What happens when a renowned photographer and an astonishing beauty come together in the enchanted Villa Necchi in the heart of Milan? La Perla gets it spot on with their new Roaring Twenties campaign. Here, you can witness the aesthetic masterpiece created by photographer Mary Rozzi and model Jeisa Chiminazzo. 52 seconds of tasteful allure…
Five Five Fabulous! International sensation, Reem Kanj, and her sister, Natalya, jet set between London, Lebanon and Dubai to track fashion’s most relevant trends and events. Continue reading to find Reem’s style tips, favorite emerging designers and how she and her sister manage their growing viral success. Meet Reem!
Tell us about the concept of Five Five Fabulous.
I came up with the concept for Five Five Fabulous by accident, it started off as a place to document my struggles in the fashion industry and then evolved into a blank canvas from which I could express my thoughts, opinions and views on the industry.
You cover many different subjects…fashion, beauty, events…what is your favourite thing to write about?
I love blogging about style. It’s also always fun to feature latest campaigns and lookbooks. I have just begun blogging images from my Blackberry photo album as it’s the most used camera I own!
What are the best and worst things about working with your sister?
I actually love working with my sister, mainly because we have such different personalities but we’re really similar when it comes to views on the fashion industry. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the easiest of collaborations but because we’re such close sisters we can go from screaming to laughing in a matter of minutes.
You spend your time between London, Lebanon and Dubai…how does all this traveling influence your style?
I actually spend most of my time in London, it’s my base, I’ve just moved into a gorgeous flat and don’t want to leave it at all! Dubai is somewhere I love to escape to, even though it’s usually always a business trip, I have so many friends there that it’s counted as pleasure also. Lebanon I’m afraid to say I don’t get to visit very often, however I’m extremely proud to be Lebanese and it’s somewhere I will always consider home.
How has Five Five Fabulous evolved since you founded it?
Five Five Fabulous has evolved in so many ways. The content for one. Now that we’ve grown to an international audience there’s been so many opportunities for original content. For example, blogging about my experiences as an ambassador for Sunsilk and also for Puma. The imagery has evolved a lot also! At the beginning I was experimenting with different layouts, and now I feel as though we have a really strong signature style for our visuals.
What are your future plans for the blog?
I would love to bring in some guest bloggers in the future, maybe make time for some more interview videos and possibly explore the possibilities of expanding what kind of content we cover. Right now I’m just going with the flow.
Who is your favourite emerging designer?
I love Leila Kashanipour and her label ‘LeiVanKash’. Definitely one to watch.
Who, in your opinion, is the most timeless designer?
There is no doubt about it that Chanel is the answer to that question. It will be a happy day for the Kanj sisters when we get to that point in our lives and are able to pop into Paris for a quick Chanel splurge.
You are known for your love of accessories…which jewelry designers are your favourite?
I am in love with Annoushka, a fabulous jewelry designer based in London. She designs the most incredible pieces. I’m also a big fan of Tag Huer for watches. I’ve been wearing Tag’s since I was 11, so I’m very loyal.
What was the best fashion event you have ever attended?
Recently Burberry held a launch for their Burberry Brit store in Covent Garden and it was a wonderful event. I had the pleasure of meeting Christopher Bailey for the first time and my favourite Burberry girl, Cara Delevingne.
What was your last purchase?
I most recently bought a Marc By Marc Jacobs cosmetics bag for a friend’s birthday present and some Hudson pants as a gift for my mum. I was online shopping and for some reason couldn’t decide on anything for myself!
What fashion item will you buy for summer?
I will probably be buying some bright colours for my summer wardrobe. I’m loving the bright trend and feeling brave!
Which trends should we watch out for this Fall/Winter?
Fall 2011 is going to see a definite continuation of colour, it will be toned down however. I always love layering for the autumn and I’m also excited to see how the high street will channel the 40’s trend.
Which celebrity´s style do you admire?
Love, Love Love Blake Lively, she looks fantastic in everything she wears! Also Daisy Lowe, her stylists are a fabulous duo.
