To me, fashion is an art form and a way to express myself and my different forms of personality. I usually draw inspiration from anything and everything around me. It could be from movies, inanimate objects, pinterest, etc.
Retro Kolkata : First of all, thanks a lot for accepting our invitation for an interview. Please say something about you. About your career as a fashion Influencer & Content creator. How did you get started?
Shiny Bae : So I actually joined Instagram in high school; I would post my outfits every day there, and that’s how I realized I wanted to get into this world of creation. Although, at first I feared getting judged by posting a lot online. However, I trusted the process and gained confidence in myself. I learned it’s important to do things for yourself, not for others. My college also did help me a lot regarding this. They would hold presentations explaining everything in detail. I got my first few brand collaborations because of my college as well. Eventually I gave it a serious thought and started pursuing my passion for content creation in the year 2019. And now almost after 3yrs I am here and enjoying every bit of my Instagram journey as an Influencer.
Retro Kolkata : You have an exceptionally unique look. Where does your style savvy come from, and where do you get your inspiration?
Shiny Bae : Thank you for the compliment. To me, fashion is an art form and a way to express myself and my different forms of personality. I usually draw inspiration from anything and everything around me. It could be from movies, inanimate objects, pinterest, etc.
Retro Kolkata : Tell us about your fashion mantra? Any fashion icons that you personally like or follow?
Shiny Bae : First and foremost know your body type. And wear what makes you feel the most confident. If you think you can pull off a certain outfit confidently in public then do it without a second thought! My fashion mantra is all about wearing outfits that makes me feel confident, sexy and powerful! Komal Pandey inspires me a lot and I have inherited this ideology from her.
Retro Kolkata : How do you get involved with your followers and find the best way to give them the content they want?
Shiny Bae : I usually post a lot of interactive stories, asking them what they would like to see next. I also ask for their suggestions on what kind of content I should be creating.
Retro Kolkata : How do you select brands you work with? When was your first collaboration with a brand?
Shiny Bae : While selecting brands, there simply will have to be a great level of fit between what I represent and what the brand represents. When I do a collaboration with a brand, it’s important to me that I get to experiment with my creative energy.
Retro Kolkata : What has been your best fashion purchase ever?
Shiny Bae : My Linen shirts and my Air Jordans.
Retro Kolkata : If you had to name one thing, what would be your favourite thing in your wardrobe right now?
Shiny Bae : My Corsets! There’s endless possibilities how you can style a corset!
Retro Kolkata : What are your three favourite trends at the moment?
Shiny Bae : I was really stoked when the y2k trend came back. My top favourite trend would be Y2K fashion because its all about making a statement, and making it louder than anyone else. The cottage-core trend has also made a comeback. This trend is all about investing in pieces that are timeless and have beautiful Victorian-esque details. I have recently been loving bustiers/corsets as well. It’s a great versatile layering piece — you can wear it by itself if you want to, or you can edge it up or make it girlier depending on how you wear it. Honestly, the possibilities are endless.
Retro Kolkata : What are the three essential elements of fashion that every girl should have?
Shiny Bae : A baggy bottom be it a denim or trousers. With a baggy bottom-wear you can create 100s of outfit combinations. A satin dress which you can wear from day to night. And an oversized Blazer.
Retro Kolkata : Do you have any Beauty/Skin Care tips or Tricks to look fresh and rested for an early morning Photo shoot?
Shiny Bae : I usually follow a 5 step skin care routine. Toner-vit C/ Hyaluronic serum-hydrating moisturiser-Night gel mask-under eye gel. The hack is that the more you hydrate your skin at night the more glowy your skin gets when you wakeup. It is worth the effort because our skin absorbs nutrients better at night than it does during the day.
Retro Kolkata : Give us 5 fun facts people might not know about you yet.
Shiny Bae : The first one is that most people doesn’t know my real name is Bandhani.
I am a cat mom to my 12 cat babies.
I change my hair colour every-time I have a mental breakdown.
My guilty pleasure is watching documentaries on serial killers.
I am a big FOODIE!
Retro Kolkata : We (Retro Kolkata) are trying to build one single stage for all the artists, because we believe that artists are the most beautiful creation of God and geographical boundaries can never break their unity and harmony. Please say something about our initiative and any special message for your followers.
Shiny Bae : I think this initiative is really remarkable as it gives exposure to a lot of micro-creators. Through retro Kolkata the creators get to connect with their audience on a deeper level. I hope you continue with this great work and provide exposure to all the up-and-coming artists.
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