Interviews - Inspired Living SA

My Style Spotlight on Blogger Rayne Alexander

Hello all my fashion forward friends! We took a bit of a break from publishing our Style Spotlight but it is high time to get back into the swing of things. Today our Style Spotlight is on Blogger Rayne Alexander…

Hi there! My name is Rayne, I am 21 and I stay in Fish Hoek (Cape Town) right next to the beach. I still live at home with my dad, two crazy sisters and two insane dogs.

Style Spotlight

Please tell me a bit about yourself – what you do, where you are from & any interesting facts.

I currently work as the Beauty & Fashion and Event Liaison for the biggest Event and Nightlife blog in SA. I also au-pair part-time and I work on my blog ‘Make It Rayne’ constantly.

How important is Style & Looking Good, to you?

This question has my opinion jumping all over the place! Everyone is entitled to their own style, and who is to say which style “looks good”? I do feel it is important to look neat and presentable at all times but to try and stay true to your personality’s style. That being said, I myself tend to jump all over the place when it comes to style.

Please describe your own Personal Fashion Style?

I am definitely a style chameleon. I love to play with all sorts of styles when it comes to fashion and make-up. You would find me in ripped jeans, a grunge top and vampy make-up but then next day I could be wearing a lace dress with heels and a clutch handbag. I love to play but if I had to whittle my style down to a sentence it would be ‘classic but comfy’. Most days I work from home or with small children so you would generally find me in very comfy jeans or leggings and a sweater. But I LOVE getting dressed up.

Where do you draw your most of your Fashion & Style Inspiration from?

I definitely prefer to draw inspiration from overseas because most of our stores in SA are very behind in fashion trends. It can be very difficult to find those items which are in fashion though.

Who is your ultimate Fashion or Style Icon and why?

Audrey Hepburn personifies style. She was all class no matter what she wore.

Do you have a current Fashion or Style Crush and what do they have sets them apart from the rest?

I really admire Blake Lively. She is so classy and sophisticated yet she is still fun. She is one of those women who looks amazing on the red carpet, when she’s walking in the street and when she is nine months pregnant.

Where do you shop for most of your Fashion items and do you have a favourite local Fashion Brand or Designer?

I love shopping at Cotton On. They are all about affordability and comfort. When it comes to designers I would have to go for Amanda Laird Cherry. She is just so inventive! Every single piece is a work of art.

What do you consider to be the 5 Must Have Fashion Staples, all woman should have in their wardrobe?

Brown winter boots or booties
A classic winter coat to see you through the entire season (or two)
A LBD of course. But one that can be worked many different ways.
I may get slaughtered for saying this; but I have a weakness for some comfy leggings.
That perfect handbag which can go with any outfit.

If you could own an item or items from any Designer Fashion Label what would it be?An Hermes Birkin handbag. Handsdown.

What is the most expensive Fashion related purchase you have ever made?

I was gifted with a Gucci hand bag and a Gucci wallet for my 16^th birthday by family members but that cannot count, can it? I do not really go overboard as I try to find bargains wherever possible but I do have a fabulous Lou Harvey ostrich skin oversized handbag which cost R1800.

Do you have a Signature Fragrance you cannot live without?

Call me clichéd, but I love the original Donna Karan New York Be Delicous.

How important do you think Hair & Makeup is to your overall look?

I would rate them as highly as fashion. You could wear a paper bag but, if you look fabulous from the neck up, no one will ever know.

What is your most important, never leave home without it Makeup Item/s?

Concealer. Always. Thanks for the bags, Dad. And also mascara, lipbalm and highlighter.

Do you follow international Fashion Trends? What is your favourite trend this season?

Fashion wise I would say the longer length trenchcoat is seriously growing on me. Make-up wise I am really into natural looking skin but dark and vampy lips. And of course, strobing.

Thank you Rayne for being featured on Style Spotlight! If you would like to connect with Rayne you can find her here:

That concludes our Style Spotlight for the month! I hope you have enjoyed it! If you would like to be featured or have a fashion forward person in mind {male or female}, who you would like to see featured here, please leave a comment below or email Fiona.

