Meet Erica Bartle

29-September-2008

The lovely Erica Bartle

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If you haven't heard about the hot new blog www.girlwithasatchel.com, you're definitely missing out!

The site's run by ex-Girlfriend Deputy Editor Erica Bartle and is, as she perfectly puts it, "a daily blog with a girlie slant. Pop culture, magazines and pretty things"!

Our fav part is the magazine issue reviews! She picks each issue to PIECES as she highlights the best and worst bits in depth. You have to check it out to understand what we mean! It's brilliant!

We were lucky enough to chat with the lovely Erica to get the 411 on the blog and more...

How and why did you start www.girlwithasatchel.com?

It was January 2007, I was newly engaged, deputy editor of Girlfriend magazine and a glutton for punishment! Always one to bite off more than she can chew, I was motivated to start the blog as a means for self-expression at a time of big change in my life. It was a little place I felt I could control – that was 100 per cent me, my thoughts, interests and creativity: essentially, a public extension of self! 

What are some road blocks that have presented themselves since starting your website and how have you overcome them?

Gee, where to start? For one thing, making your thoughts and opinions a matter of public consumption can be daunting. I try not to over-think it; I do what I do because I have a passion for it, which others seem to share and appreciate, rather than to spark controversy or court attention. When I started the blog, I was spending mornings at work updating it, which sometimes ate into actual work hours. Oops. Though my editor was mostly supportive of the blog, this, of course, caused a little friction. Understandably. Blogging can be all-consuming for anyone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. So rather than revealing too much of myself, which has gotten other bloggers into trouble, I had to devise a way to keep the blog and work quite separate. You have to set boundaries. I was always a diligent employee – I never even shopped online or used Facebook at work – and was devoted to my role, but there was a part of me desperate to focus on 'my own thing'. Admittedly, I'm not the world's best team player (I blame mum and dad for choosing ballet over netball for me!).

Can you give three words of advice for girls who are thinking about starting a website?

1. Time management: these suckers will overtake your life if you're not too careful, so be sure you actually have the time and motivation to keep at it. Most successful blogs/sites are updated at least once daily.

2. USP: there is so much to wade through on the web, that if you're going to attract a readership, you'll need a strong Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Why would anyone care to read what you've written? What makes your site content offering different?

3. Befriend a designer: I'm attracted to sites with aesthetic appeal, and your site is part of your branding, so the design needs to reflect content as well as you!

Describe your style

Simple, casual and street-chic. I'm a skinny jeans, heels, blazer and tee kind of girl. My wardrobe is made up mostly of denim (jeans, skirts, shorts), grey marle tees, white shirts, tan or black heels and wedges, and a bunch of bags (satchels included, of course) and belts to go with everything. I'm not a huge fan of dresses – and neither is my husband – though I do have a couple of white broderie anglaise ones for summer, which I wear with tan shoes and accessories. My style 'icons' include Aussies Jodhi Meares, Elle Macpherson and Gail Elliott, as well as Helena Christensen, Penelope Cruz and Kate Hudson. My favourite labels are Lee denim, American Apparel, Marcs, French Connection, Mink Pink (for fast fashion), Natasha, camilla and marc and Zara (in Europe).

What's your very fav magazine?

That's like choosing favourite children. Unfortunately, these days are more like homework than pleasure, but I get most excited about flicking open a new issue of UK ELLE, UK Vogue or Women's Health.

If you could choose 4 passengers in life, who would they be and why? 

1. Jesus – I'm a committed Christian and, nutty as it sounds, the Bible and Jesus' teachings are my moral compass. I spend time in prayer every morning and ask for guidance. In my line of work, a girl needs strong spiritual grounding!

2. My husband – he's my soul mate, biggest encourager, incredibly passionate and driven and hot, hot, hot!

3. My sister, Jessica – she's my best friend and totally 'gets' me. Obviously, with so much history, there's never any need for explanation. We get narky with each other, and are like chalk and cheese in most ways, but also adore each other to death. She's in New York with her boy right now – come home!!!

4. My best friend, Aime. We've known each other since high school and have been through a lot together. She is a gorgeous person, inside and out, a confidante and good fun.

Soundtrack that best describes your life...

India Arie's album Acoustic Soul really resonates with me, as do Brooke Fraser's Albertine, Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine, Nikka Costa's Everybody Got Their Something and Stacie Orrico's Beautiful Awakening. I'm clearly a fan of the chicks!

Do you drive a car and if so, can you tell us a bit about it?

Ooh, yes! Bertie is a 2007 model Ford Fiesta four-door and she's black and gorgeous and I love her! After driving a '92 model Daihatsu Charade for 10 years, my husband and I decided to stretch the budget and upgrade. She feels like such a luxury! Her full name is Bertie Bartle. Girlfriend's fashion editor, Lisa, used to call me Bertie and Bertie Beetles are my favourite chocolate. Bertie is part of a car family that also includes Swifty, my sister-in-law's Suzuki Swift, and Golfie, my in-laws' VW Golf. We make a cute crowd.

What would you best like to be remembered for in life?

That's a toughie! Hopefully not as 'the girl who got lost in the gloss'. I really value generosity, kindness, random good deeds and faith, so hopefully for those things. I don't want to live a mediocre, comfortable life – it's far too short! I think what so many of today's young women are missing is a relationship with God – they have great flings with shoes, boys, magazines and all sorts of glittery things, but nothing truly grounding.

Check out Erica's blog at www.girlwithasatchel.com