Beyond her online presence, where fashion meets personal inspiration, Dani Mello finds other ways to express who she is through her daily routines, her children, and the choices she makes every day.
On Substack, Dani Mello introduces herself with a little uncertainty: “Creator and Creative, not sure which comes first.” The phrase has the spontaneous tone of someone who doesn’t feel the need to define everything in advance. Known online as @danimelon, Dani has spent years sharing her inspirations and perspective on fashion. But there are details that reveal who she is beyond her online presence: the glasses she has worn for more than a decade, the choices she makes for her children, and the habits she tries to maintain even when life gets busy. For a long time, Wayfarers were the only glasses Dani wore.
Her preference remained constant through different phases of her wardrobe and reflects the way she approaches getting dressed: a choice shaped by her mood, commitments, and how she feels each day, without following any fixed rules. Today, she alternates between different styles, but Wayfarers remain her favorite.
In 2017, while pregnant, Dani shared that the first piece of clothing she bought for her son was a black knitted onesie. “So me,” she explained. The choice illustrates how her personal preferences extend into even the simplest everyday decisions. What she likes to wear and the inspirations she draws from are not limited to her own wardrobe but are reflected in different aspects of her life.
Motherhood has also changed the way she organizes her time. Dani enjoys having breakfast with her children, traveling, and finding activities she can do individually with each of them. With Miguel, she shares a love of discovering sweets and pastry shops; with Joaquim, she makes time for outings just for the two of them. These are different moments, shaped by her relationship with each child and her desire to nurture both connections.
At home, she also tries to cultivate small rituals that make her routine feel lighter. She cannot always follow them as she would like, but she makes an effort to set aside some time for herself before the day gets underway.
It is a less visible side of a digital presence built over many years, one in which her personal choices and the interests that spark her curiosity continue to evolve. Beyond the interests she shares online, there is a more intimate side of her life, shaped by habits, relationships, and everyday choices. In conversation with Lifestyle Mag, Dani spoke about her relationship with her children and the small rituals she tries to preserve amid the demands of daily life. Beyond the fashion producer and blogger is a woman whose interests continue to expand.
Getting to know the way she lives calls for that same openness: following her perspective, lingering a little longer on the details, and allowing her to share what matters most to her today.
Photos: Courtesy of Dani Mello
In Conversation with Dani Mello
Lifestyle Mag: If you could spend an entire day at your own pace, with no commitments or schedules, what would it look like, from the moment you wake up until bedtime?
Dani Mello: It would be a very peaceful day. I love those days when I have no commitments, nothing to do and nowhere to be at a specific time. For me, those are days to do absolutely nothing, and I love being at home during those moments. When I’m traveling, even on vacation, I get this feeling that life is happening outside and that I need to make the most of every second. At home, I really enjoy living at a different pace.
I would wake up without an alarm. I usually wake up around the same time anyway. I would have my morning time because that’s one routine I wouldn’t change. I go out onto the balcony during the first few minutes of the day, give myself a quick lymphatic massage to wake up my body, and move around a little before going downstairs for breakfast. I drink my water with salt, take my vitamins, and prepare my coffee and protein coffee.
I do my devotional, say my prayers, and spend time with God. Only after all of that do I pick up my phone. That has changed my life so much. I like reading in the morning, having no commitments, and letting the morning unfold naturally. I really enjoy doing nothing.
Since I’m a mother of two, that reality ends when they start needing things, but we’re talking about an ideal hypothetical scenario. I would keep doing absolutely nothing until lunchtime, then have a lovely lunch at home with my family. In the afternoon, I would rest, watch a series, spend some time outdoors, or go for a walk. I would also exercise after having some time to relax. I love sweets, so I would have something delicious in the afternoon. It would be a day with my family.
LM: What’s a little habit or obsession of yours that people close to you would immediately recognize, but that most people might not know about?
DM: I don’t know if I have any particular habit or little obsession. I’ve changed so much over the past few years that it’s hard to think of something I’ve been doing for a long time and still do today. Funny, isn’t it?
LM: Among life’s little everyday pleasures, which one would you never give up, even on your busiest days?
DM: Definitely my morning time. It makes such a difference in my life and my everyday routine. It’s the ritual I mentioned: waking up, going out onto the balcony, doing my lymphatic massage, drinking my warm water with salt, taking my vitamins, preparing my coffee slowly, praying, and doing my devotional. Having that moment for myself, just me and God, just me with myself.
Of course, there are days and situations when I can’t do all of that, but generally, I organize my life so that this moment can always happen. Some days I have more time, others less, but everyone knows I only really function after I’ve had it.
LM: What does the way you dress reveal about who Dani is today? Is there a piece you’ve worn for years that still feels completely like you, regardless of trends?
DM: I think the way I dress reveals who Dani is. I really believe in clothing as a form of communication. What you choose to wear and how you present yourself to the world say something about you without you having to say a word.
For me, getting dressed is a reflection of who I am on that particular day, in that particular moment, because I don’t have one defined style. I’m an extremely creative person, and I’ve always loved getting dressed and fashion, even before changing careers and starting to work in the industry. It has always come very naturally to me.
I have an archive of pieces I never part with, like some silk shirts I’ve kept for many years and absolutely love. They’re the kind of pieces you know will work on those days when you have no idea what to wear.
