We’ve been so enjoying introducing our favorite bloggers to you over the past few months, and getting to know them a little better ourselves. This month is no exception, and if you haven’t been introduced to Alex, of Dreams + Jeans yet, get ready to be smitten. Her blog features the best in design — from products to interiors and more. Read on to find out how she first ended up on my radar, and how she landed her dream job!
Hi Alex! Clara and I are big fans of Dreams + Jeans. I, in particular, discovered it when I caught your feature in Matchbook Magazine, and realized we grew up in the same (tiny) area in New Jersey! Where did life lead you once you left, for college and beyond?
I actually left NJ during high school and moved just outside of Annapolis, MD for a few years. I then spent my college years at Syracuse University, and spent a semester in London.
Did you find it difficult to transition to city life, after growing up in the country? Would you consider yourself a ‘city person’?
Spending a semester in London was like a test run of NYC for me. I knew that a lot of Syracuse grads ended up in NYC so I wanted to see how I liked living in a city. I fell in love with it and knew that NYC was the perfect place for me after graduating. I’m not sure if I would classify myself a city person – I definitely enjoy living in a larger area with more to do and see, but also love the relaxed pace you find outside of cities. It’s all about balance for me.
You currently work for Madewell! How did you land that job? And what do you enjoy most about it?
I landed the job by relentless networking! I really wanted to do design for a fashion brand and spent my last semester of school talking to as many people as possible. I ended up emailing the right person at the right time and they needed someone immediately. I started out as a freelance designer on the web side and have since transitioned to fulltime and now I design mostly print pieces. I love that we are a young, constantly evolving brand, which allows us to try a lot of new things. I also love that I get to work across so many types of mediums. I design a lot of the stuff for stores like signage, packaging, window decals, but I also design our emails and various other print marketing materials.
How did you get interested in graphic design? Is it something you always knew you would study?
Growing up I was interested in the arts, but was not the best at fine arts. I did a pre-college architecture program during high school and after realizing I wasn’t quite detail-oriented enough for it, I was exposed to graphic design and it resonated. I loved that it was an artform, but also very technical.
Dreams + Jeans has a beautiful aesthetic. How long have you been blogging, and what made you decide to start?
Thank you! I started blogging during the summer of 2010. I was looking for a way to express my love of fashion and interior design and was reading a few blogs at the time, so I decided to start my own. Having a blog allows you to be an editor of sorts which I loved. The space truly reflects me and my aesthetic, which definitely helped me while job-hunting. Outside of my portfolio, it was a place for companies to learn more about me and my interests/style.
Walk us through a typical day for you:
A typical day involves waking up around 7:30, checking social media (Instagram, Twitter, a little Pinterest), then getting ready for work. I generally work from 9-7 and then after work I either head home to work on the blog or freelance work, or have dinner/drinks with friends.
You dream weekend involves…
Sleeping in a little, grabbing brunch with friends, exploring the city, early evening drinks and dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. I love weekends with no plans so that I can spend time with my boyfriend, walking around our neighborhood and discovering new restaurants and shops. There’s always so much to see and do here!
Three products you can’t live without:
White J.Crew Vintage Cotton tees, Living Proof Restore products, and a good Arnold Palmer.
TV addictions:
Real Housewives, Mad Men, Downton Abbey.
Your guilty pleasures:
Drybar, popcorn at the movies, new nail polishes
Most recent happy purchase:
This pretty scalloped dress
Something about you most people wouldn’t realize or know:
I’m obsessed with surfing + surf culture despite not actually being able to surf (and being mildly terrified of the ocean).
Thanks, Alex! We loved having you.
