If you commute on the ferry from Bremerton to Seattle, you may have spotted Rebecca Cornelius, whose eclectic outfits, featuring statement outerwear and bold colors, frequently turn heads. The Amazon brand specialist and Nordstrom veteran uses the hour-long ferry ride to catch up on emails and plan posts for her fashion blog, Blogger Not Billionaire, which she started in 2014 as a way to document the avant-garde outfits she really wanted to wear to work, but which, at the time, didn’t conform to the Seattle retailer’s dress code. “The ride is nice because it’s a dedicated amount of time that I use to work on my various projects,” says the Woodinville native.

Food for Thought
In 2014, Cornelius and her husband, Russell Thayer, purchased PJ’s Market, a 100-year-old convenience store in Port Orchard, where the couple was living. “We always wanted to own a business,” she says. “We decided on the store because we couldn’t find the produce we wanted unless we drove out of our way.” They’ve since expanded the store’s offerings.

Local Color
Cornelius cites color as the cornerstone of her personal style. Her day-to-day looks draw inspiration from high-fashion street style, with colorful coats and statement-making footwear, though she also keeps the reality of Pacific Northwest weather in mind. “You never know when it’s going to rain, which is why my shoe collection consists mainly of ankle boots.” Favorite shops include national and local retailers such as Nordstrom, Zara, Moorea Seal, and Pipe and Row. But the secret to her success in making fashion statements? “I have found so many amazing vintage and designer pieces at Goodwill locations outside of Seattle.”

#MYSeattleStyle
Cornelius has been impressed by how personal style in Seattle has evolved. “We are starting to break the stereotypes of our city,” she says, “and it’s prompted by all the new people moving here.” To celebrate this evolution, and to create an opportunity for stylish Seattleites to dress to their fullest potential, Cornelius created the hashtag #MYSeattleStyle, which she encourages her fashion-inclined followers to use on Instagram.