Thanks for all the responses and kind words in my Q&A post! You guys gave me some really good feedback and I will try to smile more in pictures, show more of my nails again, and do another ‘How to wear’ series. As for my personal life, I’m really happy to hear that you guys like the personal part of my blog so I’ll definitely keep that in mind. By the way, I share most personal stuff on instagram, may you be interested :) As for video’s, those really scare me but it’s definitely something I’m considering for the future. Who knows!
Since there were so many questions I decided to answer them in 2 posts. Beneath it’s all about fashion and blogging, and later this week I will publish the part in which I will answer more personal questions.
My relationship with fashion
How it all started? Well, not that glamorous really. I’m not the girl that was born fashionable, nor did I always have a great sense of style or sew my own dresses in kindergarten. Somehow my interest for fashion appeared when I was about 19 and then my boyfriend had a big share in it as well since he works in fashion and triggered something in me. It slowly grew on me and I started to develop my own sense of style, and then I started the blog and it got out of control, haha. I never did any kind of fashion school so I’m not a pro and learnt everything I know about fashion myself. I can’t really explain it though, my love for fashion came quite late and quite sneaky grew into a huge love!
Before blogging
So as I said I never did any kind of fashion-related eductions. I studied Law for 1,5 years but decided that wasn’t for me, and last year I got my Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences. I wasn’t sure which Master to do but then my blog happened and I made it my business and decided not to get a Master’s degree but get to where I want to be by working hard and trying new things. University was a bit too theoretical for my taste, especially after 4,5 years, and I figured experience would be more important in the work field I want to be in than to burry my head in books for another year. Don’t get me wrong, education is super important, but once I realized exactly what I wanted to do and knew how to get there and knew I wouldn’t need a Master’s degree, I decided to not do it at that moment. But maybe in the future I’ll get it anyway, you never know.
Job
Right now blogging is my fulltime job. I am really thankful to be able to do what I love 7 days of the week. Some of you asked me if I had a side job or how I made money to spend on all these clothes. Ideally, I would love to do some freelance work as a fashion writer on the site, just because I love creating content and most of the time it doesn’t even feel like work, and I would have a more stable income. Since I’ve had health problems since January though (you’ll read more of that later this week when I’ll answer personal questions) I haven’t been able to look for anything like that. I’m happy that I can still do what I love even when having health problems, you guys are so supportive and that gives me a boost every time. When it comes to money, all I can say is that I don’t have a huge amount of it to spend, I just think about where I spend it. I love fashion and clothing and choose to spend (after the bills are paid of course) my money on it, and not on other things. For instance I hardly spend money on going out or expensive beauty products or other hobbies. You can’t do it all, so I’d rather get some new shoes than go out to dinner when I have to choose. You can’t have it all, right?
My favorite piece
My favorite piece of clothing, one that I will still wear when I’m 40/60/80, that’s a tough one! Right now my favorite piece in my closet is my Givenchy Obsedia bag, just because it’s the perfect little black bag that goes with everything I own and feels really timeless. I’ll probably hold onto that bag forever since I worked really hard for it and it was the first big thing I got from blogging, so that means a lot to me. Then there’s of course a few pieces I will always wear but probably in different versions, like the white tee, the leather jacket, any type of sneakers (my oldest ones are black Converse all Stars). I’m really curious though of how I will dress in 20 or 40 years!
Taking Photos
My main photographer is my boyfriend. We both didn’t know much about photography but I did a lot of research on which camera and lens to get and how to get my settings right, and we kind of just figured it out together and I’m really happy with the pictures he makes. He has a fulltime job though so we mostly take pictures in the weekends, and on weekdays sometimes I have my dad take my pictures (I just make sure the camera settings are right and he’s actually doing a great job as my second photographer!). I do find it really important though to show you at least 3 outfits a week so I do plan shoots a little, just to make sure I always have enough to show you. Some of you can be surprised post outfits that regular but it’s my job and I guess when you’re working for a paper, you have to make sure there’s something in it every day as well right? The pictures always show you what I wore that day, I don’t really dress up for a shoot. Only sometimes when I’m wearing high heels I change them into flats later on the day when my feet start to hurt :). What camera I have? A Nikon D3100 with a 50mm 1.8f lens.
