#rumineely

ĐANIELLA JASMINE

Rumi Neely started her blog in 2007 using her tripod against her garage door to take pictures, but would often get help from her friends and boyfriend. She had just graduated from college and started buying vintage clothes to reconstruct or style in different ways to sell on Ebay. After constantly getting messages on Ebay from people interested in the clothing she was selling asking for specific measurements and sizes, Rumi decided to make her blog space to post all the information in one space - Fashion Toast. 

One thing that Rumi’s blog was known for was the way she styled using the high/low aesthetic, meaning she would pair a Forever 21 dress with an Alexander Wang backpack. She never stuck to one sector of the fashion spectrum, instead she was constantly trying to style clothing that had a huge price gap, but she would style it so well that you would never be able to tell. 

I think that the style in which she would post and the topics she would talk about in the fashion and beauty industry shaped the way people found their personal style and how they purchased certain products. Rumi would accessorize with feather earrings and layered necklaces, sheer dresses with unique cut-outs and necklines. She not only would showcase her own style and fashion takes, but she greatly influenced the people who were watching her media. Many people started styling things they already had in their closet instead of buying new things because of the inspiration Rumi would share on Fashion Toast.