Style Insider:
Chi City Fashion

Tell us a little about yourself — how did you get to where you are today? 

I’ve always enjoyed fashion, but I never really thought I could make a career out of it. I studied Business Marketing in college and thought I had to get a 9-5 corporate job when I graduated (probably because those were the only types of jobs at our career fairs). 

I started a Twitter account senior year to stalk celebrities, then I quickly realized the fashion presence on the site (editors, designers, stylists, etc). So after gaining some knowledge and reading Style.com and WWD on a daily (sometimes instead of doing my homework…oops) I got up the courage to put out some tweets of my own. What started as style tips in under 140 characters turned into ChiCityFashion. And as of September 2012, ChiCityFashion is my full time job!

What do you love most about what you do? 

I started a blog to share my knowledge of fashion with others. So when people tell me they started caring about how they dress more or started shopping at one of my favorite Chicago boutiques (love to support the small businesses!) because they read about it on my blog, it’s extremely rewarding. 

How do you describe your style? 

I always have such a hard time answering this question! I guess I tend to go for pieces with an edge, but I wouldn’t consider my style 100 percent edgy. I definitely like to have fun with fashion (hence my extensive collection of weird t-shirts and sweaters) but what’s most important about personal style is balance. It’s all about taking a risk without overdoing it.

Who are your style icons? 

Margherita Missoni. Julia Sarr-Jamois. Miroslava Duma.

From where do you draw inspiration for your style?

The streets/street style blogs. I love to see what real people are wearing and how they embrace fashion.

Do you have a favorite piece of clothing?

I have a white Alaia dress I wore once, to Fashion’s Night Out in New York. It’s extremely delicate and very white. It’s by far the most beautiful piece of clothing my own but I’m always so afraid I’ll ruin it!

Where do you like to shop?

In Chicago: Sofia, space519, Ikram, Edith Hart. In New York: Otte, Opening Ceremony, Bergdorfs. Online: Shopbop, Net-a-Porter.

The Shoptiques motto is Be Yourself, Be Different. What’s one thing that truly makes you unique? 

I’m weird and I’m damn proud of it.

What challenges have you faced so far in your business and how have you overcome them? 

It’s difficult to know what you’re worth as a blogger. We do things for free for a while so when someone comes around who’s actually willing to pay you, it’s very exciting. However, I’ve encountered many problems with this because a lot of brands/PR companies don’t really know what a blogger is worth either. There’s miscommunication (usually between the PR company and the brand you’re working with), delayed payment and other issues. From this though, I’ve become more confident in myself/my brand, I now negotiate better, I have a better idea of who I want to work with and who I don’t, and I have an attorney look at every contract I’m presented with. 

What advice would you give to someone who has a dream or talent they want to pursue? 

Never give up. It sounds so cliché but it’s true. I do believe that if you really want something and you try hard enough to get it, you’ll achieve your goal. Also, be nice to everyone. Because you never know who might help you reach those goals!