Do you prefer online or “real-life†shopping?
To be honest with the lack of ‘free’ time I get and the amount of time I’m online, I’ve begun to embrace online shopping, it’s so convenient and I normally am a lot more open to try new things then if I was in a store.
What importance do social networks have for you?
The utmost importance. I adore the fact that Twitter and Facebook are my answer to ‘micro-blogging’. Also, as I’m normally travelling a lot and have friends and family all over the world, social networks are a life saver for keeping in touch.
What is your top fashion tip?
Always wear your confidence. It’s hard to afford what I blog about daily, so being head to toe in high street standing next to someone dripping in high end, you may feel as though you’re not ‘really’ fashionable. However my confidence has always elevated my fashion choices higher than any high end piece!
What beauty product can´t you live without?
I can’t go anywhere without my Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream, I carry it around everywhere with me and I’m stocked up for months in advance usually.
What is your favourite thing to do when you are not blogging?
I love to cook. I’ve just bought a ton of cook books and love to experiment with new dishes from different cuisines. It’s my second favourite thing to do, and that includes the eating part!
How do you think fashion blogging will change in the next 5 years?
I’m not too sure, but I do hope that Five Five Fabulous will still be a part of it.
Tic Tac…60 seconds are up! Thank you, Reem!
Glamour toujours! Blogging from Paris, The Brunette is an essential style reference in France and abroad. Read about her technique, her style and her favourite brands here!
How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been blogging since May 2007, it’s already been 4 years now and I’m still enjoying it !
You recently changed the “look†of your blog…what was your reason?
I had that look for almost 4 year and I was fed up with it. I wanted a new one which represents me, and my readers love it!
What type of camera do you use?
I own a Lumix LX5 but sometimes, I’m photographed with a Canon 7D.
Who is your photographer?
My friend Nicolas takes my outfit in pictures with the Canon 7D. On the weekend, my boyfriend takes my pictures, and when he can’t, my best friend does it.
What importance do social networks have for you?
They allow me to share news with my community and meet new readers.
What was your first contact with the fashion industry?
It was with my grandpa, who was a tailor at Lanvin in the 1950’s.
Paris is considered by many to be world´s most fashionable city…do you agree?
Paris is a fashionable city, but it´s not the first one. For me it’s the world’s most elegant city, that’s different.
What is the most fashionable place in Paris?
Probably around Saint Germain des Près… you always see very elegant people.
Describe your neighbourhood.
I live behind Montmartre. It’s really Parisian, like the movie “Amelie.†It’s really “bobo†but very different from all the other neighbourhoods in Paris.
Who inspired your fashion sense?
I´m inspired by many people: celebs like Kate Moss, Nicole Richie and others, but also by one of my best friends, Marie, who’s always chic!
What was your last purchase?
A blue chino pant at Zara, perfect for this summer and for work!
What is your favourite French blog?
The blog by my best friend Marie-Laure: http://www.le-monde-est-a-nous.net
International blog?
I’m a big fan of Sabrina’s After DRK http://www.afterdrk.com/
What is your favourite brand?
IKKS. I love their sporty-yet chic clothes. They also chose me as their ambassador in 2009. I also love Tara Jarmon, Maje, Sandro, Gérard Darel, Comptoir des Cotonniers, etc.
Which designer would you love to meet?
Karl Lagerfeld, because he’s brilliant, and he seems to be a kind person.
What was the best comment you ever received from a reader?
One of my readers told me I helped her when she was confined to bed. She said I made her smile for 5 minutes, and she thanked me for it.
Do you prefer online or “real-life†shopping?
Both! Online is more practical, and the other is great when you have time to try all the clothes.
What are your “must haves†of the moment?
My IKKS lace skirt and my Erotokritos sandals I will soon show on my blog.
What is your favourite thing to do when you are not blogging?
Chilling out, decorating my flat, or travelling around the world!
What is your top fashion magazine?
I am a big fan of Grazia… It’s not only a fashion magazine!
How do you like to relax after a long day of work?
