Rocking the front bangs

Edgy in East Village

Photograph by Veronica Garcia

One sunny Friday morning on the way to work, I decided to stop and get an iced latte from one of my favorite coffee shops, Copa Vida in East Village, just north of Petco Park. It was such a nice day that I sat outside while I waited for my drink. That’s when I caught a glimpse of a stylish young woman crossing J street. The first thing I noticed was her hairstyle. She had a sleek, pin-straight bob with short front bangs. Her hair was an intense shade of black and so shiny that it glistened in the sun. I was immediately drawn to her outfit, too. It was casual enough for downtown errands, but also very sophisticated — not your typical jeans and plain white tee.

Fuchsia fringe earrings add a bold pop of color

As soon as my drink was ready, I rushed out and tried to catch up to her. Luckily, I wasn’t wearing heels that day and made it across the street before she disappeared. I learned that her name was Monica, and that she lives in Tijuana and works as a graphic designer and freelance photographer. I thought to myself, “Aha! People in the creative industry always have great style.” I asked her to tell me about her haircut and what inspired her to go for this bold look. She responded, “For me, hair is a way to express myself. I usually change my look every four to six months. I can’t have the same hairstyle or color for too long because it just bores me. I have to switch it up.” I was curious to know if she had dyed it any unique colors. She looked at me and said, “Pink, lavender, royal blue — my hair has gone through every color and length you could possibly think of. Although I think that out of all of the colors and cuts I’ve had, this is by far my favorite. I think it defines my personality best.” I asked her to describe her overall fashion sense, and she replied, “The best way to describe my style would have to be ‘a clash between alternative and ‘60s.’”

I asked her about her outfit. Her black bell-sleeve blouse ($8) that rustled with the breeze and form-fitting checkered pants ($10) were Forever 21 purchases. For accessories, she wore patent black booties from Aldo ($60), an embroidered floral bag from Topshop ($40), and fun fuschia earrings from Target ($13). She completed the look with some round Ray-Ban sunglasses ($150).