An Interview with Layers & Leather

Hey! I’m Ella O’Prey and I’m a fashion writer on my blog Layers & Leather. I started my first fashion blog, My Little Fashion Diary, back in 2014 when at the time I was studying Fashion & Business with the aim to go on to continue my studies at University. As the blog started to lift off, its success forced me to rethink my career and I eventually decided to train instead for my NCTJ diploma as a means to continue my passion: writing about fashion.

After having the opportunity to work with publications such as The Liverpool Echo, The Times & Juice FM, I felt ready to elevate my blog to the next level. Layers & Leather was created in 2016 as a broader version of my older blog, combining style posts with product reviews, collaborations, events & more.

I’ve long been an admirer of Alexa Chung’s style and she has been a source of inspiration seeing her develop her career from modelling to become a television presenter, editor at Vogue and now spearheading her own fashion label. I’m excited to see what becomes of her new brand. I actually also met Alexa a couple of years ago which was fun.

Despite my admiration for Alexa, it can be difficult to take inspiration from her aesthetic as we have such different body shapes. Nicole Richie has also been a strong influence on my wardrobe and her 5’ 1” figure is a lot more relatable for me to be able to wear similar styles of clothing.

My first piece would have to be a crisp white shirt for its versatility and effortless cool. I enjoy playing with layers in my looks, and my second piece would be a light blazer or duster coat to layer during the cooler hours of the evening. Cigarette trousers are another timeless essential that are incredibly versatile as well as being easy to style. My final piece would have to be a pair of sliders; whether at home or away on holiday, I am always wearing sliders for comfort and ease.

My collection of slide sandalsis already extensive, and a couple of pairs of sliders would be among the first things I would pack for any holiday. Heeled sandals are also a must-have, perfect for transitioning your look from day to night. My final footwear essential would be a pair of clean, monochrome trainers that are perfect when you are traveling and limited to how many pairs of shoes you can take. They are so versatile and can be paired with pretty much everything in your wardrobe, from dresses and skirts to pants and jeans—plus the comfort factor is a bonus!

I love Lydia from Fashion Influx - I've been a fan of her for years and it's been amazing watching her grow from a few thousand followers to over 150k! I love her style and writing techniques, but most of all I love her attitude. She is not a full time blogger and juggles her website with a full time job and she doesn't shy away from telling the truth, that it can be hard to try and do it all. I think that's why I relate to her blog more than a lot. Staying more close to home, I also love Erin from Bitchin' Blonde blog, another Liverpool blogger. Her style is a mix between edgy and feminine. Finally, I couldn't talk about fashion bloggers without mention Chiara Ferragni, possibly one of the biggest bloggers in the world? I've been following her since I started Instagram so she is definitely someone who inspires me, career wise.