Retail Therapy: Fresno and fashion converge with downtown blogger from Pretty in Python
Alison Du Pras is behind the 1-year-old fashion blog Pretty in Python. She’s a downtown Fresno resident who often uses scenes of downtown in her photos at www.prettyinpython.com.
Age: 22
School: Kingburg High School graduate and Fresno City College student.
Job: Bartender at two Fresno restaurants.
Describe the blog: The blog is a place where women can go to get fashion inspiration, lifestyle advice — I just posted a column about how to take care of your handbags — a place to be visually be inspired. As creative as fashion is, it’s sometimes put into a box. I want to destroy that box.
Describe your personal style: My personal style is ever evolving. It’s always changing. I like to look polished but unique at the same time. I like to mix high-end with low-end. I shop designer and at Goodwill pretty evenly.
Where do you shop in Fresno? I’m not against the mall, but I don’t shop at the mall very frequently. Misc. (Misc. Trading Co. at 2017 Tuolumne St.) is my favorite place to shop. And then I also love to shop at Goodwill. There’s so many good thrift stores downtown. The Nabisco warehouse ( Yoshi’s Vintage/Thrift Warehouse at 1919 E St.) over here, I love that place. I found a vintage In-n-Out T-shirt there.
Why start the blog? I’ve always read fashion blogs, always loved them, always wanted to have my own. I wanted to start the blog really as an outlet in the beginning. Now it’s more of a career goal.
What’s the goal? To be a professional blogger. It’s a real thing in this day and age. I’ve always loved journalism and it’s been interesting [for] my generation seeing how journalism has evolved from print to online. ... I see blogging as a viable source of information and I want to be a part of it.
Tell us about the photography: The photographer is my boyfriend, Rafael Djevalikian. My passion for photography inspired the whole idea and he started learning from me. I call him my human tripod. I make him stand where I want to stand and I do the settings. I like to collaborate with other local photographers as well.
Where have you taken photos in Fresno? My favorite place to take pictures is on the top of the Pacific Southwest building. That’s where my boyfriend actually lives is in that building. Exploring up around there is really cool. You can see all the way down Blackstone from up there. Also, other little areas in downtown. Downtown definitely has so many unique buildings, architecture, murals. It’s really a source of inspiration.
Where did the “Pretty in Python” name come from? I’m not totally off the wall crazy with my style. I do like traditional, feminine, to look good, but I like the exoticness of snakeskin. I like that mix between being classic and being edgy at the same time and almost a little bit dangerous.
Long-term plans? I’d like to start a nonprofit because even though I have things that are on my blog from Forever 21, I really hate our throw-away culture. I’d like to have a voice within the online shopping industry to not shop at places that pollute and use unfair labor.
Any fashion advice? Find the items in your closet that you find yourself gravitating towards and wearing over and over again and try to replicate those same items in different patterns or textures.
This story was originally published January 17, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Retail Therapy: Fresno and fashion converge with downtown blogger from Pretty in Python."