Raquel’s journey from actress to digital influencer has been shaped by her fearless approach to fashion and life. In this interview, she reflects on her style, career transitions, and personal inspirations for the future.
Raquel, you’ve transitioned from actress to TV host, and now a style icon and digital influencer. How has your journey shaped the person you are today?
Well, I started at “Diário de Sofia”, which was a spectacular experience, on RTP1 when I was nineteen. At the time, I wanted to be a lawyer or a print journalist, which had very little to do with what I was doing on television. Although I had the research part when I did the morning and afternoon programmes, it trained me.
I started in Short Circuit and, in the meantime, I ended up at Sic Mulher. From there, I worked for Moda Lisboa and Portugal Fashion for 8 years. I started as a reporter and then became the main presenter. I had the opportunity to meet the greatest national designers. I’ve known them almost forever, right? Because this was 22 years ago — I’m 41 now — so I think it shaped me. It gave me all the foundations about fashion and the fact that I’m always crossing paths with different people—creative people who aren’t afraid to take risks. That made me develop the same taste for looking for new things and not being afraid to fail. So, I think that’s what I thought when I decided to be a digital content creator and leave television to do something more related to digital. I had always lived surrounded by people who were not afraid—that was essentially what I felt, people who were not afraid to take risks and do new things.
You’re known for your impeccable style and unique fashion choices. How would you describe your fashion philosophy, and how does it influence your daily life?
First of all, thank you very much for the compliment regarding my style. You know, I’m a relatively relaxed person. I like things that are more relaxed for me—more timeless clothes. Now and then, I like to take risks with specific things because I think fashion is a way to communicate who you are, your personality, and what you believe in. It also ends up being a tool you can use to even express political opinions. But on a day-to-day basis, I always prefer cleaner things. I think this new trend from the last two or three years of “quiet luxury” — not necessarily related to the price of the clothes, but with the fact that things are more discreet and timeless—perfectly fits what I consider to be my style.
The Blue Ginger has become a favourite platform for many fashion enthusiasts. What inspired you to start your blog, and how do you see it evolving in the future?
Blue Ginger was a project we started when blogs began to appear. It was a different way of communicating in which I could exercise my desire, which I’ve had since childhood, to be a journalist and write. Writing is something I’ve always enjoyed, and that’s why I also published a novel. I thought blogging was a great way to communicate with people, not only through images but also through writing. Today, I think blogs are more obsolete. People now use Instagram, TikTok, and faster platforms to communicate much more because life is very fast-paced, and people are doing many things at once. Unfortunately, blogging is no longer the best way to communicate. But thankfully, Instagram and TikTok allow you to write and use them as tools to create new things and talk about what you believe in. So, nowadays I don’t use Blue Ginger as much, but at the time, it was a platform that gave me a lot of courage and energy. It was about trying and creating something new that had my personal touch. It was one of the projects that made me very happy.
Lisbon is a city that clearly has your heart. What about the city’s culture and atmosphere inspires your style and creativity?
Lisbon is an incredible city for me, though it’s a bit full of tourists these days. I just think our access and distribution of things are not the best sometimes, but I love that we are a cosmopolitan city. My favourite city of all time, after Lisbon, has always been London because it’s a city with many different cultures. What fascinates me is meeting different people, cultures, and languages because I think we learn a lot from each other. Today, Lisbon is vibrant and incredible. The only thing that bothers me is that it sometimes feels a bit too touristy. I think it’s important to maintain our identity and believe in our cultural and gastronomic potential. Sometimes, I feel that’s missing a little. That’s the part that irritates me and saddens me because I think our culture is incredible. Just as we embrace the culture from abroad, I also think people coming to live here should appreciate who we are.
I think Lisbon is incredible, but there has to be a balance, and I think that in the coming years, it’s likely to happen. It was a boom that happened very quickly, and like everything in life, we need time to adapt and find the right balance.
Share with the readers the obscure, but standout places in Lisbon please let’s go with the following: a bar, a restaurant and a café?
A bar I love is Procópio. For restaurants, I’ve loved Pinóquio and Gambrinus my whole life. Another favourite, close to Bairro Alto, is “Toma Lá, Dá Cá.” It’s a family-run restaurant, a Lisbon classic where I’ve been going since I was a kid. You can eat anything there for around €20, which is very affordable. As for cafés, I used to love Venice Café, where I’d go with my mother, or the Swiss Bakery to eat Duchess cakes. Nowadays, I don’t have a particular café to recommend, but I’ve adopted the tourist trend and popped into any café when needed.
Fashion week often brings all eyes on you. How do you prepare for such high-profile events, and what trends or looks have caught your attention this season?
Preparation is mostly done at the team level. As for physical or mental preparation, I don’t do much anymore because I know it’s always going to be chaotic, running from one place to another. The looks are usually last minute because the clothes can’t leave the showroom too early. Often, they’re sent the same day, so the preparation is always a bit last minute.
Regarding trends, I’ve only seen Milan and London so far before heading to Paris. I feel like the brands are leaning towards more commercial and easier-to-wear pieces. While we may see more extravagant things on the runways, what actually ends up in stores tends to be calmer. I think burgundy, beige, and dry green will be the colours of the season. But fashion is cyclical, so we’ll see now, but who knows what will happen in a year or two. I feel like people are using clothes as a complement to their day-to-day comfort, and young people are more focused on sustainable fashion, preferring to invest in quality over quantity.
Best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is not to stress too much and to enjoy life because it really is short. When I was younger, I had this feeling of immortality until I was 16 or 18. But at a certain point, you start to realise, especially as people you love start disappearing, that life is fleeting. My parents and grandparents always told me to enjoy life without fear because you only live once, and I really believe in that now.
You have a passion for coats and shoes, as well as layering in your outfits. What are some of your favourite pieces in your wardrobe this fall, and why do they speak to you?
I love layering and adore clothes, so I love putting together layers. The seasons I love the most are autumn and winter. I’m a very happy person, but I like the melancholy you see on the street during this time of year. Without a doubt, my favourite pieces are shoes, even though I buy beautiful shoes and rarely wear them! I prefer extremely comfortable pieces like trousers, jeans, white shirts, and well-made coats. I think these are essentials for a complete look. Well-groomed hair and hands are just as important as the clothes you wear.
How do you unwind and how important is music in your life?
I relax with music, but not very often. The way I unwind is through reading. I love reading books. It’s the way my mind rests, imagining stories in my head.
What’s one beauty tip you swear by, especially with your busy schedule and all the public appearances you make?
To get rid of swelling, put your face in an ice bucket! It always works, especially since I travel a lot and my body takes a while to recover. I always use a little blush, what my grandmother used to call “health powder,” and some mascara. Other than that, I don’t think I have too many beauty tips. Though I know a lot, I’m quite careless. I don’t even always remove my make-up!
What can we look forward to from you in 2025? Are there any exciting personal?
Honestly, I have no idea. For the first time, I’m not making big plans for the future. I’m involved in some projects on a personal level, but nothing to do with this environment. Professionally, who knows? I’ve had several proposals to create brands and do new things, but I haven’t taken that step yet. I’ve done a few things in my life, but creating something consistent and lasting, beyond just partnerships, is a big decision. I’m not too worried about 2025—I’m more into living one day at a time. Finally, I feel less anxious and more content.
