Style Interview: Color me Nana

Let me introduce to you the creator of the fashion blog Color me Nana. This 23-year old Californian girl writes her tremendous blogposts from the valley outside of Los Angeles. After doing several studies this busy girl eventually ended up in fashion blogging, but she still has tons of other interest like music, writing and traveling; anything that is creative actually. She now is a regular fashion writer for The Fashion Spot, and blogs in between everything else. For the future, she has her eye set on a serious career in fashion: “It would be my dream to someday make an actual career of my fashion interests and work as a fashion buyer, traveling the world in search of amazing designs to bring to the stores.” Meet the inspiring Dylana Suarez.

M: “Let’s talk about your blog first. When did you decide to start blogging?”
D: “I actually started my blog quite a while ago, in the summer of 2008. I was taking a full load of summer classes, and I just started my blog on a whim and as a kind of escape from the monotony of my classes. I had no interest in having a career in fashion at the time, but fashion has always been one of my greatest passions. I was always obsessed with reading magazines and checking out the runway shows online, and starting a blog just made sense to me. It was just a way for me to express the love for clothing and design that I felt I couldn’t express in any other way, since my friends didn’t really share the same interest in fashion as I did. I didn’t show my personal outfits in the beginning and nobody really read my blog, but I didn’t care because the blog really was just intended for me. It was not until last fall when I started reading other personal style blogs like Park & Cube, Fashion Toast and Stylescrapbook that I decided to change the direction of my own blog and showcase my own personal style too. That was when I started connecting a lot more with other fashion bloggers, and my blog just kept growing ever since. Even though I have a lot of readers now, I have never sacrificed my own individuality for the sake of the blog. I still blog for myself, but with my readers in mind, and I think it has turned into something really great. It has all been quite an exciting process!

M: “Your blog has become very successful in a short amount of time. How do you think it got so successful?”
D: “I think that people follow my blog because it is relatable. I am similar to many of my readers in lots of ways. Like many of them, I was also a student and on a budget. I can’t really afford to buy expensive designer things that I dream of but instead I rely on sales, thrift shopping and lucky vintage finds to fulfill my fashion lusts. Also, I try to keep things interesting on the blog with nice photography and I like to share my inspirations with nicely created collages, as well as bits and pieces of more personal things that I like, such as music, art, movies, and books.”

M: “Do you think blogs are more inspiring than magazines?”
D: “Of course I think blogs are more inspiring than magazines. Blogs basically are my daily magazine, and the best thing is that I don’t have to wait a whole new month for updates. It’s like a machine that never stops because everyone’s imagination just keeps running and everyone wants to share it all. I also find blogs more inspiring because these are real people you are reading about and looking at in pictures. It is a more relatable and a more realistic perspective of fashion. I find bloggers to be more eclectic in their styling, as well as more casual. They wear a mix of everything, high and low, new and vintage. With blogs there are no boundaries. Girls aren’t trying to tell you how to dress, but instead are contributing to the huge melting pot that is fashion today. Every blog I come across is different, and it is this versatility that sets blogs apart from magazines.”
M: “That is an interesting vision. Now off to your personal style, could you tell me something about that?”
D: “I have always found it hard to describe my personal style because I like to wear different things every day and experiment. I hate being monotonous when it comes to clothing. I like the minimalistic and classic look because of its timeless appeal and there is room left for accessorizing. Adding a dash of color and interesting pattern play is important to me for any outfit. I just wear what feels right to me, but if I had to put a name to it, I would say my style is quirky minimalistic. I wear a lot of blazers, skinny jeans, vintage-inspired dresses, silky high-waisted trousers, and button-front blouses. I also really love rompers and sheer long blouses that can double as dresses. Layering is another thing I love. I shop at a lot of different places, but a few of my favorite brands are Zara, Forever 21, H&M, Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People. I also do a lot of vintage shopping. If I wear designer, it is usually a super good deal or a vintage find.”
M: “Who is your favorite designer?”
D: “Gosh I have a whole list of favorites! I’ll leave you with just a few. Phoebe Philo for Celine because of her sleek, minimalist designs will never go out of style. I love how in her designs, the girl wears the clothes and not the other way around. Also Hannah MacGibbon for Chloe because I adore her feminine meets masculine aesthetic. Her trouser and silk blouse combinations amaze me, they are everything I want to wear. And last but not least Christopher Bailey for Burberry Prorsum because he recreates classic jackets and coats and turns them into works of art. His designs are edgy, young, and completely fashion forward.

