@google Talks - Garance dore

>> Female Presenter: Hi, everybody. Thank you all for joining us today. Garance Doré began her career as an illustrator living in Paris. And in 2006, she began her blog Une Fille Comme Moi where she publishes her drawings and musings about life. Garance picked up a camera and began adding street-style photographs to her blog and the rest as they say is fashion history. So please join me in welcoming Garance to New York. [Applause] >>Garance: Hi. >>Presenter: So Garance thank you so much for coming here. We're very thrilled to have you. As we'll discuss later, we're not necessarily known for our fashion sense at Google. So this is. [laughter] >>Garance: [laughing] This looks very good. >>Presenter: Thank you. I know she's talking about me. Not so much some others. [laughter] So Garance, as an illustrator, you came to your blog as a bit of a fashion outsider, some might say. And now, you really positioned yourself, probably unintentionally, as a really relatable fashion insider. Can you talk to us a little bit about that evolution and how that happened. >>Garance: Yes, it's a long story. But I try to make it not too long. I open my blog because I was frustrated. I -- after studying communication and working as a -- how do you say PR in a cinema which was great but not very fulfilling for me. I had that thing like, "I want to be an artist. I'm frustrated. My life is okay, but it's just okay. My dreams --" and so, I was like, "okay, I'm 26 or 27. It's the moment to do something, because later is going to be too late, which is not true, it's never too late. [laughter] But at that time, I was like, "you have to do it now." So I dropped everything. I had a very good friend support system, so I didn't really feel alone. A lot of my friends were artists and everything. So I started to teach myself illustration. That was my dream. I had that dream of me, my studio, big windows and like illustrating all day. And so, of course in the beginning my illustrations went horrible and I didn't get any jobs and everything. But little by little by training myself and getting kicked out of magazines and like editors and everything, I ended up getting a few jobs and started like working. And I should have been happy, but I realized that my dream was not that cool. I mean, I was actually like alone all day, because illustration, even if you have big windows which I didn't have, is very lonely job. And the thing is that I had to send my illustration to an artistic director. The artistic director would tell me, "Okay. This lady looks good, but can you make her top more pink and her *** bigger. And that like this and she should be smiling." Because I was not yet working for Vogue or anything. So you know it could be more commercial work. And by the time I would see my work printed in a magazine or a book, it wasn't what I wanted. I thought it looked horrible. So I was very frustrated. At that time, Scott the Sartorialist -- I didn't know him at that time, I knew that blog and I was fascinated. Because first I had never been to New York. At that time I was not living in Paris. I was living in the south of France. And I felt very -- the only connection I had and at that time there was really no Internet. The beginning. The only connection to the world was like through magazines. I would always buy. like, a lot of magazines. Lots everywhere. So I was watching that, "oh my God, this is crazy. What's happening? I can be in New York. I can see all these cool people that" -- and it inspired me to open my blog. And so, what I told myself was, "I'm going to give myself a last chance." It had been like two years since I started dropping everything and started taking on illustration. This is going to be my chance to talk directly to the people without having an artistic director changing my work. It's going to be a last chance to try -- I mean, at that time I was taking too long to illustrate. Like a week to do one illustration. Illustration in a magazine is like 200 Euros. So, if you take ten days to do that. >>Presenter: Yeah, it's not a lot of money. [laughter] >> Garance: You're never going to get anywhere. No big windows. So I was like, "I need to learn to draw more fast. I'm going to open a blog and every day I'm going to post something. It comes the weekend, I'm going to give myself an hour because I have a life, you know, one hour post on a blog. Try to be closer to people that have their real feedback. And the only thing I told myself was that I'm not going to say I live in Paris. Because [laughing] Because going to Paris to show my book -- because at that time you would go with your book, you know, your portfolio. Going each time people were like, "oh, nice work; that's cool. We're going to call you. Oh, you don't live in Paris? [laughter] Oh, okay. I'll call you. Bye. Never call back. Because there was really that thing like -- people, I think, even at that time we were working with e-mail. Because when I started we were still working with like scanning the stuff faxing the stuff. Internet was starting. Working through e-mails and everything. But they want to feel like you're here. You're in the same. >> Presenter: Even the fact that there's technology. >> Garance: You're in the same world as them. I didn't know. I didn't belong because I was far -- so I was like no way. Totally Parisian. So I was talking on my blog about myself, never mentioning you know how where I was living. Everything was a little vague. But you know. [laughter] It worked out. And so, but of course, so what happened is that when I opened my blog, I don't know -- it took off very fast, because I first started publishing just illustrations and then I realize I like to communicate and exchange with people. And so, I started publishing texts and like three weeks later a magazine called me and said, "this is special. We want to make a little story about it." And so, I had like a little story in a French magazine, L'Express, which is pretty big. And from that point, you know, I was like legitimate and people would come to the blog and the audience would grow. At that time I had like 2000 readers. >> Presenter: After three weeks? After three weeks? That's extraordinary. >> Garance: It was very, very fast. I think what happened was that I was the first one to do that mix of fashion and like telling stories about my life at the same time