Ester Duraes is a Portuguese Gypsetter

It’s always inspiring when you see girls out there killing it at school, while simultaneously working and keeping up a fashion blog. Ester Duraes of Drawing Dreaming gives us a few tips on how it’s done:

EF: What is the funniest/best comment anyone has ever left on a post of yours?

DD: I am not sure funniest applies but one of the best is when we get a comment that shows that someone has read what you had to write. Then you feel like they read your blog and there is a connection.

EF: What advice do you have for girls trying to be a fashion blogger?

DD: To take things with calm. Let things evolve. Don’t rush things and don’t force it. When it comes to blogging you always want to reach a certain number of followers. I am trying not to forget about the essence of blogging. Enjoy the moment and have fun along the way.

EF: Favorite brands right now?

DD: I don’t usually go for brands. I usually go for a style.  A couple that come to mind is Pepa Loves, Dahlia (from UK), Miss Petina (from UK) and when it comes to shoes I just found Chie Mihara. I can’t afford them but I like to dream! They are hand made shoes from Italy. 

EF: Which items you would love to wear from EF?

DD: I love the lace dresses like Finders Keepers Mr. Jones dress in blue and the Champagne and Lace Strawberries Cocktail dress. I also really like the sequin collar Maison Scotch blouse and the It’s a Color Block Life Crossbody purse… and of course the striped dress I received for my style post.

EF: Any Advice for juggling school/work/blogging?

DD: My last year of university consisted of 5am-3 am days. It was a little hard managing all of the school work, internship, studying & having the blog. It was really hard. It’s just about getting organized and prioritizing your list. Blogging was at the bottom of my list and finishing my degree was at the top of the list for the moment. Even if you are sleep deprived you can get through it though! Everything works out. I was a positive albeit sleepy person this last year. It feels good to be graduated now.

EF: How did you get started, why did you start a blog?

DD: When I started the blog it was supposed to be an art blog b/c I love to draw. I started to show my drawings and then my favorites of everything. And then I thought well maybe I will share what I am wearing. At first the photos were horrible. I started a blog a little bit after starting at university. I used to be a little rock/punk and now its completely different. The blog has evolved the same way. Now I have my camera with me all of time.

EF: I love the favorite outfits of the month. You must follow a lot of fashion blogs. Which are some of your favorites?

DD: Some of my favorite blogs in general include A Beautiful Mess, The Dainty Squid and Wish, Wish Wish. I have been reading A Beautiful Mess since it’s beginning because Elsie had a scrapbook blog and I loved the art she featured. The next one is The Dainty Squid. The blogger is super cute and has colorful hair. She isn’t afraid of trying new things and she wears a lot of vintage clothes. She speaks her mind on her blog and I love it! Wish, Wish, Wish is my third fave blogger. She is from the UK and her fashion/style varies a lot. She takes beautiful photos and she is an inspirational blogger that is dreamy but still seems approachable.

EF: Fashion icons?

DD: I can’t say I have one but Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe come to mind. Also b/c they are pale beauties like myself, Zooey Deschanel and Taylor Swift.

EF: What gave you the idea to link music to your style posts?

DD: First of all I love music but I didn’t want the blog to become a music blog.  It was hard to pick titles for each style post too…. You run out of titles after a while. I thought relating music to the post works and the song title I choose usually goes with the mood of the outfit or the scenery.

EF: A few artists on your top ten played songs right now?

DD: I love metal and rock n’ roll. ACDC, Metallica, Bullet for my Valentine, In this Moment. I love Rockabilly bands and The Baseballs, a german band that is new. Also, Panik – it’s like the German Linkin Park.

EF: Future plans? What do you want to do for a career?

DD: OMG that is a scary question. I just graduated in the past month so right now I am in that phase of trying to figure it out. We always have that idea that there is more time. I am 20 and have a B.A now. I was studying international relations so I believe I will keep in that area. In a few months I would like to be a flight attendant. All flight companies ask that you be 21. I am multi-lingual so I would like to use that somehow. I speak Portuguese, English, French & a little German, which was the hardest language to learn.