Our latest blogger spotlight is shining on Psyche Southwell, creator and editor of Economy of Style.  Psyche’s blog is dedicated to making fashion attainable for those on a budget, which is basically everyone!  Her tips for scoring deals and sourcing quality pieces are invaluable for those who want to dress well without sacrificing their whole paychecks to fashion.

JORD: Psyche, we would love to claim you as our own but you are originally from Basseterre in St. Kitts.  What brought you to St. Louis and what has kept you here?

PSYCHE: I originally moved to St. Louis to attend graduate school. I relocated for a few years for work opportunities, and I recently returned to the city.

JORD: The Midwest is not typically mentioned when discussing current fashion trends. What do you think St. Louisans do well when it comes to fashion? Are we getting anything right?

PSYCHE: There’s a great deal of fashion ingenuity—coming from designers, stylists, bloggers, and other fashion enthusiasts—in St. Louis and the Midwest. In recent years, St. Louis has been very successful at creating opportunities for these groups of people to gather. The fashion climate is heating up in St. Louis as a result.

JORD: Your blog concentrates on affordable fashion; what stores or shops do you think are consistently offering up on trend and well-made pieces that are also economical?

PSYCHE: I’m committed to budget shopping, so off-prices stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, and Nordstrom Rack are my favorites for finding designer goods for less.

JORD: In your opinion, what item of clothing or accessory polishes a look regardless of what you are   wearing? 

PSYCHE: Definitely a statement piece of jewelry. A stunning necklace, standout earrings, or a bold face watch like my Jord Sully Series timepiece can jazz up the most mundane looks.

JORD: Is everyday a catwalk for you? Would we ever catch you at the grocery store in yoga pants and an old college tee?

PSYCHE: Not exactly. But I do find joy in the everyday processes of thinking about fashion and comfort, so what I wear to places like even my local grocery store probably reflects some of my stylistic interests and sensibilities.  Over the years, my blog readers have expressed interest in approaches to styling causal looks, not simply wearing high fashion attire, so I am inclined to think carefully and creatively about different looks even during down time.     

JORD: What do you waste your time doing?

PSYCHE: Social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, can easily become time warps for my day if I let them. Of course, using these apps is a major part of my experience as a blogger, so I’m always striving to find balance between my digital and non-digital life.

JORD: What do you wish you had more time for?

PSYCHE: I volunteer every Saturday with a group of women at Connections to Success, the umbrella organization for Dress for Success in St. Louis. I wish I could teach the class I teach there on Saturdays at least three times a week.

JORD: What should humanity – as a whole – spend more time doing?

PSYCHE: Recent events in the St. Louis area serve as sad reminders that social injustices prevail. We all have capabilities, varying capabilities, so we should work to ensure that everyone is treated justly in the world.

JORD: This person inspires you – who is the first person that’s popped into your head?

PSYCHE:  Surely my grandmother. She was one of my earliest inspirations. She had a sophisticated and chic style that has left a mark on my taste. More importantly, she was committed to serving her community and helping others.

JORD: If you were rich enough for just one luxury – the rest of your life would remain the same – what would it be?

PSYCHE: An unlimited travel package. I really enjoy traveling, so if I could continuously visit places free of charge that would be fantastic, a dream come true.

Thank you again to Psyche for allowing us to discover more about what makes her tick. We love meeting other St. Louisans who are committed to the community and Psyche is certainly making excellent use of her time. Be sure to head over to Economy of Style where Psyche is constantly updating with new looks and new tips. We could all use a few! Till next time…