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Hayleigh from Hayls World {Confessions of a Blogger}

~ Hayleigh from Hayls World ~

On today’s Confessions of a Blogger we meet the lovely Hayleigh from Hayls World. Let’s take a look inside Hayls World…

Hey guys my name is Hayleigh, but my nickname is Hayls. I live in sunny South Africa & I run my own business with my best friend. I love blogging about all sorts of wonderful things that happen around me and I absolutely love and enjoy topics like beauty, business and places or events. I’m a trained musician, like I actually have a certificate and all, but by trade I am a designer slash Jill of all trades!!

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? It was at the beginning of last year (2014). I had gone into a checkers and was not very happy with the state and service of the store. By the time I had finished in the store I was fuming and was going to contact the head office. I arrived home, furiously punched out a letter of dissatisfaction and was ready to send! Then when I started reading through it I realized how unpleasant I sounded, how many mails they must get like this and how I was probably just having a really bad day and was taking it out on them. I deleted the whole thing, never sent it and decided instead to write a really awesome letter to a brand I love, and just leave the whole thing on a better note! A couple of days later the brand responded to my mail and in turn surprised me with a huge box of goodies. Once I got stuck in and started playing with my goodies, I just had to show people, I had to write about my fun and I guess the rest is history 🙂
Do you blog fulltime or do you have a regular 9-5 as well? Oh my goodness I wish I could blog full time hehe, but nope. I currently run a small Design & Marketing business with my best friend and business partner Mike. I must admit though, I am terribly lucky as a lot of my work is done on my PC and the Internet so I am constantly behind my Mac. This then gives me time to stay up to date socially and post very regularly.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? I am on all the main social networks you could say, and I have my blog. I was fortunate enough when deciding on my blog name, to find it was available on all those platforms so I am basically Hayls World everywhere. I originally started out by blogging about my nail art, but as I ventured deeper into the online world, I discovered so much more about the beauty community I had never expected and so from there I went onto makeup looks, product reviews and also YouTube videos. So I guess you could say my blog is about Beauty and some snippets of my life. I have also been on a “lifestyle change” if you will for the past two years and I plan on brining that into my blog once I’ve figured out how. I’ve also got a travel video planned for the near future.
Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? I think my passion. I have always been quite self-conscious about my looks and body, but since changing my lifestyle habits and venturing into the beauty world I’ve discovered a whole new part of me that is far more confident. Every time I do a nail art design now or new makeup look, the responses I get and communication from other bloggers is so inspiring and uplifting it makes me want to keep going and do more! I truly enjoy it and naturally want to be blogging all day.
How important do you think it is to have a niche blog and would you consider your blog to be a niche blog? That is a great questions and I think its super important to have a niche blog! With so many bloggers and people in the world now days, you have got to stand out! I would not say my blog is a niche blog at the moment, but oddly enough it’s something I’ve been working on. I’ve had some amazing advice from an incredible man in the beauty industry on how to stand out and hopefully with time and practice I develop and create my own Niche.

