I am so happy and thrilled to be collaborating with the ever fabulous Emma Leuman of Elsewhere Magazine! We met through Moda Magazine when we were both studying at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and connected through our mutual love of fashion. Now we both are enjoying post grad life and continuing to pursue fashion through blogging. Emma reached out to me a couple of weeks back to collaborate and, of course, I said YES right away!
Emma is such a girl boss and goes after what she wants. I love her fashionably moody aesthetic on Instagram and I definitely love reading Elsewhere Magazine to stay up to date on the fashion industry's news and happenings. It is great because she highlights the main points so you can stay up to date even when you're on the go! Emma and I both shared a bit about ourselves on each other's blogs and chatted about how we got involved in fashion, what our niches are, our blogging process, and why collaborating with fellow girl bosses is SO important.
Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy getting to know Emma and all things Elsewhere Magazine!
xoxo
Madalyn Joy
Hi! My name is Emma Leuman and I am the creator of Elsewhere Magazine, a digital publication designed to provide fashion-obsessed outsiders a place to discuss the fashion industry and find community. As an outsider myself (born in raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin - maybe one of the least fashionable cities in America), I wanted to give people a place to be a part of the world that they had a passion for, without feeling judged by so-called fashion insiders. Fashion has an incredible community, and we should all be able to be a part of it! This is the basis behind this collaboration with Styled by Madalyn Joy - to open our audiences to new perspectives on the industry that we both love. Thanks again for inviting me to contribute, Madalyn!
What first drew you to the fashion industry?
My first experiences with fashion came through magazines. I would spend hours flipping through their glossy pages, studying the ads as much as the editorials to see which trends were arising that season and which models I could identify from previous issues. I loved the way that reporters could accurately and succinctly describe clothing in a way that made couture collections feel like poetry.
How did you first get involved in the fashion industry?
My first point of access to getting more involved in fashion was through my university’s fashion and lifestyle magazine. I was able to learn from more experienced members of the magazine about what the industry was like, how to write for a fashion publication and how a publication is run. I was also able to discover what I truly enjoyed writing about! I was drawn to pieces that examined fashion as a business, as well as feature-length pieces about the cultural implications of fashion.
My next step toward ingratiating myself into the fashion world was to start a blog. What began as a lifestyle blog quickly transitioned into the fashion-focused publication that Elsewhere Magazine is today! I have been writing for my blog-turned-magazine for over two years now and don’t see myself stopping anytime soon. I believe that adding new and unique voices to a conversation that is all-too-often dominated by “insiders” is important and necessary!
What is your specific niche/voice in the fashion industry?
I believe that my specific voice can be defined as that of an outsider. I have never been invited to a New York Fashion Week show, nor have I written for a renowned publication or attended a major industry event. I have, however, developed an intense passion for fashion through years of research and observation - and I think that makes me as qualified as anyone is to have an opinion on clothing, trends, models and fashion as a business. My voice is a welcoming one, one that that encourages everyone (regardless of status and experience) to develop their own outlook on fashion. After all, as consumers ourselves we have the ultimate say in what trends become profitable and which flop at the department store!
What does your blogging process look like?
My blogging process has varied over the course of developing Elsewhere Magazine, but in this moment it is a mix between having a plan and keeping up with current events. I am constantly keeping up with outlets such as Fashionista and The Business of Fashion in order to see what is happening in the industry. As an outsider that does not yet receive press releases from major brands (someday!), it is difficult to be a “news-breaking” outlet. I see Elsewhere Magazine more as a source of analysis of current events, as well as a place where they can be discussed.
Why is collaborating important to you?
Collaboration is the key to progressing in any facet of life. For example, as an athlete it is difficult to improve beyond a certain point of ability without collaborating with a coach. As an artist or entrepreneur, you look for mentors to help take you to the next level. In this case, collaborating allows us to be exposed to other audiences, as well as provide support and express our admiration for other fashion-obsessed creatives! I am so thrilled that Madalyn has allowed me to contribute to her incredible blog. I admire her ability to take all of her dreams to the next level and am overjoyed to be a part of it all.
Emma Leuman, Madalyn Manzeck, and Courtney Pelot photographed at the "Party Like Gatsby" WUD banquet back in 2014. We all look like babies! haha
Make sure to visit Elsewhere Magazine (here!) and follow along on Instagram (@elsewheremag)!
