Suede Vintage :: Neisha Barker

Neisha is one of the winners of the Winter Wonder Contest! Let’s learn more about Neisha.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm from just south of Sydney in Australia and have lived here most of my life. At the moment I am working on my vintage range for my online store, Suede Vintage but I also own a series of boutiques in my hometown called LILY+MINX which sells the latest fashions. I've studied fashion business at college and am now undertaking a diploma in business this year.



How did you become interested in fashion?
I actually took a late interest in fashion, I always found it hard to find clothes I liked fashion as a younger teenager but eventually found a style that I liked as I approached adulthood and it has grown from there.



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I wanted to have a creative place to connect with customers, and I wanted to show our latest vintage styles in photo shoots and ask questions to really get to know what people like and what they don't. Plus it's great fun expressing myself through fashion and I love the adventures I get to go on to capture a great photo.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
I want to expand the range even further and travel far and wide to uncover the best vintage pieces out there.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I am very laid back, I am rocking the billowy pants look a lot usually teamed with my elastic sandals and a vintage top and I adore maxi dresses. I would love to keep incorporating more accessories into my look.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
I get my fashion inspirations from blogs and a lot from the past. I like looking back on 70's looks and getting a lot of inspirations from it.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
I do a LOT of vintage shopping, it's rather addictive. I also like to support small independent boutiques in my area. They have such unique pieces that you can't get anywhere else!



Congratulations again to Neisha Barker for winning the contest. Stay tuned for more fashion inspirations from Suede Vintage!

Fashionista from the Netherlands :: Maffionista

Maffionista is the winner of the Winter Wonder Contest! Let’s learn more about Maffionista.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm 25 years old and I'm a last year student and working on my thesis. I'm actually from Abchasia but I live in the Netherlands.



How did you become interested in fashion?
I love fashion since I'm a child. I always used to wear my mothers clothes, when I became older I started following the shows/magazines and tried out a lot off styles.



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I always loved looking at other people’s outfits on the street and got inspirations from them. I thought I could maybe be an inspiration for other people too! I also wanted to share my outfits, to use it like a portfolio on the web.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
I hope my blog to be a success. I also hope to finish my school and find a job in the fashion world. And personally, I just hope to share good times with the people I love and to travel a lot.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I think it's very hard to describe my style. I always mix a lot of things and don't have one particular style. I love to watch fashion shows and translate the things that I see and like with a twist of my own. My favorite look at this moment is mixing knitwear. So mixing knits with leather items and a headband or beanie for an edgy look.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
Like Coco Chanel said: "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

I really agree with this quote. Fashion is just everywhere.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
I have a lot of shops that I love: River Island, H&M, Zara, Topshop, Acne, Mango, ASOS. My favorite brands change a lot but for this season I really love Celine, Dries van Noten, Proenza Schouler, Erdem and Burberry.



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

Make the World a Prettier Place :: Vintage Marie

Marie is one of the winners of the Color Magic Contest! Let’s learn more about her.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Marie and I live in a small French-speaking town between Montreal and Quebec City, Canada. My first job was for a hotel and I have been working in the hotel business ever since. I work in accounting and human resources now. My colleagues always tease me – in a friendly way - about my shoe collection, colorful tights, chignon, etc. I am proud to be a fashion-loving accountant – there aren’t many of us!



How did you become interested in fashion?
I think I have always been interested in fashion. I took a computer class in my first year of high school and the final project was to create a newspaper. I looked through all of my Vogue and Elle magazines and created a fashion newspaper. Unfortunately I can’t recall its name but I remember how happy this assignment made me. I worked harder on it than I ever did for any other project!



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I read a tiny article in a Canadian magazine about street style websites and my first reaction was: “How come I didn’t already know about this?!” I started looking at these websites and saw a whole new world filled with possibilities opening up to me. During the following months, I got more acquainted with the world of fashion blogging and finally decided to give it a try myself.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
My blog – Make the World a Prettier Place - is a very important part of my life. Blogging – especially when there is personal style involved – includes many different tasks: editing, modeling, photographing, researching, writing, marketing, etc. I love to experiment with all of these aspects of creation. I hope to get more opportunities – like giving this interview – in the future.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I would say that my style is very feminine, ladylike and sophisticated. I have delicate and soft features and I found out over the years that this style suits me best. I like dresses and skirts, colorful sky-high heels and anything vintage.