What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Another great question and I’d have to say its been about my space and lighting.Trying to find the space to take pictures, arrange my background for video’s and product shots have really been a challenge! All my shots have to be coordinated around the sun. I often have the most time to do blogging and pictures in the evening, but the sun is obviously nowhere to be seen, so it leaves me frustrated because I either have to scramble in the morning when its full-on sun rays coming through my window or over the weekend when I’m just keen to chill out or visit with friends and family hehe. But all in all it’s not that bad and I have found a routine. As soon as I’ve saved up for proper lights I will feel a huge stress fall away!
What do you love most about being a blogger? I love the outlet of creativity I get to experience. I have never been a numbers, “desk full of papers” kind of person. I am “artsy fartsy” to the max, so being able to blog, create nail art and experiment with makeup allows me the release my personality naturally craves. It takes my mind of the important matters haha, and allows me to de-stress, calm down and get back to balance. I also love how many friends I’ve made, the different people and brands I’ve connected with and how accepting everyone is in the community I find myself.
If you had to choose a favorite social media platform, what would it be and why?This is a hard one J but I think it would have to be Instagram. I love how instant it is to post and interact with people, its also far less cluttered compared to other social platforms like twitter and Facebook with adds everywhere. My close second would have to be YouTube though as I love to see what other videos people come up with, their creative genius and ideas. Also posting my own videos is always thrilling for me.
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? I have learnt many things, but mainly that I am capable of achieving my blog goals if I set my mind to them and focus. It is my hobby at the moment, but also my passion and would one day love to blog full time! I’ve also learnt people are so much more open to your content, you make real friends online and its not all bullying or hate out there. In fact there is a lot of positive people out there engaging with you, sharing your content and just being very supportive, so I’ve learnt its not as scary as some make it seem or as you build it up to be in your mind.
If you could give someone wanting to start a blog any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Hmmm what would my advice be… 🙂 I think to make your blog name simple, memorable and relative to what you’re going to blog about. Sometimes I’ve seen a person I like on Instagram and want to connect to their Facebook page, but forget their blog name, or the spelling is a play on words I cant remember, or it is so long I forget the other half of their blog name. It sounds very critical or I have a head like a sieve, but its just one thing I would recommend. The rest will follow over time, you’ll amend your blog look, your theme, content etc, you’ll discover all of that as you go, but your “brand name” if you will, will stay the same for as long as you blog, so you want it to be positive from the get go.

Thanks to Hayleigh from Hayls World, for sharing a bit more about her life and blogging journey with us!

If you would like to find out more about Hayleigh and connect with her – pop over here:

Blog link: www.haylsworld.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/haylsblog

Twitter: @HaylsWorld

Instagram: HaylsWorld

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Be Inspired, Fashion, Interviews, Style Inspiration

My Style ~Abby Buchanan

My Style

I am really excited to introduce a new series on Inspired Living, called “My Style”! Those who know me well, know how much I love Fashion! I believe everyone has there own unique Style and thought it would be a great idea to celebrate it!

My Style is an interview series, which will explore the Style and Fashion sense of, Fashion Forward, South African women.

Hi I am Abby Buchanan and I run One Stiletto At A Time which is a fashion and beauty blog. I am also a health advisor and manager as well as a final year Bcom Retail Management student. I’m from the gorgeous city of Cape Town but am currently working out in the winelands which is fantastic as I am a bit of a wine aficionado too.

How important is Style & Looking Good, to you?

I love to be pampered and my beauty cabinets are overflowing (perk of being a beauty blogger) so I would say fairly important. Looking good and presentable can elevate one in many situations so it does matter, and style is your own unique way of putting garments together so it is essentially an extension of your personality. You can tell a lot from a person’s style so what image you want to present is important.

Please describe your own personal Fashion Style?

My style is mostly classic as I love well-fitted items. As a petite woman clothing that is too baggy or busy just doesn’t suit my frame. I also lean towards a very neutral palette but thanks to blogging I have also been able to be more adventurous and often will try a trend and see if it works or doesn’t with my style.

Where do you draw your most of your Fashion & Style inspiration from?

Blogs and Instagram, I will spend hours screen-grabbing inspiring looks and have a massive folder on my mac with all the looks and trends that appeal to me at the moment. From there I see what works from my own closet and then purchase key pieces to update my look. A few years back I used to be a bit of a mindless consumer but now I like to look at ways to re-use and re-style my most loved pieces.

Who is your ultimate Fashion or Style icon and why?

Olivia Palermo. Her style is so effortless and always looks classy even when she is playing around with new trends. I wish I could emulate her style but then I would need her wardrobe and she is a New York socialite so hardly in my budget!

Do you have a current Fashion or Style crush and what do they have sets them apart from the rest of the Fashion World?

I am very into clean aesthetics currently and like and follow many Australian bloggers since they are very into this at the moment too but there isn’t one particular style crush. I try not fixate on one persons style.

Where do you shop for most of your Fashion items and do you have a favourite local Fashion Brand or Designer?

