Marilyn NL: Where Fitness and Fashion Collide
Get up and running with fashion’s fastest influencer, Marilyn NL.
It is rare to find a fashion influencer or stylist these days that leads a double life. Most of us in the industry have a multitude of talents, but it is unique to stumble upon a style guru with an equal passion for fashion and a knack for a high duress sport. This is where Marilyn NL, London fashion icon with a skill for track and field, enters the scene. Marilyn’s fast-growing social media accounts featuring her classic style are matched only by her prowess on the field. Truly an artist of both worlds, Marilyn took the time to sit down with Bode writer, Ashley Dawson, to answer a few questions about her art and her lifestyle.
Marilyn is a Londoner who studies Business Management at Middlesex University. Currently a track and field athlete, this influencer also has a passion for the fashion industry and growing social accounts brought on, she says, by her husband’s initial idea for her to “post her outfits online.” Within their first year dating, her husband suggested she share with the world her daily looks, and after her first post in 2018 her page took off. It is a “good way to put her overflowing wardrobe to good use,” laughs the designer. A wardrobe that she classifies as minimal, classy, and effortless. Living up to those words, Marilyn was quick to note that her favorite wardrobe piece to wear is a blazer. “[They] instantly elevate your look,” says the influencer, further mentioning that her wardrobe has no shortage of this staple. Adding that high-waisted blue jeans, black leggings, a long black coat, new balance trainers, and a simple jogger set are her fellow must-have items and that these basic pieces can “never be basic if you style them properly.” The key to stylistic success is “keeping it simple,” which shares the young Londoner. “I see a lot of people on Instagram adding different bits to their outfits, and most of the time it doesn’t look good — it just looks like a jumble sale.” This sort of minimalistic viewpoint is what makes Marilyn’s style so attractive to her growing audience.
As far as labels go, we were eager to see what brands Marilyn owns and loves. The list was simple: Zara, Proenza Schooler, Peter Do, Helmut Lang, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and Acne Studios, to name a few. When it comes to finding one’s style Marilyn says you need to “research and experiment. You may think you have found your style, but once you get into it, it may not be for you.” This type of experimentation is evident in her successful social media platforms, another topic that we were eager to indulge on. Indeed, Marilyn’s social media prowess is easy to see. Her clean, simple Instagram aesthetic attracts thousands every week, and her posts are not only minimalist but chic and well-tailored. When asked what her process is for developing original online content, she says that it can be a long process. One that usually “revolves around me wanting to create a look with an item of clothing I have. For example, I could have an amazing blazer — so I take the blazer and think about how I feel in it, how I want to style it, and what I could do differently with it.” She then translates this process into content that is true to her aesthetic. Inspired by everything around her, Marilyn even credited how those small trips to the grocery store have her noticing other’s outfits and daydreaming of fashioning her own. Interesting and expertly blended intro Marilyn’s online content is her unique mix of fashion and athletics. Her love of track and field is a lifestyle, not a hobby, and as such permeates every aspect of her life in a way that is hard to separate. To keep her sport separate from her fashion on a basic level, the influencer created a second Instagram account solely for track and field to “document her training and competitions.” Always attempting to advocate for health and fitness in her content and branding, she encourages that “fitness is a lifestyle, not something you decide to pick up and then drop if you have a big event in a few months.” She often shares workout highlights and exercise posts to her Track and Field page to inspire her viewers through the way she and her husband stay active.
In addition to her style and choice of sport, we were also keen to inquire about certain topics in the fashion industry that are on everyone’s mind these days. Environmentally friendly fashion trends have become quite popular, and many brands are shifting their attention to sustainability during these unanticipated times. Caring for the environment is a leading concern for this lifestyle guru, and she was quick to note her intentional reworking of already worn clothing into new outfits whenever she can. “Many think that fashion is not the solution to the planet’s problems,” says Marilyn, “but it plays a big role.” If we can all contribute by purchasing products that are free from toxic chemicals and are produced by fairly paid workers, we can make a difference in the footprint we leave on the world. Also touching on diversity within the industry, she states that “there have been steps to include a wider range of models in terms of size, shape, and ability,” but that “we still have a long way to go.” Marilyn adds that by being herself, she hopes that her “versatility and confidence” will inspire people to always reinvent and recreate themselves into whatever they want.
Of course, here comes the part of every conversation these days where we turn to the elephant in the room — COVID-19. The global pandemic has swept across most continents and is affecting the lives of every person on the planet. We wanted to know what Marilyn has been up to during this time to keep busy and healthy. In addition to taking up sewing, she is also focusing on her training. These activities “really help take your mind off things, and is a good distraction from the current situation,” shares the Londoner. Also, she is using her extra time to create content at home, and says that if this pandemic has taught us anything it is that “we are a technological generation and have been able to quickly create a new normal online that we should be proud of.” Adaptation has been her key to quarantine success.
As is the case with any of us at the moment, Marilyn’s self-care and beauty routine come in handy while she is in quarantine. Sometimes these simple, everyday rituals in life can ground us and bring us back to our centers during times of stress or crisis. Opting for the La Roche Posay cream to clear up dark marks, micellar water for cleansing, and face cream to keep her skin supple and smooth, Marilyn also revealed that a part of her regular skincare routine is to not wear makeup; and her natural glow reflects that. In addition to her beauty routine Marilyn also keeps her home space a specific way to ensure a positive environment in quarantine. Her living room is designed specifically for a utility and is sectioned into three different parts with basic color schemes and simple pieces that reflect her and her husband’s style.
To wrap up our session Marilyn touched on some positive, forward-thinking projects that she is currently working on. In the turmoil of today, these “future” goals are so precious, and hers are anything, but small. Currently working on her first clothing line, she let it slip that it is to focus on the feminine shape and inspire confidence in the women who wear it; she is hopeful to launch in the next few months. When life returns to “business as usual” Marilyn is looking forward to returning to her normal track and field training routine and getting back into the social arena with her friends. Until then, we wish her good health and happiness.
