This is the first time I’ve ever interviewed someone I work with. Megan, aka The Brash Brunette, has a multitude of talents—she is a published author, a fantastic baker, a blogger, and a Kate Spade addict, just to name a few. She is also one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet.

Here is my chat with The Brash Brunette.

Megan Racicot
The Brash Brunette
Instagram: @thebrashbrunette

Tell us where your love for fashion came from and how The Brash Brunette came to be.

Well, I would have to say my love for fashion started from a very young age. I was always drawn to clothing and colour on television and in the streets. My parents were pretty progressive, always encouraging me to express my artistic side, especially when I’d play fashion designer wrapping myself in sheets and styling them as dresses with my Dad’s belts and ties. I made it clear that I wanted to dress myself and from older photos, its easy to see that I didn’t just pick anything; there was a rhyme and reason to how I would dress myself. I taught myself to sew and make my own clothes as a teenager. My love for all things fashion has really blossomed and grown from all those experiences.

You’re a modern day Martha Stewart. Hands down you have the best decorated office cubicle and you also make the most delicious treats. Is this your true calling in life?

I enjoy things that allow me to express my creativity. I would actually like to own a high end nail salon where I could also sell one of a kind handcrafted pieces of clothing as well as up and coming luxury brands, and I’d also be inclined to open a bakery that spins old school vinyl. My life would be full of the things I love and I’d get to be my own boss – the perfect life in my books.

I love, love, love your Instagram account. Where do you get the inspiration for your posts?

Well, in all honesty – I take a rather selfish approach with Instagram. Life isn’t always pretty – so I like my Instagram to be. I like bright, airy, aesthetically pleasing photographs that capture moments or things I really like..and more recently as a new blogger, products or things that I’ve bought or tried that my friends and followers might also like. I like that Instagram is essentially the photo album of a new generation and that the photos are always accessible with just a click.

Do you have any tips you can give me on taking a good selfie – or outfit selfie.

I’d say lighting is about 90% of what makes a photo great. Natural light helps to make your photo bright, crisp and clear without the use of filters or having to adjust brightness, exposure or contrast. A good selfie or outfit selfie really depends on the person and what they want to show or highlight. Sometimes, you have to play with certain angles to make a photo work. A plain or ultra colourful background can also make your photo pop.

You recently got married how much fun (or stress) was it planning one of the biggest days of your life?

Planning a wedding was incredibly stressful. If I had to do it all again, I would have a simple ceremony at the courthouse and then a small party at a restaurant. It was a huge undertaking as I chose to do a lot of it myself. I’m extremely particular and have a tendency to be a perfectionist, so looking back at it now, hiring a wedding planner would have eliminated a lot of my anxiety. I was fortunate enough to have friends that helped me with all my DIY crafts into the wee hours of the night on multiple occasions, so I am very grateful for that.

You’re a self-proclaimed ESSIE girl. If you were to have your own nail polish, what color would it be and what would it be called?

This is such a hard one! It would definitely have to be a bright matte coral coloured polish and it’d be my namesake — The Brash Brunette.

Kate Spade – you have a tiny addiction – I mean that in a good way. Why do you love her and what is your favorite piece from all of her collections?

I guess I can be real and say it’s actually a HUGE addiction, so thankfully my husband is understanding. I love Kate Spade because every collection is so fun and colourful. The company really pushes the boundaries in terms of their clothing and accessories and they stand out from the crowd. I own clothing, shoes, jewelry, perfume, handbags, kitchen ware, home decor, you name it. I am a self-proclaimed Kate Spade-aholic.

Whatever the season, there is always something at Kate Spade that I fall in love with and covet — when was the last time you saw an ice cream truck purse?

My all-time favorite piece is actually a tie between a large bright pink purse my husband picked up for me in Vegas for my birthday and a smaller gold crossbody purse he got me for Valentine’s. They’re both so fun, flirty and reflects my style so perfectly.

You also run an Instagram account called @ootdottawa where you re-post fashion pics from people in the nation’s capital – showing Ottawa’s most stylish people. How do you pick your photos – and when I am I going to be on there. Hmmm?

Outfit of the Day Ottawa (#ootdottawa) was born out of a passion for fashion and style. After a number of years of posting my #ootd photos to Instagram and seeing others from around the world, I assumed I couldn’t be the only fashionista in our city and decided to start an Instagram account and website (www.ootdottawa.com) dedicated to showcasing Ottawa’s fashionable and stylish folk. I also hoped it might foster connections within our city and build a community — because really that’s what I’m about – community over competition. Essentially to be featured you either tag @ootdottawa or use the hashtag #ootdottawa and I repost the user’s image. I also peruse the #ottawastyle and #ottawafashion hashtags to repost outfit posts as well.

Since we are a fashion and beauty blog, would you mind answering a few personal questions?
Do you have a daily beauty routine?

Surprisingly, I don’t. Every day is different, however I wash my face religiously and moisturize before bed, which I think contributes to my clear skin and glow (on good days.)

Let’s hear some of your favorites…

piece of clothing you own: a simple black tailored blazer – great for the office or a casual weekend look.

place to shop for clothes: Definitely Nordstrom but I also like to hit Target in Watertown every so often to restock on the basics like tank tops, slim fit trousers for the workweek and cardigans in every colour.

hair product: Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Sea Salt Spray – it smells incredible and helps to add volume to my fine hair. I spritz lightly onto towel-dried hair, blow dry & style!

make up must haves: a really great highlighter!

Do you have any beauty or fashion pet peeves?

A fashion pet peeve would be the ultimate crime of socks and sandals. I don’t really have any beauty pet peeves, everyone does what works for them.

How would you describe your personal style?

I’d call my style a crazy mix & mélange, I pair designer brands with budget or thrift store finds and I sometimes try to push the envelope with bright colours, bold prints and textures that might not be considered complementary.

If money was no object – what designers would be in your dream closet?

I would treat myself to the biggest classic Chanel flap bag money could buy. I’d buy every floral and fun dress from Kate Spade and I’d fly to New York to visit all the luxury boutiques and buy one of everything.

What is your favorite way to pamper yourself?

A manicure. A fresh coat of polish makes my day better, improves my mood and makes me feel like a million bucks, whether I do it myself or have them done at the salon.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

I’d be laying in the sand on Cocoa Beach with my husband by my side.

Finally give us three words that describe you best.

Optimistic, bold, fun.