Secrets of a Girl: Emily Brickel Edelson, Fashion Illustrator & Author

Secrets of a Girl: Emily Brickel Edelson, Fashion Illustrator & Author

Emily is a fashion illustrator, live sktecher, author and app owner. She is a beautiful woman with lots of creativity and smart business ideas in her head! I bought her book „5 Minute Fashion Illustration“ a few weeks ago and was fascinated by her style of writing and drawing. So I ask this incredibly kind and warm woman for an interview. She agreed:

HEY EMILY,

I adore what you do! You have so much talent and you know how to use it successfully. You found out how to make money with fashion drawing. Now you live the life you love. You’re one of only a few people who have the courage and the deep wish to fulfill their dreams. That’s awesome!

Tell us your secrets:

Kati: What is the biggest or most important characteristic of a Girlboss?

Emily: First of all let me say thank you so much for that wonderful introduction! It means so much to me that I can inspire you and really, that is something that is so important to me.

I feel like the most important characteristic of a Girlboss is having a vision, believing in yourself and going for it no matter what, and no matter what obstacles stand in your way.

So I guess that would be summed up as determination.

K: Why are you more successful than other fashion illustrators?

E: I don’t view myself as more or less successful than other fashion illustrators, I view myself as doing it differently and doing it the way that’s the truest to me. I think it’s so important to judge yourself by who you were yesterday, and not judge yourself by others in your field.

K: Tell us a little bit about the process to create and publish a book.

E: I had always wanted to write a book since I was little. I was really lucky because a book publisher found me through my blog and liked my writing and my artwork and wanted me to write this book. I always think that if you want to do something, start doing it. Writing my blog was kind of like the gateway to making my “one-day I’ll write a book” concept a reality. There is a saying, “Act as though…” So for the book,  I wrote the whole thing myself, created all of the drawings and templates and the structure of the book.

I think the biggest struggle for me was going back there and really to keep coming back to the project over and over again and refining it so much over the course of a year.

In the end that was such an important lesson I learned and something I’m really proud of.

K: What does your workspace at home look like?

E: I have a few candles, one in particular given to me by my mentor Gabrielle Bernstein, some autographed copies of her Medi-Dating album with my artwork on the cover, a stack of Megan Hess books, a gold heart tray filled with crystals and gem stones for good energy, my planner from daydesigner.com, my laptop, some black lacquered coasters that one of my friends made me from my first clothing line Rock Hard Atelier and last but not least a stack of my book Sketch and Go: 5 Minute Fashion Illustration.  I’m really into feng shui’ing your desk and making that space sacred, personal and a place you love to be in order to create really exciting things.

K: You’re sketching also on live events like fashion shows and openings. 

E: Live sketching is one of my favorite things to do, especially at fashion shows. I think the best thing is being a part of that electric energy and seeing the fashion and getting to interpret it in my own ways. It is one of the most glamorous parts of the job and I relish every bit of it. I can’t say there really is a worse part of live sketching, but it definitely takes a lot of energy.

K: How do get the idea to create Chic Sketch App? How do you realize your vision?

E: I had been drawing on paper for years before starting Chic Sketch, and eventually I started getting called to sketch at live events, on paper. My husband (my fiancé at the time) would come with me and see people’s reactions when they got their sketch, how excited they were and how quickly they were sharing it on social media. He is also an entrepreneur and owns a digital agency where they create apps, so it was second nature for him to say “we need to turn this into an app”, and so we did. He and his team developed the app and we became partners literally marrying fashion and technology.

K: You mentioned in your book that we can find inspiration in every little detail of the world and in other people. 

E: Yes, I totally do believe that inspiration is everywhere. I think being creative comes from reconnecting with yourself first in order to see the inspiration in things around you.  If you are having a creative block, I’d say take a walk in nature, or wander into a hidden store, a museum or a park. If you’re home take an extra long shower, bath or meditate. These are great ways to reconnect with your inner instincts and process all of the things you have racing around in your head. Once you do that, you’ll be amazed at how much inspiration you find around you!

K: How does your morning routine look like?

My morning routine starts a little late for most people, but my husband and I are often up working till about 4 in the morning.  When I wake up, I open my blinds and take a look at the NYC skyline. It is always amazing to look at. I feed and take out my pup Samba and I make some breakfast and coffee and take a shower. (I’d take him everywhere if I could). He’s the office security even though he’s about 5 lb’s and cheers everyone up.  Every day is different.

K: What are your favorite beauty products?

E: I’m a makeup girl and love trying new things! I have tried a ton of expensive brands but I really think that Rimmel London and Maybelline have the best eyeliners.

K: Who is your biggest style inspiration?

E: I draw my style inspiration from a lot of places. I love to be ahead of the trends but also not to get lost in the sea of people over-wearing the same look. I think keeping elements of style that are true to you and adopting trends based on your personality and your own style is super important. I’d say my biggest style icons are Fashion Editors and original street style stars Giovanna Battaglia and Anna Dello Russo. They kill it every time. I love how they just love fashion and have so much fun with it without taking themselves too seriously.

K: Tell us your favourite shops!

E: Chanel is my favorite; Valentino, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bloomies, I love Saks Fifth Avenue – their shoe department is basically my idea of heaven. I am also kind of addicted to online shopping. I love Revolve, Missguided, ASOS, Boohoo, Nasty Gal and Forever 21. I invest in high quality shoes, bags and accessories and have fun with mid to lower priced styles to incorporate the trends with the classics.

K: What are your favorite books, human beings or social media channels you’ve learned from and why?

E: My favorite books and humans are every book and anything by Gabrielle Bernstein and Richard Branson. I love The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, The Woman I Wanted To Be by Diane Von Furstenberg. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, The Book of Secrets by Deepak Chopra and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. All of these books have really affected my life in some way.

As an entrepreneur it’s so important to keep learning and working on yourself.

I also love Marie Forleo. In terms of social media, I follow a lot of people but edit it based on what I want to be coming into my feed in hopes of inspiring me.I try to cut out anything or anyone in my social media feeds that mainly post negative stories.

If I want to see what’s going on in the world I’ll turn on the news and then turn it off! If I’m on social media I want a positive experience. It’s super important for your inspiration to not be bogged down by negative energy.

K: So, that was it! Thank you sooo much, dear Emily, to answer my questions. I’m sure you’re a great rolemodel for every girl who wants to be a Girlboss.

In this video you can find out more about her career, her book and her app:

YOU ARE AS MUCH EXITED ABOUT EMILY AS ME? YOU CAN FIND HER HERE:

 

INSTAGRAM

@emilybrickel

@ChicSketch

FACEBOOK:

Emily Brickel Consulting

Chic Sketch

WEBSITE

Emilybrickeledelson.com

ChicSketch.com

PINTEREST

Emily Brickel 

YOU CAN FIND HER BOOK HERE: 

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