This week we are profiling, Berty Morales, aka DRMAMIDALLAS78 on fashbo, who has a magical ability to throw together stylish outfits for very few dollars.

Berty

1. Tell us about yourself.  Where are you from?
I am 31 years old living in Dallas, TX but originally from the Dominican Republic.  My mother moved to Puerto Rico when I was 2 years old.  I was raised on that beautiful Island but still was able to get back and enjoy my country during the summer and winter time. I love everything about fashion! I may not work in the fashion industry and do not have a fashion background but I learned how to respect and love fashion at a very young age thanks to my beloved Grandmother.  Her sense of style and fashion knowledge was amazing and the way she put her outfits together was fabulous.  She always looked sharp with Maxi dresses, shorts, Palazzo pants (those were her favorites), high heels, red lipstick, hair up and of course rocking her Dior and Gucci bags, (her favorites designers at the time).  Another thing I remember about her was her jewelry which was always bold and thick.  My Grandmother was a true inspiration as she was  always making her own statement through fashion.  I sure miss her and will continue her “fashion legacy” as long as I can.  Grandma “abuelita” thank you; with out you I don’t think I would have been this fabulous.

2.  Can you draw fashion inspiration from where you live.

Of course I can, fashion is every where, not only in fashion magazines it can be right next to you just by looking at a piece of paper or a building – just let your imagination run wild and everything will come to place. Sometimes I can be sitting at my desk and take a look at sample I might be working on and the first thing that will come to my mind is “how can I turn this piece of fabric in to a fabulous shirt”!

3. What is fashion to you?
To me Fashion is passion, a way of expressing your self!   To me it is like the air I breathe. It is creative and always evolutionary.

4. How would you describe your personal style?
My style is similar to “Carrie Bradshaw” from S.A.T.C.  Always daring and trendy but most of all trying to make a statement.  Of course as a true “Latina” I always have to make sure I turn heads! I am very girly girl so dresses and skirts are my thing!  I hardly wear pants and on the weekends always try to dress up with my jeans.

5. Describe your perfect outfit ensemble.

A simple dress with high heels, bold jewelry and my hand bag.  Right now my favorite trend is the boyfriend watch so I always try not to leave home with out it.  I Have to make sure that it goes well with everything I wear.

6. Name your favorite and least favorite past or present fashion trend/fad.
My Favorite trend right now, like I mentioned before, is the boy friend watch and jeans.  My least favorite I will have to say is flip flops and sneakers.  You will only see me wearing them if I get my nails done and of course when I go exercise.  Who ever thought flip flops are a fashion statement, well I hate to say it, this person is wrong.  You have no idea how much I dislike seeing a girl wearing the cutest outfit, and when I look down, see a pair of simple flip flops.  I feel like telling her if you don’t like heels at least wear a nice pair of ballerina flats.

7. You seem to have a knack for putting together fashionable looks on a budget.   When did you discover you had this skill?
This is going to be a little difficult for me so I hope I can answer this question the best I can.  About a year and half ago I was diagnosed with a very serious condition, and because I need it to spend a lot of money on medications,  my life changed completely.  I didn’t want to loose my sense of fashion so I needed to figure out a way to look fabulous while on a budget.  My best friend introduce to me to the wonderful world of thrift stores.  Back then I didn’t know what these stores were really all about and my initial perception was completely wrong.  You wouldn’t believe all the vintage fashion trends I found for less than $5.00!    Of course I went crazy shopping and to be honest I spent more in alterations but it was well worth it.  After that I went back to my favorite bargain stores and decided to shop out of the clearance section. I guess you can call me the “clearance junkie” girl.  I have learned, thanks to my mother, that you can always look great with out killing your bank account.  My mother’s motto always been, “You can always look and taste like champagne but make sure you stay in the Coca-Cola budget”  LOL!  I still love it when she says that!  Even in this bad economy you you’d be surprised at the wonders I can do with less than $150.

Oleg Cassini Dress

8.  What is your favorite fashbo you posted?  Do you have a favorite fashbo that someone else posted?

My favorite fashbo that I posted was my vintage Oleg Cassini dress which was voted 2nd place here in your site.  I do have a fashbo favorite fashbo member,  MsGlam710 .  I feel like we have some similarities when it comes to our fashion trends.

9. Who is your favorite designer or designers?
My favorites are Michael Kors, Christian Siriano — (at such a young age he has a great imagination when it comes to fashion), Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs and of course the late Alexander McQueen.  I also need to mention, Christian Dior.  OMG you have no idea how crazy I went when the producer’s from the movie Evita decided to recreate some of his clothes and jewelry.  Like the great Rachel Zoe says, “I die”!

10.  What is your favorite Online location to shop.  What is your favorite retail place to shop?

Since I am the budget queen there are two online stores that I like, www.15dollarstore.com and www.gojane.com . Favorite retail stores include: Ross, Marshalls. TJ Maxx, Half of Half, Kohls, Target and believe it or not Walmart.  You have no idea how many cute trendy pieces you can find there.

11.  What would you consider to be your dream job?
My dream Job is in the fashion industry of course.  I would love to be a fashion stylist some day and I do hope I accomplish this dream. I would like to be the next Rachel Zoe

12. You recently launched a blog, “Mad for Fashion” @ www.madforfashionforless.blogspot.com

What do you discuss in your blog?  Why did you decide to start a blog of your own?

I will have to say that fashbo.com was the push that I needed to create this blog.  Discovering this site was the best thing that happend to me.  The fact that you guys have created this web site for fashion lovers like me to share their fashion sense and styles is the best.  I have learned so much from other members and my style has improved.

I enjoy discussing things that inspire me and also love to share fashion tips that I have learned after doing some research.   I will always try to find the “Look for Less” for my followers. It is also a great way to share very detailed information on how I put my looks together and especially for less than $100 the majority of the time.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 13th, 2010 at 2:04 am and is filed under fashbo member interview. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.