Spotlight is a regular series where we feature a prominent person in the style scene.
We sit down with Yanie Durocher, fashion/lifestyle blogger and founder of The MARGINALIST to talk style, blogging and inspirations.
How did you get into blogging?
I got into blogging in 2012 as a way to express my passions. I was working and traveling between Milan and Dubai at the time and found myself exposed to such a wide diversity of styles, cultures and lifestyles. They were so different from what I was used to back home – which is Montreal, Canada. So I decided I wanted to share my experience with others.
The MARGINALIST, in a nutshell.
The MARGINALIST is a fashion and lifestyle blog that aims to give a personal angle and insider news on the forefront of fashion/lifestyle/digital trends in China and abroad. It’s a blog that connects people with what’s happening inside and outside of the country. I cover fashion weeks, trade shows and major inaugurations, but also collaborate with some of the biggest fashion brands and events around.
How did you pick the name?
Creating The MARGINALIST was tied to the concept of taking the road less traveled. Walking on the fine lines of life, taking risks and embracing the unknown.
What are some of the challenges of being a fashion blogger?
The biggest challenge is to reinvent yourself and understand what the “next big thing” is, while always being in sync with the fast-moving trends. Renewing yourself through continuous fresh content is also very important, and so is acknowledging that a blogger’s lifespan/timespan is not that long: there’ll always be younger, newer and fresher influencers coming into the scene, so staying ahead of that is crucial.
How has living in the West and now Shanghai influenced the direction of the blog?
Growing up in Montreal and living and working in New York City, Paris, Milan and Casablanca has allowed me to bring a pretty international perspective to my readers. As for Shanghai, I think the city has become a pivotal hub for the fashion industry. The whole world is curious about what’s going on here. I like to think of the MARGINALIST as a bridge between China-centric fashion news and aesthetics and the international audience. Similarly, I also strive to show local readers a Western take on fashion’s international ecosystem and culture.
How would you describe your style?
Rough-edged leather, denim lover, casual but always with a twist.
Favorite Chinese or China-based designers?
Uma Wang, ByFang, Chloe Chen, Kris Xu, MOZAIK and Celia B.
What piece of advice would you give to someone interested in starting a fashion blog?
Stand out from the crowd and explore areas of blogging you think you are strong in – whether it’s street-style shooting, editorial content creation, interviews or styling tips.
What is the style trend you’re most looking forward to for fall?
Moving away from last season’s overdone monochrome shades and commercial crop-tops towards more daring prints, colors and extravagant but still wearable shapes.
What’s in your bag right now?
My Mac Book and iPhone 6, earphones, moisturizer, cat-eyed Prada sunglasses, Missy Skins leather sleeping mask, a hotel card, a Moleskine notebook and pencil, Nivia lipstick, Mary H leather wallet and keychain, chargers, and some tickets. It’s a big bag.
Fashion is…
My life. You are what you eat and you are what you wear.
> www.themarginalist.com, WeChat: TheMarginalist. For more Spotlights, click here.
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