Sara Donaldson has been running a successful fashion blog called Harper and Harley for over six years now and it’s touted as one of Australia’s leading style blogs. Known for her black, white and grey colour palette, we spoke to the beautiful brunette during the press junket of Fashion Bloggers (she joins the likes of Kate Waterhouse, Amanda Shadforth, Margaret Zhang and Zanita Whittington), a reality show about Down Under’s rising bloggers.
What was it like filming Fashion Bloggers?
At first I was conscious about what I looked like on camera but you just have to relax and remember that you’re going to come across your best when you’re most comfortable and relaxed and letting your personality come through.
As a blogger you put yourself out there a lot – is there something that people don’t know about you?
I try to keep my personal life, my family, my boyfriend quietly to myself – I don’t really put them on my Instagram, my Facebook or my blog and I mention him every once in a while but some things are meant to be personal and you don’t want people to talk about “Oh, they broke up”. My blog is about fashion and that’s what I want people to know.
Are the comments on your blog mainly positive things?
I find that I’ve been really lucky – everyone’s been so nice. You’re always going to get a percentage of people who are negative and mean and you either have to forget about them or delete them but just don’t give them any airtime.
Do you read other people’s blogs?
I do! My favourite is Mandy’s Oracle Fox – we have similar taste. I read Zanita’s because she’s hilarious and she really puts her personality across.
There are five of you on Fashion Bloggers, if you could add a sixth person, who would you pick?
I have to add Nicole (Warne) from Gary Pepper. We all know her and we all love her and everyone’s always asking, “Why isn’t she on the show?”. Everyone knows her and she would add a good balance for all of our friendship.
What are your must-have travel products?
I always take facial wipes with me to remove makeup when I get on the plane- nothing worst than having makeup on while you’re flying. I then put rosehip oil on my face, it helps get rid of acne or anything like that also it’s anti-wrinkle and age-defying. Rosehip oil is my number one beauty secret.
Besides rosehip oil what skin care items do you swear by?
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion – I sue that morning and night and after cleansing followed by rosehip oil. Really simple but it works.
How often do you travel?
I don’t travel as much as the other girls but I would say it’s getting more frequent because I’ve taken on blogging full time now. I think every three or four months I’ll go somewhere.
What kind of traveller are you?
I get really stressed going to the airport – I get scared if I miss my flight because I have read the time wrongly. I freak out on the way there but as soon as I get there, I am really relaxed. On the plane I’m fine. The only thing is, I find it really hard to sleep sitting up.
You do a lot of beauty hauls, how do you filter through what you keep and what you don’t?
What I do is, I take all my favourite ones out and put them in my drawers and have a stash for when I run out. But then I like to put some aside and have my girlfriends take them – it’s like a goodie bag for everyone.
What are a few must-visit shops in Sydney if someone is here on a short trip?
You want to visit Australian designers that you can’t really get elsewhere. Go into Pitt Street Mall, there’s a mall called The Strand Arcade and it has a lot of Australian designers – Scanlan Theodore, Dion Lee, there’s a store called Lover on the corner that has more international brands but has some beautiful jewelry that are rarely made. Manning Cartell, Jack and Jack makes really nice organic T-shirts. The other destination is Paddington and it’s called The Intersection and it’s got Acne, Zimmerman, Ginger and Smart, Ellery and Basic is there as well as Willow – that’s one of my favourites. I usually shop online but if I need to get something really quick, it’s either Strand Arcade or Paddington.
What’s your favourite online shopping site?
Shopbob has a good range of high and low price points. Net-a-Porter to splurge and Asos if I want something really quick and cheerful.
Which would you pick – a great pair of shoes or a great bag?
Shoes! I usually just hold on to a bag for a really long time because I don’t like to change bags – you always forget to put something in your new bag. I invest in a great bag once a year, I invest in shoes 6 times in a year [laughs].
What’s a fashion no-no for you?
Ill-fitting clothes – don’t have anything too short or tight. Work with your body and with what suits you. Go a size up if you need to, don’t be worried about numbers. It’s about how it actually fits – no one’s going to ask you the number but they’re going to remember if it didn’t fit well.
What are some of your favourite cities to shop in?
New York is fun. I’ve been to London recently and Piccadilly Circus is beautiful – I went into Selfridges and I think I lost my mind in there.
What do you like to do to unwind?
Relaxing for me is getting rid of my phone and going for a walk with my dog, hanging out with my boyfriend and going out in Manly where we live and have a wine by the water or paddle boarding – just getting myself out and about.
What inspires you?
I think just self-motivation. You look to the other girls and they’re doing such amazing things and you just want to be like them. All the other girls inspire me to keep on going and working hard.
Catch Fashion Bloggers on Wednesdays, 10pm (Malaysia) and 9pm (Singapore) on E! (Astro Channel 712) with repeats on Thursdays, 8pm (MAL)
