BLOG OF THE WEEK, Duckalicious

Author: Sasa Blog: Duckalicious Country: Ljubljana, Eslovenia SLOVENIA FASHION BLOGS GLOBAL FASHION BLOGS Interview How did you get the idea to create your blog? Soon after discovering style blogs, I was like, “Hey, I like this, I might try it too!” So I did. How would you describe your style? I ALWAYS have trouble describing and defining my style. In addition to that, I’m at a sort of crossroads at the moment; suddenly, the things that I used to feel my best self in (such as vivid colors, prints and patterns - the more, the merrier) don’t appeal to me that much anymore. Lately I’ve been drawn to simpler pieces combined with statement items and basic pieces with a twist, but those are a little harder to come by, especially in my price range. I try to steer clear of cheap looking items and stuff that everybody is wearing. I still like high heels, noticeable jewelry, and mixing textures. What other blog, if you have one, inspires you in a special way and would you recommend? Besides LOOK 10 of course. You can see my current favorites listed in the “faves” section of my blog. All those blogs are well worth checking out, but let me just point out a few anyway: Advanced Style – proof that style doesn’t fade with age, on the contrary, it can (and should) blossom. DIRTY HAIR HALO – a great example of personal style that doesn’t make you go bankrupt. Dressful – my favorite place to go when I want to read about fashion instead of just looking at it. Fashion Westie – takes denim to another level and posts hilarious dialogue with her boyfriend. Kitchy World in Bitchy Words – Slovenian “vintage queen”, mixing it very well with contemporary items. LOVE AESTHETICS – one of the most original blogs out there, thumbs up. Marian Kihogo – this celebrity stylist’s eclectic style always makes me smile. Running in my Heels – my partner in crime with edgy style and an attitude to match. Style Porn – another smart and witty blog where you’re missing out if you don’t read the text, too. Who or what has been your greatest fashion inspiration and do you feel influenced by the trends? Many things inspire me – fashion and other imagery (modern and of the past, the latter maybe even more so), visual arts, design, movies, literature, music, traveling, people – but I’m not always sure how that inspiration is manifested in my style. It should be noted that inspiration doesn’t equal copying popular looks (as can be seen way too often on many blogs). As far as trends are concerned, I have a love-hate relationship with them. They are getting harder and harder to ignore, aren’t they? Nevertheless, I don’t want to be dependent on them. I just hate seeing the same stuff on most of the blogs - ugh, so annoying! (Great example: the combination of the infamous Zara floral shirt and H&M floral pants –the exact same combo was posted on at least three high profile blogs!) The fashion victim mentality is really not something one should aspire to. So I try to be critical of trends. For example, the oh-so-popular pastel trend doesn’t do anything for me so I steer clear of it. Then there are trends that really speak to me, but I’m so put off by a certain trend being (over)done all over the style blogosphere that I don’t even want to try it myself. Finally, there are some trendy items that infiltrate my wardrobe and become a part of it – and hopefully stay even when the trend is long gone. Do you think fashion blogs might influence big brands and of course designers and creators? Sure, that’s already happening in the world – just look at the designers’ collaborations with bloggers and bloggers sitting in the first row at fashion weeks (and that’s only the tip of the iceberg). How do you value the fashion market in your country? Do you think it's on an international level? Far from it. There are some outstanding designers and some independent projects doing a good job, but apart from that, it’s just … disappointing. It happens too often that us bloggers are ignored, as if we were nonexistent or at least totally irrelevant. As far as the fashion “authorities” (real ones or self-proclaimed) are concerned, many of them just want to do their own thing instead of connecting and cooperating with others, and personal stuff (in combination with big egos) often gets in the way. Sadly, such behavior is symptomatic of the small country that is Slovenia, not only in the fashion arena. As usually, Slovenia has its own agenda which is quite different from the rest of the world. Unfortunately, having lived here for nearly thirty years, I can’t say that comes as a surprise. I sometimes joke I’m going to move to our southern neighbor, Croatia – from what I can see, bloggers are respected and treated as relevant there. Are you now with any project in hands that can lead you to where you want to be in the fashion world? I’m not involved in anything – there are some ideas but they’re still in the phase of development. I just hope my perfectionism doesn’t get in the way when it’s time for implementation. Finally, would you like to add anything else or what’s the one question you wish people asked you but you’ve never had the opportunity to answer? “What bothers you about the fashion/style blogging world?” That’s something I’d love to discuss. My answer? A whole lot of things. Everybody and their mother is trying to blog nowadays and that’s taking its toll. The lack of originality is mind-numbing. The more blogs there are, the more everything looks the same. Seriously, if I see another stupid “inspiration” post (which is nothing more than a compilation of random popular photos), I’ll go postal. Posting a million random everyday Instagram photos doesn’t add to a blog’s quality either. It often seems to me that most bloggers just aren’t trying to be creative anymore. Not only they don’t mind looking like every other blogger out there, they want to look that way. It’s like there was a recipe to follow: buy heaps of trendy items and wear them in a specific way (like the “major” bloggers do). It’s all become one big race in mindless consumerism and that’s sickening. Respect to those who keep marching to the beat of their own drum, the world needs you! And that’s it, thank you very much and all the best to your blog.

Translated into English by: The Seeker