Food & Drink

PNW Shop Owner and Amazonian Talks Fashion in Seattle

Rebecca Cornelius balances two jobs—shop owner and brand specialist for Amazon—but it’s her high-concept outfits that tip the scale

By Andrew Hoge July 22, 2019

Style

This article originally appeared in the July 2019 issue of Seattle magazine.

This article appears in print in the July 2019 issue. Click here to subscribe.

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. 

Follow Us

‘Mean Girls’ Reboot Sparks Surge in Y2K Fashion 

‘Mean Girls’ Reboot Sparks Surge in Y2K Fashion 

Seattle’s vintage shops put us in the lead 

Flared low-rise jeans are back. With the new Mean Girls movie sparking a wave of nostalgia, the nation is once again embracing the days of flip phones and cargo pants.

Yes to the Dress

Yes to the Dress

Bellevue Collection takes fear out of fashion

The Bellevue Collection will unveil its fall fashion collection at its 17th annual fashion event Sept. 8 and 9. “We hope to inspire our guests to be fearless in showing their own style,” says Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing for The Bellevue Collection. The two-day event — dubbed “Fashion Week” — features trend reports,…

Designing for Dignity

Designing for Dignity

After witnessing the last few weeks of her grandmother's life, one Seattle woman tackled a redesign of the ubiquitously disliked hospital gown

Tammera Mason remembers her grandmother, Eleanor, as a glamorous woman. Born and raised in an immigrant family in the Midwest, Eleanor used fashion as a way to fit in, and her granddaughter talks with fondness of her perfectly coiffed hair, printed scarves, and movie star sunglasses — all visual indicators of her outgoing personality. “Eleanor…

Seattle Seen: Sizzling Style

Seattle Seen: Sizzling Style

Devoted followers of fashion make a summer statement

“All these portraits capture different sides of what it is to be a Seattleite, the experiences you may have, or the way you look at life.” — Seattle street photographer Valerie Franc. Seattle is a city of variation, texture, and beautiful misfits, and Valerie Franc shows the vulnerability in the seemingly invincible. She finds tenderness…