Diana Mamlieva
Welcome to Project : Fashion by dianamamlieva.com, my blog about all things style, beauty and discovering myself. Why the blog’s name is dianamamlieva.com? I was looking for a name for a long time. After trying everything from chicblog to classyfashionista, I realized that the only name to describe my blog would be my name – then I would not have to fit into frames of any descriptions…
Sharing some things about myself, it is vital to say one thing: The “Place of Birth” line in my passport says USSR. I do believe it tremendously shaped me as a person. If you wonder, born in Russia still ruled by communist government, I was introduced to fashion fairly … late.
All soviet school girls were ordered to wear dark brown dresses with black aprons. Even for special occasions you could only accessorize that brown dress with a white apron and a bow in your hair.
Once in 1990s Russia embraced democracy, we were informed that now we can dress any way we like. You’d think I would be happy? Not so much, now we could find any clothes in the stores, but we did not have enough money. I normally wore hand-me-downs from older cousins, including male ones. One thing I can smile about now – at least all my clothes were vintage!
When I was 10, my favorite dress was a simple deep pink dress with white polka dots. It was handed to me by my cousin, who was 5 years older. Later, I had amazing mod pieces given to me by my stylish aunt (she never had any children). I only wish I still had the mustard 70s trench coat I wore some 13 years ago!
My parents always did their best to dress me well. My mom would actually sacrifice her own style for me. She would say she did not need anything… Now I realize, it is not that she did not care to dress well, it is that she pretended not to care.
I moved to the U.S. 7 years ago. I believe that is when my actual quest for fashion had started. Growing up in Russia has given me sense of style, love for art and culture, but being in the U.S. brought me financial opportunity to finally embrace my fashion dreams. I am not a stylist, I am just a girl that sees clothes as pieces of art. Fashion to me is like painting a picture every single day.
Just a couple more things. One, as I perfect my English skills, please, be patient to any grammar and style mistakes. Two, my name is pronounced Deeana. I really do love it pronounced this way, if you were ever to talk to me!