plus illustration. And my blog was cute. It was really like -- >>Presenter: It still is cute, Garance [laughter] >> Garance: But I really -- the design was as simple as it is today so that you could see the images. So I think it's a pleasure to come every day and see a new -- you know what? At that time blogs were like -- people didn't really care. That's a blog. She's going to put that image. With my -- you know -- and since the beginning I was like I wanted to look good. And so, I think it's easy to get. Even if they don't read, people just come and check and see there's an illustration that's nice to see. So it took off very fast like that. And it took off in France, because France was very early with the blogging thing. We really had the big movement. Looking at you because you're French. [laughter] And so, there was that movement where like ten, 15 bloggers and we were called fashion bloggers, just because we were women and we were talking about the things we talk about when we're with friends. And so, you know I was called a fashion blogger. That's how it started. >> Presenter: You and Scott -- so Scott Schuman who, if you don't know writes -- blogs The Sartorialist, which is an amazing blog here in New York -- based largely in New York. She's also in love with him. [laughter] That smile is not just as a fan of his work. You guys were really at if forefront of this. I think blogging has changed since you guys came on the scene. Especially fashion blogging. There's a lot of people who are chronicling daily outfit choices. So what do you think of that evolution. It's really a trend, if you can call it a trend since we're talking about fashion, that you guys really started. >> Garance: Yeah, I think it's funny. For a long time, I think blogging was really about -- it was more like forums. You know where you want to communicate with people and share your stuff but not really make -- it was not a way to be famous. You know, it was not a way -- you didn't make money or be famous. It was more like a way to communicate and make a new circle of friends, right. And so, I mean, for a long time. My blog is like five years and a half. I think for like two years -- of course I started to see, like, I had, like, story in a magazine and another one. So I could see that there was something happening. But for a long time it was more like -- it was a community thing. And with Scott -- Scott started working on style.com and I started to work with Vogue. Things like that. And I think it became clear that it was a great way to make self-promotion and at that time a new generation of bloggers arrived who, you know, would more maybe think of how could I get myself out in this world which is cool, you know, but how can I show my work, how can I show myself? So that was a second -- how do you say? >> Presenter: Wave. >> Garance: Yeah, second wave of bloggers. >> Presenter: So do you think that bloggers such as yourself and Scott, with the kind of influence that you've had in the industry which is quite tremendous and I'd like to talk about that in a minute, too. Do you think there's room for bloggers to have that type of influence again in the industry -- in fashion. >>Garance: I'm sure there is. I mean, for me it's just the beginning. The only thing is that what is interesting -- the fact that I come from that far away place that is the past. [giggles] And is that I really started doing the blog for reasons that were, like, I want to be free. I want to be able to talk freely. I want to be able to share with people that -- without the filter -- and Scott was exactly the same. I think he was frustrated because he would see those people in the street and what he saw in magazines was totally different. So he made like that >>Presenter: that connection >>Garance: that link between the people that were reading magazines. So you could see -- there was really--it was really expressing something that was missing. Whereas now I think it's becoming a real business, right? And so, I think -- what I still feel that way. I still feel like I want to be in places where other people are not -- so I want to be where, you know, I don't care about going to a show and saying "woo, it's wonderful". I say it sometimes when it's great, but it's not my mission. I mean, magazines are here for that. Now other bloggers do that very well. But I really -- I'm not interested. I don't want to be bored by myself. I'm my first reader. And even if I'm invited to do stuff. Also because I started like when I was older, so I think I have. >> Presenter: 26. [laughter] >> Garance: But yeah I opened my blog when I was around 30. So it's like I feel like I've been frustrated long enough that I don't want to fall back into that thing and be that blog where you go and you're like, "who is she talking for? You know, is she talking for that brand, that advertiser or whatever?" I'm really talking for people that are like me. I hope. That's what I want to do what I want to keep on doing. >> Presenter: Do you think there's anything particular about the moment when you started, since it was really at the forefront of this whole blogging trend, that led to your success or sort of helped kind of propel you. >> Garance: It's weird. We were trying to talk about what I was going to say today and earlier. And I was like I think the thing that I'm still not really -- like, realizing, you know, is that people get attached to a personality. For a long time I was, like, what do people like about my blog? Is it the writing? I'm very goofy when I write. For me, I am not a writer. Is it the illustrations? Is it the photo? What exactly is it? And I think now I have enough experience that I can realize okay maybe it's just a personality. You know, it's a big picture. It's like a little bit of everything. And so, I think that's -- this and the fact that my personality is being very easy. You know, I talk about any kind of women's problem and you know, I don't hide anything. >> Presenter: You're very candid on your blog. [laughter] >>Garance: I'm not trying to say that I'm perfect. And I think that's what was missing. In magazines, I would read interviews of celebrities. Wow, she really wakes up at five and drinks water with lemon inside and then she does yoga before, you know, going. >> Presenter: She doesn't exercise either. [laughter] >> Garance: Doesn't have weight problem and