I adore having a glass of white wine at a table outside a café with my friends. Very Parisian but such a great moment to relax!
Tic Tac…60 seconds are up! Thank you, Sonia!
Fashion editor and blogger Sonia Grispo is the face behind one of Italy´s most popular blogs for fashion, trends and lifestyle, Trend and the City
as well as contributing to E´Lifestyle and bmm magazine.
How did you get the idea to start your own fashion blog?
My inspiration was my sister who used to write about fashion on the web and in magazines. So I decided to start a blog to share my tastes, my feelings and my views on fashion.
What does the name of your blog signify?
The inspiration was obviously the popular TV series Sex and The City, which I’ve always loved because it speaks (as well) but never blatantly about fashion, making it an integral part of the life of the protagonists, as in reality. Carrie writes a column on Sex and the City (New York), I decided to open a blog about trends in world cities.
Who do you hope to reach with your blog? / What is your objective?
At first, in 2007-2008 when I started my blog, the web was not so full of independent Italian blogs about fashion. I had no idea how much success it could bring, how much interest it could arouse in people. I started this blog because I already had a personal and private blog in which I spoke of my life, so I thought “I have a great passion for writing and an interest in fashion, the idea of a fashion blog can be interesting, why not?
Who inspired your fashion sense?
I think my mother at first, not because I stole her clothes or because she encouraged me to follow fashion, but because, like all girls, I grew up watching my mother choose makeup and clothes before going out. That’s how I learned the importance in the selection of jewelry , accessories, matching colors. As I grew and matured, my own personal taste went through several phases in order to establish my own style.
Do you draw inspiration from other blogs/ bloggers?
I always try to learn from other bloggers. I love the elegance of Garance Dore and her artful photography, I appreciate the daily information on Fashionising, and the style of information of ModaBlog GirlPower, one of the blogs where my sister talks about fashion.
Which other blogs do you read on a regular basis?
Garance Doré and Fashionising, also Jak & Jil and Just Jared.
What does “style†mean to you?
What the catwalks and fashion designers show us is “fashion”, what we buy and match is “style.” It reflects our personalities and our moods. Just flipping through a photo album and seeing the different styles we have chosen in the past makes us understand how we have changed. Style is about us.
Describe your style
Sometimes boho chic, sometimes gently rock, I don’t love the excesses and I don’t wear clothing or accessories just because they are trendy, I adapt fashion to myself, not myself to fashion. I love to mix romantic clothes with aggressive details, just like my character.
Do you have a favorite brand?
I really love Burberry, I think Christopher Bailey has the power to read in my mind and turn my thoughts into his collections.
Do you prefer online or “real-life†shopping?
Is always difficult to answer this question. I love to go to stores and touch the clothes and try them on, but I also like the speed and immediacy of online shopping, even if I have to wait a few days to receive what I bought. Online shopping allows you to consider a purchase more calmly and often offers a greater range. But if I want to buy something important or expensive I prefer to go into the store.
What importance do social networks have for you?
Thanks to social networks I was able to bring my blog to another level, and interact with companies. I appreciate the brands that use Twitter and Facebook not just for advertising but also to get in touch with their customers.
What are your “must haves†of the moment?
My personal must-have is a leather jacket, a key ring, a colored tank and my new lomo Diana Mr.Pink. In general, the colorful details, starting from the nail polish and a pair of boot cut jeans.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of blogging?
The advantages are direct communication with readers, the opportunity to express one´s views without censorship and the ability to write without limits on space or time. One disadvantage is that sometimes some companies think they can use bloggers, taking advantage of their (presumed) lack of experience, so I think more attention in the evaluation of the proposals would facilitate the work of us bloggers. The confusion that is done with the use of the term “fashion bloggers” can be a disadvantage too for the two different categories: those who have a blog where to write about fashion and who post outfits, which always are about fashion but in a different way.
Is there something you would never want to write about?
I would never have to write that the creativity of fashion designers has been exhausted and that fashion will not create anything new.
Tic Tac…60 seconds are up! Thank you, Sonia!
