Styled On

While The Marcy Stop may look like it's just one girl's fashion diary, it's actually the genius collaboration of good friends Micol and Lauren. Named after their local subway stop (in Brooklyn off just of the JMZ), the blog chronicles the adventures and lives of both model/muse Lauren and photographer Micol. A breath of fresh air, this duo adds a pop of color in the blogging world with each post. While Lauren is basically a model in her own right, it's Micol's eye for backdrops and scenery (mixed with Lauren's amazing style!) that really make them jump out. Two girls means twice the wardrobe and twice the creativity being poured into their blog, so every post really stands out. How'd they think up this genius plan and who has final say on what to wear? Read on for our interview with Micol and Lauren and see where their thoughts combine, collide, and where you'll be seeing them this New York Fashion Week!

StyledOn: Tell us about yourselves...how did your blog come about? What inspired you to get started?
Micol: I think we're both very creative people, always looking for new and interesting projects, so when I realized that I wasn't spending as much time on honing my photography skills as I would have liked, it seemed only natural to pitch a fashion + lifestyle blog idea to Lauren. We already spend so much time together and she has an amazing sense of style.
Lauren: Both Micol and I work in fashion, so starting a blog seemed like a natural extension of our interests. At first I was nervous about being the face of our blog - what if people didn't like me or my style? But having a partner that you blog with definitely eases the pressure of you as an individual, and I know Micol would never put up a terrible photo of me.

SO: Was one of you into blogging before the other?
M: I used to blog way back in the day. Remember Geocities!? But that didn't last long, and it wasn't until the fashion blogging world blew up that I really gave it a second thought.
L: I had tried starting a lifestyle blog with a friend back in the day. But we were both so busy it quickly fizzled. It's so hard to balance a full time job with blogging! I think one of the reasons The Marcy Stop works is because Micol and I truly motivate one another to stay on top of our posts, no matter how busy or tired we may be.

SO: Do you ever switch places and have Lauren photograph Micol? Why/why not?!
M: I'm definitely more comfortable behind the camera but there are times that we'll switch it up. Lauren keeps trying to get me to do it more often, but honestly it seems I only have two camera faces, mad and sad, and neither are very attractive.
L: I would love to start shooting Micol for the blog more because her style is impeccable and deserves to be highlighted as well! But I think it would just take way too much time to keep switching back and forth. We've got a pretty great routine going on as is, and Micol has a more keen eye behind the camera than I do.

SO: Your backdrops always vary (unlike a lot of blogs!) and coordinate with your outfits - is this a coincidence or do you plan it specifically?
M: We love to incorporate our neighborhood into the shot as much as possible so it's definitely planned! We see it as an integral piece to our posts.
L: Often times we're just walking down teh street en route to an event, bar, or restaurant, and we'll notice these backgrounds that just pop. As I mentioned before, Micol has a very keen eye, and is pretty discerning when it comes to our backdrops as well. If we're shooting somewhere and it's not working for her, we quickly move on to find a new location (or head straight to our destination and find a way to shoot there).

SO: How did you two meet? Have you always been friends?
M: We met I think four years ago when we both lived in Alphabet City but we didn't become close until Lauren was persuaded to leave Manhattan for greener pastures...aka Brooklyn.
L: Ah yes...the gold old days on Avenue C. Micol and I met through mutual friends in the neighborhood and would hang out occassionally here and there, and you can bet when we did there was always a story to tell at the end! When I moved a few blocks away from her in Brooklyn I really relied on her to show me around the 'hood, and the rest is history I guess!

SO: You say you swap clothes, do you have similar styles? Micole, do you ever have input into Lauren's outfits if they're being posted on the blog?
M: It's funny, I think as we've spent more time together our styles have gotten more similar. But I think it's more because we've inspired each other to add pieces to our closets that we wouldn't have in the past. A year ago you wouldn't have been able to find a single print in my closet but now, thanks to Lauren's influence, it looks like Laura Ashley exploded in my closet. Lauren will definitely poach from my closet and sometimes if I'm over at her apartment when she's getting ready I'll have input into what she's wearing, but honestly the girl doesn't need any help from me. She's got a great eye.
L: I LOVE stealing clothes and accessories from Micol's closet. It's like having a wardrobe that's twice as large! She has some decadent statement necklaces and designer pieces that I'd never think of buying for myself, but that I've fallen head over heels for. When I'm at her apartment it almost feels like I'm playing dress-up at times. But in a grown up way.

SO: Do you have substitute models and photographers, or would you rather withhold posting on sick/vacation days?
M: We don't have substitute models or photographers so we're still working through on what to do on days where one of us isn't around. I think sometime soon you'll see a few changes to the blog as we incorporate new content outside of our fashion posts. We just want to make sure that we're staying true to the style and aesthetic of the blog.

SO: What's your go-to style secret?
M: WWLD - "What Would Lauren Do?"
L: Never wear flats! Which is not to say I kill myself in stilettos all the time, but I always need to have a little heel. Wedges are my favorite, followed by platforms. I also love 80%20's shoes, many of which have hidden wedges built into them. I just feel more confident with heels on. I like how they elongate your body and make you cognizant of your posture.

SO: We're currently loving your blog! Which blogs do you two read on a daily basis?
M: Right now I'm obsessed with Neon Blush. Jenny is so good at mixing and matching different textures and prints in ways I never would have thought. And have you seen her Lookbooks? Amaze.
L: I love discovering new blogs from around the world. It's hard to keep up with them all on a daily basis, but I'm always curious to check out what the girls from Lellavictoria, On The Racks, Metallic Paws, and TinaciousMe are up to.

SO: Any future plans for the blog? Where do you want to see it go?
M+L: We're still figuring that piece out as it's first and foremost a passion project for both of us. But, down the line, I would love to have a deeper partnership with brands and integrate our aesthetic with theirs for a unique collaboration. We've started something similar with Rebecca Minkoff for Fashion Week so be on the lookout!

Will The Marcy Stop be your next stop?

http://themarcystop.blogspot.com/