The Inquisition: Nicole Warne, fashion blogger

My love for fashion started when I was younger, but it was only until I graduated from high school that I realise I can actually turn it into a career. I interned at Grazia and Harper's Bazaar in Australia. I was about to turn 19 when I started Gary Pepper Girl as an online store and a blog. I sold vintage pieces that I had collected over the years, and within six months it was established as a company, and I had three staff. It was moving very quickly — it got to a point where I had to choose between my store or my blog. I felt that I'm being more creative with my blog and it allows me to travel. I haven't looked back — I've been doing my it full time for 2½ years now.

Gary Pepper was actually invented by my boyfriend. It's kind of quirky, weird, and hopefully memorable. It just kind of stuck. In the beginning, the personality of my brand was based on Japanese girls. I'm half Japanese and half South Korean. I love the confidence that they have, and how much fun they have with fashion. It's quite eccentric, but loud and colourful, which was exactly what I was selling.

I try not to follow trends. Everyone's style is unique, so even if you love a trend, make sure you always reinterpret it for your own style. My style, if I have to describe it, would be classic, playful and feminine. As I've got older, I've realised that it's about investing in timeless pieces. They may cost more money, but you get to wear them longer, and they're versatile, so you can mix and match. My style now is a bit more refined, a bit more lady-like because I'm not a teenager anymore. I'm a woman, and my style reflects that. But I try to have fun with it.