Getting to Know: Martini of Beyond Boston Chic
Jul 20, 2011 at 9:00AM
All images: Beyond Boston ChicPlease welcome our newest contributor, Meggie Sullivan, to the NB family. We are so thrilled to have her on board and hope after reading her inaugural post you will be too.
It was the shot heard 'round the town, GQ Magazine named Boston the #1 Worst Dressed City in America.
Whatever. Before we get all frazzled and hide our boat shoes, cheers and glasses up to Martini Severin. This Haitian native and long time Bostonian doesn't flinch when she catches a moment of elegance on our city streets. Whether it's a 90's redux ensemble nostalgic of "Fresh Prince" or the vintage sophistication of newlyweds in front of the State House, Severin has all sorts Boston style captured on her blog Beyond Boston Chic.
Through her travels, she has observed a city full of individuals that keep true to a voice, a consistent style as expressive as a thumbprint. Boston's fashion is honest, Severin suggests, an intonation of the colors from within the individual. Proof of life, GQ: this city's style is alive and pulsing.
After jump, see what Martini had to say about her personal style, where to find the best dressed Bostonians and the city's aesthetic.
New Brahmin: How did "Beyond Boston Chic" come to fruition? What's one word you would use to describe the journey from start to present?
Martini Severin: I started BBC as a way to find sartorial inspiration in Boston. I started
taking photos with stylish folks with my point and shoot. I uploaded those
photos on the blog. I later upgraded to a new camera. The blog’s readership
has grown over the last 3 years, but the premise is the same. I find people
who catch my eye and share it with Boston and beyond. I’d say one word that
describes my journey from when I started to now is “surprise.” I’m always
surprised by how clever and poised Bostonians are in their dress.
NB: What does the word "aesthetic" mean to you? In application to yourself
and in application to the perception of others? Is there an umbrella "boston
aesthetic" that you have seen?
MS: Aesthetic to me is voice. Just as you identify a voice to a speaker,
sartorially speaking, you can also identify a person’s style. A person may
have a regional accent, their inflection may be the same as a family member
or group of friends, but at the end we all sound different. The same can be
said for style. I appreciate all voices and gain pleasure from noticing
different timbers and tonal variations—sartorially speaking. The Boston
aesthetic is difficult to define as we have such a large population that
comes in and out of the city for higher ed schooling. I would suggest that
we tend to go for casual sophistication here, particularly in the winter
since it gets quite nippy.
NB: What is it about individual style inspires you to get out with the camera
and celebrate fashion?
MS: It’s hard to describe. Sometimes it’s a smile, other times it’s a flash of
color. I don’t always know what I’m looking for, but I always know when I
see it.
NB:I know you're from Haiti - How do you feel those roots affect your
current endeavors/ style/ the quintessential you?
MS: I spent my formative years in Haiti, so I always think of it fondly. There
are such vibrant colors in Haiti. I grew up with papaya, mangos, cherry and
breadfruit trees growing in our yard. I remember seeing the sapphire blue
of the Caribbean….I think I draw my love of color and texture from there.
NB: What words would you use to describe Boston style?
MS: Casual sophistication
NB: How do you arrange where to shoot for the day, if arranged at all?
MS: I don’t do much arrangement. I simply charge my battery, switch to my
favorite lens, put on comfortable shoes, hydrate and put on a bit of
lipstick. From there, I prepare to walk up and down the streets of Boston
until I find my photo….sometimes, I do, sometimes I don’t but it’s always
nice to go out specifically with the purpose of noticing the people about
town and my environment.
NB: Do you have a recurring street model? If so- what do you love about
him/her?
MS: When I do run into people, I always love how consistent they are in their
dress. I ran into this one woman twice in one week. She looked put together
and very much herself, if that makes sense. Her sartorial voice hadn’t
changed.
NB: What kind of camera do you use?
MS: I use a Nikon D700
NB: When writing your posts, do you have a go-to spot / patio / drink?
MS: I generally write my posts on the T in my moleskin on my way to my office
job. I sit on my couch to type up my posts at the end of the day.
NB: Via Beyond Boston Chic- what has been your most valuable observation?
MS: There’s always the next thing in fashion. To be stylish, you have to stay
true to who you are and appropriate the latest fashion into your wardrobe as
is necessary.
Reader Comments (2)
Keep posting in future also.
Thanks
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