Le Mode du Jour

Q&A with savy fashionista Nicole Soon of le mode du jour

What are your signature pieces/ traits?

My signature trait is definitely my love of shoes. My signature pieces is probably my growing collection of tights. I have everything from lace and shimmery to opaque and coloured. I love wearing tights with shorts and a loose top.

What does your current wishlist consist of?

Shoes - always shoes. Miu Miu black satin platform pumps, Rag & Bone Lyle wedges, and Lanvin T-strap pump with leather and chain ankle strap.

Whose wardrobe would you steal besides the magical one in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"?

Mary-Kate Olsen

Fashion inspirations?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Erin Wasson, Alexa Chung, Rachel Bilson

Favorite online shops?

ShopBop (great customer service!), SSENSE (free shipping within Canada!), Etsy (unique and original pieces)

Favorite local shops?

Zara, Club Monaco, Front & Co., H&M, Forever 21

How long have you been blogging?

I have been blogging since August 2009 last year.

What made you decide to start blogging?

I started a blog years ago but that never went anywhere. I've always wanted to have a fashion blog so I decided to get back into it and start one up again.

How do you think you became so loved in the fashion blogging world?

In my spare time, I've always read and admired other fashion bloggers and their creativity. I found them to be very inspirational and I wanted to contribute my own personal style to the fashion blogging world.

How do your friends and family support your blogging?

My best friend has always supported my blog and through my blogging, I've met some really great people who have become good friends, and they support my blog as well. My mom reads my blog so she definitely supports it and I love her for it.

How long have you been interested in fashion? How did your interest develop?

It's funny because growing up, I wasn't too concerned about fashion and trends, especially shoes. I went shoe shopping only once or twice a year, bought a few pairs and wore them until I couldn't wear them anymore. Nowadays, my shoe collection is ridiculous. I have an actual "wall of shoe boxes" that blocks part of my closet. What can I say? I love my shoes.

I guess my interest in fashion developed as I got older and had my own source of income to buy things with. I became more observant and perceptive of other people's sense of style and took an active interest in developing my own individual sense of style.

Where did you pick up your style?

I'm inspired by a lot of things from art and culture to street fashion, but most of my outfits and style really just depends on my mood.

Has blogging affected your career? Has it lead you in a new direction in life?

Blogging is something that I do after my day job. It has become an outlet for me to share my love of fashion and personal style. Even before I started blogging, I did want to start a career in fashion, possibly as a fashion journalist but as of right now, I'm keeping my options open while pursuing what I love through my blog. You never know what the future has in store!

Best advice to fashion lovers, bloggers and non bloggers?

Be yourself, do what you love and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and point of view, whether it be in politics or fashion and I know there will always be haters, but you have to not let things like that get to you or hold you back from doing what you love.

Personal benefits to blogging? 

I just enjoy documenting my personal style, my purchases and post random fashion musings while getting to know other fashion bloggers around the world. Blogging is fun!

Natalie Off Duty

The very polite and sweet young lady named Natalie from Natalie Off Duty was kind enough to participate in my interview series! Enjoy!

What are your signature pieces/ traits? My signature piece would definitely my black booties or combat boots. People always recognize me either from my long messy hair and height!

What does your current wishlist consist of? Right now I'm in love with oversize silk blouses. I love how they just hang on the body and are so comfortable.

Whose wardrobe would you steal besides the magical one in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"? I'd definitely steal Dree Hemingway's wardrobe.I love how classic it is, I'm sure I'd find pieces I like.

Fashion inspirations? I love just going to the bookstore and reading all the latest magazines, and looking at the photography. The colors and lighting in editorials inspire me to bring life into the photos on my blog.

Favorite online shops? I really like Revolve and ShopBop!

Favorite local shops? I like second-hand shops and vintage stores for unique pieces. I do love the occasional Barneys visit too, only because all the clothes are so beautiful and of great quality.

How long have you been blogging? I have been blogging for about 8 months now.

What made you decide to start blogging? My sister started a fashion blog long before I did because she's a fantastic writer. Her blog is Nana in Wonderland. She showed me a bunch of fashion blogs online and I loved them. They are so fun and addicting. There are a few blogs I follow and read everyday. I've always had interest in putting together looks from my wardrobe and thought it'd be fun to create my own blog on it.

