Presenting: Gala Darling

So, you know how I love to hook you up with inspir-o girls who are making their own girl-shaped footprints in the world, right? Well, today I have a total treat for you…She’s a blue-haired, NYC-lovin’, blogging queen from New Zealand, she’s called Gala Darling and we’ve got a girl crush.

Describe Gala Darling in 5 words…
Eccentric, electric, passionate, creative, !!!!!!!! (Does “!!!!!!!!” count?! It should!)

So, who is Gala Darling - care to share?
I’m a blue-haired writer who fled the shores of New Zealand to make my fortune in the big bad world… & who wants to pull as many other people along on this crazy, fabulous adventure as I can!

You’re the super talent behind iCiNG, for those who haven’t had the total treat of visiting yet, what is it exactly? What’s it all about? When and why did you start it?
iCiNG is about living your best life ever. It started off as a site about fashion & style, but the questions from readers started to get more & more interesting — about relationships, life & finding yourself — & so the site has evolved to include a bit of everything. I always see it as, well sure, you can put on a beautiful dress, but it doesn’t mean much if you’re not happy on the inside. So iCiNG is the place where I do my best to help people find that for themselves, with clothing, make-up & shoes as iCiNG on the cake! I started it in December 2006, because I didn’t want to work in an office ever again!

The site is like a hit of fabulousity each day - we love it - where do you get your inspir-o to continuously produce sparkly content?
Most of it is born from pure BLISS & excitement that I get to do this every day! The thrill hasn’t worn off yet, & it’ll be two years in December! I find that just walking in the street is incredibly inspiring to me, but I get ideas from all sorts of things all the time. Occasionally I get burned-out & have to stop writing for a few days, but I bounce back!

What 5 tracks would be essential to a Gala Darling soundtrack to life?
It’s always changing. But my favourites at the moment are…
* Notorious B.I.G. — Juicy (”Birthdays was the worst days, now we sip champagne when we thirsty!”)
* The Roots - Star/Pointro
* Estelle feat. Kanye West - American Boy
* N.E.R.D. - Laugh About It
* …& a remix of Bill O’Reilly’s outburst on television by DiscoTech!

You have effortless style and a kick-ass ‘tude - what’s your secret?!!
I don’t feel like my style is very effortless at all so it’s nice to hear that it is perceived that way! My attitude is one I have developed over years & years… I used to be a very different person! Really for me it has just come from doing what is best for me & making an effort to improve myself at all times, even when it’s painful/difficult/annoying.

Who are your style icons?
Diana Vreeland, Marchesa Louisa Casati, & Carrie Bradshaw’s stylist, Patricia Field (who I met last week, squeal!).

What era would you like to go back and visit and why?
You know what, I think the present moment is totally fabulous. I don’t idolise a certain time period or era, because I know that for all the glitter of the 80’s, or the freedom of the 70’s, or the swingin’ style of 60’s, each of those periods had their own problems. We live in SUCH an amazing time right now, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!

You’re currently on your travels - what was your must-take item? What inspired your US trip?
My Macbook & camera(s)! Such a geek, huh?! I am an obsessive chronicler, so having something to write on & something to take photographs with were essential. But my suitcase was stuffed, I’m not good at packing light! My travels were inspired by my lover & I wanting to do something delicious for his birthday. We came to NYC for a raw chocolate rave & I decided to stay on a bit longer!

You’re a journo-girl too - what do you love most about being a freelance writer-girl? What are the benefits? Are their any downsides?
I love love love the freedom of it. I am totally my own woman — I can wake up when I please, write about things that thrill me & publish them whenever I like. There is no editor to hem me in, no managers to appease, no dress code… & I love the instant feedback from my readers (nonpareils — they’re the ones that decorate the iCiNG!). Downsides? Sometimes inspiration is in short supply, but when that happens, I know I just need to breathe, get outside, drink some water, & live a little! It’s pretty easily solved.

We love to visit new places - can you introduce us to your city? what would be your perfect way to spend a day there? what would you do? Where would you go?
Officially I live in Melbourne, though I’ve only been there about a year & a half & still feel like a tourist! I have never really settled into it. But there are some definite must-dos in Melbourne:
Crabapple Cupcakes, Koko Black chocolate cafe, visits to Belinda & Miss Louise (fab boutiques), a trip down Hosier Lane to check out all the council-endorsed street art & perhaps a spin around the ferris wheel by the Yarra River to finish off!

Tell us who inspires you/who you admire and why?
People who are creating, producing, building things. Creating their own empires, constructing delicious communities, connecting like-minded people, using the talents they have & the magic of the universe to make beautiful things happen! People who aren’t afraid of their own magnificence, & are contributing positively… living wild & being unashamedly true to themselves!

What do you wish you could have known as a teen girl in the world?
I guess I felt quite alone & angry a lot of the time. These days I use a self-healing technique called EFT which I credit with changing my life, & if I had known about that, my teenage years would have been completely different. I would have put myself through a lot less anguish!

What makes you jump-in-the-air happy?
So many things! I could make a list all day! Travelling, good food, meeting new people, exploring, writing, music, self-publishing, dancing, watching people, singing, putting together a mind-blowing outfit… !

What’s your life motto?
Dress up, leave a false name, be legendary…

Quick fire round: What’s your favourite…
Shop: Patricia Field boutique! Probably!
Book: ‘Do You!’ by Russell Simmons is amazing.
Website/blog: My own! Haha! I always wanted to create a site that I would want to visit, so I’ve obviously done that!
Hang-out: I like to pride myself on creating sanctuaries. I loved my old apartment in Auckland, I adore my place in Melbourne & I’m very keen on where I’m staying right now, in the West Village in NYC!
City: Oh, do you even have to ask?! NEW YORK CITY!
TV prog: Sex & The City…
Food: Cupcakes. Yum yum!

…But I can never claim anything is my absolute favourite because I am always discovering such fantastic new things!

The colour pink, discuss.
It’s just too good. Honestly, what can you say? It’s perfect, beautiful, fabulous & magnificent. I miss my pink hair, maybe I should go back… !

To find out more about the fabulous Gala Darling, visit her website: www.galadarling.com