Democratization of Blogging

I need to tell you a secret: I'm utterly bored with the blogosphere. 

And you know what? I'm not the only one.  I've been talking to friends (bloggers and not) lately who are completely fed up with blogs. It's the same trends, the same contests, the same coverage, and even the same outfits. What happened to blog originality?

I think so much of this is due to blog democratization.  Blogging should be a creative outlet where you can learn, grow, challenge yourself, and meet others with common interests.  Now it seems more of a rat race to see who will get the most endorsements, party invitations, and free clothing.  It's inspiring to find someone with great style, but all too soon, they are wrapped up in blogging about a new line for a large company and they lose the pizazz they had originally.

I guess what I'm saying is that I am currently uninspired with the blogosphere in general.  I think I'm writing this also a little selfishly.  I liked having fashion as "my thing" back when I was younger.  Now it seems that the entire world is into fashion and knows the latest, upcoming designers.  I blame this partly due to diffusion lines, but that's a separate issue.  (It's true.  I am not a fan of the sacred diffusion lines.) Now fashion is no longer a secret but pimped out to the likes of celebrity lines and fast fashion.  It reminds me of a song...

Blog Trends Chat

Have any of you participated in the #blogtrends chat yet?  It's Monday nights at 9 PM EST @blogtrendschat.  It's a wonderful source of information on growing your blog, learning new photo techniques, and approaching brands.  It's not limited to just those topics, but gathers the latest information on blogging trends.

There is more exciting news!  Blog Trends has now expanded to include specialty articles to help you even if you can't make it to the Monday night chats!  We would like to announce the launch of BLOG TRENDS CHAT website!  Make sure to check out all of the wonderful articles, including the ones I wrote on Editorial Calendars and Finding Your Voice!

Blogging to the Front Row

My friend Sarah is of a rare breed.  She is brutally honest, uber funny, super generous, and incredibly kind and comforting.  I am beyond lucky to call her my friend.  (You've seen her here and here.)  A little over a month ago, she gifted me this.

Blogging Your Way to the Front Row-Yuli Ziv

We actually went to a Fashion 2.0 meetup on Online Retail & Technology and while back and she knew that I was starting to get very serious about blogging.  I immediately started reading it and finished it within a few days.  I then read it again.  And again.  There were so many helpful hints for all bloggers: novice to professional.  It touched on everything from branding and revenue to dealing with vendors and photography tips.  I have recommended this book I don't know how many times now.  Below I have listed the top 3 tips I found most useful in blogging.

1. Treat your blog like a business.  If you are in it for the long haul, you need treat it like a business. You are representing yourself and presenting a product (your blog) to your readers.  You should have a mission, vision, goals, strategies, and objectives.  You are the CEO and you should act professionally (which doesn't mean you can't have fun).  This also means honoring your readers.  Do you respond to them in some way?  Do you thank them?  They are your lifeline, so you shouldn't take them for granted.

2. Have high standards.  Think of this: would a glossy ever publish the work that you publish on your site?  Are your images the best they can be?  Are you religiously proofreading?  Yuli gave a great action tip to help you figure this out.  Go to a local stationary store, such as Kate's Paperie or Papyrus, and get one sheet of high-end beautiful paper.  Now, construct a post on it.  I imagine that going to the store, picking out paper, and figuring out what to write on this one piece of paper may take a while.  It will most likely take more time and effort than a usual blog post takes.  This experience will help you really look at your blog, your posts, and how to make it the best it can be.

3. Be yourself.  Ok, ok. Don't roll your eyes so soon.  This blog is yours.  Yes, there are some bloggers that use the same format, techniques, and even writing style and have been successful.  Just because you want to be successful, doesn't mean that format is for you.  Pave your own path!  Have your own niche!  That's what makes blogs exciting!  Have the layout that best represents you.  Talk about what is meaningful to you.  Write the way that you talk (with some exceptions, of course).  Wear the things that suit you, that you like, and that you normally wear.

