Check Out Mariela Araujo’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariela Araujo.  

Hi Mariela, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was a kid, I have loved fashion! I used to watch all the fashion shows and competitions and I would always imagine myself participating in the future. The YouTube era encouraged me to create outfit videos. I made one or two but never kept going. At some point, I was too busy between my school workload and moving to another country, there were just so many things going on. After I was able to settle, I thought… when would be the right time to start over? and I figured the best time is always now! I switched over to Instagram which is the social media I consume the most and started creating fashion content. I stopped worrying about what people could think of me and my outfits, and that’s how I got to where I am today! I always try to inspire people to wear whatever they like and enjoy the ride! Dressing up is so much fun and I try to bring that message across to all the people I know. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Sometimes what’s very common in the industry is to follow trends. I’ve learned to be true to myself and wear what I really like regardless of what’s in or out. It can also be challenging to avoid falling into splurging. I’ve worked on creating a checklist to see if I really need or want something and not paying excessive amounts on something I’ll probably wear once or twice! 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I share my daily outfits with one specific purpose: to encourage people to have fun while dressing up! I’m originally from Venezuela, and Latin countries typically have a big European influence when it comes to fashion. As soon as I moved to the U.S., I brought those two styles together and have fun mixing and matching! I have a full-time office job, so I typically wear professional outfits on weekdays, then during the weekends, you can see me wearing dresses and fun outfits! I think of dressing up as an adventure and your outfit is what tells the story. 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would say I’m a risk-taker. I do weigh my options and I do have concerns, but I’ve learned that “you have to be in it to win it”. From moving to another country, to stop thinking about what others say about my outfits, I’ve learned so much about myself. I’ve learned how capable I am of surpassing all the challenges I put myself up to and I would have never realized it if I had never took risks! 

Contact Info:

• Email: dressforthoughtinfo@gmail.com
• Instagram: @dressforthought

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