then goes to get a massage and then goes to work. I was like, wow. But you know, and I know that it's not my everyday life. My friend's everyday life. That's what I prefer to do with my friends is to talk about real life. That's what I wanted to do with my blog. That's what I wanted to do in the beginning because I thought I was talking to nobody. I thought I would never have a reader. So, okay, I'm going to talk like I talk to my friends, like I talk to my sister. And that's what I still do now. I think I saw that the audience was growing. And then, one day or another there was like "oh my God so many people are reading me". And then some people come there first time, "I love your blog". This is not possible. You read that post the other day when I was talking about the toilet. [laughter] I was like really? And or, you know, and so, I don't -- I just I'm very good at like putting blinders and just, you know, like today I didn't think about coming to do a talk before five minutes before and then I started stressing a little bit. I'm just like always thinking I'm talking to my friends. I'm talking to them. And that's it. And I think that makes a difference. I'm not taking -- I don't know. People are not an audience. They're just -- I feel like it's my friends. >> Presenter: Well, so you've been creating your blog, as you said, going on six years now which really makes you a veteran of this format which is why you're dressed in fatigues. >>Garance: Yes, exactly [laughter] >>Presenter: How has blogging changed over time for you in the past six years. >>Garance: Um >>Presenter: Are you doing anything differently apart from talking. >> Garance: I'm doing a lot of things differently because I want to be better all the time. So each time I'm, like, I'm going to work less but be better. It doesn't work like that. I feel like I'm busy all the time. The blog is also -- you know, the success of the blog brought me a lot of work. So people call me to shoot an advertising. Shoot a video of this. There is a lot of things happening every day. So I am very busy. But I think, you know, I'm trying to not change my vision and I just like trying to make it better. Like, you know, the photo for example. For a long time there was no photo. There was just illustration. Yeah, but I really want to show those shoes. So I took a camera and tried and worked. And so, I'm trying to make it better, but I'm trying to stay true to myself, which sounds very Queen of Butter -- like really like what I'm trying to do. And I love her.. [laughter] >> Presenter: I love her too. She seems very nice. I don't believe that she eats all that stuff that she says she eats. >> Garance: I don't know what she eats. You should tell me. >> Presenter: That cookbook. She says she eats all kinds of butter and I don't know if I'd buy it. >> Garance: The thing is she wakes up at five to do yoga. [laughter] >> Presenter: All right. Some people are genetically blessed in a way that I'm not. >> Garance: That's why we love her. She's just a dream. [laughter] >> Presenter: Exactly. So you talked a little bit about this that people really relate to your personality. Which I think is really coming across even in this chat. I think the way you are on your blog is how you come across in person. We have had a chance to meet a couple of times in person and it comes across very quickly. A lot of bloggers kind of emerged as personalities of their own. And if you contrast that to somebody like Bill Cunningham which I think of as the original sartorialist, riding around on his bike in the streets of New York, like, very low key except for that bicycle. With the documentary about him which just came out. People didn't really know that much about him. So it's such a contrast to the way you guys are working. Certainly because of technology making it easier to promote yourself as a personality. >>Garance: Absolutely >>Presenter: But I would love to talk about that a little more. Bill Cunningham wasn't sitting in front at fashion week. But you and Scott and folks like you are. That's really changing the industry so much, giving that relatable outsider, relatable insider, rather, access in a way that's never been done before. Can you talk a little bit about that. >> Garance: Yeah, there is two different things. I think of first I've always loved technology and my blog was cute in the beginning also because I knew HTML which sounds weird but I learned myself to do it. >>Presenter: Do you want to work at Google? We're hiring in case. [laughter] >>Garance: But I think the thing that even still now fashion trends. There's, of course, but like the audiences on Internet are crazy when you compare that to the magazine. It's like crazy. And I come from France so our audiences in France for magazine it's smaller than America. It's such a big country. But already at that time when I -- before I left, I live in New York for a year now and before I left France, I was looking at the -- you know, the diffusion of the magazine. How do you say how many they sell and they print. >> Presenter: The distribution? >> Garance: Yeah, this is crazy. I have more people coming to see my website than this magazine, that magazine, than most of them. So I think this is the power of it. And you know it's as simple as that. You know, when you get there and you're, you know, able to talk to people directly and have that power -- I mean, I didn't -- it's funny because for a long time magazines came and said, "do you want to work with us? Do you want to be our web editor in chief?" Beautiful magazine and stuff. And for a long time I was like I have to do that. This is such a great opportunity for me. I will never have dreamt of that in my life before or you know, but each time I was like you know what? I feel like I have a better stuff where I am. >> Presenter: Better platform on your own. >>Garance: Yeah, I have my media. And again, I was watching their audience and I was like I can't leave my beautiful audience that I love and I've created to go to a place where there is less audience. And it's not my friends like and so, it was hard. I mean, a lot of times I was like, "this is the wrong choice, you're wrong blah, blah, blah". But now I understand it's very important to always follow what you feel. And so, I think that's why. I think the audience is very strong; there is that and there is the power of recommendation. I