New England style blogs need to stick together. When we decided to start Fore Front Fashion, our first instinct was to see what other style blogs were out there that understood the Maine lifestyle. We found N’East Style - a blog that consistently battles the stereotype that there isn’t any style “up North”. We caught up with the founder, Christine Mitchell, to discuss winter weather, blogging and her Portland faves. Where did you grow up and where do you currently live/ blog from? I was born in Oxford, UK but grew up in Maine and Vermont. I’ve been living/working in Boston for the past few years since graduating from college. Why did you want to start a blog about New England style? About a year ago I decided I wasn’t doing enough to satisfy my creative urges. I thought a blog would be a fun starting off point because I love to write and wanted a place for my writing “to live”. Making the blog about New England style made sense because it was what I knew best. And as many great authors say, write what you know!Are there any other New England style blogs or magazines that you love to read? I’m really enjoying Maine magazine - great photography and editorials. As far as blogs, there are tons that I read on a regular basis (I have a very long blogroll on N’East Style). Some genuinely New England ones that come to mind are 10engines and Apothecary Fox, curated by brother and sister (respectively) who are family friends of ours in Vermont. And of course there’s Forefront Fashion for fantastic Maine style! What are some of your favorites places in New England? Some of your favorite shops in New England? Merck Forest in Rupert, VT is one of my favorite places in the world. There’s a beautiful farm and great hiking trails. Our family built a cabin up there and donated it to the center. I also love the coast of Maine. My boyfriend was born and raised at Ocean Point and Boothbay so we head up that way a lot. I also have family from Sedgwick which is such a gorgeous remote area. Some of my favorite New England shops would be Rogues Gallery and Black Parrot in Portland ME, H.N. Williams in Dorset VT, and Uncle Pete’s Shop in Boston. Have you even been to Portland, Maine. If so - what’d ya think?!?! Most certainly have! It’s a great city and my boyfriend and I love to pop up for a day visit now and then. We check out the galleries and shops. I like to stop by Angela Adams after lunch at Blue Spoon because the ladies there are so nice and it’s such a beautiful showroom.If you had to sum up the N’East - how would you describe it to people? To me, the N’East is always just being what it is - the N’East. No conforming to trends or fades. It’s the same home you have nostalgiac memories of as a kid because it’s pretty much the same as it was then, and won’t be likely to change anytime soon. No need to fix something that isn’t broken. What item do you swear by to get you through the rough NE winters? There can’t be just one item to get through NE winters because, hey, they’re NE winters! Bag Balm for windburn, Bean boots for trudging, ibex long johns for essential layering, studded tires to get you about, and friends and family to have a  cuppa with on those bitterly cold afternoons. A big thanks to Christine for chatting with us. And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out her blog N’East Style.  

New England style blogs need to stick together. When we decided to start Fore Front Fashion, our first instinct was to see what other style blogs were out there that understood the Maine lifestyle. We found N’East Style - a blog that consistently battles the stereotype that there isn’t any style “up North”. We caught up with the founder, Christine Mitchell, to discuss winter weather, blogging and her Portland faves. 

Where did you grow up and where do you currently live/ blog from? 
I was born in Oxford, UK but grew up in Maine and Vermont. I’ve been living/working in Boston for the past few years since graduating from college. 

Why did you want to start a blog about New England style? About a year ago I decided I wasn’t doing enough to satisfy my creative urges. I thought a blog would be a fun starting off point because I love to write and wanted a place for my writing “to live”. Making the blog about New England style made sense because it was what I knew best. And as many great authors say, write what you know!

Are there any other New England style blogs or magazines that you love to read? I’m really enjoying Maine magazine - great photography and editorials. As far as blogs, there are tons that I read on a regular basis (I have a very long blogroll on N’East Style). Some genuinely New England ones that come to mind are 10engines and Apothecary Fox, curated by brother and sister (respectively) who are family friends of ours in Vermont. And of course there’s Forefront Fashion for fantastic Maine style! 

What are some of your favorites places in New England? Some of your favorite shops in New England? Merck Forest in Rupert, VT is one of my favorite places in the world. There’s a beautiful farm and great hiking trails. Our family built a cabin up there and donated it to the center. I also love the coast of Maine. My boyfriend was born and raised at Ocean Point and Boothbay so we head up that way a lot. I also have family from Sedgwick which is such a gorgeous remote area.

Some of my favorite New England shops would be Rogues Gallery and Black Parrot in Portland ME, H.N. Williams in Dorset VT, and Uncle Pete’s Shop in Boston. 

Have you even been to Portland, Maine. If so - what’d ya think?!?! Most certainly have! It’s a great city and my boyfriend and I love to pop up for a day visit now and then. We check out the galleries and shops. I like to stop by Angela Adams after lunch at Blue Spoon because the ladies there are so nice and it’s such a beautiful showroom.

If you had to sum up the N’East - how would you describe it to people? To me, the N’East is always just being what it is - the N’East. No conforming to trends or fades. It’s the same home you have nostalgiac memories of as a kid because it’s pretty much the same as it was then, and won’t be likely to change anytime soon. No need to fix something that isn’t broken. 

What item do you swear by to get you through the rough NE winters? There can’t be just one item to get through NE winters because, hey, they’re NE winters! Bag Balm for windburn, Bean boots for trudging, ibex long johns for essential layering, studded tires to get you about, and friends and family to have a  cuppa with on those bitterly cold afternoons. 

A big thanks to Christine for chatting with us. And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out her blog N’East Style.  

Tags: blogs new england neast style interview clothing style fashion