HIGHLIGHTING THE ART OF GETTING READY IN ALL ITS FORMS
AN INTERVIEW SERIES
CLOSET CONFIDENTIALS is an interview series
dedicated to highlighting the art of getting ready,
through the stories of some badass individuals,
in all of its shapes & forms.
This entry follows the tale of DANIKA BLAIS, the youngest of the Blais sisters & my best friend since day one. This drop-dead-gorgeous girl from the West, serves some real face glam all day, every day & carries herself like a true girlboss with a heart of gold.
Wearing something confidently can make all the difference! You gotta own it!
PERSONAL STYLE
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE?
DANI: Honestly, I have no idea. It really changes all of the time. My job definitely influences a more "office-chic" kind of style. I'm leaning more towards neutral colours, I wear a lot of black & white, sometimes I'll even pop a little red accent here & there. Sometimes, I find that I hop on what's trending but I like to put my own twist on it. I also like comfort over anything else! I don't think my style is boxed into to anything specific but I find that makeup definitely helps bring my look together. To me, it's the most important step!
Q: WHAT DOES YOUR STYLE SAY ABOUT YOU?
D: I think my style leans more towards a mature look because I want people to take me seriously. This has a lot to do with the industry that I'm in & how I got to where I am right now. Being so young & having to just survive out in the real world, without the safety blanket of going back home to your parents, made me grow up real fast. I'm always presentable at the office, I try & portray a certain amount of confidence so that my age doesn't affect how people treat me.
Q: WHAT ASPECT OF FASHION EXCITES YOU THE MOST? D: The fact that you can change all the time. Like you're not stuck in a box - you can do whatever you want! I also like that fashion is not necessarily just clothing. There are so many different doors you can open, avenues to explore within this one industry. I like the makeup part of it most, cause you can do literally any kind of look to go with any kind of outfit. Right now I'm really into soft glam, like a softer eye with a bold lip. Lipstick is my go-to when I need a little something to make it pop!
Q: FOR YOU PERSONALLY, WHAT FINAL DETAIL CAN MAKE OR BREAK A LOOK?
D: I think that confidence has a huge impact on how you look & more importantly how you feel. This one time I was wearing something that I normally don't wear, it was a little tighter & I felt so uncomfortable & self conscious. I ended up feeling sick that day so I went home early (thank god cause I really didn't feel good in what I was wearing!) Wearing something confidently can make all the difference! You gotta own it!
When I feel good about my process, I think less of "Why are people looking at me?" & more of "Yes, look at me. I know I look hot right now."
THE PROCESS
Q: WHAT DRIVES YOU TO GET READY?
DANI: Well, I have to go to work. That's my main motivation but I do really enjoy getting ready in the morning. I enjoy looking at the finished product & thinking "damn, ya did good son!" My motivation right now, as I'm on the tail end of my current employment, will probably change. During quarantine, I wasn't really going anywhere so I didn't feel the need to do anything with my face. This helped me focus more on my skincare regimen & realize how important it is for me. During that time my routine changed, so what's important to me did to! When I'm at work & have to present myself in a professional way, I focus more on the outer layer, but when I have time for myself I tend to focus more on my health. I'm currently leaning more towards cleaner/vegan products for my skin & staying consistent with what I use.
Q: WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF YOUR GETTING READY PROCESS?
D: Definitely the makeup part! For me, the makeup is the most fun. I honestly think that finding something to wear in the morning can be super stressful...because well, I'm usually late. It doesn't help that it's the last thing I have to do. Sometimes I'll do my hair, I enjoy that, but it can also make me kind of angry because I'm not always good at it. I literally just learned how to curl my hair like this year!! So yeah, I'll just stick to the makeup!
Q: DOES THIS PROCESS AFFECT HOW YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO THE WORLD?
D: Yeah, for sure. I find that when I do it well & feel good about my process, then I go out feeling more confident with a boss-bitch attitude. I think less of "Why are people looking at me?" & more of "Yes, look at me. I know I look hot right now." It honestly starts with my skin. If I'm breaking out really bad, it can screw me up a little bit. I end up spending more time trying to cover shit up & focus only on my little impurities. My overall getting ready process gets a little derailed. But when it comes to my hair, I don't mind a little greasiness. It kind of forces me to do something different & at least try to feel more confident that day with what I've got. Even if I don't feel 100%, I'm giving it my 100%.
