The Fashion Time Magazine

Dynamic Duos throughout history:  Batman and Robin, Tarzan and Jane, Bullwinkle and Rocky, Scooby Doo and Shaggy, Cleopatra and Marc Antony, and two of our favorite Glamornista highnesses from down Glasgow, Scotland way, Michelle and Marie (image left), of the fabled fashion and style site, Kingdom of Style.

At Kingdom of Style, Marie and Michelle riff and raff (but never riff-raff) to their hearts’ content on a wide variety of fashion, style, design, and life issues, much to their many readers’ delight. They are to the Glasgow fashion scene, what Joy Division was to Manchester. The two of them, really truly, stand out.

We thank Michelle and Marie for taking time out from their busy schedules to participate in our Interview.

Fashion Time: Your Royal Highnesses, Marie and Michelle, how do we tell the two of you apart and can you share with us some background information?

Michelle: It’s not hard! We are the complete opposite in every way - physically, emotionally and mentally. I’m a 35 year old graphic designer who likes a wee tinker on the wheels of steel.

Marie: As Michelle said we are polar opposites, yet oddly we seem to share the same brain, saying exactly the same thing at the same time. I am a full time creative bossy boots, drama queen and nosey cow with an enduring love of the sequin.

Fashion Time: The year of the cat: You are both Glaswegians, residents of Glasgow, Scotland, so we like for you to share with us, three unique things about your city that are found nowhere else in the Cosmos?

The Barras

Michelle: The sheer volume of Buckfast consumed; the Barras; the Subclub.

Marie: The one brain kicked in here…

The Barrowland’s neon sign

1. The Barrowland’s Neon Sign - previously a ballroom and now the best live music venue in the cosmos, the iconic sign is a joy to behold.
2. The Barras - another Glasgow institution. Basically a fleamarket, you either love it or hate it. Dirty, dodgy but an integral part of cityscape
3. The SubClub - my home from home and THE BEST CLUB in the world…

Fashion Time: Your favorite local Glasgow designers are?

Michelle: The girls behind Bebaroque tights.

Marie: Piero Landi and Morven Kerr who were Fevered Deviant. Piero is now a fashion photographer and illustrator and Morven is a fashion stylist. They are the sweetest, most creative people I have ever known…

Fashion Time: The genesis of royal style: Tell us about the origin of Kingdom of Style and who you are trying to reach with your site?

Michelle: We started in August 2006 but we never had a core audience in mind specifically. I guess we just want to attract people who have a bit of a sense of humour and don’t take it all too seriously. We are not shy about voicing our opinions, so the easily offended might want to stay away!

Marie: We were writing for each other basically. It was just an extension of what we talked about non stop. We are still astonished by the numbers and how we have made real and meaningful friendships with witty and wonderful like minded spirits in the big blog world.

Fashion Time: Your advice for aspiring fashion bloggers?

Michelle: Be honest. Blog about what you like and know, not what you think people want to read.

Marie: ‘To thine ownself be true’. Be yourself and write in your own voice. If you don’t feel it for real how can anyone else…

Fashion Time: What is your least favorite part about blogging?

Michelle: The commitment. It’s hard to not think about blogging, and it’s hard to not feel bad about not posting every day.

Marie: The guilt! at not visiting other people often enough. That and when you ‘dry up’. Michelle makes me laugh out loud when she says “nothin’ I got nothin’.”

Fashion Time: What are your five desert island staples?

Michelle:

1. Mac Lip Conditioner. My lips would shrivel up if I didn’t use that every day. Marie wants me to go to lipbalm rehab; she reckons I’m completely addicted. What can I say? I enjoy it. But I could stop any time. Honestly.
2. Concealer. Even on a desert island I’d wear concealer. You never know who might rescue you!
3. Sunblock: It would be pretty sunny on that island, and even though I’m stranded I don’t want skin cancer too. That would be a bummer.
4. Chips: One of my major food groups. And if I’m going to be eating lots of fish then chips are the perfect accompaniment.
5. Balenciaga handbag: what if we meet a tribe and they invite us to their village? I need to know I’m ready for any social situation that may arise, so my favourite Balenciaga would come with me as I always feels special when I carry it.

