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Chriselle Lim discussed how she began in fashion while studying at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles in an interview on The Who What Wear Podcast. She said she initially aimed to become a wardrobe stylist and ran her blog, The Chriselle Factor, alongside her studies.
Chriselle Lim has recounted how she entered the fashion industry, describing her time studying at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles and starting her blog, The Chriselle Factor, while still in school. Lim shared the account in an interview with Hillary Kerr on The Who What Wear Podcast, part of the publication’s programming for its 20th anniversary.
Lim said she began college with the goal of becoming a wardrobe stylist, which she described as the main route into fashion at the time. She later decided that the work was not right for her after discovering she struggled with its math requirements. She said she shifted her focus toward the visual side of fashion, including styling, while continuing her studies.
Alongside school, Lim maintained The Chriselle Factor. She recalled an early group of fashion bloggers that included Aimee Song, Sincerely Jules, Bryanboy and Sea of Shoes. Lim described blogging then as a creative activity: she and others shared outfits online largely for pleasure, before it became a more established part of the fashion business.
In the interview, Lim also recalled signs that fashion institutions were beginning to take bloggers seriously. She cited an invitation to a Ralph Lauren show and a press moment with WWD as milestones. She said European fashion brands were slower to invite bloggers, estimating that it took about three to five years longer for invitations to become common there.
How Blogging Opened Fashion Doors
Lim’s account offers a firsthand description of a period when fashion blogging was developing alongside established channels such as runway shows and trade press. Her recollection traces a shift from bloggers sharing personal style online for creative reasons to receiving invitations from major fashion houses and coverage from industry publications.
The story may be useful to readers interested in how careers in fashion can develop outside a single traditional job path. Lim described moving from fashion studies and an initial styling ambition into blogging, and later into other business ventures. Her experience is an individual account, not evidence that the same route is available or typical for every aspiring creator.
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From FIDM to The Chriselle Factor
The podcast episode was released within Who What Wear’s October programming marking the outlet’s 20th anniversary. The publication said the series was highlighting guests it viewed as influential in fashion and culture since its launch. Lim was the first guest in that anniversary run, according to the report.
The interview also touched on Lim’s later work, including Phlur, the fragrance business she joined as an owner with a business partner. Lim said she had already used and respected the brand, and that an opportunity to buy the business came while she was going through a divorce. She described the venture as a new direction and said personal experiences informed the scents she helped create. The source does not provide details about ownership terms or the company’s current performance.
“I had ambition to become a wardrobe stylist because that was really the only way to get into fashion at the time.”
— Chriselle Lim, speaking on The Who What Wear Podcast
Details the Interview Leaves Open
The supplied report does not state when the podcast episode was recorded or give a publication year for the anniversary programming. It also does not provide further detail about Lim’s early blog audience, specific dates for the Ralph Lauren invitation or WWD coverage, or how the business opportunities developed over time.
Lim’s estimate that European invitations came three to five years later is her recollection, not a dated industry-wide measurement. The source also does not report new announcements about Phlur, so the interview’s discussion of the brand should be read as background on Lim’s career rather than a current company update.
Where to Hear Lim’s Interview
The source directs readers to the full conversation on The Who What Wear Podcast, available through YouTube, Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It says the interview was edited and condensed for clarity and points readers to additional excerpts on Who What Wear’s website. No further interview dates, follow-up announcements or upcoming career developments are identified in the report.
Key Questions
Where did Chriselle Lim study fashion?
Lim said she studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles.
What was Lim’s original career goal?
She said she initially wanted to become a wardrobe stylist, then moved toward styling and other visual work after deciding the career path she had in mind was not right for her.
What was The Chriselle Factor?
The Chriselle Factor was Lim’s blog, which she ran while studying at FIDM. She described early fashion blogging as a creative outlet for sharing outfits and personal style.
What did Lim say about the fashion industry’s response to bloggers?
Lim cited a Ralph Lauren show invitation and a WWD press moment as signs that the industry was paying attention. She said European invitations took longer to become common, estimating a delay of about three to five years.
Did the podcast announce a new Phlur development?
No new Phlur announcement is described in the report. Lim discussed how she became involved with the fragrance business as part of a conversation about her career.
Source: rss
