The Eyes Have It: An Interview with Eye from Orchid Style

The first thing you notice on her is her eyes, so it seems natural that a girl named Aileen calls herself Eye. At least I think her name's Aileen.  I just call her Eye. We started blogging around the same time, and since have been leaving constant comments on the other's blog. Eye gives me a bird's-eye view on life in Hamburg, musing on anything that hits her radar from d.i.y. projects, animal rights, outfit posts, her favorite designers,  and her scores (and misses) from eBay.

Her blog is at aygenart.blogspot.com, and the name of her blog is called Orchid Style. It seemed only natural to have the Rosebud interview the Orchid, so here it is-

Where do you live, and where are you from?
I was born in Hamburg, Germany and I´m living here still.

How long have you been blogging & what inspired you to start your blog?
I started blogging in November 2009. I have always loved to dress up in my own way and take photos, so I thought: why not show them to the world? That pretty much was the basic inspiration for Orchid Style. The other main inspiration is sewing. I love to sew, and originally, Orchid Style was going to be sewing blog, but then I started to write more and more about fashion, and styling.

Many of your blog posts discuss ethical and eco-logical issues in the fashion industry. What are some of your "pet" concerns?
My favorite natural cosmetic lines are Lavera and Sante. They have the BDHI label which certifies natural cosmetics. You can find more information about it here.
There are some companies of which I could never support and won't buy their products. They are Jade, Maybeline, and Garnier. When you see their commercials announcing new active ingredients, you can be sure they have been busy testing on animals.

Name some blogs that YOU admire, that inspire you.
Hmm... That´s difficult, there are so many! There is Emily van der Hell, It´s mirizzza, The Citizen Rosebud, of course, Who is Susi Swallow, Le Tasche,  to name only a few. I like the more creative blogs, not so much into the mainstream.


What do you do for a living? What do you do for fun?
I´m an classically trained singer, and at the moment I have a job in an opera choir.  Solo engagements are few and earning a living with music is difficult, which is one reason why I'm training to be seamstress. I want to create custom-made dresses and theatre costumes.

"I enjoy growing plants, especially orchids and love to work in the garden. I think we humans are a part of nature and should let our behavior reflect that fact."

 
For fun, I enjoy Flamenco dancing,  and I learned to sew five years ago. It´s very fun to make your own clothes and customize everything. I also practice yoga, belly-dancing and enjoy going out for a walks with my little dog. I really love animals and metal concerts, by the way.

What impact does being a classically trained musician have on your interest in fashion? Does it show in your way of dress?
Not in the way I dress, but in the way I live. I've been listening to opera music since I was very young, and I always felt different from others.  I have never had the wish to be mainstream. And, THAT does show in the way I dress.


If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
To Andalucía, Spain, When I was child, I would visit there quite often, as I have some family that live there.  It´s the place where I feel most at home. Another place I would love to see is India. I'm a vegetarian and into yoga, so India interests me.


Who is your biggest influence in your outlook on life?
My biggest influence in my life's outlook is probably my love of Nature and animals. I don´t eat meat, would never wear fur, use only natural cosmetics and choose not to drive a car. I enjoy growing plants, especially orchids and love to work in the garden. I think we humans are a part of nature and should let our behavior reflect that fact, and not act so destructively on the planet; it is our home!

WHO/WHAT are your biggest fashion/style influences?

Gypsies! 
This might sound strange, but the more I dress like a gypsy, the more beautiful I feel.  I love Spanish Flamenco dresses, bold and colorful patterns, big earrings and old-fashioned jewelery.  Other influences include fashion from India.  It would be quite possible for you to see me walking down a German street in an Indian Sari this summer. I also like the drama of Gothic style. I can suddenly change from a colorful gypsy into a girl dressed head-to-toe in gothic black.

What are you doing to make this world a better place? What would you like to be doing?
I would like to eliminate the thought: "One person alone can´t change a thing, so why should I try?" I try to show people that you can be a Greenie without looking odd. I support and promote natural cosmetics produced without animal testing. I want to show people that you can be elegant and artistic and natural all at the same time.

That reminds me of a famous Chinese proverb: the beginning of a 1000 mile journey starts with the first step.
Yes, and a change in the world could start with one person.

On a more topical subject: what will you be wearing this summer?
Long colorful skirts, tops with an open back, sandals with pearls, D.I.Y jewelery made out of shells, and my Indian saris, of course.

 I would like to eliminate the thought: "One person alone can´t change a thing, so why should I try?

Tell me something about yourself, that I might not know.
I have a weakness for cowboy films and country music ;)

Who's your favorite artist?
In music: Nick Cave, Gioachino Rossini, Paco de Lucía, and the great bands Opeth and Epica
In fashion: Oumou Sy and Zuhair Murad, Elie Saab, Juana Martin and Antoine el Kareh

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I've always wanted to be an opera singer and sing Bizet´s "Carmen". That hasn't happened yet, but I´m working on it ;).

Coffee, tea or other? If other what:
Both, and much, much water.


If you were a flower, what kind of flower would you be?
An Orchid of course. :) I think a black one.