Our staff’s behind-the-scenes stories continue to grow on Instagram with the hashtag #FAJOgirls. Meanwhile, their individual interviews are unfolding on our magazine’s pages.
Today, I would like you to meet FAJO’s new Features Editor — Violet MacLeod.
Violet joined us in April 2013, after reaching out via email with a very eye-catching subject line: Wannabe – FAJO intern. At the time, she was wrapping up a Bachelor’s of Journalism degree at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Canada, and had to do a month-long internship to satisfy the requirements of her program.
Violet charmed us right away in a Skype interview and, soon enough, was doing her placement with FAJO. She stayed on the team afterwards and, following several other roles, was appointed our Features Editor in April 2016 (exactly three years after joining us!).
A charismatic journalist with a wicked sense of humour, she shares a few things about her below.
[cincopa+AAPAOfND2-hC]1) What do you enjoy the most about working at FAJO?
Is it too enthusiastic to say everything? Because I enjoy everything about working at FAJO. Interviewing industry professionals, laughing with the talented staff and attending cool shows or parties — it’s been amazing.
2) How did you get started in the fashion industry?
Growing up on a farm in rural Nova Scotia, I didn’t get fashion. I was always interested in personal style, pop culture and writing; but runway fashion made no sense to me. After all, who would wear those over-the-top outfits?
In 2013, I finished journalism school and interned at FAJO where I earned my fashion education and fell in love with fashion reporting.
3) Create a hashtag to best describe your personality. What is it and why?
#HiImViolet
Hi, I’m Violet. I’m always growing and changing, but right now I critically think about everything, laugh uncontrollably at my own jokes and cry when I’m overwhelmingly happy. I’m a complicated person, but who isn’t?
4) How would you describe your personal sense of style?
Twenty-five going on 85. I’m 25 years old, but you might not know it looking at my wardrobe.
I love knit and cashmere sweaters, vintage fur jackets and having butterscotch candies in my overstuffed tote bag. Despite my distinctly senior sense of style, I still love a pair of sky-high heels and a beanie or ball cap.
[cincopa+AEHA4etm2mlG]5) Share your favourite fashion or beauty secret.
Fashion: Be unapologetically confident about who you are. And don’t listen to anyone, everyone’s just guessing anyway.
Beauty: If you’re in a pinch, baking soda mixed with water is an excellent face and body exfoliant.
6) Let’s talk about personal preferences! Pick one:
– runway or street style? Street style
– hair or make-up? Make-up
– red or black? Black
– lipstick or lip gloss? Lipstick
– heels or flats? Heels
– pants or skirts? Either
7) What is the biggest fashion mistake you’ve ever made?
White, fluffy, faux-fur winter boots — imagine your feet being encapsulated by two humongous pom-poms. As a 12-year-old, I wore them religiously. It was totally outrageous.
8) What do you like to do in your free time?
Weekday: Drink cheap Moscato and read. Right now, I’m working on the English translation of Don Quixote.
Weekend: Hit the slopes! Most weekends, I like to ditch the city and head to the mountains.
9) We can never catch you wearing ______? Why?
I wish I could say you’d never catch me in yoga pants, socks and sandals, or a skirt that’s mistakenly too short, but then I’d be lying. We all make fashion mistakes.
10) What has been your favourite fashion project to-date?
This past summer, I had the privilege of collaborating with my sister to create my wedding veil. It was a stunning modern take on the Juliet Cap with embroidered cream-coloured flowers and a small ribbon tied in a bow at the nape of the neck.
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