The Sharp Side of Life
The It Girl: Gabrielle Pedriani; Over-Analytical Personal Style Blogger
Facebook: www.facebook.com/looksharpsconnie
Twitter: @looksharpWI
Instagram: @looksharpsconnie
Pinterest: pinterest.com/pedriani
Hometown: Mequon, WI
Favorite local place to shop: Iona Boutique, Downtown Madison
“I'm not usually one for ‘trends’, as I'm big on wearing what you love.”
The last time that I checked, Waukesha and New York City were antonyms. While New York may be the first place that springs into the mind of any aspiring fashion go-getter, Wisconsin might be the last. But it’s time to shed some light on the cow-tipping, small town, country bumpkin stereotype of the Dairy state. The 2014 Road Atlas definitely left out the sea of cotton monotony (i.e. fleeces and jeans) smack dab in Central Wisconsin. When it comes to clothing, many Wisconsinites are simply, well, simple. However, Gabrielle Pedriani—the local fashion blogger behind Look Sharp Sconnie—has taken on the challenge of changing that.
As a high school student, Gabrielle had been drawn to the idea of “fashion.” She recalls, “I vividly remember getting half way through a school day and vehemently wishing I'd worn a different outfit because I'd changed moods since the time I'd gotten dressed.” Although enamored by style,
through a school day and vehemently wishing I'd worn a different outfit because I'd changed moods since the time I'd gotten dressed.” Although enamored by style, Gabrielle studied Communications with a specialty in Radio, TV, and Film at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The street scene of Madison, however, was surprisingly conducive to her clothing obsession; In January of 2012, she started photographing street style finds and blogging them. Before Gabrielle clicked her camera, she’d tell the trendy students she photographed to “Look Sharp,” and the name stuck. “Eventually, it turned into this weird amalgamation of pictures of myself and over-analytical text about anything from the history of mom jeans to why I think trends are a bit of a lie.” Look Sharp Sconnie was born.
A summer trip to Paris, complete with haute couture shows, made her realize that fashion could make a bona fide career. After dabbling in public radio, she naturally transitioned to blogging, with a side in retail and personal styling. Iona Boutique in Downtown Madison has recently added the Midwestern style guru to their marketing team, a smart move for the local clothing store. It’s a win-win relationship.Gabrielle is a walking, breathing, advocate for Iona, as she graces Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter in their latest garb, visible to her hundreds of followers. And Iona gives her a daily dose of inspiration. “[At Iona] I've really come into close contact with the intricacies of a designer's work. I'm used to shopping
By Isabel Seidel
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