By Linnea Sheldon

Local style maven Amy “Punky” Chase, of fashionista-haven website www.punkystyle.com, wasn’t always the most stylish kid on the block. Growing up in the era of big bangs, slouch socks, and neon probably didn’t help. “Clothing was always my favorite form of self expression,” she explained. “I think there were complete years of my life that people thought I was either color blind or an orphan.”

Shopping trips can take Punky anywhere from the Salvation Army to Bloomingdales, from yard sales to boutiques on Newbury Street, and from craft fairs on Cape Cod to the newest fashion sites on the web. She credits her style influences to the people around her. “I’m a people watcher,” she explained. “I love to see what other people are wearing.”

Of course she puts her own spin on everything. “I try not to spend over $ 100 on a trend because next week the trend will be done, and I’ll be stuck with my $ 150 high-waist jeans.”

Punky’s most expensive purchases include a $230 pair of True Religion jeans that ripped after two months and a $400 pair of Chanel sunglasses which she claims to wear everyday.

As for her website, she gives credit for the idea to friend Andy Teman, one of the founders of local message board Wormtownnightlife. “It’s just an outlet for my obsession with fashion,” she explained. “I just want to connect with others who share that interest.”

As for the future, she is very excited about the new Street Style section that she recently added to her site. She will be out looking for Worcester’s most fashionable people to feature on her website. “As for me,” she said, “my ultimate goal is to open a boutique in the city. I think Worcester is becoming more and more fashionable, and I would love to make designer items more accessible to us.”