"Getting ready every day - for me it's a form of self-care" 

Hi, I'm Nanda! This year, I'm turning 30, and I've been online since I was 14. At 15, I started my own blog about photography, and after I'd photographed all my friends' Facebook pictures, I discovered self timer. At the same time, I came across Lookbook.nu (a site dedicated to sharing your outfits) and developed a love for flea markets, so my blog shifted towards fashion. This was all before Instagram even existed, so I was one of the first to jump on the platform. I can't believe that what started as a hobby has turned into a career that has supported me financially from the moment I moved out at 19. I've changed a lot of the years, but I still love what I do - sometimes more, sometimes less.

Usually, my content is about fashion, but I also love to get creative with interiors and painting. Everything in my life revolves around colour and colour combinations. It’s my passion, and I express it through my fashion, paintings, interiors, and analogue photography. It feels like an urge within me. And when I see colour combinations I don’t like, it gives me a strange feeling.

When I was younger, I always felt like I had to commit to one specific style. The term 'core' didn’t exist back then, but the concept did. I used to feel stressed when I liked something that didn't fit into the 'core style' I had chosen at the time. But a few years ago, I realised that fashion is actually the opposite - it's about trying stuff, being creative, and exploring different sides of your personality. Sometimes I like to dress more playfully, sometimes more chic French inspired, and other times a little more tomboyish with baggier clothes. All of these come together to create a personal style that helps me feel good about myself every day.

I'm at a point where I don’t feel like something is missing from my closet. Instead, I'm more inspired by what I see, and then I ask myself, "Is this something I would feel comfortable in, or am I just admiring it on someone else because of their aesthetic and vibe?" Over the past few years, I've become more conscious about my shopping habits, especially because, as an influencer, I sometimes receive items for free - sometimes even without asking. This led to owning pieces I wouldn't actually wear, which made me feel bad. I'm also privileged enough to rethink my choices and be more mindful about the brands I buy from.

I usually start with the one item I feel drawn to that day and that I want to wear. Then I think about the colour combinations, the items I own, and whether they’re appropriate for the weather. Sometimes, I get inspired by a movie I watched or something I saw on Pinterest. Now that I'm typing this, I realise that the whole process feels very intuitive for me - a bit hard to analyse haha. When it comes to how I combine colours, I usually work with balance. For example, if I have black and white in an outfit, the contrast can feel very harsh, so I think it needs to be softened. Also, black and white are colours that don't appear much in nature, so there needs to be natural tones to balance this out. I would use colours like brown, olive green, terracotta, and blue but all muted to harmonise with the stark contrast of black and white.

I’m so excited for spring because it offers so many options for combining and styling outfits. I also love working with contrast - like heels with dungarees, for example. In my opinion, it’s a perfect combination. Honestly, I love getting ready every day - there doesn’t need to be a special event. For me, it’s a form of self-care.

I fell in love with Lucy & Yak because of firstly, the colours!!! I almost fall in love with every striped shirt and long sleeve Lucy & Yak has because the colour combinations are just so good. I also love all the cool patterns. 

Introducing: Nanda

Nanda is a fashion content creator who inspires others to express themselves through style, paintings, interiors and photography, using colourful dressing as a form of self-care. Nanda shares her looks and colourful message through her social platforms to encourage everyone to feel good in their own style.

Instagram: Nanda (@nanda_schwarz).
TikTok: Nanda Schwarz (@nandaschwarz)