INTERVIEW with Marie Hillard || The Brisbane Girl
Today I have the pleasure to invite Marie Hillard - founder behind Instagram fashion blog The Brisbane Girl as part of my Interview series. Here I spend two minutes with Marie to interview her:
SD: Tell us about The Brisbane Girl?
The Brisbane Girl is an Instagram fashion blog that I started over 5 years ago and it took off almost instantly when I decided to step in front of the camera and share fashion posts with outfits straight from my wardrobe. It has evolved significantly from those early beginnings of street style shoots, to working on fashion projects with some of Brisbane’s most prominent fashion designers, I’ve also worked on my own projects to feed my creative process. What I learnt since creating ‘The Brisbane Girl’ is that fashion crosses over many genres, mostly notably entertainment, food, beauty and art. I love people and social interaction and this is at the heart of where creativity manifests, we are all creating our realities, mine is to build a platform on The Brisbane Girl to share my love of fashion.
SD: How did you get interested in fashion?
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t in love with all things fashion, from an early age I use to be the girl that got way too dressed up to go to the shops or if I did pack to go somewhere I needed three pairs of everything, just incase. More recently, I was drawn to the emergence of fashion bloggers, Nicole Warne won my heart, she was the Australian ‘It Girl’ for all things blogging and in some ways looking back I wanted to emulate that fashion lifestyle. Secondly, what cemented that transition to blogger was that I was contacted by a French model that owned a beautiful French boutique on James Street very early on, she approached me to photograph some of her collections which was a great introduction to fashion photography. After photographing her new collections I decided one day that I should try a photoshoot and step from behind the camera to in front of the camera.
SD: Where do you get your inspiration for your Instagram to keep it new and exciting?
As a blogger, there is a constant flow of inspiration and no two days are alike. I have to say for bloggers if you are posting regularly as I do, it’s most definitely a passion as there is a lot of work that goes behind the scenes to capture good quality content. I’m always thinking one step ahead of who I’d love to work with and how I can style an outfit, “The Brisbane Girl” way, I’ve had many people over the years comment that I have a signature style and also a photographic presence that’s unique. Keeping things exciting is not difficult, I receive a lot of invites to many amazing events, most prominently each year I look forward to covering Brisbane’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week which last year changed location to Howard Smith Wharves, what could be more exciting than attending fashion runway shows and catching up with your fellow bloggers and friends.
SD: Describe your typical workday.
I’m an Executive Assistant from Monday to Friday for Government, so I do wear quite a conservative hat, on my weekends I truly dedicate a good amount of time to the creative process of fashion blogging. I love to spend Sunday afternoons doing absolutely nothing so I cram all my shooting, editing to Saturday if possible.
SD: What are some of your favourite fashion trends now?
I’m a classic girl, so I’m not influenced majorly by trends. The Brisbane Girl is geared towards, stylish, classic and also glamorous dressing. I have a deep affection for couture and bridal gowns, what could be more beautiful than an Italian designer dress wearing designer heels. Early on as a blogger I was approached by Diana Toscano to collaborate in her studio and wear one of her beautiful gowns, as you do we went all out and organised diamonds by Xennox diamonds and beautiful heels glamorous heels by Maryons’ Shoes, it was a true Brisbane based collaboration. When it comes to event dressing, I have many a time headed into Zara both for their affordability and also I’m always guaranteed to find something that I will wear multiple times which is very important to me.
SD: What are your favourite 5 brands?
In no particular order:
Sacha Drake
Moreno Marcos
Zara
Lululemon
Diana Toscano
SD: What would you recommend to young girls who want to become influencers?
Take your passion, what every it may be and start an Instagram account revolution, you never know where those humble beginnings may take you, The Brisbane Girl has transformed my life. Also, be realistic, there have been lots of changes to Instagram over the past year and a half, PR Agencies, Fashion Companies and Start-Ups have evaluated the value in “Influencers” promoting and representing their brand and I have to say that those who continue to grow, deliver excellent content and stay true to their style will continue on a successful path. My motto is that you need to have fun with it all, if I stop enjoying fashion blogging it will be time to move on.. however, I feel that I have so much to give to Brisbane and the wider community and I’m meeting way too many interesting people with a similar love.
SD: What do you hope to achieve in the next year?
That is a very interesting question, particularly with our current world reality of Covid-19. Fashion blogging has almost ceased at the moment (well it has for me) and for good reason, so atleast for the next six months I’m planning on writing more while photoshoots will take a back-seat, I might finally get to setting up Brisbane Girl HQ, currently running from my bedroom. For now I’m staying connected with all my blogger family, and checking in to see how they are doing as the industry of fashion slows down…. it’s a tough time for many and there are many new realities that we must adjust too.
SD: If you had to give advice to yourself 5 years ago, what would you say?
You don’t need to curl your hair for every shoot, lol! Gee that GHD has had a work-out over the last 5 years !
SD: What is your favourite thing to do outside of fashion and social media?
I love to spend time with my fur babies, Georgey Boy and Billy Baxter, lets throw in good quality time with the hubby also. If I’m not working on The Brisbane Girl, or in the office I’m with my boys as they bring me the most joy in my life.
All photos by Suzanne Dang