Q: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO SHOW SELF-CARE? D: I've started doing yoga more regularly. I find that it helps keep a good flow of my energy. Over quarantine, I did a 30 day yoga "journey" through Yoga with Adrienne & I found it to be quite remarkable in how effective consistent practice can be for your physical & mental health. I've also been making an effort in eating cleaner, even tried going vegetarian for a while but my iron is too low for that right now! When I think of self care I think of the many areas in my life that I need to focus on. There's your brain to work on, your body to work on, your skin, your relationships etc. I like to try & put some effort in all of these, just starting small & making the time to focus on myself.
Sharing clothes is a cool way to try on other people's styles & get inspiration from other people's closets.
THE CLOSET
Q: WHAT ITEM CAN YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT?
DANI: Well...I can't leave without shoes. Duh! But my purse is definitely an important item that I always have on me. There's everything I'll ever need in there. It carries my glasses, lip balm, hand cream, perfume - I always have some roll on perfume on me! I find too that when you smell good & people notice that you smell good, you feel a whole lot better...at least a lot better than smelling bad. I also like to have a sweater or light jacket on me most of the time. Personally, I get very self conscious of my arms so I like to have a little something to throw on if I am ever feeling uncomfortable. I like to have my own back & be prepared for that kind of stuff.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE ITEMS IN YOUR CLOSET?
D: I really like rompers. My favourite one would have to be this flowy, strapless taupe jumpsuit from Aritzia. I also like funky pants. I have a pair of black & white checkered pants that I feel really good in. I love a look with some good statement bottoms paired with a more basic top, so it's not too much. I'm also digging anything monochromatic right now. Another item would have to be this super cute grey denim skirt. I love the length, as it goes just passed the knee with a little slit in the front.
Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT SHARING YOUR CLOTHES?
D: I really don't mind sharing. I actually like it! I often offer my clothes when people are over & find it quite flattering when they like my clothes so much that they want to borrow them. It makes me a little angry when people are very selfish with their clothes, but I get it. Growing up with three older sisters, we would steal each other's shit all the time! For a long time, I was walking on eggshells when borrowing my sister's clothes. In a household of four girls, it was a very touchy subject. I remember once, sneaking into my older sister's room while she was still asleep & literally being on all fours, crawling on her floor, to get to her closet! To this day, I'm sure she still has some of my shit from when we were all living together. Now, I definitely find the experience of sharing clothes more enjoyable. For me, it's a cool way to try on other people's styles & get inspiration from other people's closets.
CONFIDENTIAL
Q: WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST YOURSELF?
DANI: I feel the most myself when I'm at home & comfortable. I've honestly kind of struggled with that identity crisis of "Who the fuck am I?" The person you are when you're living with your family is completely different from the person you are as an independent person. I'm still discovering that for myself. But I find I feel the most myself when I'm with Keagan, my boyfriend, in our home. Even sometimes with certain friends, I feel like I have to live up to this standard of who they think I am. This is especially true when I go back to the city where we grew up & I see people from high school. I find there's this expectation that I have to be this put-together business woman, just because I chose the working professional life instead of going to school right away. I feel like I can't just be this young & free twenty year old, because I have all of these responsibilities that a lot of them don't have yet. I definitely grew a lot this year, with everything that's been going on, & it's given me the chance to get to know myself a little bit better. So to be in a space that I've truly created for myself & share with someone who I can be so transparent with feels really freeing.
Q: WHEN DO YOU FEEL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL?
D: Ouh, that's a hard one...I don't know why that's so hard to answer! I guess it would be when I'm feeling good with how I look. Actually, I feel beautiful when I feel healthy. At times when I can put in the effort to do my makeup, do my hair, take care of my body & have a bomb ass look, I feel great! I'm learning that feeling beautiful doesn't just come from your outer "beauty", it comes from how you feel on the inside. When I take care of my health, I have time to workout, to eat properly & do the things that actually make me feel good. That's when I feel the most beautiful. Obviously, it helps when Keagan tells me I look beautiful too! But then when random people tell me things like that I'm just like "Oh no, fuck right off!" It really has to come from someone I trust. I don't always mind if I get complimented by a woman because I know it's more likely to come from a place of appreciation not a place of sexualization or objectification. But at the end of the day, my beauty truly depends on how I feel inside!
THANK YOU DANI FOR SHARING YOUR CLOSET WITH LION|OF|THE|CEA!
XX
PHOTOGRAPHY: CÉLINE BLAIS @babycealion
MODEL + STYLING: DANIKA BLAIS @danikaariane
OUTFIT ANTHEM: DREAMS BY FLEETWOOD MAC
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