Blogging and tips
A lot of you asked me tips on how to become a successful blogger, get more readers and how I got to wear I am now. There isn’t really a secret I can reveal to you though. When I started blogging I knew absolutely nothing about it and I got to wear I am today by doing lots of research (try this website), working hard and constantly thinking of ways to improve my blog. It’s really all about trying things, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, but you learn from it. If your blog is worth reading, people will find it (and social media and Lookbook.nu helped me a lot) and then the collaborations and expanding your network will happen automatically. Of course, you need to take some initiative here and there, be bold but not annoying, and take your blog seriously and most of all: work hard. I think a combination of passion, initiative, hard work and taking things serious (but not too serious, have some fun too!) is a great recipe for success. I hope that answers your questions. A few of you asked me quite specific questions and I know my answers not very specific but I pretty much got to wear I am like that, I didn’t do anything specific that lead to success. I didn’t do one or a few specific things that made my blog grow, I didn’t go somewhere and instantly had a network, it takes time and trying things out and you get experience from that which you can use in your next moves. There’s not one secret I can give you. Getting there yourself is the best way there is, because then you know what you’re doing and you learn from it. Please don’t always focus too much on success though, have a little fun along the ride!
Inspiration
I get my inspiration from everywhere. I read a lot of inspiring other blogs (find a list of my favorites here), but I also get inspiration from street style, both from pictures and from the streets itself. Then there’s magazines, editorials, Pinterest. Most of the inspiration I’m looking for is just for my daily outfits or maybe pieces I’m missing in my closet, and browsing the web every day looking for what’s in stores and online can give me instant inspiration. A lot of the times it comes from myself as well. I’m not always inspired but sometimes I can just see a nice black leather short and immediately think of 100 ways to wear it. I guess you can’t really be working in fashion when all the inspiration comes from others right? So often I just do what is ‘me’ and what feels right and that’s how I create most of my outfits.
Other questions
A few questions were quite specific so I’ll answer them here.
- Do I think a bodycon dress can be worn with sneakers?
Of course! That’s probably the only way I’d wear a bodycon dress and I’m convinced you can wear sneakers with anything (ok maybe not Oscar dresses). I love how throwing a pair of sneakers under a dress makes your look still feminine but more relaxed and dressed-down. Try a cool jacket like a biker or denim jacket over it as well in combination with sneakers!
- What is on top of my wishlist right now?
A stunning pair of leopard shoes (or sneakers) or maybe even bag. I love leopard!
- Could you do a post on active or sportswear?
I could, but I haven’t so far because I just don’t wear it myself and don’t know much about it. I know my outfits can be
sporty sometimes, but I’m actually not always that sporty ;) More about that later this week in the personal questions.
- Can you do a post about home decor?
Yes, I will do that soon!
- Do you have any styling suggestions for a shorter person?
I don’t have much experience in that area, not at all actually but I guess heels make anyone look taller and wearing all black as well, and I also found some tips in articles here and here
-Do you like denim shirts?
Yes, but I haven’t found the perfect one yet. I can be really picky when it comes to buttons and different washes and fabrics.
- Do you ever wear bandeaus?
Not really, because I hardly have any boobs and bandeaus squeeze them into none-existence :)
- Do you often send back stuff that you buy online because it doesn’t fit?
Not that often since I just do my research when I shop online, check measurements and I’m usually the size the model’s wearing so that’s convenient. I do return a lot from Zara but luckily it’s free to return that to the store.
- Do you have a lot of bad buys that remain unworn in your closet?
Not as much as I used to since I’ve gotten to know my style and closet much better since I started blogging, but there’s the occasional pair of heels that are too pretty to return but too uncomfortable to really wear, or the color that looked great on me in the store but not so much in daylight. I keep a rule for myself though: when I get something I have to think of at least 3 ways to wear it with items already in my closet, and then I can buy it. That really works!
- How would you style a pair of skinny jeans with one black and one white leg? In a way that it doesn’t look too punky.
I guess a peplum top takes all the punk out of it, or a blazer and a pair of pointy no-platform pumps. Maybe even a big bright sweater and bright sneakers or sandals, or a simple white/black strappy top and sandals.
- When will you update your SHOP MY CLOSET?
Very soon, as soon as I have time to take pictures of all the clothing but I will try to do it either this or next week!
That’s it for now, I hope you’ll find the answers useful! Stay tuned for the rest of the answers later this week. :)
