Interview: Fashionista Dar Mashiah

Undoubtedly known for choosing comfort over style, the Israeli fashion sense isn’t one to really go by. For most Israelis, a tee-shirt and jeans will do for both work and a bar mitzvah, it’s comfortable remember? However, tucked away in Haifa is Israel’s answer to high street flawless fashion; internet project manager, Dar Mashiah.

Q-Tell me a little about your blog.
A-I started my blog 2 years ago and looking back I have to say it has totally changed my life. When I began, "back in the day", there were only a few Israeli fashion blogs and most of them were street fashion - a photographer taking pictures of interestingly and well dressed people on the streets, usually in Tel-Aviv. I hadn’t seen any blogs of Israelis who mainly took pictures of themselves and their own wardrobe. So, as the fashionista I was and am, I decided to start a blog. In the beginning there were no readers or comments, but I kept on going because I liked it and I enjoyed sharing my inspiration. As time passed, more and more people discovered my blog. There were press items and the blog became pretty well known here. A lot of the readers have started blogs of their own and now there is a pretty big fashion blogger community here in Israel, which is great!

Q-What inspires your looks?
A-I think most of all it’s my mood which inspires my looks. I wake up and think how do I feel today and how would I like to look today? Some days I want to have a more edgy look, some days romantic, and some days casual - but I always try to keep it interesting for myself.

Q-Which designers inspire and you and why?
A-I am inspired by Marc Jacobs - I like the element of surprise and fun in his designs. I also love Stella McCartney’s edgy-feminine designs, and Rick Owens silhouettes which look like they were taken from a very distant ancient era. I also love Givenchy! Riccardo Tisci's last collection was mind-blowing: amazing geometric prints, structured pieces and breathtaking jackets.

Q-Why did you turn down jobs in the fashion industry?
A-The proposals I got were mainly in the fashion journalism field.
The reason I turned those offers down was because those jobs don’t pay very well. I don't think junior fashion journalists and writers get rewarded enough, it’s a very small field (there is no Vogue or Elle in Israel) and there are only a few (and by few I mean like less than 5) jobs you can aspire to. I didn't want to go in that direction and barely make a living, and have to wait many many years until I would maybe get the chance to become an editor, so I turned it down. I definitely see my future in the internet.

Q-What do you hope to achieve in the future?
A- I hope to continue sharing my inspiration and enjoying it. I also hope to continue creating quality content which people can relate to and appreciate. I would like to see Israeli fashion take a bigger place in the worldwide fashion map and hope that Israeli fashion blogs will be recognized among the top fashion blogs in the world, in the near future.

Follow Dar’s blog by clicking here