We caught up with Helen Lee, founder of prolific Australian blogsite Sassybella.com. Helen is one of the pioneers of the fashion blogging community in Australia, and is honestly one of the most genuine, hardworking and delightful people I have ever met. I spoke to Helen about life as a blogger, her inspirations and much more.
How did you get started blogging?
There wasn’t much to do on the internet back in the late 1990s, I ended up teaching myself how to design and code… and the rest they say is history! SASSYBELLA.com started off as a personal diary (web-log) before evolving into a more news and commentary style blog. It has been interesting watching the whole blogging world evolve over the years and I have as well – they say a lot can happen in a year, well a lot more happens online in a year!
What inspires you day to day?
People and their stories – they don’t have to be famous or infamous, but everyone has a story to tell and experiences that have shape their lives and made them into who they are today. It’s always special when I get to share a really a really inspiring and amazing story on my blog.
Run us through a typical day in the life of Helen Lee?
Wake up, read and reply to emails that have arrived overnight from overseas. Then I quickly check social media, make breakfast or go to a breakfast event, then I do my thing in front of the computer, answering emails/calls, writing and planning content for the blog. In between that we might attend a lunch event, talk business over coffees and then finish the day at another launch – this time with a cocktail in hand. Sometimes I might sneak in a nap if the day is particularly crazy so I have a tenth wind to get some more work done until about midnight – 2am. The internet never stops – but I have to sometime!
What’s in your beauty bag right now?
I’m currently addicted to John Plunkett’s Glyco Peel, an amazing Night Time Exfoliator, my L’Oreal Paris CC Cream, NARS Bronzer in Laguna and various MAC lipsticks. Simple and classic for winter.
What’s on high rotation in your wardrobe at the moment?
Many soft wool knits, my camel colour cape that I got for a steal from Romwe, 7 For All Mankind black skinny jeans, Rag & Bone boots and some Samantha Wills jewellery for that bohemian touch.
Your fave Australian brands?
There are too many to count! I love Jamie Ashkar for something edgy but still hella chic, By Johnny is doing some really striking and versatile pieces, Cameo has some easy and on trend pieces and who can go past the likes of Dion Lee, Zimmermann, Gary Bigeni and Camilla and Marc?
Any advice to budding bloggers?
Love what you do but don’t let it be all you do. Take some time out of blogging and enjoy life… sure you want to be the next Susie Bubble or Rumi Neely, but you don’t need to put down everyone else around or let it become an all consuming passion. Passion is great, but so is finding a balance and letting your true, lovable self shine through.
Finally, if you could have breakfast with anyone alive or dead who would it be and why?
Karl Lagerfeld and his cat Choupette. Karl is known for having some rather… err… controversial opinions but imagine all the stories he could regal you about the fashion industry – his work at Chanel and Fendi, working with so many talented people, his travels and his thoughts on techonology… it’s endless – all while I played with Choupette of course.
2 Comments
Love those top shoes.
Wow, late 90s! That’s a long time.