mean, for a brand. When I talk -- how many times did it happen when I talk about a pair of shoes and two days later they're out of stock. I think that's a mix of audiences and also the fact people feel close to me. So if I say "I love that" maybe it means more than if it's a magazine because they have the feeling they know me so I'm their friend. >> Presenter: It's like getting a recommendation from a girlfriend. Versus from Anna Wintour [laughter] Presenter: Not my friend but she seems very friendly I'm sure. >>Garance: I'm sure. She's friendly, yeah >>Presenter: She scares the crap out of me. I'm not going to lie. [laughter] It's not like we're hanging out or anything. But let's talk about that. The blog is really -- we can edit that all right? I didn't mean that. She seems very nice. I'm sure she's. [giggling] But the blog has really morphed into a business for you. I mean, it's not just a place to house ideas and house your illustrations and your amazing photographs and your musings on life as we said in the beginning. It's really become a place where you can influence trends, where you can sell out a pair of shoes. >>Garance: Which is something you have to be very careful with I. >> Presenter: Some people cannot handle that kind of traffic. >> Garance: Yeah exactly. You're like ha -- maybe I could do that and make money and you know oh just one day or you know. So I'm very careful with that. >>Presenter: So how do you handle that? Because I would imagine. It was r it's a wonderful luxury of success. >> Garance: Yes, it's luxury of success that's why you have to stay successful. [giggles] Basically, I just say no and people are not very happy when I say no. Now I think we're in a great moment where brands because it's what we're talking about -- mostly advertisers or people who understand that you can't force -- I mean with Internet now-- you can't force your product on the people, it has to come -- it has to be smarter than that. So now they totally understand when they say "can you do like edit content". Which means can you talk about my brand in your blog. Like it was from you. And I say this is off limits. I'm not doing that. The content of the blog is not for sale. But I can publish something on your blog or I can -- we can use that in a different way. They now start to understand. A year ago, they would say okay we're not working with you. Yeah. >> Presenter: Wow. >> Garance: Which is fine. I said okay, right.. >> Presenter: It's not the right partnership for you, if that's the case. >> Garance: Yeah exactly. >>Presenter: No, I mean that important to maintain that integrity especially since you said most of your success is based on people trusting you. >> Garance: Of course. That's the treasure. And I hope that -- and I think there will be other blog -- because now it's become such a business, you know, that, you know, I think. My blog is very egocentric. I'm always talking about myself. But in a way it's good. Because I'm not listening -- I mean, I'm listening to the readers when they want to talk about a subject, but I'm not -- you know, like, I'm not publishing something to have the most comments or to have my things re-tweeted a lot. Or -- you know, it always comes from "oh my God I want to buy that". Or "I feel that way. I want to talk about it". I don't try to have my content dictated by what the people want. Or it's very easy to stray and go in the wrong direction. >>Presenter: And so, how does that contrast with when you're hired by an advertiser or, let's say, by a magazine to create content from them. How do you maintain that voice that people know you for but still fulfill that. >>Garance: I always try to have a conversation. And then understand I'm very happy now that, if I don't feel something, I'm have the luxury of not doing it. It's a choice. You know, so I don't really care about making amounts of super-great money. I feel like what I have right now is wonderful. I think I'm more happy expressing myself and taking pictures and illustrating than having stuff. So, you know, I'm also -- I can say no. It doesn't weigh on me. I don't have to -- so, but I try to have a conversation and see what would be smart. I also -- I think I'm good at consulting for these brands and tell them I've been working and I know what's going to be better for your brand -- I mean, not your brand but the people you want to reach. Tell me who you want to reach on the Internet and I'll tell you what's the best way for us to do this and to do that. And they're very happy usually because this is so new that, you know, you have to be, like, now of course I see young people coming out. I want to work on Internet and everything. But three years ago people were like working on Internet was not that good. You prefer to be in a magazine. Now people really want to do it. So there's still a lack. People are still looking for advice and feedback. And when you have your veteran and [giggles] you have so much experience, they listen to me. >>Presenter: So what sort of advice do you give to a big brand. Something that you're not going to get paid for. I don't want to take away from your consulting. [laughter] What sort of big problem do they come to you with? You sort of think through. >>Garance: A typical problem I think -- different for every case. Most brands want to be cool and it's not easy. So they want to be cool, but they don't want to change the way they do. I think there are some brands who -- you know, it's interesting. You have to develop like new departments almost. You know, and I think now there is very good things happening, like, for example I look at Kate Spade's Tumblr, for example. It's interesting because they really are able to tell. I think brands need to tell their story and to make people dream like Ralph Lauren said. He said, "I don't design dresses; I design dreams". People don't really care about. They can find the same dress everywhere. And, you know, cheaper maybe. And everything so I think when you go to a store what you want is to buy a part of their cool and their history and what they are and who represents them and everything. And I think that's now taking care of a brand is doing all of that. Even myself I start to think of myself as a brand which feels very weird but you know for a very long time I was trying to keep all my content on my blog. People would say hey can you do