Interviewed by Amiee Wu & photos by Jeremy Swinarton
eye of the blogger

http://iwantigot.geekigirl.com/

1. What do you consider when you’re blogging and preparing material? What are the more technical
things you consider? What advice can you give to aspiring bloggers?

Since I have a technical background, I do all the administration for my blog. I guess it is a little unusual for some blogger since they don’t have the technical background. I had a virus on my blog last year that I had to spend a month trying to get rid of. There are also maintenance issues, new updates, plug-gins, and minor changes that you have change in the code. I’m lucky that I have that background so I don’t have to rely on a third-party or hire someone else to do it, but it does add to the workload that I have to deal with. If you’re hosting your own site, you have to think of these maintenance issues.
I think the biggest thing I could say to anyone is if you can keep going, you will be fine.  I think now people have this idea that if you start this blog, you’re going to have thousands of people right off the bat reading your site, and that’s just not the way it works. I had very few viewers when I first started, but it just something that has to be personal, so you can keep up with it and eventually people will come read your stuff. And content, content, content, is key. I post between three to ten times a day sometimes, so people who come back daily will have new content. So keep writing and keep going. Things aren’t going to be amazing right off the start but if you keep working at it and if you have something that people gravitate to, then it will happen.

2. In your blog, you feature many runway reviews; what did you like this season (spring2010)? What can you predict will be popular this year?

I really love the military influences, uniforms, and how it spun into modern clothing. I also really like summer leather. Celine was one of my favorite collections, just because it was so beautiful and well-made. As for predictions, I think the farm-type style with Chanel and Ralph Lauren is kind of bringing back denim and colouring. I think it will be pretty big for the summer. You’ve also got your typical stuff for spring like linens and safari kind of styles, and flowing dresses.

3. How do you think the economy has affected the Canadian industry specifically?

That’s an interesting question, I once asked Andy The-Anh that question. He said to him as a Canadian you have to fight so hard anyways, to get anywhere so it really hasn’t changed anything.They still have to fight just as hard as anyone else to get buyers to come look at the show, so to him it really hadn’t change the game at all. I just have to work as hard as I always have, maybe push myself a little bit more. You still need a good product when it comes down to it. You need something that people would want to buy it, and you still have to work really hard to get noticed.

4. I know one of your favourite designers is Rick Owens, What other designers do you like? More specifically, who are your favourite Canadian designers? What was your favourite show from S/S/ 2010?

I like Nicolas Ghesquière from Balenciaga and Alber Elbaz from Lanvin. I also really like YSL back in the day and Karl Largefield blows my mind all the time. He is amazing. The guy is a genius! I love John Paul Gautier, Alexander McQueen, and Phoebe Philo. From Chloe to Celine, she knows how to make clothes that people want to wear. I also love Greta Constantine and [am] very honored to have a dress named after me. Jeremy Laing is also another great designer that I’ve always really enjoyed since he first came out. Phillip Sparks also has some awesome menswear, and I wish they had clothing in my size.

5. Who is your fashion icon and why?

I have a few. I love Grace Jones. She pulls no punches and just does it. I think Daphne Guinness is pretty awesome too. She is one of those fashion aspiration people that people just love to see. She is just so much fun. I also appreciate what Lady Gaga does in fashion, and watching her videos are just a blast.There are also a lot of people locally that I admire too, Natalie Lecomte from Holt Renfrew always looks immaculate. You also have people like Suzanne Boyd, who also looks really good whenever I see her. I kind of gravitate to the local people that I know, and I can pick their brain about their style.

6. What is on top of your “I want” list right now? What are some of your favourite items on your “I got” list?

On top of my I want list is Alexander McQueen Mongolian fur biker jacket and an Asymmetrical black leather corselet belt by Zoe Hong. Some of my favorite items on my I got list is my Rick Owen’s fall jacket. I also just recently got a Marc by Marc Jacobs handbag and a pair of Lanvin pants, which I am in love with. When Hazel had its liquidation sale, I got an aqua dress with embroidered beading, a white short mini dress that is beautiful, and a pair of J. Mendel pants as well. And they are the best pair of pants I’ve ever put on. I understand why people pay so much for these things, because clothing just doesn’t feel the same way on. The quality is really amazing.

