Macy’s bar III winter 2011 presentation—complete with womenswear, menswear, and its first-ever jewelry line—showed at a hip gallery in Chelsea, New York City last week. The presentation and lookbook were styled by three recognizable faces including fashion blogger Denni Elias of Chicmuse.

Photo: Courtesy of Chicmuse

The private reception welcomed a crowd of fashion insiders and bloggers alike (joining her were Julia Frakes of Bunny Bisous and Ryan Plett of You Have Broken the Internet). I made my way into the Glass Houses where the event was held, and I wasn’t sure if it was a mirage until I stepped out from the sunlight—there she was sitting in an adorable bar III cobalt blue mini dress—and with her signature thick eyeliner and red lips, of course. Denni Elias and her friend Ruy (who takes all the photographs on her blog) were taking a quick break from the day. We exchanged our meet-and-greet as she towered me with her Prada pumps just by a couple of inches (I was wearing much shorter heels!) and opted to take our interview to the very top floor of the building—we had a skyline view of New York City’s westside. Ruy insists Denni must take a photo with this view. She placed her champagne glass (filled with water) down and posed, and the camera clicked, clicked, and clicked away. Her blog of two years has skyrocketed her fashion career with gigs from American Apparel and features in ELLE Japan online, to styling for Dolce & Gabbana’s Milan store windows. And she won’t stop here. “I want to do a lot of things,” says Denni. She talks to us about her admiration of Yves Saint Laurent and Anna dello Russo, loving friendships with bloggers Taghrid, Natalie, and Alex, to name a few, and why it’s important to have passion in what we do.

ELLEgirl: Tell us how this collaboration started.

Denni Elias: They sent me an email regarding this collaboration and they said, we want you to style our collection for Macy’s. I’ve seen bar III work with other bloggers like Jane from Sea of Shoes, and I think it was a great project that involved bloggers and styling. I really like that. And I was like, “oh my god so exciting,” of course yes!

EG: Can you tell me a few things you did for the project?

DE: Each one of the bloggers involved in this has to style six pieces, six outfits. It includes jewelry because it’s new for bar III. So, you just have to put your styling into it, like how Chicmuse is. It’s a really good project because all the people who work at bar III are so nice.

Photo: Courtesy of Macy's

EG: What is your favorite piece from the winter collection?

DE: The black jumpsuit, I loved the bustier-shape like in the front and the fabric makes it look so elegant and sophisticated. I paired it with a golden snake belt that is my favorite, too.

EG: Can you tell us some of the trends you predict will be in for the fall?

DE: It’s like a Christmas lookbook, so I try to add red and black; also I try to add this very sophisticated and at the same time edgy look. And I actually had a preppy look.

EG: What is the age range for these key pieces?

DE: 14 to 35 years old. It’s a big range of women who can wear this. I think it’s all very wearable.

EG: Does fashion run in the family?

DE: Like a job? No. But I can tell my sister and my mother have taught me, not really taught me, but they also enjoy fashion and love fashion. I have one older sister. We never leave without heels.

EG: Is she in the fashion industry?

DE: No, she’s a lawyer. (laughs)

EG: Wow, totally different! It’s great that you get to travel a lot because of the success from your blog. How did your blog start, and how do you feel about it skyrocketing the way it has?

DE: What I wanted to do was transmit what I feel, my style, and what I’m thinking about fashion. I wanted to communicate with other people who have the same interests. It wasn’t like, to be famous. If it starts gaining followers, that’s very nice but at the same time overwhelming because I have to travel. It’s been really great. And I really like it right now.

EG: Do people notice who you are at the airport during your travels?

DE: Yes. Yeah, I got stopped four times on our way to New York from Paris. I went to Topshop today in SoHo and three girls saw me in there and followed me three stores down and never said “hi” to me. (laughs) Actually this one time, I went into a Starbucks in New Mexico and I go on my blog, and this guy comments on my blog saying, “I’m watching you, you’re in Starbucks.” I didn’t know who he was!

EG: So you work with American Apparel now?

DE: Yes. Well, I’ve been working with them since I started the blog. I started, and three months after, they contacted me to do modeling. I was coming to New York, and the creative director of American Apparel was also coming so we had a meeting. I consider them like my family because I’ve been with them through all this process. I really love them. I have a special connection with them.

Photo: Courtesy of Chicmuse

EG: Another fashion blogger, Taghrid, also works for American Apparel. Are you guys friends?

DE: Totally! Because before her there was another photographer, and she started taking pictures. We met in Los Angeles and since then I think we have created a special friendship. Yeah, she is really nice.

EG: Is there anything else you are doing besides American Apparel and styling for labels like Macy’s bar III?

DE: Well actually, I was studying business in Mexico. I already did one and a half-year there. Since all of this—the blog—I had to stop and continue doing what I really, really love. Which is in the fashion industry. I’ve been in Paris, living in Paris.

