Jag Lever means “I live” in Swedish. What sparked your interest in their culture?
My interest began with my deep love for the Swedish musician Lykke Li. I then began to follow Swedish brands/designers such as Acne and Minimarket. Since my interest started I’ve also fell in love with other Swedish musicians like First Aid Kit and Miike Snow. I subconsciously am drawn to Swedish things!
How would you describe your personal style.
It changes a lot but I’d say lately it’s revolved around a western/60’s/70’s vibe.
Who or where do you find style inspiration from?
I love to follow First Aid Kit’s style. It’s very 70’s bohemian vintage. I love it! I also find inspiration from other fashion blogs. My favorite one is misspandora.fr.
What’s your go to piece to make a fashion statement?
My hats are definitely my go to piece that really transform an outfit.
What other creative outlets do you use besides blogging?
I draw! I love to draw cartoon-ish stuff in my sketchbook. They’re like doodles I take very seriously. I used to paint with oils a lot when I could afford to. It’s expensive!
You moved from Chicago to New York, how has the location change been so far?
Great and challenging. I love living here but it is a lot more expensive in general. But worth it!
What are you favorite spots around NYC?
I love to go thrift shopping in East Village. I love the pier in Williamsburg too. It’s a great place to be when the sun sets and you can watch it happen right over Manhattan and it’s beautiful!
What’s a typical day like for you as a blogger?
Get up, gotta have a big breakfast (eggs, coffee, toast) and if it’s a weekday I’ll make my outfit post for the day. Then I’ll either style a few looks to shoot, edit photos or work on e-mails for the next few hours. Then around dinner I usually take a break. I may stay up until 2 AM some nights answering e-mails (like I am right now! 😉 ) Some days I have events or showrooms to visit.
Do any of your readers ever recognize you on the street?
Yes! I had my first recognition in New York a few days ago. It was at a grocery store that I shop at all the time. I was picking out incense when she approached me and she was very excited and it was really nice! I feel so honored when people come up to me. It’s very strange but amazing and it definitely makes me feel proud of where I’ve gotten over the years.
Do you have any beauty secrets?
Lately I’ve been obsessed with taking better care of my hair. The ends are pretty dry usually since I dye them lighter and I curl my hair often with heat. I’ve been using L’oreal Mythic Oil hair masks and the oil serum. I spread it around all of my hair and spend extra time coating the tips, roll it into a bun and let it sit for 20-ish minutes and then wash it out. It comes out really soft and smooth, almost like brand new hair! It’s also important to use a heat protector before using hot tools. Otherwise… refer to “Burning off the hair” on YouTube! (It’s actually a really great video.)
Tell us, do you ever get mistaken for Zooey Deschanel? If so, we’d love to do a She & Him duet with you haha :)!
Oh my gosh. So often that it is kind of annoying! But I love Zooey. She’s quirky and adorably pretty so I think it’s a compliment… but it happens a LOT. I’ve had the same haircut since I had hair. But I won’t lie… occasionally I can be found playing She & Him on my ukulele 😉
Shop the look:
1. Niamh
