60 seconds with…Valentine
Valentine from the blog Hello it’s Valentine lives in a colorful and glittery world. This smiling little French creature loves to walk through the majestic city of Paris and take pictures of her bubbly outfits. But not only is her blog about fashion, Valentine also gives her readers travel tips and even advice about how to decorate a home. Enter Valentine’s world and find out more about her interests and inspirations in “60 seconds with…”
How did you get the idea to start your own fashion blog (www.helloitsvalentine.com)?
Quite simply by the acquisition of a small digital camera, with which I photographed anything and everything.
I wanted to share my pictures, and the idea of a “catch-all” blog came to my mind.
At the beginning the blog was not really focused on “fashion”. It took me a while to find my editorial line.
Describe your blog in 3 words.
Bubbly Colourful Parisian.
What is your favorite aspect of blogging?
Taking pictures, talking with young women from all parts of the world, meeting people, going to events that I would never have gone to if I were not blogging, being curious about what is happening around me and be inspired by all these things…
Blogging is based on sharing: having time for yourself is good, but having time to communicate with others is even better!
Who inspired your fashion sense?
Everyone and no one!
Women in the street, in the subway etc.. are my main source of inspiration (without mentioning Streetstyle blogs).
If I had to mention only one person who inspires me, that would be my mother. She has an incredible sense of style. By observing her, I learned how to apply makeup, accessorize my outfits …
Besides, I’m so proud of her: she is an artist, and her relationship with colors is pretty amazing. It depends on the moment, the phases… She and I are very connected, and her relationship to fashion has clearly rubbed off on me.
Has blogging changed your relationship to fashion? If so, how?
Of course: the opinion of yourself that you get through pictures changes a lot of things!
To look at yourself in a mirror and to look at a picture of yourself on a computer screen are two different things! We are much more critical in the second case: we are more impacted by what looks good and especially what’s wrong!
In addition to blogging, I grow up and began to sharpen my tastes, my expectations of a garment or an accessory.
And of course, to watch what others can do is an inexhaustible source of joy and ideas!
What are the advantages and disadvantages of blogging?
Fortunately, there are much more advantages than disadvantages!
I met many true friends thanks to blogs and events where you can meet new people. Without mentioning the lovely gifts, etc.. but I don’t want to ramble on about it.
Because it is inevitable to be criticized when you expose yourself on the Internet, I would say that this is the only disadvantage.
Girls can be harsh, awkward or just aggressive in their comments. It’s a pity because it won’t change anything for passionate people who will continue anyway.
What makes your style unique?
I do not have the pretention to describe my style as unique: it is not.
I wear what I like above all (by trying to be attractive).To dress (so as putting makeup and doing your hair) is a chance when you have the means to vary the pleasures.
Unique or not, I’m having fun. Good for me if you think that I have style.
What is your top fashion tip?
Avoid at all costs following trends, especially when people annoy you with “DOs” and “DON’Ts”.
To know how to make choices in fashion is the best advice I can give: there are some things that are good to take, but remember: leave the wrong aside! 
What is your favorite thing in your closet?
My collection of dresses, all the colors of the rainbow in the sky … It makes me happy!
Where do you turn for inspiration?
Lookbook.nu? haha
Honestly, I love to open the Glamour UK: the fashion pages are often very inspiring, because the pictures are well done.
Whose personal style do you admire most?
Frida Kahlo, the painter (even if she is not alive anymore). She could wear the Tehuana outfit very well, and wore her hair braided with lots of flowers in it.
Her life has been one long ordeal of suffering, but she was physically fit and always primed.
You are forced to admire her, few women in her case would have been so pretty.
What is your favorite decade in fashion? Why?
The 50s and 60s : because of the very feminine and easily wearable dresses.
Which advice would you give to someone who would like to launch a fashion blog?
Working on the design of your blog is more than important. I do not look at blogs sometimes just because the design is over the top and gives me headache.
The quality of the pictures is also important to me, I am almost ashamed of my beginnings when I had no critical sense on my pictures…
And of course: starting a blog is a great adventure: but be diligent! Nothing comes easily to you if you do not commit yourself seriously.
You will soon be in Berlin, what do you expect from this city?
This is the second time I go there with my boyfriend.
This was the first city we visited together as a couple. Our first love weekend abroad: magic!
I hope that we will visit more than we already have, that we’ll go cycling (our common passion) and have a drink with my Berlin friend, Maggie (and blogger! www.hoardoftrends.com)
Berlin is so atypical, both modern and rooted in its history … It’s always interesting to see how it is elsewhere and to discover the world.
Berlin, we are on our way!
Tic Tac…60 seconds are up! Thank you, Valentine!
