An interview with Doll In Sugar Coma

Hello dear readers!

Here’s a special interview for all the vintage lovers out there.

I am excited to introduce you to Monia O'Neill, the vintage lady behind the wonderful blog Doll In Sugar Coma. In the depths of her heart and soul, she is Bosnian. Yes, she is Bosnian!

She and I have similar interests: styling feminine outfits and collecting everything that's vintage.

Monia has the cutest styles and her posts make my day a little brighter.

Her outfits will steal your heart with their nostalgic silhouettes from eras past, and, after perusing her posts, you’ll be searching your makeup bag for that perfect shade of red lipstick and practicing your old-school updos so you can get her look.

I am so happy to share with you this interview. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for doing this interview! You seem to have quite a passion for vintage style; is this something that you’ve always been interested in? What made you fall in love with vintage clothing at first? What is your best vintage-related memory?

 I feel honored to be doing this interview as I am a big fan of yours! I think I was about 5 when I first discovered Vintage. Of course, I did not understand the concept of "Vintage" until much later in life, but the first dress that I ever fell in love with belonged to my aunt, who wore it in the mid 1960s. I found it while invading my grandmother's closet.(I had this "thing" for closets when I was little and loved hiding inside of them!) The dress is made of a very thick, cream-coloured fabric with silver highlights. It has a typical 60s Twiggy shape to it. I still have the dress, to this day, but I don't wear it as it is not very flattering for my figure. I am keeping it for sentimental reasons.

How does vintage make you feel when you wear it?

 Vintage makes me feel confident and creative.

Could you introduce yourself please? A little about your background: where are you from?

 My name is Monia. I am passionate, romantic and painfully (irrationally!) nostalgic. I am into Vintage, antiques, music, books and anything that has a hint of the macabre. I am often asked where I am from, but find it difficult to answer that question. I have moved around a lot in my life and don't have a specific place where I feel that I belong. I was born in Yugoslavia (when it was still a country!), but my family & I moved to Sweden when I was very young. I have also lived in Spain, England and, since 2 years back, I have been living in Canada. I recently decided to count all the times that I've moved in my life, and got to number 28!

What made you decide to begin blogging? Who was your (blogging) inspiration in the early days? And how did they inspire you?

 I am actually very new to blogging. I started just over a year ago - pretty much out of loneliness. Since I moved to Canada, I have been finding it difficult to meet people with similar interest to mine. I had a pretty busy social life throughout my whole life - until I moved here. I am still trying to figure out why. Moving here from noisy, busy London was a big shock to my system! So, due to being new to blogging, I only started following other bloggers a year ago. My biggest blogging inspirations are: The Bright Young Twins, Esme and the Laneway, Johanna Ost and, of course, your fabulous self! You all possess an ethereal beauty that one just cannot get enough of, and I love your wonderful and unique sense of style.

How would you describe your personal style? What is your favorite era and who are your fashion inspirations?

 My personal style is a little all over the decades. I tend to go through phases. My favourite eras are 1920s-1960s, however, I find that the clothing from the 30s, 40s & 50s tend to be the most flattering for my figure. I have many fashion inspirations: Ginger Rogers, Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Rita Hayworth, Loretta Young, Dita Von Teese, Evan Rachel Wood, Scarlet Johansson...the list goes on, but I won't bore you with it.

 You are a hat/hair accessories lover. They play a big role in your personal style. What influenced you to start making hats yourself?

 Yes, I absolutely love hair accessories! An outfit is not complete without at least some form of hair accessory! I started making hats and fascinators when I moved to Canada. Living in London and working long hours at the office was very consuming and my lifestyle did not allow enough time for hobbies (unless you count going to the gym as hobby!). I had all these ideas and plans for making hair accessories, but I'd never gotten around to realising them. When I moved to Canada, my daily rhythm slowed down, which also meant more free time to be creative! That is how it all started... 

  You have a fantastic knack for mixing up vintage outfits that have a real flair and sense of personal aesthetic. What are your top five favorite pieces in your wardrobe right now?

 Thank you! I spent years looking for "my style". I experimented a lot in the past and have been everything from a goth to a hippie, but it never felt right. I think that the problem was in that I tried reflecting my taste in music onto my fashion style (I am a true alternative gal at heart!). That is how my biggest fashion mistakes were made. Now days I wear clothes that naturally suit my romantic and nostalgic personality - as well as my figure. Most of my wardrobe is Vintage and I get a lot of my clothes and accessories custom made, which I think helps me create a personal style. 

 As for my favourite pieces...hmmm that is a though one! I love all my clothes, but since I have to chose, the list looks like this:

1. My new, custom made dress with a peplum waist. It's sewn from a 1940s pattern. There will be pics on my blog soon!

2. Black steel-boned corset from http://fairygothmother.co.uk/ 

 I love to wear it with a high waisted pencil skirt and bullet bra (yes, I wear some of my bras as outerwear!).
3. A gorgeous necklace made by Louise Black. It is fashioned from an antique pearl collar, 1920's beaded flapper fringe and vintage glass pearls.
4. 1930s silk pajama with puff sleeves. The jacket part has the most beautiful detailing and cute puff sleeves! I wear it out sometimes, too!
5. All my high-waist pencil skirts. They are a wardrobe staple! Add a cute blouse and I am ready to go!

 What do you wear right now?

 I really like pretty blouses with puff sleeves, pencil skirts and hourglass shaped dresses and coats. All forms of accessories are an important part of my wardrobe. I am particularly fond of my Agent Provocateur leather gloves at the moment (it's still cold in Vancouver!). Oh! And Mary Jane shoes are an essential! 

 

 Anything else you’d like to add?

 I am so happy to have discovered the world of blogging - especially since I have "met" such wonderful and interesting people such as yourself. Thanks you so much for interviewing me. It's been a pleasure.

Hope you enjoyed.

With love,

Monia O'Neill & Idda van Munster