THE WARDROBE_REMIX(ER) BEING REVEALED:
name: Gala Darling
flickr handle: galadarling
age: 23!
location: Melbourne, Australia, though originally from Wellington, New Zealand.
website: http://www.galadarling.com
DEEP(ER) QUESTIONS:
what do you do for a living?
I'm a writer. I have my own website, iCiNG, where I write about fashion, aesthetics & living a better life. We have a thriving community & to me, writing & communicating with people who understand me is pretty much the best "job" in the world! I also recently started writing a fashion column for Australian Cosmopolitan magazine which is SUPER-exciting!
what are your passions/obsessions/hobbies/aspirations?
I am passionate about big shoes, big hair, candy-coloured anything, glitter & sequins & intelligence as an essential element of style. I obsess over new things every week, I am the queen of fleeting infatuation! I like to jump from thing to thing. ...& my aspirations are too grand to admit in public!
what inspires you?
Girls getting dressed up in their bedrooms every day, making the effort. Foreign fashion magazines. Mind-altering interior design. Baked goods. Music. Communication. This internet thing!
how do you define "style"?
Knowing who you are & dressing to enhance that. Allowing your look to evolve. Taking risks, & not slavishly following trends! There's nothing wrong with picking & choosing a few things from each season to try out, but you'll never learn anything if all you do is go out & buy an outfit from a magazine.
how would you describe your personal style?
Playful, eccentric, eye-catching. I love to use colour & texture in interesting & unpredictable ways, whether that's mixing metallics with wool, soft cotton t-shirts with ripped stockings & big boots, or wearing a silk scarf over my head & a fake fur coat. I also like to shake up the idea of "occasion", like that antiquated notion that some dresses should ONLY be worn for such&such an event etc., which is I think is rubbish. Life is an occasion in & of itself, & we should attire ourselves accordingly!
how does your background (personal history, passions, culture,
nationality, etc.) come through in the clothes you like and wear, if
at all?
My mother owned a clothing boutique for a long time -- she sold it this year. After school, I used to hang out in the back room, eating ice cream & reading books & listening to the conversations going on inside. I think I picked up a lot of knowledge by osmosis, just because of the constant proximity to my mother. (I also gained a deep appreciation for Frank Sinatra.) Another part of my history is that the times I bonded most with my mother were when we would go shopping -- it's something we still do & I love it, but obviously this reinforces my good feelings about buying clothes, putting together new outfits, etc. My mother checks my website all the time to see what I'm wearing & then we talk about it on the phone. I love her! Argh!
choose one item in your closet that you feel completely expresses
your personal style and/or aesthetic. describe it. what is it and
why is it "you"?
I refuse to define my personal style in such limited terms! Haha.
do you collect anything? if so, what?
Vintage typewriters, teeth (I have a jar), headscarves. & shoes. Do shoes count? (Silly question...)
what are some of your favorite places to shop when you want to add
to your wardrobe? online? locally? anywhere in the world? why are
these places favorites of yours?
I love the Patricia Field store in Soho, NYC. Last time I was there I bought two pairs of heels in the same style but different colours, pink & blue. I like to wear one of each. I also bought diamante-encrusted knuckledusters but when I tried to bring them into Australia they CONFISCATED them & interviewed me on camera & told me I might get a criminal record. All that in the name of fashion. Tragic. Other than that, I love Starfish, a boutique in Wellington, New Zealand, & of course, Ebay.
does your location (where you live) affect your style? if so, in
what ways? describe what your city is like in regard to fashion.
Not really, except as concerns amount of warmth required. I haven't done much local shopping, & I've been here since October last year. I just haven't really gotten around to it, & I tend to spend my money online.
what do you think is next in terms of fashion? perhaps something
that is currently flying under the radar, but could be really cool an
popular later, or perhaps something amazing you'd like to see more
of that needs to come back or be the new thing?
More headscarves for everyone & big bangles!
you are super creative with your clothes! share a creative tip or
idea about a way people can remix/style their clothing in a fun or
innovative way.
See my website for ideas, wink wink!
style icons: do you have any?
Diana Vreeland, Little Edie (of Grey Gardens fame), Mary-Kate Olsen & my mother!
how did you come across wardrobe_remix? why do you post there? What do you like about it? has anything positive come about for you as a result of posting to the community?
I really don't remember, I have been posting there for a pretty long time. I love the feedback from the community & seeing what other people have put together, it's always interesting! & I was featured in Adorn magazine thanks to wardrobe_remix & you, dear Tricia!
other favorite wardrobe_remix(ers)? who, and why?
Your style is great, very bright & lively. I also love Nubby Twiglet, boboniaa, liebemarlene & Geliebt. (I have a big crush on Geliebt actually.)
anything else you'd like to say?
"Never fear being vulgar, just boring." -- Diana Vreeland.
thanks gala!
if you have any intelligent questions you'd like to hear wardrobe_remix(ers) expound upon or wardrobe_remix(ers) who you'd like to see revealed, feel free to send those suggestions my way! thanks!