Blogger Interview: The Mirror On The Wall

The Mirror On The Wall is a fashion blog started by three students about 6 months ago. It is a personal fashion blog that almost seconds as a photography blog as well. It’s success is enviable, with close to 7500 visitors last month alone. There are lots of tips and insights into the lives of these bloggers.

I really like the idea of a blog reflecting the thoughts of all three of the bloggers in one place. Another great thing? The posts are written in English and Spanish for a multi-cultural and multi-lingual experience. The blog isn’t a typical run-of-the-mill outfit blog which is nice. There is some high quality photography and a natural street-style sensibility to most outfits. There is a natural tendency to make their fashion intuitive and affordable which is a nice angle to cover. Wish them all the best!

The people behind the blog

They all go by the first letter of their names.

*M*

Maja is an American student who has lived and worked in six different countries. She is studying international finance and marketing, and has developed a love for fashion after interning at Gucci at age 19. Writing has always been a passion of hers, and she contributes stories to a local Bostonian fashion column. As a result of her upbringing in several countries, she has a profound appetite for understanding different cultures, and tries to infuse this into The Mirror on the Wall.

*E*

Elena has a dual French and Spanish nationality and speaks four languages (French, Spanish, English, and Italian). She was born and raised in Madrid and developed her love for photography from her father. Since she was very young, she loved styling her own outfits, but it was at age 16 that she really became fascinated fashion. Since then she has been collecting editions of Vogue from around the world in order to get a full understanding of fashion beyond borders.

*A*

Alejandra is a Spanish accounting student, who is also fluent in French, Spanish, and English. When she attended the University of the Arts London summer styling program, she became fascinated with the creative aspects of the fashion industry. She has been learning photography from her father, and her love of the subject has only increased with the blog.

The Interview

I got a change to interview Maja, one of the three bloggers who co-own The Mirror On The Wall. She mostly speaks for all three of them though. Here is what she has to share.

Sidney: Your blog is a really nice mix of the thoughts of all three of you. Tell us more about how you met and how long you’ve known each other.
Maja: The three of us met in September 2012 through an international business school program, where we would all study and work in France for 1-2 years. We became roommates in Paris that January, and started our blog after realizing that we shared an immense passion for photography, fashion, and writing. We wanted it to be a creative outlet for us, and it became so much more than that!

Sidney: Who came up with the idea of a blog? Did any of you blog before?
Maja: None of us had any blog experience before this, so it was a substantial learning curve at first! While I proposed the idea of the blog, it was all three of us that came together in the end and decided to create it. It has been a team effort throughout the process, and this has actually led us to increase our level of creativity! What we wanted to do was create a blog that not only generated fashion inspiration, but also took advantage of our various backgrounds to provide insights about different cultures.

Sidney: In your travels through Europe and US, which city did you find to have the best sense of fashion in general?
Maja: This is a difficult question to answer because all of the cities that we have visited have their own unique and wonderful style. However, in terms of men’s fashion, Rome was definitely a winner because their focus on tailored suits and beautifully crafter leather left us awestruck! For the women, Paris was definitely one of our favorite fashion capitals, emphasizing elegant and classic looks that proved timeless.

Sidney: Where do you personally prefer to shop for your clothes and accessories? Any favorites?
Maja: Zara is definitely a huge favorite because it incorporates constantly changing inventory and really funky items into its collection. Also, it is much more affordable than luxury brands! Additionally, in Paris, we discovered a vast array of vintage stores, which were especially neat for discovering bold retro items distinct from what’s trending at the moment.

Sidney: What’s the future of the blog now that you are in the US and your friends in Europe?
Maja: It is a bittersweet phenomenon that we are separate by an entire ocean, but we are extremely excited to continue posting from all different locations. This will enable us to give readers a broader perspective, incorporating international styles from around the world.

Sidney: Which is the best fashion event that you’ve personally attended?
Maja: Last March, the three of us managed to sneak into the Steffie Christiaens fashion show at Paris spring 2012 fashion week! This was the first major fashion show that we attended, and it was beautifully executed, exuding a cool, funky atmosphere and exhibiting great, wearable looks. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush of getting into the show, or the fact that it was our first one, but this definitely stands out in our memory the most!

Sidney: Any general advice for people looking to be fashionable without spending a fortune on clothes and accessories?
Maja: Truthfully, most of the clothing on our blog is very affordable. We try to take our favorite ad campaigns and looks of them season, and reinvent them in our own way using brands at decent price points. Fashion should not be about who can spend the most money on a particular brand, but rather how well you can put pieces together to create something unique. Zara and H&M are two of our favorites!

Sidney: How would you describe your blogging experience so far?
Maja: Our blog experience has been absolutely wonderful thus far. Not only have we discovered new and creative passions, but it has strengthened our friendship significantly, and leads us to communicate daily with each other across the Atlantic! Blogging has inevitably increased some of our knowledge of the fashion industry and photography, as we constantly try to incorporate something new.

Sidney: Are you happy, overall, with the popularity of your blog? Did the actual performance overwhelm or underwhelm your expectations?
Maja: When we started our blog, we did not expect to get many views at all, so our expectations have definitely been exceeded. We have even developed friendly relationships with fellow bloggers, and hope to continue to grow the success of our blog in the future.

Sidney: What fashion magazines and blogs do you regularly follow?
Maja: The Satorialist is a great and inspiring blog that I look to for daily inspiration. It has a significant focus on stunning photography and street looks so that it stands out from the rest. The author has a different perspective from the rest of the bloggers, and it is what makes this blog so unique.

In terms of magazines, the three of us all prefer Spanish Vogue because it differentiates itself from the rest. It incorporates a lot more street style and places emphasis on creating great looks, rather than focusing 75% of its publication on advertisement. The content creates value for the user and we find it very inspirational.

Don’t forget to check out their lovely blog at The Mirror On The Wall