Blogger Profile – Checks & Spots

Today I’m kicking off the first of my ‘Blogger Profile’ series for 2017, with the wonderful Clare Hillier from Checks & Spots.

I started following Checks & Spots a few years ago, after spotting Clare and her incredible hair in the crowd at a Problogger event.

I love Clare’s philosophy of ‘living life creatively’, and I thoroughly enjoy her honest and candid posts on topics ranging from fashion and beauty, to family life and lifestyle in general.

Check out my interview with the super stylish and gorgeous Clare below.

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Tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start Checks and Spots.

Checks and Spots is a life and style blog I started almost seven years ago. At the time, I had our four-month-old son in my arms and was really struggling with postnatal depression. I was desperate to have something I could think about that wasn’t baby/sleep/feed/routine related, so I started blogging.

For a very long time I had an audience of two (my mum and husband!) but slowly I started to build Checks and Spots to the point where I could leave my day job and follow my blogging dream.

Since then I’ve create a successful consultancy as a Brand Storyteller, moved my business out of home and established a studio with other creatives, worked with a ton of great brands to create content for them on Checks and Spots and been named the winner of Kidspot Voices of 2014

How would you describe your personal style?

Strong clean lines. I prefer simple silhouettes, a tightly edited palette and pieces that aren’t fussy.

What are your top 5 wardrobe essentials?

Trainers – Since I became a mum, my days of running around town in high heels are long gone!

Bassike denim – I pretty much live in their super lo slung jeans.

Breton striped tee – My default basic

Leather biker jacket – The more worn the better

Black, A-line mini – My type of easy, after-dark dressing

 Where is the best place to shop in Melbourne?


Gertrude Street. There’s no two ways about it, this is where you go for the best local designers, something that is a little unique or perfectly preloved vintage.

Tell us about some of the people who inspire you and why?

Much loved Melbourne-artist and true free spirit, Mirka Mora.

Photographer, Slim Arrons, who captured ‘attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places’ from the 1950’s to the 1980’s.

Albert Frey, one of the founding architects of Palm Springs.

Peggy Guggenheim, a collector of art and artists who did enough living for 10 people.

Author and Philosopher, Alain de Botton, whose insightfulness is at once unnerving and assuring.

What are 3 of your favourite resources which you go to for inspiration?

Instagram is my go-to inspiration source and at the moment I’m loving:

Atticus (@atticuspoetry) for his beautifully threaded together words

1970s Daily (@70sdaily) which has the knack of unearthing wonderful images from the 70s.

Kester Black (@kesterblack) who has pitch perfect visual language that’s all about colour.

What’s involved in a typical day of blogging for you?

No two days are the same (which is just the way I like it!) but you can pretty much guarantee there will be some sort of mixture of writing, meeting with clients, photography, trawling social media and day dreaming!

What is your favourite part of blogging?

 Without a doubt the Checks and Spots community and the people I’ve had the chance to meet and work with along the way. Every day, I still pinch myself that creating has become my career.