FioNA (Byrne) + BFF AGyness Deyn = Highly Addictive Naag.com

By Chris Frey
February 25, 2011

Agyness Deyn & Fiona Byrne Fiona Byrne, Editor-in-Chief of Naag, wants you to visit her digital fashion and lifestyle online magazine and feel as if you’re among friends (even if those friends just happen to include famous actors, models and musicians). The Irish ex-pat, who now lives in New York, said of the vision behind her popular fashion Website, a style industry must-read: “We don’t want to make anyone feel alienated or clueless. In fact we want it to be very inclusive. I think we’re succeeding in that sense.”

Agyness Deyn and Fiona Byrne (photo courtesy of Naag)

Naag is the creative brainchild of Fiona Byrne, a journalist, and her longtime friend, fashion model Agyness Deyn (Naag is a combination of the "NA" of Fiona and "AG" of Agyness). “Neither of us eats, sleeps and breathes one thing,” said Fiona Byrne, “so it’s really important that the site is about lifestyle. Aggy and I are into music, restaurants, stores, cupcake shops… all those things.” At present, Naag focuses on happenings in New York and London, but coverage of Tokyo and Sydney is imminent.

A perusal of the online magazine reveals topics as varied as “Top Five Rosary Necklaces;” food and music picks of the week (including a restaurant's new "Eat Yourself Beautiful Menu" that includes collagen and seaweed salad—the writer notes "We highly doubt it will turn you into Megan Fox but supposedly it’s pretty tasty nonetheless"); magazine-quality fashion slideshows; or an online magazine feature on a vinotherapy spa, for which the sub header reads, “Drink great wine and have a massage? Sure.” Whether its writers are musing about Prada or pizza, it’s the mix of glamour and a refreshingly matter-of-fact attitude, along with the stunning photography, that we love about the Naag online style magazine.

We checked in with fashion writer Fiona Byrne as she recovered from a hectic 2011 New York Fashion Week.

The Inside Source: Why did you and Agyness Deyn decide to start Naag?

Fiona Byrne: It was Aggy’s idea. We were backstage at the All Points West Festival and having a drink—sheltering from the rain —and she said, “Let’s start our own website!” So we did!

The Inside Source: When did the Naag online magazine officially launch?

Fiona Byrne: We had a soft launch in June 2010, then officially launched in November that year with a dinner at Mary Queen of Scots in New York. It’s our friend’s restaurant on the Lower East Side and is such a fun place.

Naag Screenshots

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Naag
Shoot: Death In Degas
The Caudalie Vinotherapy Spa At The Plaza Is As Indulgent As You Might Imagine
Wye Oak, PJ Harvey Play London This Week
Top Five: Rosary Necklaces

The Inside Source: What brought you to New York?

Fiona Byrne: I came to New York in 2004. I’d been here a few times before and loved it. I’d never had the feeling that I ‘needed’ to live somewhere before. But I was standing at the corner of 14th Street and Seventh Ave and just felt overwhelmed with the desire to live here. So I moved!

The Inside Source: Are you still writing outside of Naag?

Fiona Byrne: Yes. Naag is my full time job, really, but I love doing extra things, too. I think writing for other magazines such as NME and the Sunday Times keeps your mind fresh and helps you avoid getting stuck in a writing rut.

The Inside Source: Did you study fashion design formally?

Fiona Byrne: Not at all. I just read magazines growing up. The usual teen mags like Just 17 and so on. My first foray into the glossies was with UK Elle during the supermodel era. I remember every issue. They would have Kate Moss or Helena Christensen or whoever on the cover and I was obsessed. I liked how Elle was, and still is, inspirational but accessible fashion. I was also really into Sky magazine, which was everything from fashion to entertainment. I loved their covers. Naag talks about fashion in a very real way. In fact, we talk about everything in a very accessible way. That’s the kind of vibe we like to read, so that’s how we approach our style.

The Inside Source: The lifestyle and fashion Website has become incredibly popular. Has anything about your approach changed since you launched the online magazine?

Fiona Byrne: We’re very true to the whole idea still; it’s all about personal recommendations and sharing what is normally perceived to be ‘insider’ knowledge. The approach is still the one we set out with, but I think it’s going to be more visual in the coming months with more slideshows etc. We started those with fashion week—and I love them—so I want to do more gallery stuff.

The Inside Source: Who are your favorite fashion designers?

