Over the span of three years I have been a huge fan of Ironic Fashion’s Lauren McBride and have watched her blog blossom into pure unsaturated bliss. A native of Liverpool, UK, this fashionista has changed the meaning of a fashion blog. She has taken a stance with her blog in such a unique way that you feel like your living in her world and on shopping trips with her as she expose fashion millions of miles away. McBride’s fashion sense is so keen and witty that you would think she was simply out of this world of “normality”–read it for yourself and enter McBride’s world of fashion and engage in her idea of what style is really made of!
Daisy: Your blog is titled Ironic Fashion. What inspired you to choose this name and what does it mean to you?
Lauren: Ironic Fashion ultimately comes from wearing an item of clothing that shouldn’t really be worn, but making it work. It can be pretty tricky to understand, but it’s easy to liken it to wearing an item of performance clothing and wearing it as a fashion statement. Think footwear; I wear Vans but I don’t skateboard. It’s also about wearing an item that is associated with a particular style tribe, and adapting it into your own style. I grew up mixing all sorts of styles from punk, the hippy to rocker and always wore Converse, so now if I wear a pair of Nike Air Max 1s, they are shoes I really shouldn’t, because that’s not necessarily my style.. Get me?!
Daisy: What made you start the blog?
Lauren: I’d seen a lot of fashion blogs around, and really wanted to be a part of the blogging community, so I could put my thoughts and views out there. People aren’t going to find you; you have to put yourself out there! I see the success that other fashion bloggers have, and I’m like, “That’s what I want!”
Daisy: What is the best advice you can give to someone who wants to start a fashion blog?
Lauren: I’d say that you can’t expect your blog to be exactly how you want it as soon as you set it up. You have to give it time to grow, and put the effort in and watch it progress. It’s always good to follow other blogs, and comment other blogger’s posts, because that’s how your blog gets out there. Regular updates and interesting content will make readers come back, you only get out what you put in, so the work will pay off!
Rawe: Can you give readers a description of Liverpool fashion?
It’s impossible to define Liverpool fashion. We have such a diverse set of style tribes, it’s amazing. The press give the public a misguided view of Liverpool fashion, saying that the boys only wear Lacoste Tracksuits, and the girls are all fake tan, hair extensions, Juicy tracksuits and Ugg Boots. Yes, there are people who dress like that, but these people are spending up to £350 on an outfit to relax in, so it’s kind of justifiable if they want to dress like that. Really though, as a whole, Liverpudlians are very fashion conscious. “Scallies” who are reported to dress in Lacoste tracksuits are now wearing American Apparel hoodies, Nike joggers and Vans New Era. It’s insane.
Daisy: Where is your favorite place to shop?
Lauren: That’s tricky, but in general, my favourite shop is H&M. I always know that I’m going to leave that store with a new item. I like American Apparel too, but it’s just a little bit too pricey for basic items. eBay is always good for tracking down that one particular item you need, and asos.com is pretty good too!
Daisy: What does your typical day consist of?
Lauren: As soon as I wake up I check my emails and Twitter, and reply to anything I need to. I’m so sad but Twitter is literally the first thing I look at everyday. Throughout the day I’m always checking blogs, perusing clothes on the Internet, blogging, tweeting and being a bit of a geek in general. My daily routine is about to change because I’ve just moved to Amsterdam to begin a marketing internship at Nike. Moving to a new city is so exciting, I just can’t wait to get started with the internship.
Daisy: What inspires your style?
Lauren: I think ultimately, music is the driving force which inspires fashion. The music we listen to controls the way we dress. It’s very rare to see a Goth listening to Drake, or an Emo listening to Erykah Badu. It might be a bit of a generalization but I think it’s pretty true. Different styles from cities across the world really inspire me too. I love researching fashions from L.A, Paris, New York and obviously Liverpool. Sometimes, you’ve got to take an idea and spin it on its head to make it your own.