Being from Canada, where we have snow for over 6 months, I decided this year to embrace the climate I live in instead of moaning my way through winter. I am currently on a mission to find feminine but warm outfits for winter - “snow queen” looks, but not too costumey.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
Bloggers are the most inspirational and creative people ever. They have great style and wear their clothes differently from the models you see in fashion magazines. I prefer people who walk to the beat of their own drum instead of followings trends, and that is what many bloggers do. My favorite bloggers are Barbro Andersen, House of Harps, Chic Muse and The Clothes Horse.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
This might sound silly, but I hate shopping in stores. I often have a very specific idea of a look or a piece of clothing I want, go to several different stores and still won’t be able to find it. Online shopping on the other hand is something that I loooove. It’s simple, convenient and I can sip a glass of red wine in the comfort of my home at the same time! I shop on Ebay and Etsy, and I buy all my shoes from Aldo Shoes. Aldo has a wide variety of styles at very affordable prices.



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

Skipping Heels :: Natalie

Natalie is one of our winners of the Color Magic Contest! Let’s learn more about Natalie.


Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I live and was born in Spain all though my parents are both British. At the moment I am a full time student studying a degree in fashion, it is the first year they have established fashion as a university course in Spain. I finished last year a two-year course on pattern design and sewing. Over the summers I have worked in Pull&Bear (inditex) were I have learnt related to the fashion industry.



How did you become interested in fashion?
I discovered my interest in fashion when I was studying in art collage. I was surrounded by really artistic people. Although since I was small I always used to make dresses for my dolls.



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I loved (and still do) hopping from one blog to an other and one day I told my self that there is no reason why I couldn't start a blog, I wanted somewhere to express my self thou fashion.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
I have many dream jobs I would love to take on. But at the moment I am working hard on my course and on my blog.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I try not to stick to one style, I like trying new trends and also mixing them up. I do tend to chose pastel colors lately and I love lace, so you could say that my look are a little vintage looking.

I never liked jogger pants, I only ever worn them at the gym, but I bought a pair not long ago and I found them so easy to mix and match with anything in my wardrobe.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
I get my inspirations from other bloggers and street style.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
Most of my clothes are from Zara and Pull&Bear. I have a lot of stuff from Primark, its so cheep and stylish!

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

Lavilleinconnue :: Carys

Lavilleinconnue is the winner of the Color Magic Contest! Let’s learn more about her.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My name is Carys, I am in my last year of sixth form, studying psychology, philosophy and French. I have lived in London my entire life, but my family is Welsh (that's where my 'unusual' name comes from).



How did you become interested in fashion?
When I was 15, I developed a total love of 1930s music (especially Edith Piaf), and became interested in the culture and fashion of the era too. I started wearing 1930s-inspired clothes, and I found that old-fashion styles really suited me. I also loved standing out and looking different from everyone else, so I started exploring different eras, and it just developed from there.



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I used to want to be an actress more than anything, and then suddenly for no reason in the middle of a psychology lesson I decided that I didn't want to go to drama school anymore, I wanted to own a little vintage boutique in Paris. I decided to start a blog firstly to document the change I was making in my life, secondly to help establish myself as a vintage seller, and thirdly because I needed some sort of creative outlet.

I didn't realise that there was a massive vintage community online until this year, it was so nice to discover that there were other people walking around looking like they belong in a period drama.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
Right now, I am really hoping to go on a three-week fashion design course in Paris at the end of this summer, and in the future I want to own a shop (hopefully in France) of vintage or vintage-reproduction clothing.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I have a totally short attention span when it comes to clothes, and I'm very indecisive too. I always decide I hate a particular era, then within a week it will have become my favorite. I have been really into mod and teddy girl styles recently, two of my previous least favorites, I think it's something to do with my new pixie cut. My favorite outfit this week though would have to be a 1950s-style one, which I loved because I managed to make leggings look vintage-a rather impressive achievement, if I may say so myself.



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
I get my inspiration from all sorts of places, but my favorite source is vintage photographs of real women. Films are a great source too, but they tend to show glamorous, unrealistic ideals of what people wore, rather than the genuine styles of the time. Since I joined the blogging community, my style has developed and changed so much, and I've been so influenced by the amazing outfits bloggers put together.



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
I get most of my clothes from second hand and charity shops; I try to shop as little as possible on the high street-I find it's either too overpriced, or it's so cheap that those making it could not have possibly been paid a fair wage for it. I go to a lot of jumble sales too-I'm one of those scary girls knocking people out of the way and grabbing all the best stuff-I apologise if you've ever encountered me at a jumble sale, but just know that I'm not usually so mean!



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

The Young Fashionista :: Andrea Van Barthold

The Young Fashionista :: Andrea Van Barthold

Andrea is one of our winners of the Fashionista II Contest! Let’s learn more about Andrea.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Well, I'm half blood mixed between Dutch and Japanese. Many people asked me about my looks, so I'm telling you this.

I'm 22 years old. I'm taking master of international business (MBA).



I was accepted for scholarship of fashion design at Lasalle College Singapore and theatre at NAFA University earlier but I decided to give up on those things because my dad wouldn't accept if I go overseas and taking some art and design major. So I took journalism for bachelor degree and fast-tracked to master degree in international business major.

