“If you want to handcraft shoes in America, you do it in Maine.” - Oak Street Bootmakers via Selectism
It’s all about the shoes. These sky-high cheetah wedges got my attention from afar and Ashley predicted that this was no Maine gal walking around the Old Port. Her intuition was correct. This Montreal native was vacationing in Maine and told us her kicks were from Forever 21. I’m headed there now.
Behind every good personal style blog is usually a patient photographer boyfriend, husband or roommate. It’s true - these men (or women) are often behind the camera but are sometimes as stylish as the blog’s daily centerfold. Such is the case with Terry, the photographer (and sometimes star) behind Sweet William. Like every good Maine man, his closet was filled with plaid shirts, a collection of underwear and socks, a few ties in case of an emergency and a bevy of cardigans for layering options. And as only a Portland man can do, he was able to give us a tour without ever putting down his Pabst.
Some people are born with style. Mandy Wheeler just happens to be one of them. Mandy, owner of Grandma June, was passed down a sense of style from her shop’s namesake, her beloved Grandmother. “My Mom always tells this story of my Grandmother picking her up from school. She’d be the Mom that would walk down the hallways and kids would stick their heads out of classrooms and wonder who she was,” says Mandy.
Though Mandy occasionally sells an item or two from her Grandma’s collection, most of her items are culled from estate sells, auctions or personal viewings. “I started this shop because I wanted to sell beautiful clothes. I never put anything in the shop that I wouldn’t personally wear,” she says. “I want people to see my style distinctly.”
Mandy runs her shop out of her South Portland apartment. Her bedroom walls are covered in beautiful vintage hats. A screen pulls down from her ceiling for impromptu fashion shoots for her site. And if you walk through the swinging door to her walk-in closet, you’ll see a carefully selected collection of dresses, shoes, purses and coats. It’s a vintage lovers dream.
Every piece of clothing in Grandma June has a story. One of her most prized posessions is a wedding gown from 1954 that comes with it’s original head piece, gloves and a garter with a penny the bride wore on her wedding day still in it.
Her other major inspiration - music - is evident by a giant photo collage created by her Father that hangs in her stairwell. If Mandy looks familiar, you might have seen her rocking out in Honey Clouds or Foam Castles. And you can bet she looks good on stage.
Spotted in front of Arabica Coffee House (2 Free Street) - this guy immediately caught our eye with his dangling cigarette and cappuccino. He had a great New England-meets-Paris look with a striped shirt under a fitted blazer and hunter green leather Topsiders. (Note: Nate is kicking himself for not asking him where he can buy such a pair.)
Are you from Maine?
No, but my family lives here and I visit often. I live in Portsmouth, New Hampshire with my wife. It’s a great place to live.
You have a great accent. Where are you from originally?
Russia! And thank you.