It varies, I like to source items rather than just go to one store all the time. If I am say looking for white ripped skinny jeans then I’ll browse everywhere from Mr P to Topshop until I find the right fit. As for a local designer…it would Errol Arendz. He knows how to make well-fitted piece that are full-on sexy. Ryan Keys is another designer which I have spotted quite a few pieces in his latest collection which are breath-taking.

Do you follow international Fashion trends? What are your favourite Style & Colour trends this season?

As a blogger in the Southern Hemisphere it is easy to follow international fashion trends as most up North they are already ahead of us. I love when South African bloggers filter those trends into or current season and climate for a truly unique take on say (fall). With regards to trends… I’m still not quite sold on the current 70s trend, while I do see the appeal of fringe (thank goodness studs are on their way out, they’ve been in for far too many seasons), I can’t see myself swapping out my skinnies for bootlegs just yet. I do like that we are seeing more demure necklines with lots of leg, we all know how important balance is, with plenty of baby doll dresses seen on the runways.

What do you consider to be the 5 Most Important Fashion staples in a woman’s wardrobe?

A White shirt, black leather jacket, fitted piped black pants, a good pair of jeans and nude heels.

If you could own an item or items from a designer Fashion label what would it be?

Prada classic black handbag or a Burberry trench coat.

What is the most expensive Fashion related purchase you have ever made?

It is currently on pre-order…. A pair of Louboutin So Kate heels in the new Louboutin nude range which I’ll only be able to have in my hands later this year when I head over to the UK but yes that is the most money I have ever parted with for one fashion-related purchase.

Do you have a signature scent/fragrance you cannot live without?

This would have to be the original Elizabeth Arden Untold fragrance. I don’t wear this scent every day, I like to mix it up according to my mood though. I have a weird superstition when it comes to perfume… since I was little the quote from Coco Chanel “a woman without perfume has no future” which I took a bit too literally to mean “if you don’t wear perfume then you may die today” since then I cannot leave the house without a spritz of fragrance!

How important do you think Hair & Makeup is to your overall look?

It is all about looking neat and well put together. If you look good then you feel good, therefore hair and makeup are vital but there is no need to go full glam every day! Clean and groomed is all that is needed, although when I have my hair done really nicely then I always feel a massive boost in confidence.

What is your most important, never leave home without it makeup item/s?

That would have to be the Estee Lauder Little Black Primer, although it is a primer it works just as well as a mascara on its own. It lengthens ones lashes and gives one a more groomed look. I need some form of lash otherwise I look ill!

Thank you Abby for being our first feature on My Style!

If Fashion is your thing and you would like to be featured on My Style, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Candice from Beauty Candy Loves

Today on Confessions of a Blogger we meet local beauty blogger Candice from Beauty Candy Loves.

Hi my name is Candice from Beauty Candy Loves. I am a 20 something lady from the beautiful Cape Town in South Africa, like most ladies I am totally obsessed with makeup. Beauty Candy Loves is my little space where I can share my beauty loves,thoughts and amazing adventures .

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I started my blog last year ( March 2014). I started getting into makeup and beauty products and have always been a part of a beauty community. I really enjoyed writing about products and sharing my honest opinion about them, to hopefully help women and not have them waste their money on products that aren’t worth buying. Also I don’t really have friends and need a platform where I could speak freely and speak to other women, who share my passion for makeup and everything beauty.
Do you blog fulltime or do you have a regular 9-5 as well? I definitely blog in my spare time – I am a receptionist during the day.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? As mentioned I usually blog about product reviews, whether that be makeup or hair products. I also document my travels, restaurants and places I have visited. I also share some strong opinions on what’s happening around me and my experiences with life and things that I have overcome.
Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? Remembering why I started blogging and it gets me motivated. Knowing that someone actually does read my posts and finds them useful in some way. I might not have the most followers, but I sure as hell enjoy what I do. But yes people can be mean and the internet is full of internet bullies but I try my best not to let those harsh comments get me down.
How important do you think it is to have a niche blog? I don’t find it that important, yeah it’s great for someone to recognize and relate to what kind of blog you have .. But I say blog about what you want, it’s your blog anyway.
What have your biggest blogging challenges been? Time management!! I struggle some days to find the time to write and take photos! Having a day time job can really be stressful on it’s own and having a blog to manage on top of that is hard.
What do you love most about being a blogger? Sharing my thoughts freely! I love the fact that I don’t have to filter what I think and worry about fitting in with the cool kids. I write what I want and not what people tell me to.

