I recently had the chance to sit down with Portland blogger and influencer Kristina McInnis to chat about all things fashion on her podcast The Bottled Blonde. In our discussion, we chat about being on the Nordstrom BP Fashion Board, why it’s important for more fashion brands to embrace size-inclusivity, and how to break into the world of fashion PR.

Here are some of the key takeaways from our discussion:

• People think working in the fashion industry is glamorous, but most of the time it’s not. It’s a lot of rolling up your sleeves and getting the job done.

• Gossip & Glamour is celebrating 9 years in business this month!

• Everyone is working hard to find the perfect work/life balance. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it when you are doing work that you love.

• Getting to work with clients like Universal Standard has been such an amazing experience. They are truly leading the way when it comes to fashion for all.

• It’s critical to operate with integrity and be nice to everyone- you never know where they will end up or when you’ll be working together again in the future.

• Building relationships is key. Being short-sighted is the wrong move if you’re trying to build a business or a brand. Be thoughtful with your outreach and your correspondence with brands and publicists.

>>> Listen to the full Bottled Blonde Podcast episode here and stay tuned for a branded giveaway featuring a variety of Gossip & Glamour clients coming soon!