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Walking in Style With 'Colors of Mei'

Interview with Meileilan “Mei” Mattinson

By Sydney CooperPublished 7 years ago 7 min read
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Image Courtesy of Brian Mattinson

Filipino fashion blogger, color lover and wife Meileilan “Mei” Mattinson talks about her journey as a fashion blogger with her husband, her style, challenges and how she wants to inspire her readers.

Sydney: What does the name “Colors of Mei” mean?

Mei Mattinson: “Colors of Mei” is my personal way of reaching out to my readers through my curated style and my passion in travelling. My goal is to inspire others to believe in themselves, to be comfortable with what and who they are, express their own uniqueness, and to motivate people to go out and do things outside of their comfort zone.

Sydney: How and why did you get into fashion?

Mei: Since I was little, I loved playing dress up. I remember getting excited each time I read the Sunday newspaper. I love that section where people dress up on special events. I knew that fashion is on me, time goes by and I forgot about it. I was so focused on achieving my goals in the medical field and now that I am settled, I feel like I must unleash something. And this is through curating my own style along with my passion in travelling places.

Sydney: What made you want to become a style blogger?

Mei: I think you can call it more on lifestyle blog. We travel a lot and I bring colors to my wardrobe. So I figured why not combine the two.

Sydney: Where did your style blogging journey start?

Mei: I started blogging a year ago. Right after my wedding, I told my husband that I felt like I wanted to document my life in a creative way. I want to express my mood and feelings through colors or whatever comes into my mind; something fun and inspiring. My husband was so supportive, he even volunteered to be my personal photographer. We both have fun each time we go somewhere and take pictures. In fact, because of this blog he found his new passion and he just recently launch his photography business.

Sydney: What was it like in the beginning of your blogging journey?

Mei: Like everything else, the start is always the hardest. There are a lot of things to think about than I thought. We were clueless how to build a website, the kind of platform, the dresses, the kind of camera to get and the list go on… We took our time learning, did our research and asked few blogger friends. Our family was also helpful and supportive.

Sydney: Was it easy for your husband to agree to photographing you for your blog?

Mei: My husband is an engineer and a workaholic. To be honest, I didn’t expect him to say yes. But as we do more travel, he realizes that taking photos is actually fun. He thinks that he can use some math to figure out how to get that perfect shot.

Sydney: What is it like to work with your husband as your photographer?

Mei: At first, we struggled. My husband does not know anything about camera and me on the other hand do not know how to pose. Ha, ha! It was a lot of figuring it out. My husband took online classes on how to use a DSLR. We came a long way, now it seems to be easy and we get a lot of things done. The camera and my poses seem to know each other better haha. So if you ask me how it is now? It is so much fun! In fact he just launched his photography business and now we are making other people happy with their photos. I do the consulting for “what to wear during the photo session.” Our clients love it!

Sydney: How has the use of social media benefited Colors of Mei's growth?

Mei: Social media platforms brought more traffic to my website. I get to interact with people who share the same passion. It is a great tool to network with people within your niche. Also helps create a bigger fan base. I made a lot of friends already, even though I haven’t met any of them, yet you feel that human connection online.

Sydney: Who have you collaborated with in the past and who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

Mei: I have few collaborations with brands like Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Macduggal, VIPme, chicwish etc. My blog is not really focused to monetize right now. I just simply want to share my colorful life to inspire people. I am open to collaborate to any brands that fit my platform.

Sydney: What challenges have you faced as a Filipino fashion blogger?

Mei: As we all know, this industry is very competitive. I am not that girl on the magazine. I am just your typical girl next door. To add the fact that you're Asian is another challenge. But I came to realize that beauty comes in different forms. I don’t have to be like them. I have to keep my authenticity, which is to stay true to myself, just have fun and take one photo at a time.

Sydney: What inspired you to dress yourself in a variety of colors for your blog?

Mei: My blog is focused on beautiful colors and inspirational messages. My goal is to inspire both your wardrobe as well as your sense of adventure and fun. Colors represents emotions and mood and it does represent me in the given moment.

Sydney: How would you describe your style?

Mei: I probably can consider my style more on feminine and chic style. If you check my Instagram I wear dresses 90% of the time they are so fun to twirl, spin or even dance.

Sydney: Who inspires your style?

Mei: Ahhh. I don’t have a specific inspiration. I believe in the mantra that you are your own fashion; you don’t follow the crowd. You are unique in every way, so be authentic. You live life your way, so always make the best of it in every single way possible. Be the beautiful you, you are born that way.

Sydney: What colors are you naturally attracted to?

Mei: This is a tough one. My choice of colors depends on how I feel but, to be honest I have so many shades of pink colored dresses in my closet.

Sydney: What inspirations do you have when making a post?

Mei: I like to get inspiration through the beauty I see around me. I believe that how you see things is all perspective. I chose to see it in a positive way. I am drawn into something bright and vibrant.

Sydney: What message do you want to convey to your readers?

Mei: Something that reminds my readers that you are a beauty yourself and that the world is your runway.

Sydney: Who are your favorite designers and why?

Mei: There are so many amazing designers that there are too many to mention. But my top one is Mara Hoffman. I adore all her designs and choice of colors, she is really great at color blocking. My second favorite is Lily Pulitzer, I am obsessed with all bright colorful floral prints collection this year.

Sydney: What is your favorite store and why?

Mei: I love ASOS, Nordstrom and J. Crew, but again I shop based on colors and affordability so my list can go on and on. I want my readers to remember while you are worth it and should treat yourself with a nice dress, you should also be smart with your money. So always keep your eyes on SALES!

Sydney: What advice would you give to someone just starting their blog?

Mei: If you have that passion that you want to share to the world, I say go for it. Don’t let anything stop you and believe that you can do it. However, as easy as it may look, blogging is hard work. It requires time and dedication. There are no exact rules, you just go with the flow and find that rhythm that suits you well and your readers.

fashion
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About the Creator

Sydney Cooper

I am a junior Digital and Print Journalism major at the University of North Texas. I enjoy writing stories on fashion, art/artists and lifestyle.

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