Marie:
1. A kettle and toaster to ensure endless cups of tea and plates of toast. Make no mistake! without these basics, I won’t last a day on your island!
2. Insect repellent, sun screen and shelter - I am not built for the sun. Without these further basics! you guessed it! I won’t last a day on your island.
3. Pair of technics decks - to ensure that QM keeps us dancing until rescue comes.
4. Pair of Wellington Boots - I don’t want anything to sting me when I am in ocean or searching through undergrowth.
5. A roll of Gaffa tape. I am never far away from one. It uses? too many to mention…

Fashion Time: No one ever expects the Thong Inquisition: When women are essentially wearing strands of pearls up their ass cracks, as they seem to be in some of the new trendier thongs, has the thong cultural revolution gone too far?

Michelle: Maybe it’s an age thing, but I feel thongs do nothing for a women’s arse. I don’t care if it’s Kylie’s arse or Jlo’s - thongs flatter no-one. And the VPL defense is pretty poor. I’d rather have VPL than a constant wedgie.

Marie: Without doubt. Undergarments should be made of white cotton and be comprehensive in the coverage provided!

Fashion Time: The five greatest designers of all time are?

Michelle: in particular order
Coco Chanel
Hubert Givenchy
Cristobel Balenciaga
Azzedine Alaia
Rick Owens

Marie:
1. Cristobal Balenciaga
2. Charles James
3. Helmut Lang
4. Yohji Yamamoto
5. Dries Van Noten

Fashion Time: For those about to rock, we salute you: The best concert the two of you ever attended and why?

The Ramones & Dolly Parton together at last…

Michelle: The Ramones when I was a teenager. I used to go and see them every time they played in Glasgow for years. My rock/punk chick look really began with the Ramones. I first got my first voluntary blunt fringe to look like Joey Ramone. I owe that man a lot.

Marie: Dolly Parton. Like me, she is a Drag Queen trapped in a woman’s body!

Fashion Time: Wearing formerly living things on your neck, a go or a no, in your opinions?

Michelle: Depends. If it’s a big old fox head hanging off your neck then I think that’s pretty naff. And gross. But some leather adornment would be OK. I don’t wear real fur or snake skins, so that kind of stuff wouldn’t find it’s way onto my neck.

Marie: No! the little heads and feet give me the creeping fear.

Fashion Time: What’s the most shocking outfit you’ve ever worn?

Michelle: I was into hip hop and skateboarding when I was, like, 12 (it was the 80’s) and I recall wearing black leggings, white high tops, a black hooded Thrasher top and a HUGE silver VW badge around my neck. It was dope. No really it was.

Marie: So many outfits, so little time but without doubt the one made for me by my then boyfriend Crawford, to travel in as we went on our first holiday to St Tropez. Top and trousers in bright blue cotton with white horses all over them. He wore a black and red striped t shirt and matching trousers. My mother feared we would be attacked and thrown overboard as we sailed to France….

Fashion Time: What are the five best online sites for Fashion?

Michelle:
1. Net-a-Porter for high end items and unrivaled customer service.
2. General Cucumber for more unusual labels (everything sells out very quickly though).
3. Browns has a great selection of Rick Owens and general “if I was rich” kind of online window shopping.
4. Topshop: I worship at the alter of Topshop. It’s really the best high street shop there is.
5. The Urban Collection: It’s prices are great and the selection really is fantastic. I have so many things from there it’s ridiculous.

Marie:
1. Style.com - none better to keep up to date with the shows. Essential
2. Mytheresa.com - crammed full of things you can’t live without
3. Ebay - heartbreaking and nervewracking, but where would we be without it?
4. Browns and Net-a -Porter - Showing everyone else, how it should be done
5. Etsy - for all kinds of crafted and hand made lovliness.

Fashion Time: Queen Michelle, your dog Amber, she has that Anna Wintour look going. Do you see the resemblance?

Michelle: I was the stylist behind her edgy bob. I think she needed to break out of the whole Spaniel look a little bit, so I felt a new dramatic trim would work for her. Anna Wintour can only dream for a bob as good as Amber’s.

Fashion Time: What’s the Number One fashion advice you can give to anyone?

Michelle: Be true to yourself. A cliche but it’s true. If you just be yourself style will come naturally. That’s the secret behind being ‘effortless’. I love to see these women who are in their 60’s who wear what they want without feeling the need to tell everyone they’re only 45. That kind of honesty and acceptance is really inspiring.

Marie: Only buy and wear what you love! Regardless of season, trend or other peoples opinion. Wear whatever your heart desires but make sure you feel completely comfortable in it before you leave the house, nothing ruins an adventure like a wardrobe malfuntion.