DORÉ

One of our favorite things from the last 10 years has been getting to know you, our readers. You’ve taught us so much and have always pushed us to be better (yeah—you probably didn’t even realize it, but you’re our toughest critics!). We’ve always loved getting to know you, and for you to get to know us, so we thought to celebrate 10 years, we’d try something a little different with Pardon My French and take questions from you guys. On today’s episode, Garance and Emily are in the studio answering your most burning questions — thank you again to everyone who sent one in! We thought it could be nice to give you, our readers, the chance to have even more insight (as if we’re not already over-sharers) about what’s been happening with Garance and the Studio over the years.

We’ve pulled some of the most memorable quotes from the conversation below, but be sure to listen to the whole episode here or on iTunes!

[podcast_episode episode=”241103″ ]

On finishing the book and getting to meet readers on the book tour…
We were questioning where we were going. The world of fashion blogging was becoming so detached and suddenly meeting with you guys coming to see us and telling me why my work was meaningful, it was so emotional and so great to put us back into perspective.

On relating to women who embrace their true selves…
I’ve always loved the messy ones. The disorganized ones, the funny ones. All the things that happened in my life were because I’m imperfect. I fucked up my studies because I didn’t know where I was going. I partied too much when I was young, but I met so many amazing people. I organized rock concerts. I went through so many phases in my life. All the stumbling moments, those accidents were what made me a richer person. And I love it in other people. I love imperfections and vulnerability.

On her favorite post, which is not fashion related…
It was a beautiful text that still today I read again and everything is there – my emotions and my creativity. As long as you’re giving meaning and emotions, there is nothing that is out of boundaries and we’ve kept that spirit since the beginning.

How she knows she is doing the things she loves…
I am sure I’m doing the things I really love anytime I feel my body vibrating. It’s really true! You feel it. I am not a good surfer, but it’s like being on a wave and you’re just in the moment and you feel that it’s right. You have moments like that like when you fall in love and you’d do anything for that person, or when you’re working on an illustration and nothing can take you away.

On having a place for creativity and the importance of being able to communicate…
I think the big picture is talking to other women and sharing everything I learn. Having always felt so in need of help and guidance and information [in the past], I always wish I am that person for women – my age and younger. I want to cultivate that and it’s also why I’m doing so much work on myself.

On taking things with much more intention and focus….
For any creative, it’s really a journey. Finding yourself. And you shouldn’t stop yourself from doing the things that excite you. I don’t regret diving into so many things, but now I am looking for more focus, and mastership. I want to become a master at the things I do and all these things need time.

On food, and testing yourself…
Test yourself and make that your school of life. Try to see how you feel when you eat certain foods. Drink milk and see how you feel later and tune into that and I think you’ll have all the answers. I would try meditation – it takes a long time to learn but it’s definitely life changing in terms of emotional knowledge of yourself.

On needing to love yourself…
“Loving yourself is much more than your image or your reflection in the mirror. I think that’s when you start that love story with yourself. You can’t love somebody you don’t know. You’ve got to know yourself. Start with small things and love will come slowly.

On the next ten years of Garance’s personal life…
There are a lot of things I want to do. The main thing is, I want to find my way back into my creativity. It is something I left on the side because I was busy. Cultivating an interior life – I want a home and a family and that’s something I haven’t been able to do because I was running around the world, but today I am ready.

On the future of the site…
More than ever, we want to be a different voice, a different place where people can feel at ease, where we make people feel good and interested, where we open new doors.