How do you think you became so loved in the fashion blogging world? I'm so happy that people from all over the world follow my blog. It's so surprising and exciting. A lot of people contact me with really supportive words. I feel it's my originality that brings attention to my blog and I feel the photography has really improved too over the months.

How do your friends and family support your blogging? My family and friends are super supportive and love checking out my latest posts. My sister even takes most of my photos!

How long have you been interested in fashion? How did your interest develop? Every since Teen Vogue came out I really got into it. The gorgeous editorials sparked my interest. That magazine is really what helped me develop my own personal style growing up.

Where did you pick up your style? I have always been really into vintage clothes. I love the unique patterns and cuts. My mom is really stylish and has always had really great style. She is the one who really got me interested in unique clothing.

Has blogging affected your career? Has it lead you in a new direction in life? My blog has definitely got my face out there more. I'm so surprised that so many fashion brands read my blog and send me clothes. It's also gotten me more work. One time I walked into a casting and they were so surprised because they were just reading my blog that morning! Fashion has always been a part of my life and it has lead me to working with really cool people in the industry.

Best advice to fashion lovers, bloggers and non bloggers? Live in the present and just don't take anything too seriously, especially fashion. With fashion, anything goes.

Personal benefits to blogging. I do receive some amazing new designer pieces of clothing. That's definitely a plus. I had no idea that would come out of my blog. I feel really grateful. I have met some really amazing people because of my blog.

Rackk and Ruin

Molly from Rackk and Ruin

What are your signature pieces/ traits? I definitely opt for comfort when i dress and there are some basic pieces i always find myself drawn to. . . A great white t-shirt (preferably from a cheap place like Charlotte Russe and not A.Wang. . . pit stains anyone? Not worth spending $100 on something that is inevitably going to get ruined). I got this amazing vintage Levis jacket this winter for $5 at a creepy thrift store while antiquing with my mom and sister. i think it might be for a young boy because the sleeves are cropped and it has snaps not buttons. The wash is insane and the fit is perfect. My black leather jacket is another piece i wear constantly (I'm a huge hoarder of jackets. . . and boots). You'll find me trudging around town in a pair of leather boots, not high-heels, most every day.

What does your current wishlist consist of? I would love to own a Rick Owens' classic biker jacket . . . but i absolutely refuse to spend that kind of cash. The banana peel Aurel Schmidt tee for Opening Ceremony. Everything from the JCrew Fall 2010 Collection!! Jeffrey Campbell Brit boot. and definitely a PS1 bag. . .

Whose wardrobe would you steal? Definitely Daria Werbowy's . . . no doubt. Hers or Lou Doillon's.

Fashion inspirations? Other blogs, streetstyle websites, even just finding one amazing vintage piece and deciding what to wear with it.

Favorite online shops? Ebay (the hunt is addictive!), Etsy, O.A.K.

Favorite local shops? The Possibility Shop (best, and cheapest, church thrift store ever)! Pretty much every second hand store within a ten mile radius.

What made you decide to start blogging? Once i discovered that there was such a thing as a "fashion/style blog" I became addicted to finding ones that shared my aesthetic . . . Once my obsession for other people's blogs became too much I decided it was high time for me to start my own. I also knew i wanted to incorporate my love of art into my posts. It's still fun for me to look back into my archives and see what i was interested in a year ago.

Has blogging affected your career? Has it lead you in a new direction in life? Blogging has been a great supplement to my jewelry line, Rackk and Ruin, because many of my readers share my aesthetics, and therefore are drawn to my jewelry. It has enabled me to make tons of great connections and meet loads of like-minded people. Being exposed to so many creative dressers has also really inspired me to dress the way i want to. I live in a small city so there are definitely things i'm still not confident enough to leave the house wearing . . . but that doesn't mean they aren't hanging on my rack for my trips to NYC!

Best advice to fashion lovers, bloggers and non bloggers? Just do it. . . create your "first post". . . wear that crazy cat-suit to the corner store. Don't worry so much about what others might think. You are doing this for yourself more than anyone else.

