Fashion Nicotine :: Natascha

Fashion Nicotine is a Mode Republic trendsetter and one of our winners of the Fashionista II Contest! Let’s learn more about Fashion Nicotine.


Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hi! My name is Natascha and I’m from the Netherlands! I live in a small city in the middle of the Netherlands, not too far away from the famous Amsterdam! At the moment I’m working 40 hours / week as a junior staff auditor and I study Accountancy co-op (chartered accountant / auditor) in Amsterdam, I’m in my final year now. Besides that I’m a fashion blogger at www.fashionnicotine.com. After graduating I want to work in & study fashion!



How did you become interested in fashion?
I can’t remember when it started, so it must have been a long time ago haha! I’ve always been touched by beautiful clothes, when I was little, when I was a teen and now! While my classmates were playing sports, making homework etc. I was watching fashion shows and pictures on style.com. Hmm nothing changed actually haha!



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I liked to visit fashion blogs like fashiontoast and Lisaplace. And at one moment I wanted to begin one myself to share my outfits with others to see what they would think of it and maybe even inspire girls who don’t have a lot of money, by translating the trends from the runway into outfits with affordable clothes.

At first it was really addictive, I wanted to post an outfit everyday… but I realized quickly that a blog takes a lot of time, that I don’t have. So I had to find a balance or otherwise stop. All the nice comments and followers kept and keep me blogging!



What are your dreams and aspirations?
My dream is to have the best job in fashion! However I’m not sure what that will be for me, it could be as a designer, as a stylist or as a fashion magazine editor…



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I think that's always hard to define! Most of the time rock chic with a feminine touch, but I can also dress myself really girly. Depends on how I feel and where I'm going.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
I get inspiration from almost everything; internet, fashion magazines, fashion shows, blogs, films & series, street, my dreams, (old) photographs & art… and so on! I love to look at blogs from Swedish girls.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
Internet and I never leave H&M or Zara empty handed! Some of my other favourite brands; Topshop, River Island, Alexander Wang, ‘Nasty Gal’, Just Female, Fashionology and I’m dreaming of owning an item from Balmain!!



Congratulations again to Fashion Nicotine for winning the contest. Stay tuned for more fashion inspirations from Fashion Nicotine!

See You In Sweden :: Rebecca

Rebecca is a Mode Republic Trendsetter and a winner of our Fall Magic Contest! Let’s learn more about Rebecca.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I live in Philly now but have also lived in Boston, Wilmington, Delaware, Cleveland and Notre Dame, Indiana. But, I consider myself a proud Clevelander still! Having just finished my masters degree in Sports Information at the University of Pittsburgh, right now I'm sending out resumes and working as a research assistant at Widener Law University but I hope to be in Media Relations/Public Relations for the Sports Department at a university soon!



How did you become interested in fashion?
I can't remember when I didn't love fashion. It probably started when my love of shoes was realized as a nine year old at the Shoe Museum in Toronto, Ontario. I think it's always been an expression and an outlet for me because I was so shy when I was much younger and my parents, thankfully, always let me dress exactly as I liked. I started really getting into fashion a few years ago when I discovered the site rdujour.com and then my love for fashion blogs and fashion snowballed. It's like art to me!



What inspired you to start your own blog?
After reading so many blogs I felt a pent up energy that I wanted to express myself too and show my ideas. Fashion Photography is also one of my favorite forms of art. I started a blog during grad school but I was just too busy. After my graduation I saved up my money for two things: 1. A trip to Montreal, my favorite city in the world and 2. A DSLR (I had already taken a class about DSLR photography without a DSLR. The teacher was pretty confused about why I was there but worked with me when she realized I was just preparing!) After the DSLR I was really encouraged to start sharing my perspective on fashion and my love of fashion pictures!



What are your dreams and aspirations?
My aspirations are actually in sports media relations. Fashion may seem like my first love, but my passion has always been in sports which my father instilled in me (My mini schnauzer is even named Rugby!) Fashion is my side outlet and my escape. I would also like to see my blog grow because I am so in love with the aspect of blogging where you can connect and make friends with people all over the world. The world seems smaller to me now in a good way; I feel like I have friends everywhere and I know so much more about other cultures through their blogs!



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I hadn't realized it before the blog chronicled the fact but my style is very minimalistic, classic and an uncomplicated fashion. I'd say it's also quite affordable because if I have enough I will always spend it on traveling instead of clothing. My favorite looks of the moment are paper bag style pants/skirts, hats, lace and the influence of menswear.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
Only a little of my fashion inspiration comes from magazines (my favorite source is In Style UK). Most of my inspiration comes from sites like these and other fashion blogs. My biggest celebrity influence is hands down Olivia Palermo which is quite evident on my blog; otherwise, I pay little attention to celebrity fashion. I like to see what real people are wearing on Chictopia and Mode Republic!



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
As evidenced by the title of my blog ("See You in Sweden" a nod to my love for Scandinavian fashion) my favorite store and brand is H&M.



Congratulations again to Rebecca for winning the contest and becoming a trendsetter at Mode Republic. Stay tuned for more fashion inspirations from Rebecca!