A few months ago I wanted to start a zine, and I got a little bit of interest but most people never ended up sending me anything, so that never happened. It’s alright though, I have a few other plans to get to anyway. I did have the chance to interview two lovely ladies, and I don’t want to waste their well thought out answers, so I decided to publish them on the blog. The first one I’m sharing is by the charming Meagan. I’ve been following Meagan’s blog for a while now. I adore her mature, almost enchanting style, with clothes and words. I really admire the way Meagan writes on her blog, all the words fit together so well, always complimenting the mood of her outfits perfectly. I could tell Meagan was a special one from reading her blog, but after reading the answers to the questions I asked, I gained a whole new level of respect for her. This woman is amazing. I’m sure you will all agree.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT BLOGGING?
The wonderful people that i’ve been privileged enough to meet. Nothing about blogging is as enjoyable as making with other like-minded, creative, strong feminist women.
DO YOU EVER FEEL PRESSURED, IN ANY WAY, BY THE FASHION ‘BLOGGING WORLD’?
Of course! You’d have to have the steeliest backbone ever to not feel at least some pressure, and who has that? Most the pressure I feel comes from the fact that I’m older, and most bloggers are very young. Also I’m not super skinny or tall, and while I passionately believe in body politics that accepts all body types as part of the human experience, I can’t help but feel a tiny bit pressued by the slithe little creatures that populate the blogosphere. It’s something I struggle to reconcile with myself, and I’ve gotten better about it, but it’s there.
YOU HONESTLY HAVE INCREDIBLE STYLE, I’VE NOTICED THAT RECENTLY, YOU SEEM TO HAVE THIS DESIRE TO LOOK ETHEREAL. DO YOU HAVE ANY MAJOR FASHION OR STYLE INFLUENCES, WHETHER THEY BE INDIVIDUALS OR OBJECTS, OR ANYTHING ELSE?
I do? thanks! I personally don’t think my style is anything major, but it makes me happy and that’s what matters! I’m very inspired by music; I enjoy capturing the moods of music I’m listening to. shoegaze and dreampop are my primary source of inspiration. that style of music is heavily distorted and otherworldy with whispery vocals and transcendential moods. It’s music that is meant to envelop and cradle you, and create worlds that are not like this one, where your mind can can lose itself in a wall of sound. I try to express that with hazy prints and interesting textures. I’m slowly getting away from wearing all black and am excited to see my style evolving.
SPEAKING OF ETHEREAL, IT’S DEFINED IN THE DICTIONARY, AS BEING SOMETHING HIGHLY DELICATE, ALMOST TOO PERFECT FOR THIS WORLD. HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THIS MEANING, WHAT DOES DRESSING IN AN ETHEREAL WAY MEAN TO YOU?
Ohhh, interesting question! I like the idea of that space between sleep and wakefulness… maybe that place is a void of your innermost desires, or when you close your eyes and see swirling colors and project your thoughts onto those colors, maybe it’s a place that exists only a cocteau twins song (see: lazy calm on their album victorialand), but I like going to that place. I’m a very practical, hard-nosed person in my day-to-day life, so going to that place in my thoughts and outfits makes the most sense to me.
I’VE HEARD YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ABOUT OUR CONSUMERIST SOCIETY IN VIDEOS YOU’VE POSTED ON YOUR BLOG PREVIOUSLY, YOU ALSO OCCASIONALLY BRING IT UP IN YOUR POSTS. BEING SOMEONE WHO IS SO OBVIOUSLY INTERESTED IN SELF EXPRESSION THROUGH STYLE, DO YOU EVER FEEL BAD, OR A SENSE OF GUILT, WHEN PURCHASING CLOTHES?
No and yes.
I was forced out of my home when I was 17 and was completely financially indepedent at a very early age. My parents never help pay my rent or bills, never bought me groceries, never covered the cost of any practical expenditures. As a result, I spent my late teens and most of my twenties living in absolute poverty. It’s hard to be completely self-sufficient at the age of 17! I went hungry. I lived in squalid conditions simply because the rent was cheap. I stayed in an absusive relationship for way, way too long because my ex tended to my basic needs as a way to keep me from leaving him. Today, I have a great job that makes me very happy and pays me enough to buy things I need, and things I want every now and then. but It took a LONG time to get here, and it took many hungry nights and tearful days.
When I feel a twinge of guilt for spending my money on something expensive, I understand that it conflicts with my morals, but I also recognize that it’s a symbol of how far I’ve come. (Magnet’s note: I found this very inspirational, good on you Meagan!)
I REALLY LIKE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL TASTES, DO YOU REMEMBER WHO THE FIRST ARTIST YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH WAS?
Sure do! Wilco, specifically the album yankee hotel foxtrot, when I was a senior in high school. I was obsessed with beck at the time, and a friend handed me the CD saying “oh it’s twerpy, kind of like beck. you’ll love it.” and I did. and I still do! and I credit that album with ingiting my love for music. (Haha, I had a phase of being obsessed with Beck too!)
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN EVER WORKING IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, OR WOULD YOU RATHER ENJOY IT AS AN ‘OUTSIDER’?
Probably not! though I’ve learned that life has a funny habit of throwing you curveballs when you lease expect it. For now I am very happy working in low-income housing and making a difference in my community. Realistically though, I don’t have a college degree, and if a fashion job with a good salary/benefits presented itself to me, I’d probably take the job, if for no other reason than for more financial security.
YOU LIVE IN CHICAGO, WHAT’S THE GENERAL STYLE SCENE LIKE OVER THERE? DO YOU THINK YOU’LL EVER RELOCATE IN THE FUTURE?
Boring. Chicago is still the midwest, so people here are more conservative and follow the stereotypical midwestern ethos of “not causing a fuss”. I get gawked at a lot in public. I’d like to move to NYC, not for fashion reasons, but because my two closest friends live there and i miss them dearly.
LASTLY, IF SOMEONE HANDED YOU A MILLION DOLLARS IN CASH, RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Move to NYC. Buy a tiny condo. Quit my job and go back to school to get my bachelor’s degree. Donate/invest in affordable housing for low-income families and organizations that combat homelessness.
Thank you so much for answering all my questions Meagan! Hopefully you all found her answers as enjoyable to read as I did. To finish this post off, I’ll add one image of an outfit I wore, seeing as this isn’t really about me. I don’t know how I feel about this dress, I really loved the idea of it, but on… I’m not sure about the hole thing at the top. What should I do? Sell it, or turn the bottom half into a skirt? Help me decide!
All the photos used for the gif and images of Meagan were taken from her blog
I promise that the next post will be more interesting!
All the photos I used were found on each individual’s own website and are credited to their respectful owners. I take no credit for the photos I used. If there is anyone in particular you think I should interview, please do tell.
