An Interview with Bitchin' Blonde

Tell us a little bit about you.

Whenever I am asked this question I never truly know how to answer so we'll see how this goes. I’m Erin and I am a 21-year-old blogger from Liverpool. My blog, Bitchin’ Blonde, is my online diary where I talk about fashion/styling, some beauty bits and of course raving about Liverpool. I am currently studying in Liverpool for my BA Hons degree in Fashion Communication which I will hopefully be graduating from in July 2018.

Now that all the big important things are said I find my mind stuck on what else I could possibly say about myself. I enjoy photography a lot and spend most of my days pointing and shooting. I have a cat that is the model in my point and shoot photography and I also like clothes a lot. Since I was a young girl there was something about the fashion world I loved. From going shopping with my mum to growing up and going alone to spend my first wage, I always enjoyed the build up to buying and wearing clothing, which I know to some can sound very shallow but to me it's a feeling I've only ever known. It's a way for me to express who I am and show a part of my personality only strangers can see and friends understand. I believe that what clothing you wear doesn't define who you are or what subculture you should or shouldn't belong to. I'm more about the freedom to express what you like, how you like it whenever you like it.

When and why did you start blogging?

From around the age of 12/13 (I don't even know what day it is currently so I'm making a wild guess here) I found myself submerged deep into the online word of YouTube. I can’t remember the first person I ever watched but I became obsessed with beauty gurus and the people behind the cameras and how they presented themselves both in a fashion and non-fashion way. I watched for endless hours and honestly this was a big part of how I spent my childhood years and still do now as an adult. I felt I made friends from all across the world, strange friends who never knew my name but were there for me in a way they never knew. This developed into me inspiring to do the same; to do what I wanted on camera and make friends.

A few years had gone by and I still want to do it, I told real life 'friends' and others who told me it was stupid "like why would you want to do that?" I only ever had one friend who encouraged me to do it, and she's still my cheerleader today. I realised I had no idea at the age of 16 how to set up a camera or how to make a website where I could talk so I let my dream go. Still watching and reading thousands of blogs later (almost three years later) my boyfriend cottoned on to it and said "that's all you ever do" my response of course was "I just LOVE it" and then I heard the words "well why don't you do it then" and from that point I had two cheerleaders. I had help and I finally got what young Erin always wanted: a blog.

My blog is a place for me to write and read and talk about the things I wanted to talk about for years but had no-one to listen. It's coming close now to my blog being two years old and one year on YouTube and by far has it been the best thing that ever happened to me. Like right now I'm doing this interview with a great brand meeting new people and making friends all because I followed what I wanted to do.

What are your wardrobe staples?

I actually have a series about this subject on my blog, a very unloved series that I haven't wrote for in a while—whoops! In the series, I talk about my wardrobe staples and so far I've talked about trainers, jeans, a good white blouse and a leather jacket. Even though all these posts were written nearly a year ago I'll still say these are my staples and maybe a pair of heeled boots and a good graphic tee. So basically the only things I ever wear!

Who has influenced your style aesthetic?

This is a hard one for me to pin point down. I'm going to have to go with my brother as one. When I was younger and he was a teen he was a bit of what people would say a 'metal head'; he wore band tees, had super long hair and piercings. That description is currently me right now! I also thought wow it's so cool and I ended up adopting it too. Even though I grew out of it because it wasn't 'cool' in school, from the age of 19 I slowly settled back into what was 'me'.

I'd say ‘90s fashion has also really influenced me, famous pictures of Winona Ryder and Drew Barrymore back in their grunge phase I adore. But then I also loved fashion from the 1920s and 1970s. I wouldn't say it was a certain someone who influences me; it's more of what I like influences what I wear. I go from flares and fringe to fishnets and flames, I’m that kinda gal.

What are your three most iconic grunge looks?

I wouldn't say my looks are iconic by any means but three outfits I love which show my “grunge-y” style would be firstly a jeans and a tee—so simple but it makes it look to others like you spent a long time when really you’re hoping that your T-shirt was clean. My second has got to be a faux leather mini skirt with fishnets; at Halloween you've got to stock up on trusty fishnets. My third would be a pretty floral dress with chunky heavy boots like some Dr. Martens. Also you can never go wrong with dark smokey eyes and heavy silver jewellery to add a little grunge to an outfit.

Who are your favourite bloggers in the community?

By far the easiest question to answer! Everyone especially my LIVblogger family. All the bloggers in Liverpool are incredible we all know one another and it's our own little girl gang open to anyone!