Michelle on her Scholes Street stoop. Click to see her boots! — Photos by Nicole Wasilewicz.

One day after school, Michelle caught my eye while she was hanging out on her stoop on Scholes Street — actually, it was the sun ricocheting off her bling, that made me take notice. It was then that I also got a glimpse of her overalls, modernized by the likes of Rainbow, which seem to be making quite the comeback this year.

Michelle, 17, Student

Worn best by the likes of Joey Lawrence, Naughty By Nature, and toddlers everywhere, overalls have undergone a major overhaul in the last few years — and the Spring 2010 collections had a surprising number of appearances by these classic working man’s dungarees. In high fashion, Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler make playful interpretations, while Ralph Lauren — whose name was also synonymous with the overalls look at its peak in the nineties — glams it up with a $6,000 gown version donned by Miley Cyrus in Harper’s Bazaar earlier this year. Michelle, however, made sure to distance herself from the likes of Hannah Montana.

Overalls are a bold move — do you tend to take risks with your clothing choices?
Only sometimes. I like every different style. But when I get dressed, it’s really about how the weather is and how I’m feeling.

Are there any local trends that you really love right now?
I actually have this bisexual homeboy and his style is so cool. He wears these tank tops that go all the way down in the front or on the sides and he’s really rock ‘n roll with it but it’s still real nice, even for a girl to wear. But he pulls it off so great! Also, I like how the girls wear cut up shirts right now with the little shorts and the skippies [writer's note: the generic sneaks, not the Jersey Shore drink]. It’s something simple, not too much, but that’s nice.

When is it obvious someone is trying too hard?
Now the girls in my school wear these ruffle skirts, but they try SO hard. They wear it with anything, as long as they are wearing the skirt it doesn’t matter– and it’s like, maybe you should’ve thrown a little something else on, you know? I mean, I don’t mind because everybody has their own style, I guess.

What would you say about your own personal style?
I love to mix things up! Normally I like to wear jeans and sneakers and a regular t-shirt, because that’s me. I tried pulling this [outfit] off because I was going out and I haven’t worn it in a while. And people were like you look like you’re dressed like Hannah Montana, and I was like "Noooo, no that!" 

I doubt Hannah Montana could rock that name plate necklace though.
Haha — right!? I think a lot of people nowadays are worried about their ice and stuff… And I think it’s interesting how people really want different things now, not just a simple charm or anything like that — stuff that stands out.