Readers can tell when you're being insincere or fake.  I can't count the number of blogs I've seen that all follow the same trend because they think it will end up getting them some notoriety.  By showcasing who you are gives you the most connection with your readers and could end up in meaningful relationships.  I can't begin to describe how happy I am to have friends worldwide that are equally passionate about big hair, the color black, leather, artsy nails, and fancy food.  Remember this: readers (and sponsors) want to know you, not who you are pretending to be.

Now, all of these were obviously valuable lessons.  I wanted to share this with other bloggers.   Here's the plan: One blogger will read the book, write a post about what they learned, link to the previous blogger, sign the book, and pass it on to the next blogger.  Hopefully this book can get all over the world and be the jet-setter that I always dreamed of being!  I'll make sure to keep you updated on who gets the book and what they've gotten from it.

First stop: Sydney, Australia with Kel from Amuse About!

Bloggers & Body Image

I've been very weary of writing this post.  One, it's been done on similar levels before.  Two, it's controversial.  Today I want to discuss bloggers and body image.

I want to preface this by telling my background on my own body image.  Growing up, I was generally average with little baby fat.  Once I got to middle school, it went away and I became more lean.  I was a swimmer throughout middle and high school, so I stayed active.  However, I was always teased about my clothes being too tight and I was even told that "if I didn't lose weight, boys wouldn't like me and girls wouldn't want to be my friend."  That's always stayed with me and I have always had a complex about my body and especially my weight.  I won't say that I am "cured," but I am mostly fine with my curves these days. 

There is a problem in the blogging world.

Of all of the blogs I read, I would guess that 75% of the women are under a size 6.  They may vary in height, but they are generally thin.  Look at the bloggers getting the collaborations with large companies like TJ Maxx, Barney's, David Yurman, Mango, and Ralph Lauren.  I have yet to see a curvy or plus-sized blogger star in a major campaign.  (Side note: Curvy and plus-sized are not mutually exclusive.  You can be plus-sized and curvy, but just because you're curvy doesn't mean you're plus-sized.)

Since I read this post on Love Maegan, I've been extremely intrigued about bloggers and their take on body image.  As women, I think we should be proud of our bodies, no matter what the size. (I apologize if this gets a little too "after-school special.")  I think we should be confident and work with what we have.  As fashion bloggers, our skills, style, and writing shouldn't be judged by our skirt size.  Believe me, I may have some hip and butt action, but I have worked in retail, been educated at FIT, and know how to style an oufit.  I may be a size 10, but that doesn't change the fact that I am a good at what I do.

So instead of me ranting any further, I think I'll let the following speak for itself.  Below are pictures of some of the top 10 fashion bloggers according to Bloglovin'.

Fashion Toast

Fashion Chalet

The Blonde Salad

The Fashion Squad

In no way do I mean to attack these bloggers.  They each have their own blog and I'm sure they all have worked hard to get where they are.  I'm just pondering if their long legs helped them get there.  We all know this problem translates (or maybe stems from) the fashion industry with the young and thin idealism.  We all know there is pressure put on young women and teenagers to fit this look.  Let's take a look at Crystal Renn:

BEFORE

AFTER

Excuse me, Miss Renn, where did you go? She can claim stress, exercise, and healthy diet all day long, but the fact is, she is no longer plus-sized.  Is this a coincidence or is this merely the pressure from the fashion industry?

What are your thoughts on bloggers and body image?  How do you feel about your own body image?  Do you feel that there is a bias toward bloggers that don't have a certain look?

Bloggers & Budgets

I follow a ton of blogs.  I don't know how many exactly, but it's a lot.  I would say 200+ minimum.  I notice trends that go in and out, but one that never seems to go away is designer duds.  Chanel handbags, DVF dresses, Louboutin heels, Birkin bags.  They're everywhere.  I have to ask myself: how do these girls (and guys) afford all of these luxuries?