Now I'm working as a writer for The Jakarta Globe newspaper. I'm also working as a model for some magazines and beauty shot.



How did you become interested in fashion?
I was a complete fashion disaster before. I wore just shirt and jeans like boys usually do. I don't even care of my looks. People often mistake me for a boy.

But I'd like to draw and create some unique wardrobes. But they ended on the papers only. In return I'm starting to draw some daily clothes and produce them.

The other reason, as a model, I often attracted by wardrobes from the sponsors I have to model. In fact, it makes me want to own them. Lol. And to looks fashionable is important in the industry :)



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I don't really have a blog because I'm not that conscientious to make a blog, but I do have portfolios of my photo shoot and some of my articles :)



What are your dreams and aspirations?
My dreams are to be a successful person in the fashion industry and become one of influential people just like Oprah Winfrey :) u can just imagine what would I generated from the industry. :)

My aspirations is just to look forward to the future and try to become more than the successful people nowadays. Maybe I'm too greedy, but I just want more hahahaha..



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
My style is just like chameleon. I have many different styles. I couldn't take just one look, it's just too boring for me. My fav look at this moment would be the one that has lace materials in it :)





Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
I got my inspirations from movies!

There are many kind of movie genre. For instance: drama, action, romance, comedy, etc. In brief, my fashion knowledge is not limited only to a genre. And movies always come with something hot in their era/at the moment (currently in the trend).

All the magazines most likely just look the same for me. For example: you can really see that almost of all magazines come with the same type of wardrobe on the same month's issue. Not that I'm not read any of it, but my fashion inspirations are not come from them mostly :)



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
Most of my wardrobe is handmade. You don't have to buy branded stuff to look good. I designed them by myself and have someone to make my designs.

The most important thing is to be dressed by what described yourself, but still consider what people may think of your physical look (your fashion). Cover describes its content; so, your style describes you :)

Hahahahhaa maybe I should create my own brand then!



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

Ezzentric Topz :: Twee Wu

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

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm from Hong Kong, I was born and grew up there. HK is one of the most beautiful cities and it's undoubtedly, a shopping paradise!

I came to Melbourne, Australia by myself in 2005 for University and was graduated with Bachelor of Creative Arts last August. I'm currently located in Melbourne.

I actually regretted not to do fashion in uni so when I finished uni, I told myself that I have to do something fashion related in the future.



In October 2009, My boyfriend Kz and I had this sudden thought of setting up our own business so we decided to give it a go. We started selling vintage clothes at our online store " Ezzentric Topz " alongside our part time jobs and about half a year later, we both decided to treat it seriously and take it full time.

Two months ago, we've also launched our very special own line - Ezzentric Topz Surprise - which specializes on stylish basic apparel such as tulle skirts and leggings.



How did you become interested in fashion?
Fashion means a lot to my family and I guess this is how I become influenced. My mum and sister are always fashion forward! Few years ago my mum has already started to wear boyfriend jean with brouges and my sister can always foresee trends! We share our clothes and talked about fashion all the time. How can you not be interested in fashion when your mum and sister are already fashionistas?!



What inspired you to start your own blog?
My blog was first started as a backstage of my store but it becomes more like my personal blog now. I usually blog about the latest updates of my store, trends i like, lookbooks from my favourite brands, and some snap shots of myself. I have also set up a blog store selling my own line "Ezzentric Topz Surprise", I reckon blog store is more convenient for bloggers to shop!



What are your dreams and aspirations?
In December, my boyfriend and I will start sourcing stylish and fashionable clothes and accessories outside Australia. By adding more diversities and new ideas to Ezzentric Topz, I'm hoping it can evolve into a one-stop fashion kingdom in five years time, both online and on land.



How would you describe your style? What’s your favorite look at this moment?
I think my style is quite simple, sometimes edgy (according to my readers =P) . I like minimalistic men's clothes so I always steal clothes from my boyfriend's wardrobe. I can never be too feminine and you will never seen me with ten rings in one hand, that is just not my cup of tea. My look varies depending on my mood and the weather but the common trait of most of my looks is "tomboy with a girly touch".



Where do you get your fashion inspirations?
As I've mentioned, I get a lot of fashion inspiration from my mum and sister. Other than that, I get inspired by models like Agyness Deyn, Freja, and Alexa Chung. Fashion bloggers are very inspiring too! My favourite blogger at the moment is AnnaBu from Bu the right thing . She's just AMAZING!!



Where do you shop? What are your favorite brands?
I shop EVERYWHERE!! My favorite shopping place is of course HONG KONG! You can literally find everything there !But when I'm in Melbourne, I tend shop from op shop and online. I'm loving Alexander Wang and American Apparel at the moment, their stuff are just simple and versatile!



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