by Suzette Banzo
With just a peek into Nicolette Mason's blog, you
immediately find yourself completely enchanted.
Nicolette's unique perspective on fashion, familial
treasures, delicacies, and playful offbeat pairings reveals a young woman with
a strong artistic eye and a real heartfelt connection to the world she is
exploring with style, intelligence, curiosity, honesty and humor. She has
weaved her multidirectional interests into a cohesive eclectic lifestyle that
celebrates art, wearing it well and living it with gusto. Now that's talent!
Suzette: I read that you went to school to study
design...which school did you attend? How has your degree helped you with
your blog? How does that insight differ from other bloggers?
Nicolette: I attended Parsons School of Design and was in
the Design & Management program, where I got a great, well rounded
education that prepared me for all different aspects of the design world. I
can't really say how it makes me different from other bloggers, but I have a
sensitivity to visual narrative and cohesiveness when it comes to visual
language, for instance, I want all my images to tell a story - and for that
story to continue from one post to the next; the story being that of my
lifestyle and growing up as a young-adult in New York City. I also started my
career in brand strategy and brand design, working on everything from a
company's logos and visual identity to what their messaging would be like, so
the entire process of branding is something that influences my own creative
process - like in designing my actual blog layout and establishing the visual
tone of my photos.
Suzette: How do you define your own personal style?
Nicolette: This is actually something I struggle with!! I
always say my style is a bit bipolar or schizophrenic; one day I'll want to
wear super edgy, all black, heavy-metal duds, and the next I'll be completely
enamored by blush pinks and florals. In any case, it's very "New
York," and more specifically maybe "Williamsburg, Brooklyn," the
artsy, hipster enclave of New York City, filled with cool, bohemian shops,
restaurants, and art galleries.
There's definitely a specific style associated
with the neighborhood, and while I might not fit the archetype exactly, I do
draw inspiration from my neighbors
Suzette: How do you decide what you are going to wear on
any given day? Do you have some kind of style ritual?
Nicolette: I used to obsessively plan my outfits the night
before, laying out every article of clothing and picking out accessories to
match, but now my outfits are largely determined by what I'm doing in any given
day- whether it be appropriately dressing for various clients, a fashion event,
or a day when I'm shooting and on my feet walking around the city for 10 hours.
On days when I'm rushing around the city, I decide on my outfit feet first -
with flats, of course! I have to be comfortable, but still chic, and able to
run up and down stairs to and from the subway. I'm pragmatic first and crazy
fashion fiend next.
Suzette: Who area your style icons?
Nicolette: Oh, so many!! I'm infatuated by Lynn Yaegar. She
has such an incredible approach to fashion and genuinely has signature styles
of her own. I love Daphne Guinness, I love Alexa Chung, I love Beth Ditto. And
of course, there are a handful of bloggers that inspire my style, constantly!
