Rebecca Laurey didn’t always start out in fashion.  She had an internship at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but since then has moved on. In the past few years her time has been consumed by her ​​fashion blog Raspberry & Rouge. Rebecca initially went to law school but decided to study history instead. She got acquainted with blogging through a friend and discovered that it was something she really enjoyed. Through her blog she captures her experiences in fashion, lifestyle and travelling. Rebecca also blogs for VOGUE NL on a weekly basis and has been featured in VOGUE, W Magazine, The New York Times and on tv (Fashion Bloggers TV e.g.).

Describe your childhood and your hometown

I grew up in a big family, I’m the oldest of 8 kids so I practically acted as mom number 2 when I got a bit older. My parents still live in the same city I grew up in so home is still really “home”. It’s a more quiet city, build around its university – which supposedly is the oldest in Europe.

Were you always interested in fashion growing up?

Playing around, dressing up in my mom’s clothing with my sisters – I think it all started there, without being aware of what fashion really was. I think my passion really started to grow when I graduated high school, after that I started working in fashion and my drive to do more and grow in that scene started to take off.

How did you come up with the name Raspberry & Rouge?

It’s actually pretty random and I don’t have a very exciting story to share here. I wish I could tell you more about the deeper meaning, but basically the name Raspberry & Rouge is the result of a night of brainstorming with my husband. Both our names start with the letter ‘R’, so evidently the name of my business should too. That and the fact that I love alliterations made us come up with the name I still use now: Raspberry & Rouge.

“…New York City, for so many reasons I feel like this is my soul city: it’s busy and excited, an organized mess.”

You said in a previous interview that you love Australian fashion designers–what do you love about their aesthetic?

I think it’s their effortlessness, without compromising on styling and fashion. It’s out there without screaming for attention, more sophisticated I guess.

You studied American History, are you still fascinated by the subject?

Right now, my focus is not really on what I studied in uni. History was my fave course in high school, and I loved studying it. But then I decided to change directions and I don’t regret that ever. I do feel like I might get back to where I started after school at some point in my life, but right now I’m doing exactly what I want to be doing. As long as I love what I do, I’m happy.

When did you start to feel your blog take off and transition into a full-time career?

When I started out I never even knew I could make a living out of it. I didn’t know anyone or anything in the blogging world. But as I started updating my blog frequently, this gradually changed. I saw opportunities I didn’t see in my current job. So with the right amount of focus and effort, I knew at some point I should be able to do more with my blog. Build upon that passion, making my hobby my fulltime job. It’s also the “environment” that helped: after the big crisis in Europe I felt like everyone started to be more and more open to self employed people and new kinds of businesses, something I never even imagined myself being a part of a few years back. Without taking risks you’ll never win big either, so I took a chance and up until now it’s proven to be a good choice.

What has been your most exciting project to date and why?

My most exciting project is one that I’m working on right now, and don’t want to jinx. But it has something to do with one of my ultimate dreams – them coming true is now closer than ever. Stay tuned!

Have you felt that the blogging industry has changed throughout the years, if so, in what way?

Yes, absolutely. I do feel like the market is a bit oversaturated and girls and boys tend to get in it for different reasons. The passion part is slowly getting replaced by the business part, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. I just think “we” shouldn’t forget where we came from. And still really enjoy what we do! Other than that I do think the opportunities and chances bloggers are getting are now bigger than ever.

If you could choose one city which describes your personality, what would it be and why?

I guess it would be New York City, for so many reasons I feel like this is my soul city: it’s busy and excited, an organized mess. Always on the go but at the same time consumed by so many other people that it does have a hard time “breathing” (apart from the occasional quiet Sunday mornings). For me personally it’s hard to build in me-time, quality time and rest in my life. NYC has more or less the same “issue”, but then again, that drive is what’s makes it super exciting. Balance is everything, but just like the Big Apple, it’s hard to find it sometimes. The concrete jungle where dreams are made of!