Saige Wheaton is an employee at The Rose Establishment, a local coffee shop and bakery. She is also a thrifter and embroider.
Special thanks to The Rose Establishment, who hosted this month’s SLUG Style in (and on top of) their beautiful building.
Every month, SLUG Style features a distinct and unique member of the community and asks them why they do what they do. Exploring more than just clothing, SLUG Style is an attempt to feature the people who give Salt Lake City flavor through personality and panache.
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“I’ve been working at The Rose for a little over a year,” says Wheaton. “I actually moved back from Portland a little over a year ago. I grew up here, moved out there to get my degree in social work and gender studies, and then I was actually working in consignment while I was there, which is also why I’ve been able to accumulate a lot of unique [clothing] items. I was working two years just buying stuff, so if there was something that I liked, I would just take it home with me.” Photo: @clancycoop
“My really good friends, who made it so hard to leave Portland, they’re definitely such big inspirations to me,” says Wheaton. “They were the ones who gave me the courage, and helped me to boost up my self-esteem. So, I started dressing the way I wanted to, rather than the way I felt like society wanted me to.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I embroider. That’s my thing. I’m like a grandma,” says Wheaton. “I feel like I’m like Benjamin Button. I was born an old lady, truly. I like to embroider, I like to knit.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I have two dogs who are my children, and they tend to be what I center a lot of my conversations around,” says Wheaton. “They are genuinely like my kids. I’m the annoying person where I’m like, ‘Did you see the picture of my dog I posted online yesterday? Oh, you didn’t? Let me show it to you.’ So yeah, I’m dog-obsessed, and I’m an old lady.” Photo: @clancycoop
“I grew up as a chubby kid, so I’ve always had to look for other places for my fashion inspiration,” says Wheaton. “Growing up, there was never anyone to really look up to. There’d be little moments. So, I really came into myself. I’ve loved thrifting and secondhand. And once I started going to the DI in high school, I think that’s really when my style started to transform and become what it is now.” Photo: @clancycoop
“Lizzo is my girl. She’s my personal inspiration all the time,” says Wheaton. “She got her start doing marching band, so she’s a really amazing flautist and musician, and she’s thick, and she’s beautiful, and she shows off her body in ways that you never get to see fat women doing.” Photo: @clancycoop
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![“I’ve been working at The Rose for a little over a year,” says Wheaton. “I actually moved back from Portland a little over a year ago. I grew up here, moved out there to get my degree in social work and gender studies, and then I was actually working in consignment while I was there, which is also why I've been able to accumulate a lot of unique [clothing] items. I was working two years just buying stuff, so if there was something that I liked, I would just take it home with me.” Photo: @clancycoop](https://www.slugmag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SLUG_Clancycoop_Saige_2.jpg)
