Thanks to everyone who sent me those questions.Yes, Thank you because while I made my homemade empanadas and lemon water, I actually had something else to do as well. Yes, I answered all of them! ( Except for the cookie question , Emilia.)
A couple of photos of a sweet remix of a maxi hi low from Vanity Storm that Maya shot of me in Manhattan.
And here we go.
I’ve done my best with every single one, and if you have any questions, maybe I might just do another one.
What inspires you?
A healthy lifestyle keeps me inspired. I’ve mentioned on one of my posts before that it’s insanely important to live a life that not only looks good on the outside but feels great on the inside. Feeling great on the inside keep you motivated and therefore inspired. But beyond that, I look into other bloggers for inspiration as well. Music helps and necessary downtown and fifth avenue strolls are helpful too.
What advice do you have for fashion students trying to get into a position like yours?
So here’s a little story : I never went to fashion school. Although I honestly wish I did. I went for a Bachelor’s in Healthcare Administration with a little background in Nursing. The end.
To fashion students out there:
a. Prepare to hustle. I came out into the Fashion field knowing nobody, knowing nothing about it only armed with my passion and drive to make it ( I still am marching towards higher grounds. I am not quite there yet!) It helps to know people so NETWORK A LOT. It helps to intern, SO INTERN and pay doesn’t matter. Take what they give. I started out working on the floor as an associate.The harder you climb, the faster you get there. Now I am in a much higher position than I thought I would be in.
b. Keep your passion burning. Nobody can take any dream of yours away from you. You want it? Nobody will help you make it a success but yourself. So stay motivated and go get it! Oprah was not created in a day.
Would you ever leave the big Apple?
My plan is the move to California after two more years here in The big Apple– I find the west so inspiring every time I go and it really promotes a positive and motivating work culture that I thrive on ( Also because I would just love to live by the ocean). I’d love to continue building my blog, but I’m certainly interested in creating an organization devoted to strengthening women of all ages may it be in business or self confidence and perhaps applying some business ventures along the way within the field of Fashion.
What do you use to edit your photos?
I use my iPhone all the time. If not that, it would be photoshop by my photographers because I know nothing about it!
What music are you into ? Favorite album at the moment?
I listen to a wide range of music from Jazz to EDM to pop to Trance to Rap to Soul ! I am more of a singles girl. No favorite album.
How do you get into special events?
Keeping a great relationship with the brands and designers you work with will always be rewarding. That is your key in.
I’d love to know how you first got into fashion and blogging and how you became popular.
I started GreyLayers by chance. Tumblr started everything. I did Tumblr for fun. and then Instagram came along…
The story behind instagram is a whole ‘nother thing. One day my friends called me stating someone had taken all my photos on Lookbook. nu and made a fake instagram of me ~ captions and all pretending to be me. I was very late on the whole instagram thing. Everyone already had one while I was still only raving about myspace ( LOL). So I decided, why not. Let’s make an Instagram account! I told everyone on my Tumblr account which had about 10 K followers to follow my Instagram account, and it just kept flowing from there.
Hi ! – While browsing through your photos I realized you go to many fashion events, brand launch parties, etc. How did you step into this industry while studying Healthcare on the side? I have a blog and was wondering what it takes to get so many followers?
Passion. I had to take Healthcare Administration. Fashion has always been my first I love since I was 6 watching my fashion designer mother create beautiful gowns for wedding entourages and putting together fashion shows. When you love something enough, you end up going after it. Also, I have created a mass number of followers since the Tumblr days as well. And when I slowly moved onto Instagram, they followed me there and so on.
What is your make up routine?
5 things :
a. Foundation. I use FIT shade 220. Yes I love drug store make up. Cheap is not always a bad thing guys. They work just as amazing as Laura Mercier’s products.
b. Bronzer. I use Physicians Formula because I have sensitive skin.
c. Eyebrow Products : I use a pencil, a shadow and a gel all from Anastasia’s Brown Collection.
d. Mascara : I use Make Up forever’s Volumizing mascara.
e. Eyelashes: I have been hooked on Ardell’s 105’s.
What is your ethnicity?
I am Filipino part German. My Father’s side is German.
Hi! Do you blog full time or is this something you love?
