Baroque Barbie.

Hey there—I’m Sydney, and this is my little corner of the internet where I write about all things fashion, filtered through my own experiences, opinions, and the occasional overdramatic personal twist. Introductions are, in my opinion, one of life’s greatest inconveniences but also completely necessary, so I’ll do my best to keep this brief while still giving you a sense of who I am. And kindly—please don’t stalk me.

Beyond writing, I’m a self-taught graphic artist and web designer, and a botanical photographer who spends time taking photos of the many flowers in my garden. Before this, I’ve dabbled in landscape architecture and floriculture (and many other things, if we’re being honest). I have a rather extensive rose collection and a deep love for magnolias, which comes from my time growing up in the South before my family moved back north. If I had to describe my overall aesthetic, it would be something like baroque barbie with a southern twist.

Over the years, I’ve also worked in freelance web design, coding, social media management and consulting, light commercial photography, and small business marketing—all largely self-taught and built from curiosity. Naturally, my future aspirations involve fashion (was there ever any doubt?). I also have a deep love for interior design—really, anything design related—and I’ve been slowly transforming my living space into what I can only describe as a pastel rococo dream house, filled with little treasures from antique shops. If “pop art rococo” wasn’t already a thing, I’m making it one!

I’ve always seen myself as a bit of a polymath—someone who’s drawn to many different disciplines rather than just one. It’s made life a little chaotic at times, but never boring. I’m a Libra, which probably explains everything. If I had to choose just one focus, I genuinely think I’d combust from boredom. My interests span art, history, literature, and all things intellectually curious—but I promise, I’m not as serious as that sounds. Think more “modern renaissance woman” but with way better lip gloss.

I’m also the proud mother of four rescue cats: Luna, Lana, Lili, and Lucy—collectively known as the Couture Cats, or simply, the girls. Luna and Lana (the twins) came first, followed by little Lili, and finally Lucy Peach. They run my life with quiet authority, and at this point, it’s only a matter of time before they take over this blog too so stay tuned for that!

My love of fashion isn’t something I discovered—it’s something I inherited. I come from a family of Italian immigrants, and style has always been woven into our story. My paternal great-grandmother, Lucille, was a fashion designer and seamstress who supported her nine children after the sudden loss of her husband. At a time when the odds were stacked against her—not only as a woman, but as someone from a newly immigrated family—she built a life through fashion, dressing high society and, if family lore is to be believed, even first ladies. Decades later, she remains one of my greatest inspirations. Every piece of baroque I wear is, in some way, for her—and for la famiglia.

The Italian side of my family has always held firmly to the belief that no matter your circumstances, you dress well. My grandfather apparently made a sport out of critiquing my father’s sneakers, and my Nona Lucille wouldn’t allow denim at the dinner table. While things have softened over time, that philosophy stuck with me: whether you have everything or nothing, you present yourself with intention.

On my mother’s side, that sense of style carried across the ocean. My grandmother, Pamela, came from Plymouth, England, to marry my grandfather, a U.S. naval officer she fell in love with during the war. She brought with her a distinctly European approach to fashion—tailored, thoughtful, and quietly elegant. She made clothing for all five of her daughters out of necessity, but also out of love and creativity. My mother often tells stories of being teased at school for wearing handmade clothes that were ahead of local trends—but Pamela knew fashion, even as a fisherman’s daughter. And while much of her jewelry was costume, she wore it like it was couture.

My mother is, without question, the greatest style icon I know—though she’d never admit it. Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in her closet, completely in awe—especially of her houndstooth collection (she truly was the houndstooth queen of the ’90s). Like most daughters, I wanted to grow up to be just like her—elegant, put-together, and effortlessly glamorous.

Over the years, she’s faced the same challenges many women do—health changes, shifting weight, and the frustration of a body that doesn’t always match what’s in your closet. I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be to relearn your own reflection when nothing fits the way it used to. But through it all, she’s remained unwaveringly stylish. She adapts, she evolves, and somehow, she makes it look easy. It’s been one of my greatest joys to help style her and shop with her—though she’s still a very hard act to follow.

This blog is dedicated to the women who came before me, the ones beside me, and the ones who will come after. Through my own experiences—and theirs—I’ve seen how style connects us across time, place, and circumstance. It’s more than clothing; it’s identity. It’s expression. It’s resilience.

Trends may come and go, but who you are is something deeper. You can shift, refine, and reinvent—but the foundation remains. The bones you carry today are the same ones you’ll carry tomorrow.

At the very least… we can dress them beautifully.