SAN FRANCISCO – Everything started by accident. Growing up, I had all kinds of creative hobbies. But I was steered away from the arts; it didn’t pay rent, they said. So I ended up with a computer science degree and being the only female in my class. This contributed heavily to my tomboy style, which wasn’t a winning look back then.

When I moved to NYC, it took my love for fashion to another level. I fell in love with the city, its high energy and grit. I started reading WWD on a daily basis and following big blogs like Man Repeller. In the meantime, I always dreamt of starting my own thing – to create something people loved. I kept learning more about everything from marketing to design which then helped me launch the current website.

That’s one of the main reasons why I ended up leaving my favorite city NYC for San Francisco, the entrepreneur mecca of the world. My style in the meantime evolved from a dressy edgy NYer to a more relaxed edgy vibe with hints of minimalism. I became more experimental and really started exploring my personal style. While I was doing really well in my career and getting promoted every year, something was still missing.

Can you guess what happened next?

I quit my job and started Fashion Mews full time, thanks to the encouragement of my partner Abel and close friends. The initial purpose was to connect with other like-minded souls. Now it’s become much more, sharing travel stories, personal style, photography and our journey to practice a mindful life. But being a blogger is not as glamorous as it may seem. Every day is a grind to stay true to yourself and the landscape is highly competitive. At times, there’s little appreciation of your work. But the creative freedom makes it all worth it.

I hope my story will inspire you to pursue your dreams no matter where you are in your life or career. You don’t have to be born into the right situation, and the real survivors are making it work no matter what.

Melis – Fashion Mews

MELIS’S FASHION PICKS