What are some of the greatest challenges for the both of you in terms of keeping up with trends? How do you ladies stay up to date on the latest and best trends out there?

DS: I try not to fall into the traps of trends. Maybe it’s because I’m 34 now and it feels too childish to be falling for every trend that comes and goes by the week. Although, I think there is no escaping trends when you work, live and breathe social media. It’s all there in our faces whether we like it or not. For me, it’s all about balance. There are certain trends out there that I like, and many that I don’t like. So it’s all about finding these natural connections and making them your own. It can be fashion, it can be a style of music, it can be something on Tik Tok (most of which I don’t have the patience to pay attention to), but think about the reasons you are drawn to something. I always ask myself, do I actually like this if no one else was wearing this or doing this? If the answer is yes, then I think it’s important to go with your gut. If you find yourself liking something for no legitimate reason other than because everyone else is doing it, even though you aren’t particularly excited about it, then you probably should stray away from that trend. That’s the best way to be authentic on social media in my personal opinion.

NS: I honestly look at more old photographs than I do new ones now. The 80’s being my absolute favorite. There’s something so powerful behind those images and the style. Being an influencer now, I’m so lucky to be able to connect with brands and designers on a personal level. Going to a designer’s showroom, attending fashion week, and getting a first look in an email to an upcoming campaign or collection. I feel I’m always in the loop. There’s always something new. I’m always inspired by beautiful product and designer creations, but it’s when I see someone wear it in their own way that really moves me. There’s so much power in a photograph and in a moment. I try to soak it all in, the old with the new.

What values do you both seek when choosing to work or partner with brands or companies and why?

DS: I try to look at brands that I already had a personal connection with. Do I already follow them and look to them for inspiration or for quality items that I see living in my closet forever? Is it a platform that I actually support because of its added value to my life? Do they have the same values as me and do they work with other creators who have similar values as me? Are they working towards being more sustainable? Do I see myself working with them on a long term basis? I see all of these questions as very important because I view authenticity as super important. It’s easy to lose a sense of your true self on social media because you want to do this for a living which can sometimes mean taking every paid job that comes your way no matter what the brand is and what they represent; molding yourself to a brand’s aesthetics and values as opposed to the other way around. Thankfully, we have been in this field for so long, I feel like the brands who approach us get our vibe and values, and are really great fits for us, and many end up as long term partners. When you make a point to work with the brands who really line up with who you are, your followers and the brands who align with you already as well, will come to you.

NS: We work with brands that really respect the influencer space. Brands that genuinely appreciate the art of what we do, the work, and the fresh perspective that influencers, models, and creators give to brands. We also value transparency, integrity, and communication. That’s what makes a successful partnership. It’s when all voices are heard and respected.

How do you both feel social media has changed in the blogging world from when you first started vs now? What do you both dislike about social media nowadays and are there any solutions or hopes for a positive change?

DS: It has changed a lot since we started back in 2009. Everything spreads so much faster now, photos, trends, videos, etc. It can be too much sometimes even for me. I remember the early days of blogging, how people really loved to write and get very personal in more long form posts. There was a real close sense of community there, and the pace was much slower. It felt like you really got to know people. Of course, there were far less people in that world as opposed to the amount of people on Instagram and Tik Tok now, but I still feel it’s so important to keep that tightly knitted sense of community today even if you have hundreds of thousands or millions of followers. I feel like that is where the most important influence happens. It means really reading your DMS and your comments, getting to know those who take the time to reach out to you, taking time to respond to messages, and just thinking about the best ways you can share the best parts of yourselves on your platform that is unrelated to selling material items. Of course, sponsored posts are important to influencers sustaining this lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget about the real conversions we should be having with our audience on a regular basis. I’m always thinking about how I can better balance these two. I have hope that the direction of social media will move back to the way it was in the beginning, especially after what we have all gone through these past two years. I think audiences are looking to find real connections online and to find people to influence them to find a sense of purpose or creative direction in life that they in turn can give back to the people in their own lives.

NS: Social media is bound to continuously change. When I first began blogging back in 2009, we had only a small community of like-minded creators. What’s amazing now is that the platforms are much larger. You can find your niche. You can dip into so many different topics. There’s a place for all of your passions. Since there’s so much publicly out there, it’s also made me value privacy and intimacy so much more. I have definitely now found my healthy balance with social media. Being able to juggle my online life with my offline life. As a creator, your work is your life, so I’m actually pretty picky with what I share. I think that’s the positive change we can have, making social media a healthy place that gives us light and positivity rather than making it a dark place that hurts our self esteem. Luckily, we can control what’s on our feeds and the stories we’re telling ourselves. Also, I don’t think social media is completely relatable. I like to keep it my professional work life, and a happy place for me.

What are your thoughts on the term influencer? Likes/dislikes and what social impact do the both of you have today and how does it affect the both of you professionally and personally?

DS: I used to feel a bit weird about the term since it can come across as a bit pretentious, but if you come to think about it, it really is a good way to describe what we do. When I first started blogging, it was all about finding influence to be inspired by, and in turn the natural response was to inspire others. And when influence is going back and forth in a positive, creative way, I see it as a really amazing way of connecting. It’s one of my favorite things about what I do, and I have met so many amazing creatives because of this, that have helped me push towards broadening my horizons and creative endeavors.

The hard thing about being an influencer is that it really is a 24/7 job, or it easily can turn into something like that. It took me a long time to really find that balance of figuring out what to share and not share, what to document and what not to document. It’s really easy to let this lifestyle take over and you feel like you have to be on all the time for the sake of your following and interactions, but really I feel like balance is key. The worst position to be as an influencer is feeling overworked and underwhelmed and as if you are not actually living for yourself. I always say, post what speaks to you personally, and those who connect will follow. That’s how I try to have a healthy relationship with my job as a content creator.

NS: I have never had a problem with the term influencer. To me, I like to think it represents the multi-hyphenates and many influencers aren’t just one thing. We all have different stories, different talents, and perspectives. I want my social platform to influence others to create the life they’ve always dreamed of. Because that’s what I did. My personal life and professional life definitely overlap. I’d love people to find more beauty in their surroundings and courage in themselves through my story.

Do you ladies foresee working together more as a duo in the future? Any exciting upcoming projects as the Suarez Sisters for 2022?

DS: We definitely will be working together for more and long into the future. We did get into this world together so it only makes sense that we will continue to do so. Our companionship has always been the driving force between our creativity. This cover for January 2022 for House of Perez already seals the deal on that one! We are a bit hush hush on what is coming next for us, but follow along to find out! There is always something new we can look forward to as both sisters and individual creators!

NS: I always see us working together. We tend to complete one another, and I really value what sisterhood has brought to our lives, which is adventure, sharing incredible experiences, and creating amazing work. There will be many more projects together for us in 2022 both behind of and in front of the lens and we can’t wait to show you more.