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Style Queue /stīl/ /kyo͞o/ noun 1. a sequence of people with a distinctive appearance 2. A style column for The Sound whereby sustainable style blogger, Jennifer Moore (a.k.a recovergirl), interviews locals with unique style
This week, we talk with Ellyn Touchette, a 20-year-old resident of Portland, Maine, about poetry, little black dresses, and feminism. This interview has been condensed and edited.
What is your occupation?
That’s a great question. I have a few jobs. I work in mental health rehabilitation. I bartend at a yacht club. I don’t know if poetry counts as an occupation. I guess it’s about to be, because I just got a book deal and I’m going on tour.
What is your dream job?
To get paid a livable wage to do poetry.
How would you describe your personal style?
I try to sit at the intersection of punk rock and classic.
What are the staples of your wardrobe?
Little black body-con dresses and heels.
Which actor would play you in a movie about your life?
A young Winona Ryder
What musical artists are you listening to a lot lately?
I listen to punk rock, horrible pop music, and classic rock. I’ve been listening to a lot of Clash, Modest Mouse, and Lana Del Rey. I have to acknowledge Led Zeppelin as my first favorite band. They opened the door to good music for me.
I have a really good friend who is like a stalwart member of the radical self-love, body positivity movement. Hanging out
with her helped me get over my
low physical self-esteem.
Describe an outfit you wore for a special occasion that you really loved.
I have a sparkly black body-con dress that dips really low in the back. I wore it to perform at the finals at the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Minneapolis in 2013. The dress went to just above my knees and had three quarter length sleeves. I wore black knee-high boots. My hair is naturally a copper brown and was down to my hips. The ends of my hair were a blue ombre. It was pretty bad-ass.
Who do you think has great style?
I don’t read fashion magazines. I don’t look at pictures of celebrities. I should pick someone from the Riot Grrrl movement, like Kathleen Hanna. Riot Grrrl was a third wave feminism movement in the ’90s. Basically, it was punk rock girl bands being awesome.
Who is your style icon?
Lana Del Rey. If I have to pick someone, I’d have to say Lana.
What is something you love about your body?
My hourglass shape. I’ve got a really good butt and I like my waist. I have a really good friend who is like a stalwart member of the radical self-love, body positivity movement. Hanging out with her helped me get over my low physical self-esteem. There is no time for that.
How do you practice sustainable style?
I avoid stores with bad reputations and my friends and I swap clothing sometimes.
Top of page: Twenty-year-old Ellyn Touchette. photo by Jennifer Moore