that for us and we'll publish it on our website. And I was like you know what? If I do a content, --if I do a story or pictures -- I'd rather put it on my blog so thank you, no. But now with video that you share and Twitter and Tumblr. You can really spread the word and it's still always comes back to you which is pretty wonderful. And I think for any brand that's the idea. Give a precise idea of what is your dream? What is your dream you're selling. >> Presenter: So talking about technology, how has technology in the past five, six years changed what you do. I mean, apart from adding on a photography element which is sort of that more immediate element. Can you talk a little bit about that. >>Garance: I think -- well, the video, for example, is also a good -- it's a good example because blogging became easy when platforms launched blogs that you can do in two minutes. And you know, it's always like the technology proceeds, you know, a revolution. Right now people who do film have the revolution of the 5g camera and the video that is beautiful like you're doing a movie for almost nothing. And so, you're seeing more and more beautiful movies and that's really. So that's good -- and I started doing that. I didn't even know. I bought my camera. It was a new version of my camera and suddenly I switched it to video and I was like, "oh my God; this is wonderful". And started filming. And put it on my blog. And now people call me to shoot ads. [laughter] It's like I always think. Just I love to embrace, you know, what's new and try it. Sometimes it takes me awhile. Like I don't know; now I'm doing Instagram for example. For a long time I was going around it looking what should I do. Do I have time to do that. But you know like I never say no. I think it's the moment where you become boring, when you say "oh no, that's my thing. That's how I do it." I always change. I like to try something new. Like, last fashion week, I was doing my thing and just doing my thing-thing is like so I was going to the shows, taking pictures of people outside the shows. Of course everything has changed so much now. It's very different. And I was like "I'm bored." [laughter] "I'm bored." And so, now we're looking for new ways to show fashion week. I want to cover it in a different way. I want to be excited all the time. When I am starting to be bored, I don't even imagine how the people who read the blog must feel. If I'm bored myself, what are they going to feel? So it's going to be a new fight, but I love that. Maybe it's going to take me five more fashion weeks to figure out how to show it in different way. >> Presenter: It challenges you on creativity. >> Garance: Always, all the time >>Presenter: What's next? On that point, fashion week is right around the corner. >> Garance: Yes, so. [chuckles] >> Presenter: You're ready in your fatigues to hit the main streets of fashion. >> Garance: I always have wonderful ideas every morning and then making them happen is, you know, so yeah I mean you know for new fashion week I would love to do more video. That's really I think how I'm going to get excited and then go a little bit outside of that, you know -- I don't want to just report. That's the thing. I want to tell stories and I think what's more interesting than seeing video show is seeing how do we live our lives when we leave fashion week because it's really funny. It's crazy. Stupid things happen. After two weeks of fashion week, everybody is crazy because you lose track of what's real and what's not. If ewe break your heel it's the end of the world. [laughter] Things like that. I'm okay to like show that. I'm okay to show when I am totally desperate because I end up being totally desperate each time I end up crying in the third week. Now I know, when that day happens, I'm like "Ooh that's the day". And I want to share that because on the blog I can't really. It's difficult to communicate that. And also I think fashion as a -- you know, if you can just show what's happening and not write -- because when I write, it's really my thoughts. So if I want to make fun of somebody or you know of a situation, it's, you know, it becomes very personal. But if you just show what's happening, I think it can be really funny. >> Presenter: So people can make their own fun or not. >> Garance: [inaudible] Exactly. >> Presenter: Okay, so we're going to do a little fill in the blank. I'm going to ask you. With whatever comes to mind. No pressure. [laughter] >> Garance: Are you trying to put pressure on me. >> Presenter: No. >>Garance: Did you see her shoes? [audience responds] >> Presenter: Do you want to see my shoes? I don't think they're on camera. Those are cool. >> Garance: I'm putting my new shoes but look what you've got >> Presenter: I now, I wore them. >> Presenter: : Yeah, this is my shoes moment more than anything. Style is-- >>Garance: Oh, I have a good one because I think I came up with the idea. Sorry I talk too much. [laughter] But I realize it's when you just give up all the thing 'oh I'm going to be Audrey Hepburn style. It's when you just give up all that and start just putting together the things you like. Even if it doesn't make sense, it will become your style. >> Presenter: Like that. >> Presenter: Anna Wintour is -- we're not picking on Anna Wintour I have nothing but love for her. Anna Wintour is-- >> Garance: I don't know Anna Wintour. I think she's sweet. I've talked to her once and I was very, very stressed. Dead stressed. I wanted to interview her and she looked at me and smiled and answered my question and that was it. >> Presenter: So she's curt. [laughter] >>Presenter: Carine Roitfeld? >> Garance: She's adorable. >> Presenter: Adorable? >> Garance: Yeah, she is. Everybody that knows her will tell you. She sends me e-mails like "hey I saw your blog; liked it". >> Presenter: That's so cool. I don't know what I would do if I got e-mail from Carine Roitfeld. That would be pretty neat. >> Garance: I was like, "Hey Carine sent us an e-mail this morning". Really she's -- she's a real inspiration because she's so natural and so nice. And then, you see her and she's like this bombshell, so much style. I rial like her. >> Presenter: Mom jeans. Mom jeans are-- >> Garance: Oh, my God. That's a concept that I discovered when I came to America. [laughter]. >> Presenter: You're welcome. Contribution to fashion. You're welcome [laughter] >> Garance: You know when you were young, because I'm a little bit old. Because when I was young, old people would not wear jeans. But all those people who wear jeans today, one day they're going to wear jeans, right? I don't know what to say about it. I think it's a concept. Yeah. Presenter: It's a concept? [laughter]. >> Garance: It's like mom hair. >>Presenter: What's mom hair. >> Garance: So I was looking -- okay, this is bad. I was looking at the fashion stuff for some -- like ad campaign thing -- and there was the new -- what's her name? Arizona Muse haircut. She has that haircut and for some reasons all the magazines put it back like that. Like the new Isabel Marant ad has it like that. And it was like "what's up? Mom haircut?" It's like a little bit up here. Like, a little bit like when you. >>Presenter: I'm worried about my hair. [laughter] >> Garance: We'll send you all an email with the Arizona Muse haircut. It's mom hair. [laughter] >> Presenter: That's mom hair with her mom jeans. She could start a new trend. >> Garance: Yeah. >>Presenter: But it's going to be all the rage. >>Garance: She's not happy about that. >>Presenter: New York style is.... >> Garance: It's a very eclectic. What's great with New York is that I don't even miss France because I have so many French friends. The world is here. So everything -- it's wonderful. >>Presenter: Ironic facial hair is? [laughter] >> Garance: What is that? >> Presenter: It's just a New York thing. You go to Williamsburg. Ironic facial hair, you know, like a mustache that. >>Garance: Ohhhhh, so ironic that -- >>Presenter: Ironic facial hair >>Garance: I don't know. The whole hipster thing. [laughter] >> Presenter: Yeah, exactly. >>Garance: Talking about it right now in my blog. >> Presenter: OK, are you? OK, hipsters are--You fed into my next one. >> Garance: In Williamsburg. [laughter]. >>Presenter: Katie Middleton is-- >> Garance: She is doing a lot of sports, I think. She's very tense. [laughter] She looks tense in all the pictures I see her walking. Don't you think? No really. [laughter] >> Presenter: She wears *** hose. I heard from my office mate that apparently she's bringing *** hose back.. I'm not happy about this. >> Garance: What is *** hose? >> Presenter: Pantyhose, like nude stockings. >>Garance: Oooooh. >>Presenter: I know, right. I'm Indian, they -- >>Garance: Is she gonna wear the open-toed shoes? >> Presenter: I don't now but I hope not. I'm worried about this, but apparently there's a rumor that nude *** hose are back because of indicate Kate Middleton. I didn't know this until yesterday. For my people, Indians, they don't make nude *** hose in my coloring. So this [inaudible] an unwelcome fashion trend. >> Garance: Go to the beach. >> Presenter: Oooo. Interesting. If the whole Google [inaudible] >> Presenter: Fashion trend I hate is >> Presenter: You now mine, obviously. Nude *** hose. But what's your most -- >>Garance: I hate? I don't hate any fashion trend. It's weird. I don't know. I'm thinking right now. >>Presenter: You can come back to it. >>Garance: OK >>Presenter: Models eat, blank. >>Garance: Not a lot. Yeah. >>Presenter: Not a lot, OK >>Presenter: My favorite show at the Collections is-- >> Garance: Oh, Hmm. It's mostly -- like most of the time, it's Prada. >>Presenter: I see. And the most surprising thing about Google to me is -- >> Garance: About Google? [laughter] The most surprising thing about Google? Is that I like it. I don't know -- it's like it's. It's the whole subject. Can you do the question in a different way. I'd love to talk about Google but it's like -- I don't know. >> Presenter: What would you like us to change. [laughter] >> Garance: To be more pretty. >> Presenter: We can't change the home page. That's our thing. >> Garance: No, but the Google plus and everything. I think it could be more like that you can -- like, I love chrome because I can put all my -- you know, I can make it nicely designed and everything. >>Presenter: Be able to personalize, customize Google plus. >>Garance: I like the products and I try them all and I think it's -- there is a a great thing going on. I like that YouTube is looking better. For a long time I didn't put my videos on YouTube because I thought like the reader is just depressing. Now it's starting to really look better. The page reads better. For me it's very important. >> Presenter: It's very important here, too. So I'm glad to hear that feedback. >> Garance: Google plus is great and everything. I think people love when there is a place that looks nice like my blog [laughter]. >> Presenter: Okay, so before we turn it over to Q and A, I just wanted to get your fashion advice on some things. >> Garance: [laughing] I know you have some things in your bags. >>Presenter: I have props here. I feel like Googlers and tech folks in general we kind of get a bad rap for being not terribly well-dressed. We're not known for our fashion sense. Although I feel like this crowd is proving that wrong. The cameras can't see it but this is a well-turned out group of Googlers. I feel it's unjustified and I want to put these misconceptions to rest right here. So I would love for you to review some of our typical fashion choices here at Google. [laughter] If that's OK. [inaudible] Okay so first off, we have -- our standard backpack, which you know. [laughter] >> Garance: This is not standard. It's like. >> Presenter: Well, it's fancy. >> Garance: Is it your backpack. >> Presenter: It's my colleague's backpack. I borrowed it for this demonstration. It's good. It's handy. You can put your phone right there tell me what you think. Be candid. >>Garance: Should I say something? I like backpack, but this one doesn't say anything. I think you should like. >>Presenter: It doesn't say girl on the go? >>Garance: No [laughter]. >>Presenter: Tech girl on the go? >>Garance: Tech girl on the go. >>Presenter: Tech girl on the go. That's a look. >> Garance: It's just like people would turn away from you.. [laughter] >> Presenter: You think? >> Garance: I almost don't want to think >>Presenter: Interesting. >>Garance: yeah >>Presenter: Wait, I have more. Hold on. So, when every Googler starts, [laughter] we get a hat, because -- we really do get these. >> Garance: Oh my God. >> Presenter: What do you think. [laughter] >> Garance: I don't know what to say. Umm. That. >>Presenter: It has Noogler on