If you had to choose a favourite social media platform, what would it be and why?Instagram. I am a visual person and really enjoy pretty pictures. I would scroll through Instagram for hours if I could.
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? Has it changed your life in any way? Blogging has changed my life, I am no longer that fearful girl, who was too scared to share my opinions and worry about what people might think of me. I have learnt a lot about myself and the confidence and now exude. I actually feel like I am good at something and I always wondered if I would ever be good at something – well now I’ve found what I enjoy doing and I would say I am actually good at it. Well trying too.. I definitely have more makeup now then I had before I started blogging. I can also create a winged-eye look now, which is life changing hehe..
If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Keep at it!! Blogging can be exhausting and especially when you just starting out and no one is commenting or liking anything. Keep at it – soon people will take notice and it will be worth it!

Thanks to Candice from Beauty Candy Loves , for sharing a bit more about her life and blogging journey with us!

If you would like to find out more about Candice and connect with her – pop over here:

Blog Link: http://beautycandyloves.co.za/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beautycandyloves

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beautycandylove

Instagram: https://instagram.com/beautycandyloves/

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.

Be Inspired, Blogging, Interviews

Candice Ying Sun from Beautyqueen8 { Confessions of a Blogger }

Candice Ying Sun from Beautyqueen8

Today Confessions of a Blogger features the lovely Candice Ying Sun from Beautyqueen8, a blog “all things beauty” related.

I’m Candice Ying Sun a 26 year old joburger who is beauty obsessed blogger who loves all things beauty, easily distracted my shiny objects and hello kitty.

When did you start your journey as a blogger and why? I had a passion for all things beauty and I loved the idea of sharing my knowledge to the world as a hobby.
If you are not blogging where will we find you? Probably at a shopping mall looking at all the beauty products or clothing. I also love watching series.

Tell us a little about your space on the interweb and what you blog about? I mostly blog about beauty products but I’ve branched out and done lifestyle and food too now.
What do you think makes a blog successful? Being honest, doing what you love and not being too obsessed or fixated on numbers or stats. Also interacting and relating with readers.
Being a blogger is not always easy – what motivates you and keeps you going? My passion for blogging and sharing it with the world. Sure I don’t always feel like blogging somedays I simply do it when inspiration strikes. It shouldn’t be a chore.
What have your biggest blogging challenges been? In life there will always be bullying and critics who are jealous of you but you just need to hold your head up high and be the bigger persons. Also sometimes blog posts can take days to complete but in the end it must be completed.
What do you love most about being a blogger? All the amazing people I have met through this platform and all the knowledge I have gained.
What has your journey as a blogger taught you {about yourself or in general}? There will always be negative people and critics but in the end the only opinion that matters is your own. Has it changed your life in any way? I have learnt to be more open minded and not to judge a book by it’s cover.

What are your top 5 SA blogs? Well obviously my own. I visit lots of other blogs often but I must say lipglossismylife.com, notanotherpoppie.com, lovemarylu.com, onestilletoatatime.com and veiledbeauty.co.za
If you had to give a newbie blogger any advice, what words of wisdom would you impart? Just do what you love and the benefits will roll in. And don’t be too fixated on numbers and stats.

Thanks to Candice Ying Sun from Beautyqueen8 , for sharing a bit more about her life and blogging journey with us!

If you would like to find out more about Candice and connect with her – pop over here:

Blog link: beautyqueen8.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyqueen8blog or https://www.facebook.com/candiceyingsun

Twitter: https://twitter.com/candyangel88

Instagram: @ricebunnyc

If you would like to be featured on Confessions of a Blogger or would like to see a blogger featured here, then please email Fiona or leave a comment below.