Blogging isn’t a job for me. I do it to get away. I love doing it. So I guess it can be called a hobby. I’ve worked at a bakery when I was 15. Then I worked at a McDonalds for 4 long years. Surprised? At 20 I was working as a front desk agent at a hotel which let me to loving customer service and worked at retail. Slowly rising to higher positions and moving to better companies and only getting better positions along the way!
Do you like Cheese?
Yes, I am a fan.
How did you get contracts and sponsors?
As you build yourself up, your blog and / or your brand, take note than people will start noticing. I reached out to Instabrand about a year ago when they first started out and only had about 3 personnels. They have opened so many doors for me especially for GreyLayers. While they thrive ~ now a huge company all across the country with hundreds of influencers all over the world, I too am thriving, thanks to them. Keeping a good relationship with brands you work with enables you to create more relationships with new brands. It is all a domino effect. One good one, will lead to 20 good ones.
This may be personal but I am so intrigued by you – Do you work on top of blogging ? Do you earn cash on top of your full time job?
Yes as many of you know, I am Creative Director to a Brand in New York and New Jersey. On top of that, I have been doing a lot more blog-related work and freelancing a little which is great extra money for doing what I love !How does one become a style consultant in a city where fashion is lacking?!
I feel that you may have a bigger shot at it than you think you do. Since fashion is lacking, perhaps there is less competition from where you are from. Observing every detail the crowd is made of will help you know how to cater to their need in the fashion aspect. Start small and work your way up. Create a blog and network, network, network!
Is your hair naturally voluminous or is it because you have layers? I love how you style it, do share.
My hair holds tons of secrets, hence the volume. I jest. I have always had wavy volumized hair ever since I was 6. My haircut at the moment actually does not have any layering. It is just one blunt cut ~ straight through. My usual morning hair routine is very simple. I blowdry it after showering and add hairspray to my roots. Nothing fancy 🙂
What was your motivation to begin a blog?
My change of lifestyle aka my grandma living. Although I’d have to say my number one motivation was that belief and push my followers on social media gave me. I felt that I can give them more through a blog, through writing. So thank you guys, I wouldn’t have gone this far without all the strength you all continuously send me.
What is your inspiration for most of your pictures? I see that you show a lot of soul in them.
I look through magazines. I make sure the photo looks like its got some movement going on rather than just a “meant – to – be ” pose. That shows more of a story. I want my readers to be able to feel something just by looking at one photo.
What is your work out routine?
I always laugh when I see questions like these being thrown at me. I honestly do not work out. I do not have any exercises that I do except for Yoga on my days off. I used to join the gym but only went for about two days and the rest was history. I am flat chested and I used to hate it when I was younger. But I realized that it was not going to change and so I learned to love what I was given and work on the rest of my body mainly my booty. I started doing the 50 day squat challenge. 25 days without weights and the remaining 25 with. I started taking fish oil as well and doubled up my intake a few months down the line until today. Consistency is key. You reap what you sow 🙂
How tall are you?
I am 5’2″ fun-sized.
Who takes your photos on your website? What camera are they using?
Majority of my photos are taken by my boyfriend. 20% of the time my friends and the leftover 10% are good photographer friends. 99% of the time, my photos are simply taken by an Iphone ( surprise, surprise.). The leftover 1% is probably some type of DSLR. Again, Nothing fancy.
My girlfriend wants to meet you over some coffee and a conversation!
I am down 🙂 I love coffee.
Bloggers are always known to have a certain type of unapproachable, narcissistic attitude. As a blogger yourself, what do you have to say to this ?
It’s a proven statement. Majority of bloggers I have met personally are very narcissistic and egotistical. That ” Oh I am better than the rest” ‘tude they carry around which is portrayed when they talk and how they carry themselves is something I am definitely not about. I personally think it is sad. However, to each their own. I like to keep it real. I have been through enough to not forget where I came from. I like to keep myself relatable because then you become approachable. which is what I always aim for. Your blog might be beautiful and well put together, your outfit may seem a hundred but with negative energy coupled with pride , ego and a rotten attitude you will never get anywhere.
The End
I might be doing another one next month ~ Had fun doing this guys!