it. Nooglers means "I'm a new Googler." >> Garance: Oh, that's so cute. I was saying about Google doing more pretty stuff. >> Presenter: Isn't that cute? You don't think this is pretty? This with my backpack? You don't think I can rock this look? [laughter] Really? The fashion runways of Paris. >> Garance: Sense of humor is very important. >> Presenter: Yeah, we do have a sense of humor. Some people may not think we're funny. >> Presenter: Okay, then obviously these are taped up, in advance. >> Garance: OK, these, I totally love. >> Presenter: These are kind of cool, right? I borrowed these from my colleague Matt and I don't think he's getting these back. Without the tape. >>There is something written on the side that sounds funny >> Garance: Optimize your life. [laughter] [laughter]. >>Presenter: I don't know. I just work here. I think these are kind of cool, right?. >> Garance: What you should do is take out the lenses. >> Presenter: Why? >> Garance: You pop the lenses. Because then you become a hipster. [laughter] Then nothing. >> Presenter: Take my tape off? >> Garance: You can keep the tape. Take out the lenses. And then that's cool. They're really cool. >> Presenter: Even though it says optimize your life on the size. >> Garance: It's ironic. >> Presenter: It's ironic. Okay. Well, that's all I have. Thank you for those tips. Does anyone have any questions. And I'm going to have to repeat your questions, because we don't have a mic for the audience. Yes? >> Female #1: [inaudible]. >>Presenter: What are your top tips for new fashion bloggers. >>Garance: All right. So I think I gave a little bit of that before, but I think aesthetics is very important. I think now it's caught on. A lot of people try to do their blog looking good. I think, you know, try to think of what you have to say -- like, what is your message? What do you want to say to the people that are going to read you? And try to really -- in the beginning, don't try to make it too fast, too big. You know, I think it's very important to fail and to do some crappy stuff and like then decide, "okay, I'm not going there." Just like give yourself time -- say, three months. It's not a long time to try things and find your voice. It's very important, because people want to have a blog, but they don't know what to say. So just try to find that. Sometimes it can be pretty surprising. You think, "oh, I'm going to be a fashion blogger." And end up talking more about food. It's really important. I think the media itself will give you something surprising. So let yourself be surprised. You need anything more? Then I think you can engage with the people who comment; like, answer them and everything. I think it's very nice. And I try to do it still now even if I have not a lot of time and a lot of comments. So I think it's important. >> Presenter: That's great. Anybody else? >>Female #2: What's your relationship like with new designers? >> Presenter: The question was, "what is your relationship like with new designers?" >>Garance: I am very interested in new designers. But I am also very tough, because I think a lot of new designers get a lot of credit because they're new designers. And so, I try to see through that thing. And really -- I know that it's difficult to put up a collection when you don't have a lot of money because it's the beginning. But what I look for is something that will appeal to me. You know, and now and in ten years, not just because it's a young designer. Yeah. I think that's my relationship with -- yeah. >> Presenter: Any other questions? Yes .. >>Female #3: How has moving to New York changed your perspective and maybe what you write about. >>Presenter: How has moving to New York changed your perspective and maybe what you write about on your blog? >> Garance: It's really changed so much. I think it's just the beginning when I realize -- I think what is the most important is the way people think is so different than in France. >>Garance: In the beginning you're like, "oh, it's the same; we're such a global culture and everything." But then you come here and everyday I have to adapt to a new thing. The whole challenge is to restate myself, to hold on to the few things that make me French, but still live here and be part of it. Lots of change. Really. I could start to say, but there is so much. I'm very happy to be here. I feel like much more open to the world. It's very important. >> Presenter: We're glad you're here. >> Garance: Thank you. [laughter] >> Presenter: Anybody else? I think I saw some more hands. Yeah. >>Female #4: [inaudible]. >> Presenter: If you didn't live in New York or Paris, where would you want to live? >> Garance: That's a very difficult question. I think London, but just because I was born in a very small island. Took me a long time to get to Paris. And as you know I didn't even -- it was a complicated move. [chuckles] I didn't tell you how it happened, but maybe next time. And when I realized how fantastic it is to have everything here under your hand, you know, and being able to meet the people. It would be very difficult for me to go back to a smaller, less international place. >> Presenter: Yeah? >>Female #5: [inaudible]. >> Presenter: So what's the direction in fashion blogging that really excites you and what's the thing that leaves you less excited was the question. >>Garance: I think what's fascinating right now is the Tumblr system. I'm looking at it every day and I'm like taking in all those images and I wonder how people are driven to do this kind of blogs that are not really blogs because it's not even their content. They're just sharing and everybody's happy like that. I don't know what it means and what's really happening with that. There's a lot of fashion blogs that are Tumblr and everything. But I think it's pretty interesting to get to a place where everybody can have a place on the Internet and put something there, because it's so easy to get the content. >> Presenter: It's almost like everyone is an editor. >>Garance: exactly >>Presenter: They can edit their own. >> Garance: It's very interesting. I'm pretty excited also because I love -- have the feeling to be drunk. I'm looking at all and there is -- when I go down the page there is more images coming. And I love that feeling. What makes me less excited is that I would be disappointed in the future if fashion blogging and, you know, I