TRAffIK Stopper – Heather Ellis

 We love fashion. We love people. Most importantly we love and applaud the creativity that YOU people have. Being “fashionable” has many definitiions and manifests itself in many varied appearances and we want to see and share it all!

So every month we TRAffIK peeps will pick a new FASHIONISTA to feature. We might see ya out at one our favorite LA spots, at the super market, or just walkin’ down the street, and if we take notice of you stopping TRAffik with your “oh-so-rad” threads and sense of fashion then we’ll want to take that and throw you up on our site and learn more about you through a Q&A.

On these streets, we know there are all walks of life on display and we want share what you got goin’ on with all the other Angelinos who are in TRAffIK. 
  
This month’s FASHIONISTA is San Francisco Native Heather Ellis.  In this Q & A she gives us a brief overview on her sense of style, days as a punk-rocker, favorite designers, and where fashion stands today.

TRAffIK: Where are you from originally?
Heather Ellis: I am originally from SF, I moved to LA in 1999 to work in the music industry.

TRAffIK: What is your occupation?
Heather Ellis: I am a sales agent for a fashion showroom and a stylist.

TRAffIK:  How would you describe your personal style?
Heather Ellis: My personal style is a mix of everything I love really, bits and pieces of my favorite fashion. I love Scandinavian fashion, especially Danish…and there’s always a little 80’s in there. Some people think the 80’s was a bad time in fashion but I think it was a very creative time in general, in fashion, music and art. Actually I think much of the fashion from the 80’s, especially street fashion, paved the way for so much of what we see today.

TRAffIK: How has your style evolved over the years?
Heather Ellis: I’ve definitely become more open minded to what is possible for myself with fashion. When I was younger I was very self-limiting because I had a certain image (punk rock) to uphold. That lifestyle and especially that fashion defined me as a person then, and I couldn’t break out of that box until I was a little older. Then I started to experiment with different looks and styles and was able to find what feels comfortable for me. My early years as a punk rock kid definitely still play a part in my personal style but that doesn’t limit me anymore, instead it is what allows me to try, and feel comfortable with, more over the top fashion. And I love that.

TRAffIK: Do you follow trends?
Heather Ellis:  I don’t follow trends but I definitely take advantage of them. What that means is that I will always look at trends to see what’s out there that is part of my personal style. I’ve been looking for just the right pair of plaid pants for a long time and when they trend again I will take advantage of it!

TRAffIK: What is one of your biggest fashion regrets?
Heather Ellis:  I don’t really have any. Even some of the looks I’ve tried that I would NEVER wear now I don’t regret because at the time it worked for me…or at least I thought it did then! Sometimes I regret having bought really cheap clothes because you can tell they’re not quality (well, I can tell) but at the time there was no avoiding that. A girl’s gotta do what she can to look good!

TRAffIK: What is a look that you hate seeing on people?
Heather Ellis: Anything that is worn because it’s trendy that is NOT FLATTERING on the person. Right now it’s the “Boyfriend Jean” which doesn’t look great on most women but they are wearing it because it’s trendy.. I can appreciate that but there are other ways to get the look and still flatter your figure.

TRAffIK: How would you describe the current state of fashion?
Heather Ellis: On the one hand there’s a lot of freedom right now to wear whatever you want because anything goes really. In mags right now you can see a 1940’s look and then a 1960’s look a few pages later, and then a 70’s look and an 80’s look… But on the other hand sometimes there seems to be no direction to fashion. It’s not easy to find something really innovative and different.

TRAffIK:  What do you wish you saw more of when it comes to fashion?
Heather Ellis: It’s not so much what I want to see more of from the designers it’s what I want to see more of from the people – take risks! I’d love to see more women step outside of the box and get creative and bold. Try new things, it might not always work but do something different! There’s nothing about fashion that bums me out more than to see everyone looking the same…

TRAffIK:  What would be your advice for anyone who is still trying to find their fashion style?
Heather Ellis: I would say start out by thinking about what you’re comfortable in and build on that. Look at a trend and see if it feels like You, if you’re comfortable with it and if it flatters your figure. If it doesn’t, then look at the next thing, don’t force it just because it’s trendy. For example, I’m very comfortable in skinny jeans. The “Boyfriend Jean” is trendy right now but it only makes me look short and dumpy so I will not rock this look. It’s just not for me. But I may take another part of this trend, an oversized cartigan for example, and wear that over a cigarette pant or skinny jeans.

