Landed in London yesterday and discovered I’m neighbors with
Riley from Made in Chelsea, Paul McCartney from The Beatles, and my best friend’s
cousin (aka one of the two people I know in London). Since Bryan (Carrie’s
cousin) literally lives 2 minutes away from me, we hung out around Oxford
Circus this afternoon. Went to Topshop and bought an outfit to wear to my
first day with Vogue. Then, met up with Larz of Livin' Like Larz, a fellow fashion blogger from
Teen Vogue Fashion University, for a blogger collab. We took photos around
Trafalgar Square and the London Eye and then I conducted a quick Q&A cuz
she’s a #GIRLBOSS. Read on to hear about Larz’s adventures with Brandi Cyrus
(Yup, Miley’s sister), Red Carpet celebs, and Paris Fashion Week.
When and how did you start blogging?
I started a year and a half ago. Every place I'm at, I create an opportunity for myself by talking to people. For example, I'll go into a store with a business mentality. I focus on connecting with the people in stores and take the initiative to collaborate. That's how you make people believe in you.
How did you get inspired to create a blog?
I had a Tumblr in high school and I've been an artist my whole life. I love craft. In 6th grade, I took a vintage record and made a picture collage out of it. I made my first business card in 5th grade because I started a headband business. My blog is a combination of my love for creativity and entrepreneurship.
As a blogger, you get to work with a lot of brands and people. Do you have any favorites?
My favorite moment would have to be working as an intern for Dannijo the weekend before the CFDA awards. We shot photos in a boxing place and Sophia Bush helped me put on a necklace.
That's so cool! I also remember seeing that you worked with Miley Cyrus's sister on your blog. What was it like working with Brandi Cyrus?
We met at a Lululemon brunch and I'm actually really good friends with her. She's super chill and we hang out at her house so I see photos of Miley on the walls, which is like whoa. She just created a blog called Style Native and it's really awesome. I was featured in her first post.
Since you go to school in Nashville (Vanderbilt University), do you find it difficult to stay connected to the fashion industry since most events take place in NYC?
Yes, it's been really hard and I wanted to transfer to NYU after my freshman year, but one day I walked into Lululemon and the exec was there that day and we talked and she invited me to the Lululemon brunch because she liked my energy and from then on I found my creative family in Nashville.
I noticed you're also active in the Chicago blogging community. How did you get started in Chicago?
I grew up in Chicago. One day, I went to a Henry & Belle event and met the creative director of Glossed & Found. I told him I loved what he was doing and then I asked if I could help on set so I got to create an installation for a Glossed & Found event with Topshop!
And now you're studying abroad in Paris and covered Paris Fashion Week. How'd you get into shows?
The CEO of LOOKBOOK emailed me because I'm one of the most active users on the site and I told him that I could cover Paris Fashion Week street style for them. Then, I emailed Paris Fashion Week press people and told them I was working for LOOKBOOK so I got my pass into the shows.
How would you describe your style?
It's very me. My friends are always saying, "Oh that's so Larz." I think my style reflects my capability to connect with others and I like to wear what I think looks cool rather than brand names. If I had to describe my style using adjectives, I'd say funky, pop, boho, and urban chic.
Now for a basic, boring question. What's your major?
Creative strategy, marketing, and communications. It's one major.
Do you have any last things you want to say?
I really try to inspire other people via my blog. I want to encourage people to explore, take risks, feel pain. You gain a lot through taking risks. For example, my friend was on a plane with a man who said he liked her style and asked if she wanted to work in fashion and she said no but gave him my blog's business card. He ended up calling me and asking if I wanted to meet up for dinner. I took a risk and went to dinner with him (even though it was potentially sketchy because I didn't know him) and he ended up introducing me to the exec at Nasty Gal. I'm always trying to meet new people and connect with them. When I was at my internship with a PR agency in LA, I was in a Lyft car and my driver had a friend at that PR agency so he asked me if I could help him escort celebrities at the Emmys. I took him up on his offer and got to walk on the Red Carpet and hand celebrities their trophies (they use the same trophy on stage so celebrities have to go to a separate room after exiting the stage to get their trophy). My favorite moment was when the people from the Daily Show held their trophies and cried and told me to keep following my dream. It really inspired me to work my butt off and make things happen.
Larz's main message to da readers: FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND WERQ TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITIES!
Music
1998 by Chet Faker
Perfect Day by Lou Reed
This Is All Yours (Live Album) by alt-J
xx
Larz sounds amazing!!!!
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