Glossy Style Profile: Marian Kihogo

Stylist, blogger and fashion consultant Marian Kihogo is a true style maven. We’re addicted to her blog which offers insights into the latest trends, interviews with industry insiders and of course the cherry on top of an already fabulous cake are the personal style shots of Marian in a dazzling array of outfits.

We caught up with her to find out about how it all began.

Glossy: Your blog Marian Kihogo.com is a staple of the blogroll of many fashionistas. How did you come up with the concept for it. And what do you think sets it apart from other fashion blogs ?

Marian: Mariankihogo.com is a fashion, beauty and culture site in a weblog format. It was a natural evolution of mariankihogo.blogspot.com which was a fashion & style blog. With time I realised with time that Mariankihogo.com only reflected a portion of the things I wanted to cover and thus needed a larger platform to grow. Hence Mariankihogo.com was born. On this new site, I have sections for catwalk,fashion & trends, industry parties and events, features & interviews, shopping, beauty etc.

I think it’s varying sections and diverse regular featured series/segments set it apart from other blogs.

Sometimes a blog that focuses just on personal style and fashion can get a little narcissistic and narrow. I think fashion, beauty and culture all work in a symbiotic way. I like to feature the sort of posts you’d want to share with a friend.

Glossy: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into the fashion industry ?

Marian: I was always going to do something creative. My mother is an educator and a trained artist. Her mother before her was an artist too and so I grew up with up surrounded by art and fashion. I’d style my younger sister in a variety of co-ordinated looks for make belief fashion show productions. I was heavily into art as well and actually saw fashion as a form of art.

At 14 I styled my first non family member on a whim. This led to more personal styling and personal shopping on a part time basis. I had always written, so thus began to write on a freelance basis for a variety of style, lifestyle and fashion publications.

I did this till the end of high school. I studied fashion and while at college I was fashion writing writing, personal shopping and fashion styling. While at college I became the a contributor to an online publication called Style NOW. Over time I became fashion editor for the magazine.

Most recently I worked for Dirrty Glam and it’s english sister title DG+.

Glossy: How would you describe your personal style ?

Marian: Always evolving, heavily influenced by my state of mind, inspired by everything and nothing. If I had to give it a name I’d call it a mash up of 70’s luxe bohemian-rock and roll-masculine references. I have an incessant need to layer too by the way!

Glossy: Are you more of a high street or designer girl ?

Marian: For me it has never been about labels. What I buy is mostly driven by an instant connection with a piece you know. You know that sort of instant feeling, inspiration a piece gives you.

Does that happen to you?

So I could get this from a piece of vintage YSL, it could be from a pair of Topshop Unique shoes or even a dress by a little known emerging designer. It is all about the thoughts, feelings and inspiration a piece gives me.

Glossy: What do you think are the best and worst things about working in the fashion industry?

Marian: Best = Constant inspiration. Working with the art as created by fashion designers. Seeing it happen live as it hits the seasonal catwalks.

Worst = Seeing so much talent that not make it for the long haul. Fashion is going by faster and faster, with the seasons almost blending into each other.

Glossy: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working ?

Marian: I paint. I like to take the longest random bus rides to no particular destinations. I love to people watch, that sounds super weird but it gives me constant inspiration. People are so inspiring.

I am a big book worm, so I read like there is no tomorrow. I like to build fabric tents in the middle of my living and watch marathons of old movies.

I like to lose myself to all types of music. From music from Mali,Jazz, old school Hip hop, high life from Ghana, soul, music from the Senegambia region of West Africa etc.

Glossy: Could you describe a typical day in your life?

Marian: It could be filled up with anything from dashing about in heels(or brogues when my feet get sore!) to appointments with personal styling clients where we talk about their upcoming styling needs.

I have meetings where I consult with brands, creatives and designers as a creative consultant. I meet with editors in reference to any collaborations and freelance work. There are days when I have PR appointments to pull garments for clients or upcoming shoots.

Sometimes I also have to personal shop with or on behalf of a client.

I also attend press and industry related events during the day and evening which are usually for business. A few for pleasure!

So no two days are the same and each is always bound to be interesting!

Glossy: What advice would you give someone wanting to break into the fashion industry ?

Marian: Learn as much as you can both formally and informally. Intern as much as possible. Be ready to work harder than you ever did before. Be persistent and never ever give up.

Keep up with Marian on her blog – http://mariankihogo.com

And on twitter – @Marian_Kihogo