 
TRAffIK: What are some of your favorite designers?
Heather Ellis: I absolutely love Vivienne Westwood, as well as Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel), Alexander McQueen, and tons of Danish and Swedish designers, such as Lundgren & Windinge (DK)… to name a few, there are lots more but I only have so much time!

TRAffIK: What are some of your favorite places to shop?
Heather Ellis: I love to shop in New York, anywhere downtown. I love wandering around NoLita or the East Village or LES and finding new boutiques I’ve never seen before. My favorite store in LA is Maxfield’s however, it’s not where I really shop, per se. (I wish!)

TRAffIK: Who are some of your style icons if any?
Heather Ellis: I don’t know if she’s my “icon” but I do love Agyness Deyn’s personal style. I love Beth Ditto because she just “Owns It”. I love something I read recently that Giambattista Valli said: “I like to put the right dress in the wrong place and the wrong dress in the right place.” That’s totally me, I love that. Anyone that does THAT well is my style icon.

TRAffIK: How do your looks come together?
Heather Ellis: Definitely what I feel like in the morning. If I plan it the night before I’m rarely happy with what I chose. I guess it feels too limiting, like I chose this and therefore I HAVE TO wear it no matter how I feel or what the weather is like, etc. I do much better on the fly.

TRAffIK: What kind of music do you listen to?
Heather Ellis: So many things. I grew up listening to New Wave (darker stuff like The Smiths, Depeche Mode, Ministry, etc.), Punk Rock (Black Flag, Minor Threat, Chaotic Dischord, etc.) and Ska (The Specials, English Beat, The Selector, etc.). Now I listed to a lot of Hip Hop (more underground stuff) and Reggae, as well as Jazz.

TRAffIK: What are some of your favorite places to go to in Los Angeles?
Heather Ellis:I like to go the museums and look at art. I just saw the Vanity Fair exhibit at LACMA, it was very interesting. I also love to look at graffiti on the street, there is so much beautiful street art here, you just have to know where to look. The Rose Bowl flea market is a favorite of mine too.

TRAffIK:  Who are some of your favorite artists? 
Heather Ellis: As for graffiti I love the Seventh Letter crew, they are so talented. I LOVE dancing, especially break dancing, popping, street stuff. I guess I could say the JabbaWokeeZ are one of my favorites right now, those guys are unreal, and there are so many more amazing dancers and dance crews. As for music, Radiohead is one of my all time favorite bands ever. That’s not just music to me, it goes way beyond that…

TRAffIK: What inspires your daily wears?
Heather Ellis: It just depends on what I’m into at the time. When the weather is colder (not often in LA) I’m usually inspired by looks from the streets of NYC and my own version of a New York winter look. For summer, I may be really into wifebeaters and wear that and a skirt most of the summer. I will change up my look after a while when I start to get sick of it. I may also be inspired by new trends that I can bend to fit my own personal style.

TRAffIK:  If there was any designer that you could work with or wear that you haven’t yet, who would it be and why?
Heather Ellis: It would be Vivienne [Westwood]for so many reasons. I can’t even imagine all there is to learn from her, it would probably be a religious experience. And I love the fact that she came from the London Punk Scene in the 70’s. That just makes her 10 times cooler and more legit to me.

TRAffIK: What accessory could you not live without?
Heather Ellis: Well if I had to pick just one……I guess I would have to say my CHUCKS! (low top black Converse)

 
(In these photos Heather is wearing: Top Left – White Jacket from Wet Seal  – All other Photos: vintage necklaces, Cuff – Brave Leather, Top – Kill City, Belt – Brave Leather, Jeans -  Kill City, Shoes – Vintage Dolce & Gabbana)