Personal benefits to blogging (can be immaterial or material). Having a recorded visual history of what i was inspired by over the past year!

oui, je suis

Anya from oui, je suis

What are your signature pieces/ traits? wearing good quality garments, lots of silk, leather, lace and wool

What does your current wishlist consist of? I've been searching high and low for a good vintage fur coat, sadly I can't seem to find one anywhere. I have stopped a beautiful vintage fur collar the other day which I'm probably going to settle for considering australian winters aren't that cold anyway.

Whose wardrobe would you steal besides the magical one in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe"? alexa chung, that girl has EVERYTHING, and I mean everything someone would want

Fashion inspirations?  Right now, dree hemingway, but overall I love people watching, and getting alot of inspiration from street style

Favorite online shops? topshop, luisaviaroma, ebay!

Favorite local shops? Forever new, Dady's girl, little vintage stores along king st in Newtown.

How long have you been blogging? About two years

What made you decide to start blogging? I read way too many interesting blogs, and decided that I wanted to join in all the fun

How do you think you became so loved in the fashion blogging world? I had a lot of online friends from chictopia who read my blog when I first started, but besides that my blog is pretty small, definitely not as loved up as my favourite fashion bloggers

How do your friends and family support your blogging? By helping to take the occasional photo or two! :)

How long have you been interested in fashion? How did your interest develop? I'd say ever since I came to australia and got to experiment. I wasn't really "into" fashion when I was younger in the same way that I am now, but I always liked wearing interesting things.. I remember being 12 and wearing faux leather pants and a fluffy yellow shirt to school, much to the despair of everyone around me.

Where did you pick up your style? Everywhere I guess, magazines, friends, again streetstyle.. I try to take everything in and project it into clothes.

Has blogging affected your career? Has it lead you in a new direction in life? I guess so, I've taken up visual merchandising and styling.. I've also noted how much money I used to waste buying clothes from my old work place because they were so cheap and readily available. So mostly good things for the career and cash spending

Best advice to fashion lovers, bloggers and non bloggers? Pay attention to the quality of your garments and look after them, they will keep you from having that "closet full of clothes but nothing to wear" moments. and never under dress!

Personal benefits to blogging (can be immaterial or material). For me, I get to practice my writing and photography. Looking at other bloggers you can tell that the sky is the limit, all those people that started a humble little corner of thoughts and fashion and are now regarded as fashion icons. Blogging makes it easier to get where you want faster

Alexander Wang Kim Tall Boot

Having an affinity for boots, I was pretty stoked to find out that these gorgeous boots are both on sale. I opted for the second pair, the pebble leather ones. Check out the awesome heels on them!

New Glasses.

You might remember that I did a post on Prism London glasses. Well, I finally ordered a pair! I had a gift certificate to Opening Ceremony, so I didn't have to pay out of pocket. Except I will have to pay for the prescription lenses... I posted a picture of the exact pair and color, which is the NY frames in Dark Tortoise. I love how the glasses I picked have the strangest model. You can see the glasses I currently use in the second post I ever made on this blog.

Fashion Bananas

Fashion Bananas By Delmy Rivera

What are your signature pieces/ traits? I think blazers or cardigans. Always have one on.

 

What does your current wishlist consist of? tons of shoes and sunglasses!

 

Fashion inspirations? I have a new inspiration almost every week. But I'd say Chloe Sevigny and Ashley Olsen.

Favorite online shops? Shopbop.com, etsy.com

Favorite local shops? Topshop and Cheap Jacks

How long have you been blogging? A year and 6 months.

 

How do you think you became so popular and recognized in the fashion blogging world? It just happened. Don't know how I did it, but Its all because of my lovely readers!

 

How do your friends and family support your blogging? They're totally cool about it. They love it!

 

How long have you been interested in fashion? How did your interest develop? I'd say since the age of 9. All happened by reading my moms Spanish fashion magazines.

Where did you pick up your style? I've just been myself.

Has blogging affected your career? Has it lead you in a new direction in life? I am more excited for fashion. Its an opportunity that has allowed me to share my love for fashion.

Best advice to fashion lovers, bloggers and non bloggers? Don't change for anyone. Being yourself will take you places.

 

Personal benefits to blogging (can be immaterial or material). I just get the satisfaction of sharing my passion and reading my comments.