This week we’ve had the pleasure of doing an interview with creative entrepreneur Emma Gelaude, also known as Belgium’s first fashion blogger.
Today, 11 years after she started her own personal styling & shopping business and launched her blog, Emma creates campaigns for the finest brands in the world.
She is an official Marie Claire contributor, is a passionate speaker on female entrepreneurship and wrote 2 books. Her latest, Make My Dream Work, is about 10 years blogging, fashion & business and tells the behind the scenes story of a girlboss.
We have talked to her about her career and how she combines it with motherhood, what a typical day is for her and what her future goals are. She ends the interview by giving you girls who want to work in fashion some golden advice.
You started blogging in 2007 and 10 years later a lot has changed to your blog. Do you feel your personality has evolved together with your blog? What’s the difference between the goals you had in 2007 and the goals you have now?
So much has changed the last 10 years, including myself.
I started blogging to create awareness around my personal styling business through outfit posts, restylings etc… It was until my first blogger collab in 2011 (with Ebay) that I realized the impact of my platform. Nowadays, AllTheGoodThings.be is a place to be creative, inspired & updated with real stories around the good things in life. I want people to feel confident to step out of their comfort zone, so the magic can happen. I wrote a piece on why it was inevitable to change the (name) of the blog
You’re a mother, personal stylist, influencer, author of 2 books and entrepreneur. How do you manage to combine all of this without losing your mind?
By doing it with great passion and a positive mindset which makes the biggest difference to me personally. Some days I get overwhelmed, but then I try to be thankful for all the chances I get and the opportunity I even got to make my dream work. Also letting go of ‘the perfect balance’. It’s not achievable. It doesn’t even exist.
I go with the waves and try to make the best of it. Sometimes that means being fully occupied by work for several weeks, other moments I’m giving my all to my daughter.
And it’s the creative switch between all the professional stuff I’m doing, that keeps me challenged. It’s what keeps me going. So in a way I love this rat race (on my own :))
Can you describe us a typical weekday?
There’s no typical weekday. Sometimes I work all day on my computer, on other days I’m producing a video for a beauty brand, writing articles or doing a personal shopping session in Antwerp for a client.
What project in your career are you most proud of?
I don’t know. I may have done a lot of stuff and crazy things happened, but it’s so difficult to pick just one.
I’m proud of myself for still doing what I love and for always keeping my head high when things got rough. By staying true to myself. This is something very important to me and I can honestly say that money can’t buy me. Not in the beginning not now, never.
Maybe I’m the proudest when I receive messages on social from people who follow my story and they feel empowered/inspired by my actions to realize their own goals.
You have already achieved so much in your career, is there something else that you dream of achieving?
Of course, there are lots of dreams and desires I have and want to fulfill in my life. Having a positive impact on those around me, is maybe the most important goal. It’s the only way I can be fully satisfied with the work that I do. I need to give back in order to feel good & be happy.
Finally, do you have any advice for girls wanting to work in fashion?
Like in any sector, be sure to have an expertise. ‘I work in fashion’ can mean a lot of things so find your strength, get educated/experienced and become the best in your niche.
Emma Gelaude
www.instagram.com/emmagelaude/
www.instagram.com/makemydreamwork/
www.emmapersonalstyling.be
Words Virginie Dardenne
Photo Courtesy Emma Gelaude Photographed by Luka Host
