Knowing Marian Kihogo has been such a delight. She is so graceful, so smooth, so glam.. Yet, she is so in touch and down to earth. To sum it all up, she is infectious. I can talk to her for days. Lol. Enjoy my little interview with her.

Can you tell us a little about you?

I am a glorious 6’1 barefoot. I have been married for 6 years and have no tiny Marian’s yet

I have wanderlust, my birth certificate tells me I’m 28 in human years but in my head I’m still 16!

Where are you from?

I am from Ghana, West Africa.

How did you get started in the industry?

I styled my first non family member at 14 accidentally. She was my friend’s mother. This was the beginning of my work as a personal stylist. At the time, I did it on a hobby sort of basis as I was still in school.

After high school, I studied fashion at college, the styling continued and the fashion styling, fashion writing, was just an extension of the personal styling.

To me they are all connected. They are all forms of fashion interpretation. Be it written, via a fashion editorial magazine spread or through a person’s personal style, it is all translating a fashion viewpoint.

Why fashion?

If I did anything else, I would just be an existence and not living.

Fashion is like breathing to me. It is my release, my lifeline…

Whom/What Magazines have you worked for?

I freelance for a whole load of magazines but in terms of permanent roles in the recent past, I was the Fashion Editor at Style NOW for three years and then went on to work for Dirty Glam and DG+ Plus.

Can you name some celeb clients?

Unfortunately not, as my work with clients is built on confidentiality and trust.

I can, however, say that they are all utterly fabulous!

What inspires your style? It’s so unique and effortless..

It is influenced by everything, nothing and all the interesting nuances in between. I believe style is a reflection of the makings of an individual. So I am inspired consciously and unconsciously by architecture, fashion history, Art, design, music, people, culture, travel, stillness, literature etc., but most importantly, my ever-changing station on life’s journey.

How would you describe your personal style?

A car crash of rock influences, intuition, masculine tailoring, nostalgia and a jumble of my current head-space.

How do people respond to your style?

My motto is to never pause to notice.

It is always a bonus when people compliment me on a look/outfit or garment but in all honesty, I figured a long time ago that that is only a bonus.

I never was too bothered what people thought. My style is really intrinsic to my personality and my mental headspace. It sort of just happens and I have to leave it to do its own thing so I usually don’t take into consideration what others think of it.

There are those who, I’m sure, would pass on it but that has never been an issue. I reckon that that’s why it’s MY style and not theirs…

I see a lot of people who are sadly so anxious about what others think about their style.. that it inhibits its growth.

So, I make it my mission never to pause to notice.

What are you into this season?

Lightweight linens, slouchy vintage shorts, ombre dip dyed garments, nudes, wood and raffia heels for days, neon nail polish, white translucent fabrics with a life of their own, clean perfume scents that remind you of a freshly laundered pile, bright in your face coral lipstick, 50’s Drum magazine copies, stacked vintage silver jewelery, pastel hair shades, sheers, outfits topped with that badass personality you know…

In addition to being a Fashion Stylist, you are also a Fashion Writer & Consultant. How do you joggle all?

On a minute by minute basis and before I know it each day gets done by God’s grace. The trick is to never look at the big picture. I just handle each errand/appointment/meeting/shoot as it comes and before I know it, my day is done.

On that note, maybe a 36 hour day would be nice…. *Smile*.

What is your day job? Your 9-5?

A bit of all of the above! No two days are the same for me. On an average day, I might have to style a client or two for an event, hand in a fashion article or two, run an interview with a creative for a publication, creative consult on varying levels, personal shop for some of my personal styling clients, style a shoot maybe…. It is always a bit of everything each day and I love how busy it gets.

Fashion is?

Much more than clothes, labels and trends….

It is a standpoint, a mission statement, an opinionated form of art.

It is alive.

How can people reach you for your services?

Send me an email on marian@mariankihogo.com or seeing that I am a huge twitter enthusiast, say hi on http://twitter.com/marian_kihogo and I promise to say hi right back ;x)

PS – You can also visit Marian’s site here for the latest news in Haute Couture, New Designers, and the latest in London Fashion.