Marina Ingvarsson
From fashion to business: the trajectory of the influencer, blogger and stylist
With a casual and laid-back approach, Marina Ingvarsson is the blogger, model and cinematographer behind the fashion blog Bon au Petite, who today has amassed over 100,000 followers on Instagram.
We interviewed the influencer in a spontaneous and fun chat to discover more about Ingvarsson’s main inspirations, dreams and interests. Check out the full interview!
Lifestyle Mag: How did you start your career in the fashion industry?
Marina Ingvarsson: After moving to New York in 2010, I was a model for a few years before gradually transitioning into the world of styling and blogging. It all happened very naturally, and looking back, I feel it was the best decision I could have made at the time.
LM: When you started your blog, did you imagine it would be the success it is today?
MI: At that time, Instagram was a much more laid-back place, and bloggers still did the actual “blog,” where they wrote words about a topic. I enjoyed it a lot and didn’t worry about whether it would grow exponentially. To this day, I still don’t care much about follower count, as long as I love what I’m doing and enjoy the process.
LM: Who is your biggest fashion inspiration?
MI: I have always been inspired by actresses from classic 60s–70s films, especially the French New Wave. But above all, I would say I felt inspired by Isabella Rossellini.
LM: You do countless things in your job— influencer, blogger and stylist. But what do you reserve for your leisure time?
MI: My most important job is to be the best mother I can be to my daughter, so any free time I have, I spend with her and try to make it as fun as possible.
LM: You travel frequently; what is your favorite place in the world?
MI: I feel very happy anywhere in the Mediterranean; it’s the combination of perfect weather, rich culture and history.
LM: Why did you choose NY to be your home?
MI: New York is always changing and at the same time remains the same. It often feels like a waiting area in a huge airport with many, many people passing through. But it brings a sense of energy and a desire to create new things.
LM: What do you like most about the city?
MI: It feels like the busiest place on Earth, but you can have a fun conversation with almost anyone, often randomly. It’s unpredictable and never boring.
LM: What is your favorite restaurant to go to dinner with friends?
MI: I’ve been a vegetarian for over a decade, and New York has an incredible variety of restaurants in that gastronomic scene. My recent favorites are Jajaja Mexicana and Planta Queen.
LM: Where do you get inspiration for your looks?
MI: Part of my inspiration comes from the desire to find a perfect balance between sophistication and practicality. I usually start very simple and minimal, then see if something needs to be added or if it’s redundant. Sometimes inspiration comes right in the middle of that process when my silhouette suddenly reminds me of something or someone, and I just go with it.
LM: Do you have a favorite book?
MI: I’d say it’s very difficult to choose just one, but the book of the moment for me is the new reissue of Claire McCardell’s classic, “What Shall I Wear?”.
LM: Your hair is very beautiful and can even be considered an accessory in your look compositions. Do you have any hair care routine?
MI: Thank you! I trim my ends monthly to keep them looking fresh, energized, and better able to absorb all hair care products. My current favorite is the “Anti-Pollution Ritual” line from Christophe Robin Paris.
LM: And skincare, is there any specific product you can’t live without?
MI: Absolutely. It’s the La Prairie Pure Gold Radiance Night Balm. It feels like magic.
LM: Is there anything you feel you would still like to achieve in your professional life?
MI: I would love to finish the book I’m working on, where I’m giving my own perspective on being a fashion influencer as a career and trying to predict its future developments.
LM: And finally, where do you find motivation to carry out your daily tasks?
MI: If we’re talking about the often tedious routine, I try to look at any problem or issue that needs to be solved simply as a series of actions that need to be carried out and try to remove my emotions or contemplations, since that often leads to procrastination.
Instead of thinking about how I feel about a particular task, I simply do it, but I try to create the best setting for it— like a well-organized desk or really good background music. And when I finish, I always reward myself a little— and channel my emotions toward that moment. It works like a charm every time for me.