EG: How old are you?

DE: I just turned 22.

EG: You’re so young! Is there something you want to do that you haven’t already done?

DE: Oh yes, I want to do a lot of things (laugh). I mean, you have to dream big, right? Maybe one day open a magazine. A fashion magazine, some day. In the meantime, I want to work in the fashion industry, definitely. I love selling, but also since I was a little girl I’ve been obsessed with world magazines. I used to spend all my money buying Vogue, buying all the magazines I can get from other countries and read them. I don’t know, it’s like a fairytale world for me. I think being there is what I want to do.

EG: Do you want to write in a magazine?

DE: Yeah. I mean, I’m young. This is the time to do things, and try all the things you can, and decide what you like the most. That’s why I’m doing projects like bar III. Doing everything and different kinds of things to see what I like most.

Photo: Courtesy of Chicmuse

EG: Who are some of your blogger friends?

DE: Taghrid is one of them of course, Alex French blogger from Cherry Blossom Girl, and um, Ruy here (sitting next to her)—he takes all my photos—(laughs) I have met so many friends. I care about them because we all have the same interests, and we like each other a lot. For example, with Taghrid, we have a special relationship. And Natalie from Natalie Off Duty.

EG: So, did you meet them through fashion blogging?

DE: Actually, with Natalie, we met for a project in Barcelona. With Alex, I met her in Amsterdam before France because we were living in Paris, and she’s also from Paris. We had to go to Amsterdam Fashion Week and we met there.

EG: A lot of young fashion bloggers look up to you. Tell us what the biggest mistake to avoid is.

DE: I will say that if you have a bad comment criticizing how you look or what you like to do…some people try to respond negatively. You just have to delete the comment or maybe just don’t answer it. Because sometimes it gives a very negative feeling. You have to interactive with your readers, but you always in a positive way.

EG: How do you feel about adding your personal life on your blog?

DE: I try not to get too personal. Because some people really try to get into your life. I don’t think that’s the best way. You have to put a line between what you want them to know and what you want to keep to yourself.

EG: How do you make sure to keep your readers coming back?

DE: I try to post the most I can. I try to use Twitter, Facebook, and interact with them. It’s very important.

EG: Any future collaborations we should be looking forward to?

DE: Right now, I’m just here for Macy’s. But I’m collaborating with Glamour USA for the Young & Posh Blogger Network. I blog for them and I’m going to do it again the next season. I’ll be doing that another six months. The visitors for them are really different from my visitors. Overall, I think American people are very interesting people to see how they respond to what you do and if they like you. Also, for Nylon Japan I’ll be doing a large feature, 12-14 pages feature.

EG: You get contacted a lot by international magazines.

DE: Actually I’m getting so much contact from Japan because I spent one month there. I think I look Japanese? (laughs) Sometimes people stop me on the streets and start speaking to me in Japanese. And I’m like, “I don’t understand you, I’m sorry.” (laughs)

EG: I think it’s the eyeliner!

DE: (laughs) Yeah, I think it’s the eyeliner! But even without it, I think I still do. (laughs)

EG: Where were you actually born?

DE: I’m from Mexico City, Mexico

EG: Is it difficult to work with international magazines?

DE: No, they can speak English. But I want to learn Japanese. I really love their culture and I was amazed in Japan.

EG: You’ve started the blog for only two years, and you’re doing so many great things. What is your number one advice to give to your readers?

DE: To make it big in what you want to do, you have to be really passionate about it. You have to feel it, not just to make it. A lot of people open their blog because they want to make money. Because they know they can get free clothes and money. When I open my blog I never ever thought about that. I just wanted to dress myself, I wanted freedom. I want so many things. (laughs) I just want to express myself, be myself, and be passionate for what I want to do in live and what I like.

Ruy: Every time she receives an email from someone who wants to offer her something, she says, “I would love to if I really like something that expresses myself. So I can stay original, and I can give you a good image and I can keep myself with mine.”

DE: Yeah, so be true to what you love. I lean on my mother and Ruy as my guiding stars in the light.

Photo: Courtesy of Chicmuse

EG: Who are your biggest fashion influences?

DE: I admire Yves Saint Laurent when he was alive; I think he’s a very amazing person. I admire Anna dello Russo, she’s a great woman. She’s always pushing herself to do things; she’s a perfect example of doing what you want and what you’re really passionate about. For style, I’m very influenced by Emmamulle Alt, French style is really connected to who I am.

EG: Finally, I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a long time. Does it hurt to wear those sky scraper heels all day!

DE: It does! But it is worth it to use them during all the fashion events and fashion weeks for example, I really like getting the whole look with really high heel shoes.

Denni is published a post on her trip to New York City for the bar III event here! Read up, and enjoy.