She can thrift. She can sew. She can quilt. She can crochet. She can even manage your contracts! Get to know Monelle and how this attorney-by-trade continues to use the sewing and crocheting skills, that her grandmother taught her when she was 9 years old, as acts of self-care.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in San Francisco, and I still live in the Bay Area with my husband and two little boys. I am an attorney by training, but have always been a creative person. When I’m not sewing or crocheting, you can find me exploring the outdoors, camping, hiking, and roadtripping in our Airstream. You can follow my creative and slow fashion journey on @bashfulleo.‍

Would love to know more details about your sewing! How did you get started?

‍I love all kinds of creative arts, but sewing and crochet have always been special to me as my grandmother taught me how to do both when I was 9 years old. I took a long hiatus from sewing, returning to it in the pandemic. I resumed crocheting last month in the wake of recovering from a car accident. Revisiting my childhood pastimes as an adult has allowed me to center my creativity within sustainable principles. Sewing and crocheting have become meditative creative practice for me and an act of self-care. Though I’m never truly “off” from being a mother, the joy of sewing provides me a momentary “break” from the demands of everyday life. I typically sew and crochet at nighttime after my children’s bedtime. The silence of the house, the hum of my sewing machine, my focus on the sewing task at hand, and the repetitive nature of crochet are meditative and therapeutic for me. Being alone in those creative moments allows me to show up and be more present in the everyday moments for my husband and children.

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‍What are some of your favorite pieces you've made?

‍My favorite pieces I've made have always been from reclaimed materials that would typically be discarded: scraps of fabric leftover from other sewing projects, discarded clothing, and thrifted quilts and blankets. There is truly no other feeling like extending the lifecycle of material destined for landfill and giving them new life in upcycled garments.

How would you describe your personal style in 4 words?

‍Independent, unexpected, fun, and unapologetic.

How would you describe your style in a couple sentences?

I love when women wear masculine styles; I love streetwear and sneakers; I love 90’s nostalgia; I love sweet-meets-sporty; and the juxtaposition of seemingly different colors, prints, and styles (a big poofy dress with sneakers) that give off an air of creativity, unexpected joy, and wit.

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What/who inspires your personal style?  

‍I was very, very close with my grandmother growing up. My parents were always working, usually multiple jobs, and my maternal grandparents lived with us and raised my brother and I. My grandmother was my second mother, and many of my earliest formative moments involve her. I spent a lot of time in my grandmother’s room, sifting through her jewelry and her clothes. I have so many early memories of lovely chiffon blouses with bow ties, wool coats, and pearl jewelry. I did not realize it at the time, but being on a limited fixed income, my grandmother thrifted all her clothing. When I realized it as an adult, it left a lasting impression on me about what constituted true style and how money does not have to limit one’s ability to express their style. I credit my love of outerwear and puff sleeves to her!

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‍The silence of the house, the hum of my sewing machine, my focus on the sewing task at hand, and the repetitive nature of crochet are meditative and therapeutic for me. Being alone in those creative moments allows me to show up and be more present in the everyday moments for my husband and children.

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How has your style developed/changed the best few years? And what tips do you have for for finding/building your personal style?

‍I used to think that sustainable style meant only wearing neutral, shapeless linen clothing. However, my style journey has evolved as I have grown to love bold color and patterns, unapologetic silhouettes, memade clothes, and sneakers with everything. And I've realized that even the unexpected color or print can be a "wear with everything neutral" when styled correctly. With age, I have grown tired of minimizing my presence and voice to please others and have adopted a DGAF attitude. It's been truly liberating and empowering, and the evolution of my style reflects this.

My advice: wear what makes you happy and stop caring what other people think!

What are your favorite slow fashion brands?

Elizabeth Suzann was my first introduction to slow fashion, and I will forever cherish all of the ES pieces I have. I also love April Meets October for dresses, Nettle Studios for denim basics and joyful linen colors, STATE the Label for colorful conversation starters, Frēda Salvador for footwear, Lindquist Object for small leather goods, and Aliya Wanek for sweatsuits.

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My advice: wear what makes you happy and stop caring what other people think!

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What items are currently in your Lucky Sweater closet?

‍I have a ton of shoes to upload as well as dresses and dusters. Major closet revamp coming up soon!

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