Style Profile: Solo Lisa

This week, in honour of my being on holidays at home in B.C., it's five consecutive days of style profiles featuring some of Vancouver's most fashionable and influential bloggers.

Today, in the BC Style Profile series, we talk fashion with Solo Lisa. An idea borne of procrastination, Solo Lisa is your one stop shop for everything fashion, beauty, books and more. She tackles the tough subjects, like spa treatments and travel reviews, and all that lies between.

Name: Lisa

Age: 26

Occupation: Technical writer, blogger, freelance fashion writer

Site: http://sololisa.com/

When and why did you start your site?

I started my site in 2007. At the time, I was a university student in the final year of my Bachelor's degree, procrastinating by reading fashion blogs when I should've been writing term papers. After a while, I thought it'd be fun to start my own.

How would you describe your site?

It's a mix of everything I'm interested in at any given moment. I write about fashion mostly, but I also have outfit posts, recipes and travel posts. I review beauty products, spa treatments and books too.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere! Daily life, blogs, websites, magazines, books, film, TV shows.

Who are your style/beauty icons?

They're a mix of real-life people and imaginary characters. For celebrities, it would have to be Audrey Hepburn and Zooey Deschanel. For fictional personas, I love the preppy girly style of Rory Gilmore from the TV show Gilmore Girls, Anne Hathaway's character post-makeover in The Devil Wears Prada, and Cher Horowitz in Clueless.

Describe your personal style?

I prefer classic, feminine pieces with a fresh twist.

What was the best style/beauty advice you've been given?

I can't recall a single piece of style/beauty advice, but as I wrote in my article for the June 2011 issue of Flare, my mother's classic taste proved to be a huge influence.

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I wish I could rattle off a list of super expensive places for this question! In reality, most of my wardrobe comes from places like Banana Republic, H&M, Zara, Joe Fresh and Anthropologie. Online I peruse Shopbop a lot; I'm lucky to have them as a sponsor. Locally, in Vancouver, I love the Cici line at the Two of Hearts Boutique and the in-house designs at (212) Boutique.

What are your favourite trends for this season?

Lace, the colour blue, polka dots, and the various references to the 1960s, whether it's Banana Republic's MadMen collection or brightly coloured swing jackets and mod shift dresses.

Style/Beauty Pet Peeves?

Too much makeup/bronzer/self-tanner. I also get annoyed when it seems like a girl is a slave to trends without considering what looks best and suits her personality.

What do you never leave home without?

Cell phone, keys, blotting papers, credit card, ID and lip balm or lipstick.

What are the five essential items that every woman should own?

A trench, a striped shirt, a pair of skinny dark wash blue jeans, ballet flats, and a ladylike purse with a chain strap.

Check out Solo Lisa for fashion and anything else that catches her fancy, and join the conversation on twitter.

Tomorrow, as I wrap up my west coast vacay, so does the Style Profile series. But, not before we talk trends and everything in between with StyleStruck.

All images courtesy of Solo Lisa.