Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordin Redou.
Hi Jordin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Jordin Redou, and I’m a fashion blogger and freelance stylist! I got my first taste of styling as an assistant to a top Houston-based image consultant and during an internship at Nordstrom at La Cantera in San Antonio.
I’ve always loved creating fashion looks and playing with color and silhouette, so helping others with their wardrobe as a stylist/personal shopper excites me to no end. As early as my late teens, I post photos of my daily outfits, along with travelogues and lifestyle bits. This soon led to a full-fledged blog.
Through these avenues, I combined my love of writing with my talent for capturing chic slice of life moments and bold fashion statements in photos to create The Chic Observer blog and Instagram page.
In addition to fashion, I love indoor cycling, reading, brunching with my friends, sipping champagne in the park, and trying new things (French lessons, knitting, testing out new recipes). I currently split my time between Houston and New York City (when I’m not traveling and exploring new places), and I continue to share my life, travel guides, tips/tricks and recommendations in photos and articles.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When I first started my fashion Instagram page in 2014 I had a vision but no concrete idea of how to bring it to life. The edits on my photos were…creative…to say the least. The borders, the stickers, the over-editing to compensate for the lack of good lighting, the less than ideal backgrounds…There was definitely a learning curve when it came to figuring out my Instagram aesthetic.
Early on, the blogging part of this journey was a beast. I knew from the start that I didn’t have what it took to build a website from the ground up or to try my hand at coding. To skirt those shortcomings, I looked to WordPress, Blogger and other sites known for being user-friendly. While I did avoid coding (mostly), I had to try a few websites before I found one that I could easily navigate. I wasn’t able to grasp the setup of the first couple of platforms, so I ended up having to migrate dozens of previously posted articles across the internet a number of times before finding a workable home for them.
Then, of course, there was the actual writing itself. At first, inspiration and ideas for articles to write took all my free time. Considering that I started my blog in college in tiny San Marcos, Texas, my environment left much to be desired in terms of cutting-edge fashion and lifestyle. I wanted to write about what celebrities wore to music festivals, trends that were hot off the Paris runway, chic restaurants with photo-worthy cocktails and pricey candles scented by cashmere and the English countryside. Instead, I found myself surrounded by students in Chacos and oversized T’s. As I marinated in a humid miasma of stale beer and roadside tacos, I desperately poured over fashion magazines, blogs, newspaper-style sections and social media to figure out what was transpiring in the fashion world. Needless to say, those years in the au courant wilderness were detrimental to my ability to publish article after article. Once I finally brainstormed a list of topics, finding time to sit down to write wasn’t too difficult (I’m not admitting to writing articles instead of taking notes in class, but I’m certainly not denying it).
It was the editing that discouraged me. I was fortunate to have a close relationship with a well-regarded journalist who was willing to give me notes and corrections on my work. The downside? The sheer amount of notes and edits I got in the beginning. It was really hard for me read through mistakes I had made in a draft that I thought was flawless. It was even harder to post the article after that knowing complete strangers might take a magnifying glass to my writing and could tear it apart.
All of this to say, it took time, practice, encouragement from friends and family, and the fact that I knew I had a passion for fashion and writing to keep me going over the years. It was hard to see so many influencers in the same space grow followings so quickly and gain brand deal after brand deal in what felt like a short period of time while I was still trying to figure it all out. I had to learn to be patient, trust the process and have fun with my new hobby instead of trying to compete with other people on the internet.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Chic Observer and my styling consultation services are all about creating a beautiful life for yourself through little luxuries and easy substitutions. I’ve always felt that small changes in life can make the mundane feel less dull. For example, find a small easily replaceable glass and bring it with you on your next flight so you can ditch the flimsy paper cup and sip from a real glass. Buy personalized stationery and a wax seal then write letters to your grandparents. Collect a few vases and fill your tiny NYC apartment with flowers. Knit your own dishtowels with organic yarn in your favorite color and use them when you clean up after dinner.
I take the same approach when helping my clients select new pieces for their wardrobes. If you always select leggings and a t-shirt as a quick and easy outfit to grocery shop in, why not try a simple shift dress with sleek sneakers instead? This look goes on just as quickly and looks effortlessly polished. Instead of shoving on your old baseball cap when you head out on a road trip, why not trade it in for a silk scarf wrapped around your head a la Grace Kelly and a fun pair of sunglasses? A little movie star glam that takes seconds to prepare will give you a boost of confidence and make the task a pinch more fun.
I want to show my clients and my followers that, while it might take slightly more effort, there are so many small things you can do to elevate your experience in your day-to-day life to make the world feel a touch more classy and chic.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Funny enough, not much has changed since I was little. Ever since I could identify colors and wield a tube of mascara, I’ve been interested in all things fashion. I’ve had strong opinions from a young age about what I would and would not wear. Dresses and skirts dominated my closet. Even on the coldest days, I insisted on dresses that flared when I twirled, skirts with bows or sparkles, and little ruffled socks. From the age of preschool, I relished going shopping with my mother and delighted in selecting my own clothes. As a teen, my fashion sense really started to take form. I moved away from trends and settled into my own style. I became a master at working within my high school’s dress code to create outfits that set me apart from the rest of the student body. Of course, I did my hair and light makeup to perfection without fail and loved showing up to cross-country practice in a bouncy tennis skirt, fitted top and matching visor. Oversized sunglasses and high heels were my daily class uniform.
While I’ve always loved making bold fashion statements, I’m also quite shy. Every first day of school, each new activity or party invitation caused me to agonize about who I might socialize with. While I’m much better at managing that now, there are still a lot of social situations that trigger minor anxiety. My love of fashion helps enormously in these times because years of honing my fashion sense give me amazing confidence in knowing I’m presenting the best version of myself.
I love fine design. I’ll never forget when my parents got me my first designer handbag (a brown Dooney & Bourke). I carried it everywhere and felt so sophisticated with it on my shoulder. I love dressing up for special occasions and fine dining. I loved having my nails and hair done. Starting in high school, I began scrimping and saving to start what is now a modest, respectable collection of luscious silk scarves. All in all, I guess you could say, I’ve always been…well…me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://observerofchic.blogspot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechicobserver
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChicObsever
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/observerofchic
- Other: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Redou-Let-s-heed-the-strict-rules-of-Greek-life-12383339.php
Image Credits
Jordin Redou