Fiona Byrne: I loved Mandy Coon's collection this Fashion Week. My favorite brand ever is LNA. They have the best t-shirts and basics and that is what I wear mostly. I also have a leather biker jacket from LNA that I refuse to check anywhere because if I lost it, I would be inconsolable! It’s the softest lamb leather I have ever felt. I love love love Burberry coats—they are perennially chic and fit so well. I love Mulberry and Rebecca Minkoff bags. I think J Brand is the best denim and Resin has some lovely denim shorts I like that fit really well. I love Jeffrey Campbell for shoes because they are a great price point and the Pixie wedges are so comfortable you can wear them all day, every day, even walking for miles around the city. My current favorite sunglasses are by Barton Perreira, a new brand based in LA. They have so many styles and every single pair is beautiful. Also I shop at Gap a lot. I love Gap!

The Inside Source: How about top jewelry designers?

Fiona Byrne: I have favorite jewelry designers. [Among] the pieces I wear most often [is] a pearl rosary from Joomi Lim for Opening Ceremony. My Joomi Lim pearl and spike choker is one of my staples. I just love that it's a pearl and a spike together. My good friend Meredith [Kahn] gave me a lovely Christmas gift from her line Made Her Think, a Swarovski rhinestone pavé smashed talon necklace that looks great with the rosary.

I also wear Made Her think spiked studs in rose gold. I'm really into Giles & Brother pieces (a companion line to designer Philip Crangi’s main collection.) They are tough but cute, like tiny screw head earrings or a safety pin pendant. And they're affordable, which is the best part!

The Inside Source: Where would we find you on a typical Saturday night?

Fiona Byrne: I usually stay in on Saturday nights because as everyone in New York knows, the weekend is not very enjoyable here! Especially in my neighborhood, the Lower East Side. Everywhere is packed and noisy. My friends and I, if we go out, usually go out midweek. We’re not the kind of people to go out and sit in a bar for the sake of it. We like to go out when there’s something fun happening like a movie screening or a birthday or a friend is in town. We really love to go to dinner and just talk. I’m not a huge fan of big groups and love when it’s just a few friends and we can really catch up. But yes, on Saturday nights you will generally find me on my sofa, with friends over, eating Ben & Jerry’s Peanut Brittle and Lil’ Frankie’s pizza and drinking Cava.

The Inside Source: Do you shop eBay online auctions?

Fiona Byrne: I always use eBay. Right now I use it for home wares since I'm decorating my apartment and I just bought an amazing vintage desk lamp. I find it better than many of the flea markets, which in New York are difficult because there are so many people and such a small inventory. Thrifting and antiquing anywhere outside New York is great, but here, it's overpriced. That's why eBay is awesome. I was at dinner the other night with the eBay app on my phone bidding on the lamp and when I won it, we all high fived and had a toast to my new lamp!

If you can't wait until Fall, snag these Naag-worthy looks on eBay.

Roll over items for details

New Jeffrey Campbell “Pixie” Boot

(buy it now price, $160)

New Giles Brother Gun Musket Earrings

(buy it now price, $49.99)

Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Sweater

(buy it now price, $220.29)

Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody Pouch

(buy it now price, $79.95)

New LNA Long Sleeve Mesh Tee

(buy it now price $30)

New PJ Harvey “Let England Shake” CD

(buy it now price, $8.99)

New Burberry Cape Coat

(buy it now price, $495)

NEW Superman Tank Top

(buy it now price, $9.99)

New 14K Rosary Necklace

(buy it now price, $350)

New Mulberry “Alexa” Bag

(buy it now price, $255)

Vintage SKY Magazine

(buy it now price, $9.99)

New AE Plaid Motorcycle Jacket

(buy it now price, $20)

FioNA (Byrne) + BFF AGyness Deyn = Highly Addictive Naag.com

We asked Fiona Byrne to share her favorite Fall fashion trends from top fashion designers. True to Naag's playfully independent spirit, there wasn't a Marc, Ralph or Calvin in the bunch:

Fiona Byrne's Top 5 Picks from the Fall Collections

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I used to have a Jeremy Scott Supergirl dress back in my mid-1990s clubbing days and his new collection took me right back there! I just love every collection he does; they're always so fun.
Photo Credit: Dario Cantatore/Getty Images
Christian Siriano (in a collaboration with Payless) did these crazy buckle python boots with inverted cone heels that I couldn't stop looking at.
Photo Credit: Arun Nevader/Getty Images for Payless
The black shorts at Rachel Antonoff. I love these shorts so much because they are super lightweight, cut just right and have the perfect length inseam to be sexy but not indecent. I have this thing where I would love to just wear tights and a T-shirt because that is so comfortable, and these shorts mean I can still have that feeling, without looking like I forgot to put pants on.
Photo Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
I love that this tweed ensemble from Charlotte Ronson is a classic country fabric but in downtown biker style. I want to wear this to my niece's Communion I think. That might be the most Irish thing I've ever said. Ha-ha.  
Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for TRESemme
This look from DKNY is amazing because I love red, I love stripes, I love capes and I love the '90s. BAM!
Photo Credit: Thomas Concordia/WireImage