wouldn't buy new things very often, so I inherited her
thrifting ability." Vreeland shops with eye for mixing and
matching, which shows in these shades of grey. The H&M top
was tried first as the inner layer, but looked best outside the
silvery summer dress. Her choices are intuitive: "I know right
away whether something works," and she enjoys discovering
new combinations in her closet. "They might look bad, but they
might surprise you, too."

People do notice these efforts. A Chattanooga fashion blogger
admired her jacket and dress, both from Goodwill. The proprietors
of that city's Collective Clothing shop recruited her to work for
them. "I never pursue, it but I get opportunities for fashion modeling, perhaps because I'm tall," says she of appearances in a campus show of sustainable fashions and a Wes Anderson-themed, vintage celebration at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

While the ladies met in class and bonded over clothes, worldly
interests have deepened their friendship. Wang studies biology,
Vreeland Japanese and international affairs. They are living and
learning what Coco Chanel noted:
"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only.
Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas,
the way we live, what is happening."

Save The Date: September 4

While Tweed Rides are popular in northern climes, down
south we favor fabrics like seersucker and linen for leisurely,
late summer cycling. The Seersucker Social begins at 4pm in
Woodruff Park. After a suitable interval, we shall ride to
Oakland Cemetery for a Victorian garden picnic on the lawn.
Please join us for a quaint celebration of style, city cycling and
historic preservation in the heart of Atlanta.

In Piedmont Park

A Facehunter posting from July's LungA music festival
in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland showed woolly layering of scarves
and Nordic geometry. Here in Atlanta, we must wait a few
more months for a turn at wintry dressing. Pared-down-for-
summer is our motif, so distinctive looks rely on tiny, well
considered ornaments and flourishes like musical grace notes.
These fellows offer two great, contrasting looks and the colorful
stripes on his trainers recall last week's duo in Morningside.

Summertime in Bohemia

A casual meeting, "May I plug in my laptop by you?" led me
to showing off this blog for her in a coffee shop. After all, the
word must be spread somehow. When she reappeared by
chance half an hour later, an invitation appear on it was
accepted. Of the pared-down-for-summer assemblage she
said, "I like to have a collection of things so I can get up and go."
Well chosen things they are and proof that great looks not just
what you wear but how you wear them.

On St. Charles

Nothing says summer quite like seersucker. Every year
in June, the U.S. Senate celebrates a Seersucker Thursday.
Cool, light and carefree, those distinctive wrinkles are the
result of slack-tension weaving. Watch these pages for
news of a September 4th Seersucker Social. Stylish city
cyclists are planning an evening ride from Woodruff Park
to Oakland Cemetery. Intrigued? Please have a look at
Dandies and Quaintrelles for coverage of a similar event
in Washington, DC.

On North Highland Avenue: Fixie

Los Angeles Style

A visitor from California displays a stylish denim
jumper in Little Five Points.

In Poncey-Highland

sunglasses: Betsy Johnson
tee: Sauce
plimsols: Rocket Dog

In Little Five Points: Harmony

Even the backdrop shares their sensibility.

In Morningside: Pops of Shared Color

From his shoes and belt to the outline of her jacket,
stripes of red express this couple's harmony.

In Midtown: Shades of Grey

Yesterday's monochromatic theme reappeared on
Piedmont Avenue this morning. Like the cloche from
L5P, her H&M knitted hat pulls the look together.
Now a mere two weeks old, all of this blog's images
still live in my camera, where they may be proudly
displayed. One man asked me what it is that I seek
in subjects. The brief answer is unusual looks, but
further reflection revealed that these are portraits
of people who manage their appearances for self-
expression. As the very first subject of The Chattanoogan
explained, "It's all carefully orchestrated."

In Little Five Points: A Cloche Hat

Of all the monochromatic schemes afoot today in L5P,
only one rocked this flapper-era classic.

In Buckhead

Some outfits take center stage while others allow the
accessories to shine. Coordinating jewelry with shoes
was never easier than when visiting Buckhead's
West Village boutique, Beth Ann.

In Little Five Points: Treggings

Denim trousers crossed with leggings anchor this artful
color banding of a purple wife beater and a whimsical,
cropped tee by Shenanigans. Clear Jellies are the next
best thing to bare feet in this August heat.

In Virginia-Highland: Cycle Chic

romper: GLAM
boots: Baker
bag: vintage Kenneth Cole
watch: father’s vintage Seiko
jewelry and sunglasses: vintage
bicycle: built up by Loose Nuts Cycles

A chance encounter over vintage bicycles resulted in
shoptalk about a mutual interest in fashion blogging.
Odd how gossip begets gossip. From bikes to looks,
what do idle bloggers have to say for themselves?
“My mom was into yard sales and took me along,”
she told me of her life long interest in thrifting and
bargain shopping. “I remember in fourth or fifth grade,
my friends had an event to bring together and trade
things we didn’t want, girly things and knick knacks.”
Now she shares her finds and tales of Atlanta living with
the followers of LadyFLASHBACK. It’s a fitting name for
someone who draws inspiration from the past while
illuminating the present as both photographer and model.

Only In Little Five Points

In our encounter, she remarked that 1990's clothing
is now vintage. Yes, an entire generation has come
of age since her enchanting sundress first appeared,
but the love of floral prints endures.

This third world creation speaks to the romance of
far away places in exotic, monochromatic geometry.
Such are the flavors of Atlanta's original bohemia,
Little Five Points.