How Rie Victoria Aoki Navigates Fashion as a Professional Ballerina

Rie is living our childhood dream. Moving from Japan to Philadelphia, Rie Victoria Aoki is of being a professional ballerina at the First State Ballet Theatre and fashion blogger with a boho/city chic aesthetic. 

As a young teen in Japan, she had a blog that featured a “Mori-girl” style featuring earth tone colored with lots of lace and embroidered things. It made the transition into her love for the bohemian style effortless. 

Since she started her fashion blog, Rie has worked with brands such as Coach, Free People, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, BHLDN, Novella Royale, FOREVER 21, and more. You can live vicariously through her Instagram, seeing her mix ballet and fashion in a beautiful way.

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She shells 🐚 pg: @caraokelly

A post shared by Rié Victoria Aoki (@rievictoriaaoki) on Jun 25, 2019 at 7:00am PDT

Can you tell me a bit about yourself? 

My name is Rie, pronounced Ri-ay. I’m a professional ballerina/fashion blogger from Japan! Ballet is the reason I came to America, met my husband, and everything started!

 

What was your transition from Japan to Philadelphia like? 

Actually, my first place I moved to from Japan, was Washington D.C.! I went to a ballet school there to finalize my ballet education. Luckily, there were a lot of Japanese people who could help me out, so I didn’t have big issues or a major homesick. I was just so excited for everything. Everything looked so different!

 

What are some things you love about living in Philly? 

I love watching people walking by in Philly. There is something special about the view. Everyone is so hip, in different ways and I always, ALWAYS get inspired by random people walking by. Philly gives me so much inspiration!

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This has been one of my signature poses at shoots… also my very comfortable position to rest… But I’m not sure if I can sit like this after eating massive amounts of thanksgiving food 🤷🏻‍♀️ #postthanksgiving #RiePlieGrandPlie pc:@caraokelly

A post shared by Rié Victoria Aoki (@rievictoriaaoki) on Nov 25, 2018 at 9:26am PST

What are some things you miss about Japan? 

Definitely, food!!! I love Japanese food here too, but Japanese food in Japan is different. And of course, I miss my family and friends but thank god for technology. I can always be in touch with them, and I love hearing new trends (not just fashion) there and it makes me wanna go visit more often! 

 

What is your mission as a blogger? 

I want to help people who are not sure how to express themselves through clothes. Fashion is one of my major ways to express myself. It doesn’t matter I speak Japanese or Japanglish (I call my broken English this way lol). And it’s another way for me to be confident in who I am. I blog about how to put unique outfits together, how to enjoy one piece of clothing in so many ways, etc. I want to share the little things/tips I’m glad I know with my readers. Like, I love getting inspired for fashion, and I hope I can be someone’s fashion inspiration to keep enjoying fashion and life!

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It’s too hot to be having hair, wearing clothes, or having makeup on today – so let me throw back to the past spring when I had everything on beautifully without melting 👑 pc:@laurendrizzle mua:@mollys_chair jewelry:@ahreumlacouture

A post shared by Rié Victoria Aoki (@rievictoriaaoki) on Aug 29, 2018 at 7:23pm PDT

Who are some of your favorite bloggers at the moment? 

Jessica Wang!!

 

How would you describe your style? 

Boho meets the city chic.

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Happy Valentine’s Day and remember when I mentioned to you I’m in @pointemagazineofficial this month!? There is an online article up now and you can check it out from the link in my bio! I’m still absolutely shook that I got to have this opportunity. I thank everyone here for your support too! Hope you have a lovely day 💝💝💝 #RiePlieGrandPlie

A post shared by Rié Victoria Aoki (@rievictoriaaoki) on Feb 14, 2019 at 9:25am PST

What is your dream brand to work with? 

Of course, working with big brands everyone knows is cool, but my dream is working with Reformation. This brand is not just on point in fashion, they are thinking about the future of the world environment! 

 

How do you stay motivated? 

I genuinely enjoy fashion so I’m always motivated. I’m literally the “I’m nicer when I like my outfit” person. So enjoying fashion 10000% is my key to stay happy. But when I’m more like “not inspired”, I watch old movies or tv shows. It instantly inspires me. 

 

How has ballet influenced your fashion sense? 

I think they are both influencing each other. But ballet’s classic style gives my vintage style a fusion of historical and modern. But this year, costume-looking, dramatic, structural style is so in and that’s how ballet costumes are and what I wear normally as a ballerina. It’s like ballerinas’ lives collaborated with street fashion, and I LOVE IT!

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Growing up as Kitri, Esmeralda, or black swan, I’ve never thought I’d get to dance Princess Aurora. My teacher always had told me my personality is too strong for her. BUT. As I get older and have been adding layers of experience with @firststateballet and the wonderful coaches, now I {kinda} know how to hide my natural sass and believe that I can do anything. I love acting, I love dancing, and I love going through the process to make something magical. And I’m kinda sad it’s already the last production of the season. So…. you don’t wanna miss out on this! Come watch our Sleeping Beauty next weekend, for tickets – visit @firststateballet 👑🌹 #RiePlieGrandPlie pg: @zane_winders

A post shared by Rié Victoria Aoki (@rievictoriaaoki) on Apr 7, 2019 at 7:25pm PDT

What is your message to young women who aspire to become a professional ballerina?

Keep working hard, and pay attention to little litttttttle details of steps, arms, mimes, stories, etc. Don’t follow the steps – understand why you do those steps. Also, learn proper Porte de Bras, it makes a huge huge HUGE difference. You can’t be an awesome ballerina just because you have the body or great feet. Ballet is an art and you have to have a heart to tell stories by your body’s movements. Everything comes out from your heart! You have to be tough and sensitive at the same time! It’s a tough world, but totally worth the pain, blood, and tears, once you are on the stage, you know?

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Even if love is full of thorns, I’d still embrace it, for I know that in between those thorns there is a rose worth all the pain – #SleepingBeauty 🌹🏰🎠 #RiePlieGrandPlie pg: @zane_winders

A post shared by Rié Victoria Aoki (@rievictoriaaoki) on Apr 13, 2019 at 9:23am PDT