Chanel Ad featuring Lily Allen

Granted, some bloggers are professional and make a pretty sweet salary.  Some bloggers are blessed with a trust fund or family wealth.  Some are lawyers, doctors, etc. and make good money.  Some just married into money.  So what about the rest of us?

YSL Ad

How can the average blogger afford $350 rings, $800 heels, and $1000+ handbags in excess?  Is it all charged?  It is on loan?  This is a rarely discussed issue that I am very curious about, because I would love to know the secret.  There are a few rare bloggers that have admitted to having credit card debt due to shopping, but most don't mention anything about their spending habits.

Jimmy Choo Ad

Is their lifestyle just a facade?  Is it too taboo or embarrassing to discuss?  I, for one, want to put my spending budget out there.  I get paid bi-weekly.  One paycheck basically goes to bills, groceries, utilities, and rent.  The other paycheck is basically for whatever.  I could spend that entire paycheck on things I would love: Rick Owens leather jacket, Celine mini-luggage, a fur coat.  However, I am saving for a wedding.  I have major student loan debt.  And mostly, I want to save and plan for my future.

Lanvin Ad

At some point, I will be a wife and hopefully a mother.  I want my future kiddies to be taken care of and not have them see their parents stress over money.  Now, I get that this is a lifestyle choice and not everyone will go down this road.  My concern is that there is no safety net for these people spending their entire paychecks.  What if they become hospitalized and get behind on payments?  I'm sad to say, but that YSL artsy ring will not pay your phone bill.

Gucci Ad

I guess my overall concern is that in the blogging world, spending and shopping are considered a norm.  Everyone likes to show "What's New" or "New In" or even their hauls on Youtube.  (Granted I have done this, please note that I rarely buy things full price.  I usually only shop at discount stores.)  There is a very strong "Keeping up with the Jones" vibe within blogging and it's a constant rat race to see who can amass the best stash.  Considering the current economic environment, I just wonder how sustainable the shop shop shop lifestyle really is.  They may be able to pay for the merchandise, but can they afford the lifestyle?

What are your thoughts? I'm sincerely very curious about how people maintain this lifestyle.

Have Your Cake

Elizabeth was one of the first blogger friends I made.  I loved her blog with tons of reviews of beauty products and tools.  She also has tons of giveaways!  (I was lucky enough to win 3 boxes of Romanticos truffles.)  She is super sweet and very helpful.  She even advised me on how to approach brands that I wanted to work with.  Lastly, she is the creator of Spike the Punch necklaces, that I'm sure you've been seeing around the Blogosphere!

 

Spike the Punch

Spike the Punch

Spike the Punch

 
Be sure to check her out here at Have Your Cake & Eat It Too!

Aureta's Blog

This next blog that I highly recommend is Aureta's Blog.  She has a dream closet, luxurious getaways, and a captivating, jet-setting lifestyle.  Oh yes, and did I mention that she has killer vintage pieces?  She's the ultimate source when I want to feel inspired.

AURETA'S BLOG

Are you convinced yet? Go play in Aureta's world for a little bit.  I promise, it's fun!

Amuse About

FYI-I will be out of town until Monday.  Therefore, I'm going to be sending you some of my favorite blogs to read up on while I'm gone.  Don't fear, I will return with lots of fun pictures and new outfits.

It's rare to find someone that you sincerely connect with on the internets.  When I first started blogging, I received a curious email from this person named Kel.  She was sweet, charming, and extremely well-versed.  Long story short, the email was about working together and sharing tips as new bloggers.  It was sincere and really gave me the courage I needed to continue blogging.  Let's be honest, the blogging world can be rough.  I was happy to know that someone else, albeit Australia, was there for me.

AMUSE ABOUT

Isn't she stunning? Make sure to go check her out, if you haven't already.  Not only does she have AMAZING style, with a love of scandalous backless clothes (I vote 100% yes on that one!), but she also has extremely eloquent writing and lots of humorous stories.  You'll be so glad you found her!