Montse is from Barcelona and seemed to just be visiting Philly. She told me that she isn’t really into fashion, but she likes to mix in pieces from new designers in Barcelona who are still relatively unknown.
Montse is wearing Vans that she bought in Philly the day before we met and a scarf that she borrowed from her sister. Her shirt is from Top Shop, and her shorts are from a Spanish department store, similar to Zara. Her super cozy poncho, which I am completely in love with, is by a designer in Barcelona whose name she couldn’t recall at the moment.
I’ve spent hours walking around, standing on street corners, and people watching, too scared and shy to approach anyone. I’ve seen lots of people I’d like to photograph, but didn’t get up the nerve in time.
One day, while standing on the corner of 18th and Walnut, a well-dressed couple crossed Walnut street towards me. I was thinking about how much I liked the girl’s outfit, and what a shame it was that I was too scared to talk to her, when the guy with her looked at me and said, “Hey, I really like your skirt!” I smiled and thanked him, and they kept walking.
I started feeling worse and worse. They were totally approachable! He talked to me! They probably would have been fine with it. I turned to see how far they’d gone down the street, but they stopped outside of Barnes and Noble to smoke! Now was my chance…
I turned away from them again and decided that if they were still there by the time I turned back around it was meant to be.
And they were still there!
Meet Paige.
Paige is a photographer and artist from Colorado. She complimented my camera, and told me she just got the same one. She sung the praises of the thrift stores in Colorado, specifically The Arc, where she found this skirt. “I basically just pick out whatever anyone else wouldn’t pick up out there,” she told me. I love the way she layered her fitted jacket over a long flannel shirt. Paige and I bonded over our mutual love of skirts with pockets and tried to explain their virtue to her friend, Kevin.
Paige and Kevin were super sweet, and I felt a little silly about how intimidated I was when they first walked by. They were the perfect first people to approach for Street Stories. I am so glad I met them!
