Shelly Kurzynski Villasenor, 38, does Web design for a medical publisher and plays in the bands Telenovela and the Congees.
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I think my style has definitely evolved as I get older. When I was younger, it was the sparkly stuff and loud crazy prints. I used to be, embarrassingly, into the kinderwhore look–the little babydoll dresses, little bib fronts. I’ve always been drawn to the 60s and 70s, the psychedelic and the boho hippie look. Now I’m trying to dress a little more professionally so I can be taken a little more seriously. I’m trying to supplement my wardrobe with more wearable pieces that are still fun. As I get older I also appreciate the really nicely made stuff and can afford a few pieces now and then. I mix those with my thrift store finds. This year I’ve finally started to covet handbags. I didn’t used to care, I thought they all looked like diaper bags. And now I’m like, I want the Marc Jacobs Stam bag!
These days I’m less about the spectacle of dressing crazy. I used to wear, like, these crazy vintage feathered hats that would stick up straight. If I do that, I feel like I have to bring the rock twice as hard, or else why is she dressed like that? If I dress a little less flamboyant, it takes the pressure off.
This dress, with its cigarette-and-smoke print, has got to be old.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): Shelly Kurzynski Villasenore photo by Carlos J. Ortiz.