7. How would you describe your personal style? What are some of your shopping spots in Toronto? What is your key fashion item?

It’s all over the place. I really like street style like legging, skinny jeans, oversize t-shirts, sweatshirts, but I also like dressing up and more tailor business wear too. It’s kind of all over the place. I really like straight lines so I’m not to into romantic frilly type of things. I love color but I also really love black. I’m also as comfortable in heels as I am in running shoes. My style is all over the place.

Where do I shop? I love Fawn on Queen and Crawford. She has the best selection of clothing there, and they also carry complex geometry pieces and some of my favorite Canadian designers. I also love Chass Gardée , a shoe store on Queen and Dovercourt which is probably less than a year old. They have amazing shoes and they always bring stuff you don’t see around at a affordable price range. And of course I love Holt Renfrew. I usually do spend a couple of hours in the store. It’s a lot of fun.

8. How would you describe Toronto fashion?

It’s pretty small. You have your group of people that are creating with the local industry that is here. It’s like all the other industry in New York and Paris, you get a small community feel in the industry.

9. What does a typical day look like for you?

Usually during the day I’m at the office. I don’t do any blogging during the day at work. After work is over I’ll usually have an event, showroom, or preview to go to and it depends on what it is. Whatever time I get home, I’m back on the computer usually doing maintenance stuff, answering emails, creating some posts for the next day, and answering comments and stuff like that. Usually on the weekends, I kind of take off from blogging. However, if I’m not going out, I’m still on the computer searching for things to talk about and keeping up on the industry. Online shopping, browsing for new blog posts.

10. What are some sites you recommend?

I read the Bible, WWD.com. I got myself a subscription last year and that’s been a lot of fun. It’s a really good site and pictures of the collection a lot earlier so it’s nice to have the first access.I also like the Cut blog for NY mag’s blog, style bubble, and jakandjil. I always love looking at Tommy’s pictures! And more local sites like finalfashion and also just twittering. Selectism is also another good site that covers men’s wear and Highsnobiety. Notcot that has a similar to the I want site, that they post things every day. Sneakerfreaker is cool to learn the latest knicks that are coming out and things like that. Those are the ones that I check on a regular basis but I’ll come across other sites as well.

11. Aside from blogging and writing, what do you like to do in your spare time? How do you de-stress?

I play a lot of squash, I am an ex-athlete. I hate going to the gym and running on the treadmill, so I need a sport with an objective and structure. In the summer I like to roller blade a lot. I also like hanging out with friends, reading, shopping, and wandering around Yorkville.

12. When did you start getting involved in fashion?

In 2006, I started writing for blog TO. I guess I got more involved as in attending fashion week and interviewing designers. I’ve always really liked fashion and grew up watching Fashion Television. Jeanne Beker has definitely influenced me.

13. What are some of your highlights of 2009? What are some of your goals for 2010?

The blogger’s window at Holt Renfrew was definitely a big highlight. And also having Greta Constantine name a dress after me. I was name Toronto Fashion hero for Now Magazine which was such an honor. At the end of the year, just getting that crazy email about she takes the world woman of the year honorary. Those things stand out the most.
I like to carry out with 2009, getting my name out there and getting more traffic on the site. I’m not making too many crazy goals or things I need to do and I’m just taking things as they come.

14. Where do you want to take I want I got? Do you plan on becoming a full time fashion blogger?

If I were to do something full-time related to I want I got, I would want to be a consultant the people that need advice about their fashion business. I’m actually really lucky, I like working for IT. I’m a total science nerd, so I really like the analytical side. I can’t really see myself at a fashion office. We’ll see, I could change.