Beauty is a woman who likes herself a lot. She is the woman whose eyes shine with lust for life and joy, who smiles a lot, who no longer struggles with her body, but appreciates it because she is alive..
It's Sunday, but this morning it's hard for me to wake up. A phone notification shows me that I received the answers to the interview with Irina Markovits, news that energized me quickly. I open the email and start reading with the same curiosity with which I enjoy every material on his blog, Style Diary.
Irina is one of those #feminist which I had the opportunity to meet through my online activity, but which I also wanted to meet offline. Whether it was a style course she held, a beauty event, a book launch or just a coffee outing, any occasion to meet her was a #joy that I didn't want to miss. She is the kind of woman who inspires through the way of being and living, and who (me-) proved that you can achieve whatever you set out to do.
On this occasion I announce that I am launching a new section on the blog where I want to introduce you to #feminist which I meet and which I want you to know. These are women like me and you, women who do not fit into a pattern, but who create their own model and successfully impose it in a society that is increasingly rigid and greedy for plastic, fake and superficial. So if you want a mouthful of naturalness, authenticity and inspiration I invite you to give PLAYA of this song and meet Irina Markovits.
You are the first image consultant in Romania. When and how did the idea come to you, and what were the first steps towards this career? Did you have a plan from the beginning?
It was not an idea, although I had long wanted to work in this field. It was a discovery, at a time when I did not live in Romania. Until then, for me, a profession in the fashion industry meant either being a designer, or working in visual merchandising, or possibly being a journalist or fashion critic. The moment of discovering this niche - of image and style consulting - meant a sudden opening of possibilities and opportunities.
We had a clear plan from the beginning, but like all plans it underwent changes along the way. I did countless specialization courses, from fashion psychology to fashion history and from styling for women to make-up; I prepared a business and marketing plan in advance, I started to promote myself - all this happened in 2005. The major difference between the plan and reality was related to how (un) prepared the Romanian market was at that time for this type of services: too few people knew what this profession means and what the services consist of, there is still the wrong perception that it is a question of luxury services, no one made the correlation between the gesture of dressing (correctly, harmoniously) and clothing education. Things have changed fundamentally since then!
What do you think about fashion blogs and how do you position your own blog towards them?
I think they have had and still have their utility, and things have changed a lot in recent years. From my perspective, the usefulness and initial effort of fashion blogs - in Romania or in other countries - were admirable: there was a need for democratic platforms that would allow anyone to play stylistically, make a portfolio, show women how There is a great diversity of styles and possibilities. What I admired enormously was their originality, the authenticity of the "voices". I say that things have changed because, unfortunately, most fashion blogs have become mere commercial tools, which replace the advertising pages of magazines, but without offering - as magazines do - additional, substantial content (a interview, an article on a relevant topic, etc.).
Style Diary it has always been different and I hope it will remain so. I thought of it from the very beginning as a clothing education platform. Like everything else I do - workshops, individual online or offline counseling - I want readers to be left with something concrete from their interaction with me: to learn how many ways they can wear a leather skirt, to discover how many color combinations can wear, to know what to choose when shopping or how to build their outfits, and even what other things will shape their good taste, style. I'm not too interested in posting photos with me - what I have to say and convey is much more important than what shoes I wore today or where I bought a certain dress.
The women I work with are not rich divas, celebrities or heirs, who look perfect and have huge budgets: they are very normal women, with jobs and lives like ours
Do you think that Romania is ready for image consulting services? Isn't it considered a luxury service or quite difficult to access?
I say "yes" with a lot of confidence! I don't think it's considered a luxury service anymore and I say that for two reasons. On the one hand, every year I meet more and more women who become my clients for personal shopping, for individual style lessons or for Outfit Styling & Wardrobe Detox sessions. Similarly, absolutely every time I announce the opening of a style course or workshop, the seats are filled immediately! Not least, the women I work with are not rich divas, celebrities or heirs, who look perfect and have huge budgets: they are very normal women, with jobs and lives like ours; some work in corporations or have their own small business, some are school principals or lawyers, others are translators and doctors, some turn to me because they have lost or gained many pounds and no longer make up with their wardrobe, others are mothers who learn to reconnect with their own body after pregnancy, most are from Bucharest, others are from the country or left the country…
How do you define your own clothing style?