” My absolute favorite item would have to be my vintage Bally quilted leather mini chain purse that was given to me by my mother. I wear it with everything and it will never go out of style. I like it even more than the Chanel chain purses! ”

M: “What is your secret addiction?”
D: “Really, my secret addiction are books. I am a writer myself, so stories kind of take up my life. When I was little I always had my nose in my book because I had such an oversized imagination that always needed to be stimulated. I’m addicted to reading novels because they transport you to another time and teach us new feelings and experiences that we may never get to know at all in a lifetime. But other than this, I am also addicted to blazers and vintage dresses!”
M: “What does fashion mean to you?”
D: “Fashion is one of my favorite ways to express myself. I am a very creative person, I love music, I love to write, I love to draw and take pictures and I love to dance. I love anything that allows me to use my imagination and create something with it. This is why I love fashion; because I can create a character or express a feeling with what I wear. My style changes because of my mood, a character I read about, a song I just heard, or a color that just caught my eye. So many things inspire me and I love to translate that into what I wear. It all just comes naturally. But most of all, fashion is just a fun way to experiment with different looks and to discover new parts of myself through my clothing and styling choices.”

M: “How do you find a balance between your every day life and blogging?”
D: “Sometimes it is hard to blog when there are so many things to do during the day that are not blog-related at all, like work and school. When I was at college I was not able to regularly update my blog because school was my top priority and I was always studying or spending time with friends. But once I graduated I finally had the time to blog and really dedicate myself to it. Usually I blog at night because this is when I have everything done for the day and can just relax, check out other blogs, and write up a blog post. I love rewinding in bed with my favorite blogs to read!”
M: “So with all this work in fashion, can we already catch you at some international fashion weeks?”
D:I have not yet been to any international fashion weeks yet, but I have attended local Los Angeles runway shows and I have been invited to fashion parties. I get a lot of invites, but sadly I do not live in NYC or Paris to attend them! But hopefully soon I will get the chance to do so!”

M: “I’m sure we will see you there someday. What was your coolest fashion experience up till now?”
D: “My coolest fashion experience was definitely getting the chance to photograph a section of the Free People October 2010 catalog. My sister is a model, and we are both bloggers, and we were asked to be a part of this catalog with my sister as the model and I as the photographer. I got into photography because of the blog and I really think that my skills in this area have bloomed. We were flown out to Philadelphia for a few days for the shoot and we also got the chance to explore the city for a while on the trip, so that was nice. It was an experience I will never forget, and it made me even more interested in photography and styling. And since we were so close to NYC, we immediately went to New York for two weeks for another amazing adventure right after the shoot was over!”
M: “What is your goal for the future? Maybe your biggest fashion dream?”
D: “My biggest fashion dream is to work in fashion and still blog about my experiences and personal style. I would love to be a fashion buyer and be able to attend fashion shows all around the world. This job feels perfect to me because it is a mix of fashion and business, and it is a combination of two things I have a lot of interest in. I would love to be living in New York City or working abroad in a fashion capital, meeting new and inspiring people every single day who contribute so much to the industry. If I could blog for a living, that would be amazing too! It even seems like this dream does not seem so far out, since blogging is getting so much more recognition more now than ever!”

M: “Any last words for your fellow Fashiolista’s?”
D: “Always be yourself in everything you do and always try to be confident, from getting dressed up to interacting with others. Clothes can make a very great impact on others, but so do your actual personality and your outlook on life. Being positive and staying as creative as possible is very important I think for life in general and your sanity. Interact and connect with others who have the same interest as you do, and don’t be afraid to show and express your ideas. I find that when you blog about what truly interests you and find a way to express your thoughts creatively, be it through words or picture, you will make an impact on someone else and draw people in.”