He is one of the best-dressed men in Britain (at least according to men's magazine Esquire). As a creative consultant, he works with many prestigious brands such as Cartier, Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Fabérge, Brooks Brothers, Armani A|E, Z Zegna and others. He is a fashion blogger, the author of the popular blog TheGentlemanBlogger. This is Matthew Zorpas, a Cypriot-born fashion enthusiast who has been living and creating in London for the past seven years.
He teaches his knowledge of fashion, the fashion world, luxury brand management and digital communication to students of prominent universities on the island. End of November is coming to Portorož, where it will be on SEMPL media trends conference revealed to the participants the recipe for successful cooperation between fashion brands and bloggers. While waiting at the airport, which is an integral part of his work day, he confided to us, among other things, that authenticity is all and most that a successful blogger needs.
What are your favorite fashion brands?
I have to admit that I am not a passionate follower of any fashion brand. On my travels, however, I like to discover local designers. During my recent visit to Istanbul, for example, I was extremely impressed by the effort that fashion designers Hatice Gökçe and Serdar Uzuntas put into their work, while in Brazil I discovered the prestigious brand Osklen, created by Oskar Metsavaht. I also admire international designers like Tom Ford, Valentino and Hedi Slimane. Among the British fashion brands, I like E. Tautz, Baartmans and Siegel, Gieves & Hawkes and Xander Zhou the most.
Which fashion brands communicate well on social media?
Social media happens in the moment. Either you are good and consistent at them, or you prefer not to use them. My favorite brand that does great social media is P & G Prestige - they have an amazing team of professionals who work strategically and come up with very inspiring ideas over time. The digital team at Brooks Brothers is also very knowledgeable and experienced and I have had the best blogging experience with them. Last but not least, Tommy Hilfiger and Cartier have both produced a lot of innovative and unique digital content this year.
You work with some of the most popular fashion brands in the world. What would you never write, tweet or Instagram about these brands?
I never share anything on social media that I don't really like. I have always been very careful with my selections and collaborations. To my surprise, even the most popular fashion brands sometimes need creative and strategic direction. My job is to offer them both and create an image of a product that I truly believe in and am happy to share and recommend to my readers.
Is blogging a full-time job in 2014? What does your working day actually look like?
Of course, blogging can be a full-time job. We work all the time, even though we don't feel like it's work. On those rare occasions when I don't happen to have to catch a plane, I'd probably stay in the office all day answering emails, scouting filming locations, and brainstorming.
What are the secrets of a successful blogger?
I believe all you need is authenticity. I started blogging myself two years ago when the fashion industry was overrated. To date I have worked with probably the biggest names in the industry. As a blogger, you must have a clear tone of communication, be unique and publish only original content. Fashion has so many different aspects to explore. Sitting front row at fashion shows will get you nowhere. People want to see how you pamper yourself, where you travel and how you enjoy life.
More information:
www.thegentlemanblogger.com
"Fashion blogger Matthew Zorpas is coming to Portorož on November 29 as part of SEMPL. More about the largest conference of media trends in the Adriatic region and other speakers at www.sempl.si.”
