Photographer, Arden Wray.

Aside from feeding her entrepreneurial passion, this writer, blogger, publicist and event planning extraordinaire has her sights set on making her mark in the blogosphere. Whether it is stuck in the fashion closet at Teen Vogue or hosting a Mexican themed dinner party, Gracie Carroll has proven to be a fashionable chameleon. Her extensive resume is nothing short of impressive, reflecting her knowledge of the ins and outs of both the fashion and magazine industry. Recently, Carroll launched a successful self-titled blog, causing quite the buzz. By continuing to fuel her ambitious nature, Gracie Carroll documents lifestyle, fashion and culture with a foodie edge.

Bronte Martin: Tell us a little bit about your life until now.
Gracie Carroll: I grew up downtown Toronto immersed in fashion because my mom owns a boutique named Ion. It seemed really natural to go into fashion, so when I was in high school I began putting my portfolio together. I got into the fashion communication program at Ryerson and after third year, I went to New York to intern at Teen Vogue.

I started dating a British musician and decided that once I was done at Ryerson, I would move to London. There, I launched a blog called London Snog and shortly after added a second blog to my resume, Joli Lapin, for documentation purposes during my stay. During my two years in London, I worked in fashion PR, and then at British Elle Magazine. When I returned home after my Visa ended, the name London Snog no-longer seemed fitting, and so I launched my newest blog titled Gracie Carroll on October 17, 2011, and here I am!

BM: Tell us a little bit about the transition between your previous blogs London Snog and Joli Lapin to Gracie Carroll?
GC: When I moved home from England, the name London Snog didn’t make sense coming from Toronto. In London I was doing freelance PR for an online magazine, so I had a huge roster of blogs on my mind. I noticed that everyone was posting the same content you find on go-to blogs like Refinery. I wanted Gracie Carroll to be really great and fill in the gaps of what I thought was missing in the blog market.

I want my readers to feel like they’re in conversation with me. The new site is basically a fusion of London Snog and Joli Lapin, which is why I cover fashion, beauty, culture and lifestyle.

BM: How do you differentiate yourself between other blogs with similar content?
GC: I can’t stand the style blogs that are like “look at all this hot-off-the-runway stuff I got and look at all my designer shoes.” Don’t get me wrong I love designer clothing, but you could honestly put me in Walmart and I will find something I like. I’m not snobby about shopping. If you go through my outfit credits, they are all over the map. I like to provide a more down to earth approach to style. I think it’s more fun to see something that looks great from somewhere unexpected. Also, I work hard to spotlight and support up-and-coming designers and creative talent, especially in Canada.

BM:  If you could give advice to the 15-year-old version of yourself, what would it be?
GC: Honestly, I think I was really on the right track at 15. So here’s my advice to other 15 year olds who want to get into the industry: Take advantage of all the cool, smaller companies and publications for valuable experience. You need to be ready to go from interviewing to steaming a dress. Blogging is a great way to start too. You never know whose reading.

BM: What “new chapter” should your dedicated readers look forward to in the near future?
GC: I would love to incorporate more video and collaborations into my posts, but I have to find time and need an intern. Any takers? There may also be a big surprise on the blog’s one year anniversary, but if I tell you any more the surprise will be ruined!