Years ago, when I first discovered blogs, specifically fashion blogs, I was (and still am!) obsessed with LE CATCH. LE CATCH, written by Marlien Rentmeester, is an incredible fashion blog that features the best fashion finds at all price points. Whether it’s Topshop or Gucci, every product Marlien shares is so stylish.

In addition to LE CATCH, Marlien recently founded Oui Want with her twin sister, Coliena. Through Oui Want, Marlien and Coliena create lookbooks for brands to help maximize brands’ potential. They have worked with brands such as J. Crew, Monique Lhuillier, Clare V., and La Double J, to name a few.

Marlien is the definition of a girl boss, as she has accomplished so much in the fashion world in numerous roles. In fact, LE CATCH is one of the most profitable fashion blogs in the world (and let me tell you, there are more fashion blogs out there than you think)! I was lucky enough to interview Marlien for my blog, and I am so excited to share her words of wisdom with you all. In this interview, Marlien shared invaluable insight into her journey as a female founder that you will not want to miss. Enjoy the interview, and be sure to start reading LE CATCH if you do not already.- your closet will thank you!

1. When did you realize you had a passion for fashion and style?

Probably when I was in junior high school. I got into buying fashion magazines, and I would tear up the pictures that inspired me. Then, I would basically plaster every inch of my bedroom walls with magazine pages, so much so that it was like wallpaper on all four walls! I was so inspired by the imagery. In seventh grade, I took a literature class, and I remember we read Shakespeare sonnets- I was so inspired! That inspired me to write more and to keep a journal. By my senior year of high school, I knew that, somehow, I needed to marry my writing skills with my passion for style, imagery, and fashion.

2. When did you start Le Catch, and why did you do it?

I started Le Catch in 2012. It had been an idea that had been percolating my brain for so long. At the time, I was the West Coast editor at Lucky Magazine, a Condé Nast shopping magazine. I had been in New York working, climbing my way up the ladder, and I finally landed this dream job. Then, I moved to LA. I didn’t want to strike out on my own, but I just knew that there was this huge opportunity to do something separate from Condé Nast. So, I struggled with that. I didn’t know if I should go out on my own and leave this amazing job behind. My husband actually convinced me: he was like, “It doesn’t have to be either/or. Get permission from your editor-in-chief to see if you can start writing a blog, and do both.” Ultimately, I have to give him credit. He was working in the internet in the comparison-shopping world at the time, and he just knew that the content that I was creating for Condé Nast was so valuable. He knew I should be monetizing your own content, and there was so much content to create. I also knew that Lucky only had so many pages I could fill up from the West Coast. I had all these other ideas, and I needed a place for them to flourish. I got permission from my editor-in-chief, and she was like, “You want to write a blog? Yeah sure, you and everyone else! Go for it.” So, I decided to do Le Catch! At first, I did maybe 10 posts, and I sent them out to my inner circle of friends and got feedback. I asked them what they liked and what I could improve upon. Once they all gave me the thumbs-up, I asked them to send Le Catch to their friends, and their friends sent it to their friends. It had completely organic growth. Then, within six months of Le Catch launching, it became one of the top 10 sales generating blogs in the world. So, a year later, Lucky was asking me if there could be a Le Catch page in Lucky, and someone on the corporate side of Condé Nast asked if I could share my monetization techniques. At that point, I knew I was onto something. Then there was a point where Le Catch became far more lucrative than Lucky, so I ended up pursuing it full time, which luckily coincided with the demise of all the magazines in general.

3. When did you know you could take Le Catch full time? Was it scary to leave your job at Lucky Magazine to focus solely on your blog?

It was a little bit scary, but I also knew I was onto something bigger and better. Then, if I ever wanted to, I could always go back. I could always freelance for a publication. In fact, I was being featured by Glamour and all of Lucky’s sister magazines as the Le Catch founder. I decided to pursue Le Catch when it just started making a lot more money, and I knew I could make so much more if I dedicated my full-time focus to it.

4. How would you describe your fashion sense, and how has your style evolved throughout the years you have been blogging?

I grew up in New York, so that has forever made me more of a traditionalist. I stick to classics, and I am a bit more dressy. I love blazers and loafers. Even though I have lived in LA now for 20 years, I will never adopt the sweatpants or workout pants all day long- I just can’t do that! I feel like my style has been pretty consistent. I do dabble in trends, but I keep a classic foundation and punctuate with a trend. As I grow older, I am more conservative as far as trying trends.

5. The blogging space has changed a lot in the last 10 years. How have you managed to not only keep up but thrive throughout these changes within the space?

It’s funny because I don’t think that I have kept up! I think I have just stayed steady and consistent. Whether that is right or wrong, I don’t know. But it’s okay because I enjoy my lifestyle and the happy balance between my children and the workload. I am pretty content with how it has materialized thus far, and I think it is a well-oiled machine. Being consistent with it and staying true to my authenticity and featuring what I truly like has always been the key to success- not selling out, not catering to advertisers, and not doing a million sponsored posts. It is really about what I like and sharing that.

6. Tell me about Oui Want. What is Oui Want and how is this business different than Le Catch?

My twin sister is a fashion photographer, and we have always tried to team up and combine our wonder twin powers: her with the imagery and me with the writing and, in some ways, being more connected to the designers and retailers. We thought that we could come together and create mini-lookbooks for designers that we love. Often, we like to feature designers that not a lot of people have heard of and show how we like to take pieces and make them our own. For example, we did a Oui Want feature with Monique Lhuillier, and we showed how those dresses aren’t just ballroom only: we made them every day worthy with sweatshirts, flats, and flip-flops. So, it’s our telling a story through styling and imagery and making what we like accessible to more people.

7. What advice can you give to people looking to enter the fashion blogging space?

I think that it is just going for it and having a distinct point of view and a strong voice and being interactive with your audience. Staying true to what you like and what appeals to you, and then sharing that. Sharing your finds, sharing your discoveries, and taking your readers along with you.

8. What is one trend you will never partake in?

Oh gosh- a lot. Currently, head to toe, one-color suits.

9. What is one affordable brand you are currently loving and one designer brand you are currently loving?

As far as affordable brands, I love Sezane and Sandro. I find a lot of things on the Sandro sales rack, I am like, Why did nobody want this?! As far as high-end goes, I love Totême, and I love Khaite because they are forever chic.

10. What is one item of clothing you consider timeless?

A striped knit sweater.