Fore Front Fashion
What is Maine style? Christine Mitchell from N’East Style weighs in!
Define New England style in a few sentences
It’s hard to define it in words but I think it comes down to form meeting function. New England is not a part of the country that is very conducive to flighty fashions, one should dress for the day prepared to get into a muck if need be. There is also a lot of respect for traditional style along with supporting local artisans, be it a sweater hand knit in Vermont or a shirt cut and sewn in Maine.
I think there are some nice anglo/gaelic roots in New England style that is unlike other parts of the country. Lots of tweed and wool. It’s also a bit more consistent than the more trendy urban parts of the country. You’ve also got that 5th season, Mud Season, that requires a little something extra in the wardrobe. Like a good yellow slicker and Bean boots.
I think my grandfather’s old L.L. Bean Barn Coat. Its got holes all over, but I love it. If it’s not broke don’t fix it, right?
Do you think fashion in New England is underrated? Or perhaps overrated?
I think that it’s actually getting a good amount of recognition in recent years. Things like fisherman knit sweaters and Birkenstocks aren’t frowned upon anymore. I remember wearing those at boarding school and being labeled crunchy. And not in a good way. There is more respect for the craft and quality behind things like that.
It’s a very honest style. People wear what works for them and their lives, they’re not necessarily trying to impress anyone. But they’re not being lazy about it either.
I think it would be fun to go as a Green Mountain Boy! So maybe I’ll do that this year. But if I were to dress like the contemporary New England stereotype, it would be an outfit consisting of a Patagonia fleece, flannel shirt, Carhartt overalls, and leather clogs.
My family lived in Farmington when I was younger and my grandparents lived in a great old farmhouse in Sedgwick. So I grew up with Maine’s mountains and lakes as well as its coastline. In both places I learned to appreciate the tradition of wearing what works and owning a wardrobe of classic pieces that never go out of style. That along with one vital styling tip: wear layers, even in the warmest months. You never know when a chill will roll in.
photo by Kim Lucian
You can check out Christine’s blog N’East Style as well as her tumblr, The Ditty Bag.
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// About the Author
Laura Serino
After visiting Maine only a handful of times, Laura Serino packed up her studio apartment in New York City and headed north for "the way life should be." After a summer on North Haven island, she and her boyfriend, a Maine native, settled in Portland, Maine. Serino is a former magazine editor who has been published in national and regional publications. When she isn't blogging, she spends her time antiquing, scouring thrift shops, exploring new places in Maine and cozying up to her cat Jasper. She recently completed her first book, "Twentysomething Girl, 1001 Quick Tips and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier." Reach her at info@forefrontfashion.com Follow her: @ForeFrontFash
She booked the tickets to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in the spring. The cancer diagnosis came in the Fall. // Meet RILEY HART- ARTIST, ADVENTURER, CANCER SURVIVORr
