Robyn Chalmers: It feels pretty damn amazing I must say! BOM was a total surprise. I figured my blog wouldn't stand a chance amongst all the hipster and hockey sites out there - not to mention the amazing Bitchin' Kitchen blog, congrats by the way! Being considered a Bitchin' Babe is a TOTAL honor and with the Bitchin' crew's fierce fashion sense it is a mega compliment.
AP: I’ve said it before, but I’ll definitely say it again: I love your blog. Can you give Bitchin’ Lifestyle followers a quick break down of what your site is all about?
RC: Thank you! Fashionista 514 is my personal blog. I am by no means a fashion/event reporter - my blog is simply my life in its entirety. I always kept journals, so it seemed pretty natural when I created my own account - an outlet to release thoughts, desires and fury into the universe. I kept getting positive feedback and more requests for regularly posted entries – from rants, to confusion, frustration, excitement and obsession. I combine my passion for fashion, luxurious lifestyle living, amazing design (from all walks of life) and group all my favorites in one place.
My blog is quintessentially my scrapbook. I try my best to update it every day so that when I'm old and gray I have something amazing to look back on - the evolution of my life and the things that shaped me to become who I am. I updated as much as possible and from that came an amazing array of opportunities! I swear! You never know who is watching in this life! From there, I registered my company and now it is a full-fledged business. I love doing so much and having an amazing time while I'm at it!
AP: Tell us a little about yourself, Robyn Chalmers?
RC: I love pugs, amazing food, Montreal, retro classics, all things boudoir and burlesque, music (both cheeseball and transcending) traveling, fierce fashion, thrills and people who exude indeterminable ambition and tireless positivity. Yes, I actually ADORE Kanye [West] when he's not being ULTRA douche -esque.
AP: Speaking of douche bags, which celebrity do you feel is in desperate need of a fashion overhaul, either personality-wise or in their fashion sense.
RC: Oh man, once I start I will never stop! Chris Brown is a woman-beating douche - thank the Lord his career is over. Lindsay Lohan needs to get her shit together, cut the partying and show up to court after a full meal. Janice Dickinson needs to seriously loose the ego and sour attitude – I'm surprised people put up with her shit to begin with. Lastly, Perez Hilton is a back-stabbing douche.
Basically I have a HUGE problem with people who have an overwhelming sense of entitlement and act like they are better than everyone who made them who they are in the first place.
AP: Remind me to never get on your bad side! Back tracking a little, live blogging from the MMVA's is a sweet gig, can you tell us how that all came about. Who you’re most excited to meet?
RC: How did it come about? Well, basically I have a horseshoe stuck up my ass and opportunity always seems to find me. I got an e-mail from the Annabelle Cosmetics crew nonchalantly asking me if I would be interested. I believe the direct e-mail response I gave was:
"Ummmm.... HELLS YES!!!!!!!! YES YES YES YES YES YES YESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!"
As for someone I’d like to meet? Alright, as un-bitchin' as this may be, I am completely captivated by Justin Bieber. This kid is crazy talented. You don't believe me? Check him out playing the drums at 9 years old. One word: PRODIGY. The kid has hook-ups with some of music's biggest names, is from ONTARIO (props to that alone) and started all this hot fuss unintentionally from uploading videos to YouTube. He is currently the worlds most talked about individual - if that ain't inspirational I sure as shit don’t know what is!
AP: Hypothetical situation – There was a freak snowstorm and I got stranded up north. I’m only able to get back in town today and I have a meeting with top fashion types at 3 PM. Yikes, I have no time to go home and change. All I have in the closet are mom-jeans from the 90’s, a plain white shirt and a tattered tan belt. My make up options include black liner and peach blush. How do I rock this look?
RC: I always love a challenge! Take them "mom-jeans" and make them into rad boyfriend-cut distressed denim! Grab some sandpaper and wear some homemade holes in those babies! The more effed up you make them, the better! Cut off the bottom for a frayed look and roll them up two folds to rock them perfectly with knee-high stiletto or wedge boots underneath. If the waistband is too high (as mom jeans usually are) cut off the belt loop area for a frayed fit that will perfectly sling off your hips (cut even lower and through the zipper if needed.)
Make your own belt-loops by cutting into the denim vertically at waist length and weaving that tan belt horizontally - in and out. Plain white t-shirts are classics just as they are, but feel free to take the scissors to the neckline and sleeves – you can even do some crazy cutouts on the back if you're feeling adventurous. Take that peach blush and lay it on thick for a rockin' orange eye shadow look (you know it's the same thing right?) and use your black eyeliner to create a sexy cat eye and voila! You've been stylized.
AP: What is, in your professional opinion, the worst trend you have seen re-emerge?
RC: I'm a strong believer in personality being able to pull off anything regardless of what's in style. There are some things that look absolutely horrid in theory, but then I see people actually pulling them off. I happen to love socks with sandals! That being said, I do think people should limit their Croc wearing to private places and swamps - there is no place for that in any urban jungle and I have yet to see someone actually rock them.
AP: Do you have a favorite place to shop? Is there an underrated shop in Montreal we should know about?
RC: I have lots of favorites, but I think they are all pretty well tapped into already. Mona Moore and Rosenstein's are my favorite shoe shops (all the Louboutins, Dries Van Noten, Lanvin, Repetto, Jimmy Choos, Rick Owens and Ann Demeulemeester you could dream up are available there.) The DVF section at Holts is my home base when it comes to shopping. Forever 21 for cheap thrills and another boutique whose name I don't even know. It’s on the corner of Mont-Royal and St. Laurent that makes killer things out of recycled materials.
AP: If you could back in time, what era do you wish you could be part of?
RC: I'd have to say the 20's for the flapper fashion and 40's/50's for the old school pinup/bombshell ladies look. I wouldn't last a day back in those times though (all the female suppression.) I'd kick them boys to the curb and get myself in way too much trouble!
AP: We here at Bitchin’ Lifestyle have a feature called ‘WTFRU Wearing?!’ We’ve all had our bad days. What’s the worst outfit you’ve ever worn?
RC: Oh my, there is a day in particular that I can't seem to shake from my memory of horrid. It was one of those long top/dress pieces (which looks even more mini on me cause I'm 5'10") in white. It was see-through and I was basically flashing everyone my undies. To top the horrid look off, I wore with 6" wooden platform strappy heels. Ugh, I must have looked like such a prostitute! What's worse is that I wore it to the St. Patty's day parade in the downtown Montreal. WTF?! Indeed.
AP: So, tell us Ms Fashionista514, what’s up for the future?
RC: My most recent projects include working with German publishing house Herznote for a bloggers bookazine (I am currently writing an article on Prison fashions and their political dynamics) and as mentioned, I will be live blogging/tweeting at the Much Music Video Awards this June 20th on behalf of Annabelle Cosmetics! Woot Woot! Yeah, I'm a dork I know...
You can follow Robyn on Twitter and Facebook.