We've added a fresh new style perspective to Styledash, Mallory Whitfield, who rocks vintage from New Orleans, LA.

Do you have a personal blog?
Yep. I've been blogging at MissMalaprop.com for about a year and a half now, covering independent artists & designers, eco-friendly and recycled products, charitable organizations and other cool stuff I find. I also write a monthly column for Antigravity Magazine, the local alternative mag here in New Orleans (where I live).

List three words that describe your style.
Quirky. Vintage. Eclectic.

What is your day job, or rather, what do you do when you're not blogging?
I have two part-time day jobs: I work retail at my all-time favorite store, Trashy Diva, and I digitize collections for the Louisiana State Museum. In addition to my "real jobs" of blogging and writing, I also make reconstructed clothing and accessories under the name dismantled designs. I made an outfit from recycled FEMA blue tarp that was mentioned on Styledash here and won 3rd place in Etsy.com's Upcycling contest.

Fashionable quote to live by:
"Never fear being vulgar, just boring." -- Diana Vreeland

Where is your favorite place to shop?
Etsy.com! I shop at Trashy Diva a lot too. That's what happens when you land a dream job at the place that's been your favorite store for nearly ten years!

Favorite designers?
I don't really put much stock in labels and I don't own a lot of designer clothing, but I'm very inspired by designers like Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Betsey Johnson and Isaac Mizrahi. There are a TON of current independent designers whose work I adore as well.

What can you expect to see from me here at Styledash?
You will probably NOT be seeing very many updates on celebrity style disasters from me. For the most part, I couldn't care less what the celebs are wearing, unless of course we're talking about timeless style icons like Katharine Hepburn. On the other hand, I love seeing how real, everyday people express themselves through clothing, and I'm a big fan of street fashion sites like wardrobe_remix and hel-looks. I love vintage, retro, and Victorian-inspired styles and I tend to lean more toward the alternative than the mainstream when it comes to fashion.

If you're into Etsy, the online center for buying and selling crafty things, you'll know that they've been accepting entries for their Upcycling Contest -- essentially, a contest that encourages people to create something from what would've otherwise been a disposable item.

MissMalaprop's entry is this bustier, skirt, and flower choker made from recycled FEMA blue tarp. Nice.

Apparently, the inventive designer participated in a charity fashion show last year around Mardi Gras, in which all of the outfits had to made using blue tarp as the primary material. After her dress made the front page of the Times-Picayune Living section, the requests for more (with accompanying extra blue tarp) came pouring in. This recent creation was made from leftover material.

At first I was drawn to this because of the concept behind it, but beyond that, the dress looks awesome. I could totally see this turning heads at some hipster bar.

What do you think?

(Thanks to Boing Boing for the link)