NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Hey baby, I'm a rockstar

Neighborhood Watch finds Philly's most fashionable. I found Lauren S. (24) sitting peacefully in Washington Square Park with her bike. She says when it comes to fashion she doesn't have inspiration and she looks up to no one; she simply does what she feels. Thus, with her beautifully carved wooden gauges, floral H&M scarf and colorful half sleeve, she effortlessly exuded the warm air of a sun-child. The Queens Village resident says she chopped off her tresses the night before embarking on a trip to northern India three years ago. "I didn't want to think about it anymore," she says. She proudly proclaims sale racks and thrift stores as ranking top on her list, like Circle Thrift (2233 Frankford Ave, 215-423-5060). As for her ink, Lauren says she has four tattoos and has artist, Knuckles of Olde City Tattoo (44 S. Second St., 215-627-6271) to thank for helping her along the way. Nyidera Edwards

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH: Hey baby, I'm a rockstar

POSTED: Thursday, July 15, 2010, 4:45 PM

Neighborhood Watch finds Philly's most fashionable.

I found Lauren S. (24) sitting peacefully in Washington Square Park with her bike. She says when it comes to fashion she doesn't have inspiration and she looks up to no one; she simply does what she feels. Thus, with her beautifully carved wooden gauges, floral H&M scarf and colorful half sleeve, she effortlessly exuded the warm air of a sun-child. The Queens Village resident says she chopped off her tresses the night before embarking on a trip to northern India three years ago. "I didn't want to think about it anymore," she says. She proudly proclaims sale racks and thrift stores as ranking top on her list, like Circle Thrift (2233 Frankford Ave, 215-423-5060). As for her ink, Lauren says she has four tattoos and has artist, Knuckles of Olde City Tattoo (44 S. Second St., 215-627-6271) to thank for helping her along the way.

Nyidera Edwards

Noel H.'s (21) look was simply crisp and classic. Her use of vintage pieces and beautiful combination of solid black and neutrals was the perfect elements for a well-tailored, mod look. Her bodysuit is American Apparel and high-waist black trousers are her grandmother's hand-me-downs. "I'm addicted to cowboy boots," Noel admits, "I got these at Retrospect (534 South St., 267-671-0116) and I own about three or four other pairs, all different styles and heights." The Spelman College undergrad loves shopping at Buffalo Exchange, random shops along Germantown Ave. and even found luck with other thrift-style shops while studying in Atlanta like, Rag-O-Rama and Psycho Sisters. The psych major says, "I admire people who do their own thing, people who don't conform. At the end of the day, as long as you feel comfortable and confident in what you wear, that's the best feeling."

Nyidera Edwards

Country girl Lizzie C. (18) was shopping at H&M during her annual visit to Philly. "I love to thrift a lot but I always make it my business to shop here when I visit because we don't have one back home," she says. Back home would be Nashville, TN. She adds, "I like the city vibe in Philly. It's not aggressively busy, and unlike New York, people take the time out to say 'hi.' They're still cordial here." The student says, "It weirds me out when people can look at what I'm wearing and know where it came from. I like to be unique." Her pairing of the printed, tucked blouse with greens shorts and red bandanna is something many people would be afraid to chance. But I definitely dug it. Lizzie says the number one thing to keep in mind: "Try not to put too much thought into an outfit."

For Donna W. (20), "anything goes." She is the walking embodiment of the very element many are afraid to play up in hair and fashion: color. The West Philly native says, "Colors tell the way I feel. I pretty much wear anything as long as I can dress it up right." With a pink-purple-black faux hawk, rainbow lashes and vintage florals, she pulls off "wearing pretty much anything" quite well. Donna says she shops all over but loves Bebe and Forever21. As a cosmetology student, Donna is her own mannequin because she experiments on herself. "I always put some kind of colors in my hair. Basic brown and black are just boring to me. I like the rock star look." Speaking of "rock star, Donna says that she copies no one but highly respects Rihanna's style and role in fashion. It's safe to say, Donna's a rebel in her own right.

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Featuring everything from event roundups to concert reviews and sex talk, City Paper's Critical Mass is a space for off-the-wall coverage of Philly's A&E scene.

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