rachelschwartzmann@yahoo.com
Believe me when I say, that I feel truly honored that the The Style Line has reached a level of immense recognition and has been able to maintain an international readership. Since it’s inception, for me, it has and continues to be extremely rewarding to interact and engage with not only my readers but with those I interview. With this in mind, I would like to introduce fashion blogger and previous interviewee Daniella Robins, who has inspired me tremendously ever since we began communicating. Aside from being bloggers and fashion enthusiasts, Daniella and I share another defining characteristic in common - We have both battled life-affecting illnesses and have used fashion/the arts as a creative outlet to channel our emotions and frustrations. However, this is not about me or my story. This is about showcasing a remarkable young lady, who despite the odds and the extreme lack of energy (as you will read more about below) learned to be courageous from the start and has used fashion as way to make it through.
How, when and why did you first get into fashion?
Well I’ve been interested in clothes ever since I can remember and have always been strong minded when it came to choosing what I wanted to wear. Though I strongly got into clothes and fashion when I was diagnosed with M.E or as some call it Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
I know that you’re battling a chronic illness, can you tell us a bit about your background?
Well I was diagnosed when I was 11 years old though it wasn’t as simple as just “Oh she’s got M.E.” I was in and out of hospital for roughly nine months as the doctors had no clue to what was wrong with me. They went through almost every illness there was and even accused me of making it up, forcing me to do things that my body wasn’t physically capable of as I was to weak and in too much pain that in the end I ended up in a wheelchair, fed through a nasal tube, weighed 3 stone and was completely bed ridden. I was treated awfully and at the end of the day was just a scared 11 year old little girl. Finally my parents were able to take to someone private who diagnosed me with M.E and helped me to slowly get better and also helped in teaching me how to live with it.
You have mentioned that fashion has been your outlet for coping with this disease. Can you explain how?
There are so many reasons why fashion has helped me. It takes me away from the illness, its helped in giving me a new identity, yes the illness is a big part of who I am but its not everything I am. I wake up and feel ill every day and if i use the small bits of energy I have to look well and to look the complete opposite to what I’m actually feeling inside, well that all just goes to making me feel better and why shouldn’t I let myself have that.
Do you have any other creative outlets?
My blog is a huge outlet for me,its one of the main things that gives me purpose everyday, something I can truly focus on. I have lots of interests, loves and joys but as far as coping outlets are concerned, everything fashion and style is the only thing that there is
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years time I hope to see myself a lot healthier, hopefully had some experience of living in a city (as I live in a small town, that doesn’t have the same fashion advantages that living in a city would have) hopefully of done some stylist work,as thats one of the main things I would love to be able to do and for my blog to of continued growing. Of course the main place I’d like to see myself in is a happy place surrounded by my family and the people I love most.
How has fashion made you stronger? Fashion has saved me in many ways! Fashion has saved me from giving up hope and saved me because its opened me up to so many things that I wouldn’t of thought possible from the comfort of my bed, where I spend so much of my time. I thank God and my angels every day that fashion has become so accessible for those who aren’t able to be directly involved within the fashion industry.
What would you say to those who are in the same boat as you? How can fashion and the arts serve as a guide to those dealing with similar circumstances?
What ever it is you’re into make that your focus. Let it be the first thing you think of and the last and whether you write about it, take photos of it, draw it or simply just look and admire it never forget that visualization is everything and I truly believe that. Let what you love and have a passion for be what defines you not a diagnosis.
What is your motto in life? [I have a few:] “Always hope for the best but expect the worst,” “That’s Life.” and positive visualization- these are key.
