Interview with Lolita Fashion Blogger La Carmina

What inspired you to start blogging?

Around 2006, I saw personal style blogs emerge. I thought, “This might be a neat way for me to share my obsessions with Japanese Gothic fashion and subcultures.” I had designed websites in the past, so it was easy for me to get started – and from the first day (in September 2007), I was hooked. La Carmina blog (www.lacarmina.com/blog) has branched from fashion into cute cooking, travel videos, Jpop culture and rock music… I’ve never run out of inspiration, and still get excited to post and answer comments every day.

The internet is constantly changing and adapting, and trends come and go very quickly. Do you think blogging will manage to stand the test of time?
Blogging will evolve over the years, but I think there will always be some form of online publishing – whether it’s in the form of videos, photos or writing. The Internet is wonderful for giving any regular person a voice and making possibilities come to life.

What are your top tips for writing a successful blog?
Treat your blog as a business: post frequently, and put up the best quality content possible on a well-designed site. Be active in social networks and tuned in to SEO (search engine optimization) and monetization options. I highly recommend using Wordpress on a self-hosted domain; the plugins and customizations are brilliant. Above all, blog about a niche subject that you love -- your passion will come through, and readers will connect.

How did you make the move from blogging to TV presenting?
I have zero family connections to anyone in TV or media. Every TV hosting opportunity (NHK Japan, CNN International, Travel Channel, Canal Plus France) arose because a producer found my blog and sent me an email. The TV people looked at my writing work, press, bio, photos, videos etc, and that helped them decide if I was someone worth contacting. I absolutely love doing TV work: I get to be my flamboyant self and share the pop culture oddities I love. I hope I can keep doing more.

What inspired your three books?
My books are inspired by Japanese pop culture quirks. 'Cute Yummy Time' is a cookbook that shows you how to turn 70 favorite meals into adorable characters: think bunny muffins and panda bear meringues. 'Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo' is about Japan’s extreme theme cafes (maids, monkeys, cats, vampires). If you’re interested, you can find out more and order these books from my site.

What's the best thing about Lolita fashion?
I am obsessed with Ancien Régime and Victorian fashion... the floor-sweeping Rococo gowns of Marie Antoinette, the mourning jewelry and veils of Queen Victoria. Lolita fashion is a love letter to elegant, flamboyant past eras. In a modern world where everyone wears jeans, putting on a corset, lace headdress and doll-like bell skirt will make you feel like a princess.

What do you have planned next?
I’ll keep blogging every day on La Carmina blog about Harajuku’s darkest and most decadent subcultures. I will be the Asia host for 'Project Explorer', an educational travel TV series shooting soon. I’m one of the main contributors for CNNGo.com, an Asia travel/lifestyle website. And there are more projects in the works… with luck, I’ll keep doing travel TV hosting in Japan and every dark corner of the globe.