don't know so much for the rest, became really like magazines. I think it's -- I love magazines, but I think it's good to have a different thing when you come online and I think right now with the great work that fashion runs are doing and everything it becomes a little more like you have the feeling you're reading a magazine. You don't really know where the person stands and if they really love the product or if -- I am really fighting I mean for myself of course but I really hope that we will still be able to have places where we feel that it's not commercial or -- so I'm more worried about that. And for us, it's more difficult, because of course I'm trying to defend my freedom, but more -- everybody's doing it so people are like, "why don't you do it? Why don't you do it like that? We did it with that person with that person." I'm like, "well, not with me." That's a little bit scary for me. >>Presenter: Anybody else? No? Oh, sorry. >> Male #1: What do you think about men's fashion? Like Paris and New York -- men are really interested in fashion and you think like there should be more blogs about men's fashion. >>Presenter: The question was about men's fashion and what you think about men's fashion and whether you think there should be more blogs about men's fashion. >> Garance: Yeah, you know I'm very close to Scott who does a lot of men's fashion. I think it's great. I mean, right now I'm actually like on tumbler. There's a lot of interesting men's fashion blogs. There's a few magazines that are very interesting. I think guys are getting -- because I think right now. I don't know how to say it so it looks -- but there is a way. Like, to be a -- there is a very, like -- I don't know. Like fashion is not just like gay men. It's difficult to say that without appearing terrible. But you know you can be a real guy and love fashion. And for a long time, it was not -- because you would put a magazine and it would be naked guys and I know that for my boyfriend, they don't want to really see that, right? It's like -- it was difficult to buy a men's magazine or look at and see that. And then, you had of course like -- I don't know in France like where you had a naked girl. I think we're a little bit past that and I think Scott has done a lot to change that. We see that now it's Pitti in Florence. It's a men's show and there's a lot of like -- lot of things happening around it. A lot of publicizing. I think it's a great moment for men's fashion. Don't you think. >> Male #1: I don't know. I think it's kind of slow. For example, like at Google. >> Presenter: I just wanted to repeat this for the camera. He's saying that at Google. He's about to give Google as an example of men's fashion -- which is just funny. Oh, as a counter. [laughter] >>Male #1: [inaudible] a shirt, a tie, some shoes. Shoes that tie, that look like actual shoes. I don't know like I think it's like taking a lot of time. I agree with you but I don't know. >>Garance: Well, I think it's more like you have to find your sources still. You have to find, you know, go on Internet and try to find those ten what sites are actually. But you know Mr. Porter I think is really cool. And really talks about men and how, you know, so I think there is a lot of things to see and then to live it in your own way. It will take some time for guys to really, you know, be at Google, for example, and talk about fashion really. [laughter] >> Presenter: Take a long time. Maybe that's a niche for you to start. A little unsolicited job advice. >>Garance: I have to say it's very -- men's fashion has been very inspiring for me lately more than women's fashion almost. >> Female #6: I think you just talked about this. I was going to ask you to kind of stay on top of the fashion market, there are so many resources and so many -- a lot of commercials. Hopefully some niche sources out there. What are your top line two or three tips -- just to stay on top of the fashion show. >> Presenter: So the question again for the camera -- there are so many resources out there for fashion information and what are your top two or three tips for how to do that -- some niche resources and some more mainstream resources. >> Garance: I think I just gave up the idea of staying on top of it because there is so much. And I don't feel like it's my mission to be on top of it, fortunately. So, I go with the flow. When I want to read about it, I look. But I think -- and there is a lot of websites that do that. Be like Fashionologie. You can find the information. But was your question about really staying on top of that information or staying on top as a fashion blogger? >> Female #6: You know, I'm actually interested in both. More of like a general question. If you go to like the pubs, do you look at Vogue or WWD? >> Garance: I look at what's interesting to me. And I really don't try to say I have to do that. I should. I should, of course, read women's wear daily every morning. But sometimes I just don't feel like it. And I think I am not a reporter. I consider myself more as an artist. And so, an artist doesn't need to be on top of the information, but more, you know, say what he feels. And I think that's more my mission. And if I started talking about fashion news or really think that I need to report on all that. That would be really boring. First of all because I'm not a journalist and I would do it in in the wrong way and second because you can find that everywhere now. So that's my answer. [laughs] I'm not on top of it. >> Presenter: Any last questions? >> Female #7: Have you considered or are you considering becoming a designer? Because you have so much taste about what's good or not. So why not. >> Presenter: So the question is have you ever considered being a designer? >> Garance: No, I haven't. I think a great part of becoming, you know -- I don't know who I am now is saying no to some stuff. And I think you have to pick your battles. And you know like I love communicating. Being a fashion designer, you know, I really respect that work and I think it's a lot of learning and a lot of failing and a lot of -- and so, I would never -- maybe I could do like a little stuff, because I really feel I should, but. >> Male #7: Not your line. >> Garance: Yeah. >> Presenter: Well, Garance, thank you so very much for being here and please come back. >> Garance: Yes, I will. [Applause] >> Garance: Thank you