Mona has been a life long fashion enthusiast, who’s mother worked as a designer, fabricating all of her clothes. Her childhood was filled with creativity and today Mona is a hard working woman, living in Spain with her husband and daughter. She paints, has a passion for theatre and an eye for fashion and style.
“My sisters and I were dressed differently than other girls”, Mona's mother was incredibly creative and wanted pieces to stand out and it seems like she had a great influence on her style. “I'm inspired by people who dress differently”, I’m always looking for that extra element in my own outfits too, like a glitter top underneath a classic suit or a pair of gigantic earrings in bright colours combined with a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. However, Mona takes it one step further.
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| I'm impressed with her use of colours, so chic and effortless |
"Everything depends on how I feel that day, but in all my outfits I chose comfort [...] I chose my clothes in the moment and usually I don’t take too much time picking them out", I could not relate when she said that she doesn't take that much time... I always think I can get ready in 30 minutes and end up spending another 30 or more, changing my outfit, so I am truly impressed since her outfits look so thought through. "My style is street style, because there are no rules!", on the other hand, she seems more certain on her style than me!
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| For me to put together an outfit like this would take hours of indecisiveness.. Spot on! |
"Surrounding ourselves with beauty is soul food. Beauty energies us, excites us, puts a smile on our faces whenever we gaze upon it", Mona really knows how to put her thoughts into words, she continued to talk about how we need beauty in our lives and how that's the reason she loves fashion. I can't do anything but agree because it's the main reason I'm so passionate about it, it’s been my number one creative outlet throughout my life.
"Today it's so cheap to buy clothes [...] The more you have, the more you want", the reasons why fashion has become the industry we see today seem to be quite simple, "Fashion is a great way to express yourself. Everybody does that because is easy and fast, but only a few ones make fashion into art", but at a personal level it becomes so complex, perhaps it explains why on earth I spend so much time thinking of what I’m going to wear.
"Theatre and painting makes me feel free [...] I can express feelings easily and in painting there's only me and my deepest feelings", I miss painting myself, staying in touch with my creative side has become so difficult having to focus on academic work at university, so I have to say that I'm impressed and a little jealous of Mona's well mended relationship with hers. "When something inspires me, I do it obsessively and I don’t stop until I'm finished. I’m like this in almost everything", I love those periods of obsession, you're so focused that you forget about the world around you. I think fashion does make the expression of feelings more accessible to the everyday person who may not have the time or interest to turn to other forms of art.
“The best thing about fashion is that it helps you to express yourself easily [...] The worst thing is that it creates addiction and that it destroys the environment", tapping into the topic of sustainability always triggers me. Mona continues, "I don't like to destroy the environment in order to have clothes, shoes and bags [...] We have to be more careful and reuse old clothes, adapt them to the new trends and the fashion industry has to become more careful". I completely agree and I'm pleased to talk to someone who actively does her best to reuse old clothes. I can’t say that I’m a master of using what I already have, I am a bargain hunter and too often I end up buying fast fashion instead of saving up for a quality piece or choosing second hand; I need to change my habits, as do we all.
"The most important piece in my closet is a vintage dress [...] It’s 45 years old and it looks as it did the first day. It was a present from my mother-in-law and I love it, it was made by a dress maker in that time".
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| Mona in the vintage dress from her mother-in-law |
I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to talk about fashion with Mona, she really inspires me to keep in touch with my creative side even though it can be hard from time to time. She’s also someone I would look to for inspiration on how to incorporate my old clothes into new trends. Thank you so much Mona, fashion is truly an element of beauty and creativity that I think a lot of people need in their lives.
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| Mona looking flawless |
To get to know Mona better, visit her instagram: @helloimona