But if I had to choose one iconic item, it would be my Wayfarers, a pair of glasses I’ve worn for more than ten years and that have become a signature of my style. I went many years without wearing any other style. Because my style changes so much from day to day, I like having one item that stays the same. Today, I have other pairs and switch things up occasionally, but most of the time, I’m wearing my Wayfarers.
The main thing is that what I wear reflects how I’m feeling in that moment. Some days I’m feeling more creative and want to wear more color. On others, I’m more introspective and dress more simply. If I have an important work commitment, I want to look more elegant and understated. On other days, I want to feel more relaxed, carefree, or even a little more girly.
LM: In your Guia Fashion, you explore wardrobe versatility. In practice, which pieces appear most often in your outfits, and how do you approach styling them?
DM: I created Guia Fashion with women in mind who find it difficult to move beyond the obvious, the basics, and their everyday outfits. It’s a curated selection of one hundred looks using ten key pieces that everyone has in their wardrobe, but with more creative styling and combinations. These include pieces like a trench coat, a shirt, tailored trousers, jeans, a skirt, a dress, and knitwear.
I was really happy because people have been using the guide exactly as I hoped they would. Some are printing out the looks and putting together the combinations on their clothing racks, leaving everything almost ready to wear. For me, it’s something easy and natural, but I know that’s not the case for most people. Still, it’s possible to build a more creative relationship with getting dressed.
In practice, I wear jeans a lot, always styled in different ways. I really like shirts, and right now I’m going through a phase of wearing shirts and white T-shirts. I have several white T-shirts in different styles and silhouettes because I think they’re incredibly versatile.
LM: Motherhood changes our routines and the way we organize our priorities. What have you discovered about yourself since becoming a mother, and what have you made a point of preserving from the Dani you were before?
DM: The main thing I’ve discovered is that everything we once thought was important doesn’t seem quite so important once we have children. They become the most important thing, and we experience a kind of supernatural love. It’s a blessing, something very special.
I’ve changed so much, and I’m still changing. I barely recognize the Dani I was before becoming a mother. I think what I’ve preserved, and what I’ll carry with me forever, is my authenticity. I can change, and I genuinely do change in many ways, but I believe I manage to hold on to my essence: that creative girl who doesn’t fit into any box and doesn’t accept being labeled by other people.
LM: Is there an activity or little ritual with your children that has become a family tradition? What makes those moments so special?
DM: We love being together. We live in a city where we don’t have family nearby, and our circle of friends is small, so we do everything together. I think that brings us even closer.
We love preparing a big breakfast and eating at home, or going out for breakfast. We also love traveling together. My children love exploring, staying in hotels, and having a different routine. But I try to have different activities with each of them.
Miguel and I are alike in many ways. We have a ritual of going out for something sweet. We discovered a pastry shop here, and we’re always looking for a new dessert to try together. It’s our little tradition.
Joaquim is an autistic, neurodivergent child. I also try to make time for moments with him, just the two of us, going out and doing something together. He loves having Mommy all to himself. I try to create those special moments with him, and it’s really wonderful.
LM: If someone walked into your home without knowing whose it was, what detail would immediately reveal that Dani lives there? Is there an object or a corner of your home that holds special meaning for you?
DM: My paintings. There are several that I painted for my home. I love painting, but it’s a hobby. I would love for my paintings to find homes elsewhere someday, but for now, they only live in mine.
There’s also my collection of turquoise-blue opaline glass pieces, which I love. I’m always buying another one and finding somewhere to put it. Maybe those are the details.
I don’t usually show much of my home. Having been online for so many years, I’ve chosen to keep certain things private, and our home is one of them. I share little things and a few details, but I don’t show it too openly.
LM: If you could create an entire day’s menu using only your favorite foods, from breakfast to dinner, what would absolutely have to be included?
DM: A hotel breakfast, one of those incredibly complete ones. I love breakfast! For lunch, a really colorful salad with some protein and lots of delicious ingredients. There would also be cacio e pepe, my favorite pasta. In the afternoon, I’d have the perfect cookie. For dinner, maybe some amazing Japanese food. And I’d eat brigadeiro straight from the pot at home!
LM: Which destination would you return to as many times as possible without ever losing that sense of wonder?
DM: New York, always and forever. Actually, it’s been a while since I’ve been there. But I would also return to Rome and Paris endlessly.
LM: When it comes to beauty products and rituals, what truly makes a difference in your routine? Is there a longtime favorite or a recent discovery that has earned a permanent place in your beauty bag?
DM: What makes a difference for me is having a consistent beauty routine. It’s not about piling on lots of products, but about using good products consistently. I never skip moisturizing my skin really well, cleansing it properly, protecting it, and sticking to the basics.
Right now, what makes the biggest difference in my routine is combining tretinoin with a moisturizer that protects the skin barrier. For me, that’s what keeps my skin looking really good.
I also follow an annual treatment plan with my dermatologist. I have appointments and treatments throughout the year, focusing on maintaining my skin’s quality and aging well.
LM: What’s been sparking your curiosity lately? It could be a new habit, a discovery, an unexpected interest, or simply something you’d like to have more of in your life.
DM: I’m a very curious person. I love studying and learning new things. Over the past few years, I’ve been studying neuroscience quite a bit. I enjoy understanding how the brain works. I’ve also been learning a lot about longevity, and I like being my own biohacker.
I try different things and protocols on myself. I really enjoy the intersection of these subjects. It’s a whole different world, but a fascinating one. Keeping that desire to learn throughout life is something I believe is good for the mind, the body, and everything else.