I don't define it as you would expect, in the sense that I don't mind describing it in words. I refer to how I feel, how I see myself in the mirror, how I want to look or feel in a certain period and, depending on that, I dress feminine or not, more modern or simpler, more colorful or more neutral. I love special earrings and colorful skirts, I prefer to be comfortably dressed instead of suffering in a dress, I also have clothes from Romanian and international designers and fast-fashion brands in my wardrobe.
Where do women go wrong the most?
They buy clothes without worrying about whether they fit their figure or style, but only because those clothes attract them to stores. He compares himself a lot to other women and, out of the desire to “steal” a little of that person, he copies their outfits or makeup - instead of discovering themselves, discovering what they really like, what they represent, what they are fits (it's easier to copy-paste, instead of creating something original!). She criticizes other women terribly and, on many topics, positions herself as omniscient, the only ones who know best what the person in front of them should do, whether we are talking about parenting, clothing, life choices or aspects of professional life.
I don't want a definition of beauty, but do you want to tell me what beauty looks like through your eyes?
Beauty is a woman who likes herself a lot. She is the woman whose eyes shine with lust for life and joy, who smiles a lot, who no longer struggles with her body but appreciates it because she is alive. Beauty is that woman for whom clothes are an instrument through which she stands out and shapes herself, without finding in this reasons for unhappiness or inferiority. Last but not least, beauty for me is that woman who also sees the physical and inner beauty of other women, instead of criticizing them or finding flaws, instead of comparing them.
What is the social network you spend the most time on?
Instagram (follow @ irina.markovits)
What do you like most about the online environment?
dIVERSITY
How do you relax?
I read, I sleep a lot, I walk around Bucharest for a few hours at random, I cook, I listen to podcasts, I drink endless coffee with a friend, sometimes a movie, sometimes a massage or I'm just lazy.
You already have a tattoo. Are there any stylistic restrictions in this regard?
No, tattoos are about personal freedom of speech. The restrictions are not of a stylistic nature, but of aberrant associations that a conservative and retrograde society (or a person) has.
These movements (no body positivity and plus size fashion) have a fantastic impact and start from a human and deep premise: we are more than simple bodies, whose value does not lie in centimeters and kilograms.
Do you think that a beautiful outfit can influence your mood?
Absolute. An outfit that benefits us is like a little encouragement, it's a way of telling us "come on, things are not so bad!" What we see in the mirror is correlated with our mental state, which means that at least from this perspective, things are in our control. In addition, bright colors positively influence the mood, give us another energy.
I want to know your opinion about body positivity movements and plus size fashion that is gaining shape in Romania as well. Do you think we are heading in the right direction?
Unfortunately, no, I don't think so - and I mean strictly Romania. These movements have a fantastic impact and start from a human and profound premise: we are more than just bodies, whose value does not lie in centimeters and kilograms.. The basis of these movements comes from empathy, from understanding beauty as a multifaceted concept, not as a single standard, which excludes and humiliates women for the simple reason that their physique does not conform to the beliefs in society at that time. Unfortunately, we as a society do not have in our DNA this grain of kindness, compassion, openness to understanding. This does not mean to be discouraged, but on the contrary! This is exactly the value of pioneering movements: in tenacity and perseverance, in the desire to make a change in the future, in moving things and such companies.
Were there times when your figure put you at a disadvantage?
Never in professional life! Sometimes, in interactions from personal life and, on top of that !, sarcastic remarks and criticisms always came from women.
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Favorite perfume: Humiecki Forest & Graf
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Favorite song: New day, to him Brice Conrad
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What book are you reading now?: Goddesses in Everywoman, by Jean Shinoda Bolen
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Favorite place in Bucharest: I don't, I always find a new one that I like
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5 favorite Instagram accounts: Nadia Bokody; Business of Fashion (BoF); Inoza.ro; Decatorevista; Garance Dore
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The most expensive item in your wardrobe: I don't know the most expensive, I know the most beautiful: a silk skirt with red-white print from Raquette and a geantp from Otilia Flonta.
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Pets: cats