Daisy: Where does most of your inspiration come from when you are shopping or selecting an outfit?
Lauren: I might have seen an item of clothing on a blogger that I like, and if they provide the information where they got it from, I’ll look for it! I also love planning outfits on www.polyvore.com and posting them on my blog. My budget isn’t very high, so I create outfits imagining I had the highest budget and then I can find cheaper versions and copy the designer looks.
Daisy: Where do you get most of your money to purchase great designer clothes?
Lauren: I worked a lot over the summer and throughout university, working the craziest jobs, like selling timetables at festivals, promotional work, I got a job behind a bar, as well as being a key-holder for a luxury store. I don’t buy a lot of designer clothes; I prefer to spend a little bit more on an item that I know nobody else will have. I spent a lot of money on my Alexander Wang bag and my Louis Vuitton Scarf, but these are two items that I haven’t stopped using since I bought them. A good tip is to invest money into accessories.
Daisy: Can you name a must-have item in your closet?
Lauren: I go through phases of love-love-loving things but I’d have to say my Alexander Wang bag, is my must have item, but then there are staple items which every closet must have, like an American Apparel hoody, a good pair of trainers, and some big ghetto-gold Creole earrings. I bought some Stussy earrings when I first visited Amsterdam this year. They are amazing. I’ve also got a boss Comme des Garcons t-shirt which I adore!
Daisy: Are there any fashions designers or style icons you admire?
Lauren: Sorry to keep going on about him, but Alexander Wang! I love his bags and shoes; I just wish I had the money to buy more of his designs! I love Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garcons, Proenza Schouler… The list is endless! My ultimate style icon is Samantha Ronson, but before the whole LiLo thing! I read an interview with her and her sister in 2005, and just loved the whole t-shirt and trainers thing she had going on. I still love how she dresses now; I’ve definitely taken a lot of inspiration from her.
Daisy: If you could design or style any artists right now, who would it be?
Lauren: I’d love to be really creative and totally re-style Alicia Keys, or Erykah Badu, you know a really powerful woman within music. That would be a good challenge.
Daisy: As a fashionista, you are able to lay out the trends that we consumers must follow. What do you believe are the key essentials we need right now?
Lauren: In Europe, we’re just going into Autumn/Winter, so the number one essential is a great coat. The two main trends for outerwear are shearling leather aviator jackets, or a camel-colored wool cape. Keeping in with the wool, get a pair of heeled ankle boots with a wool lining. Super-cute.
Daisy: What tips do you give to other women who are looking to be more fashionable like you?
Lauren: Oh gosh I’ve never given tips to other women! I’d just say don’t be too afraid to feel that you have to conform to a particular trend. There are plenty of things out there that I know wont suit me because of my body shape, so I don’t buy them. It’s really obvious if you wear something that you’re not comfortable in, so always make sure that you feel confident in wearing the clothes that you do.
Daisy: What is your view on trends?
Lauren: Trends are an odd one. A trend can make a huge impact on the fashion industry, and people create a massive demand for it, but two months down the line, that trend is now out of fashion. Take heeled clogs. Remember when they were first seen at Chanel? Everybody went crazy for them. Now, it’s kind of like… meh, once everybody starts wearing them, people lose interest. I don’t think I dress bang on trend, but I know I don’t wear out-of-date styles. It’s all about feeling comfortable in your own style.
Daisy: Tell us something we don’t know about you.
Lauren: When I was 19 I got diagnosed with Epilepsy. It kind of made me realize, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. You’ve just got to get on with these things, and get over it!
Daisy: Lastly, what are some bigger projects you are working on for Ironic Fashion?
Lauren: Well as I said before, I’ve just moved to Amsterdam, so no doubt I’ll be focusing on my new life here. I’m excited!
Find More of McBride Here:
www.ironicfashion.com
twitter.com/LAURENMCBRIDE
Facebook – Lauren Jane McBride
