A Day in the Life: February 2010

If you remember, two weeks ago I sent out e-mails to my favorite fashion bloggers about why they they blog about what they do. I liked their answers and wanted to share them with you. I only got a couple of responses because of NYC fashion week. Anyhow, you should totally check out their blogs. I'm putting these down in the order I received them.

Tieka from http://selectivepotential.blogspot.com/ answers:

1) Why did you decide to write a fashion blog?

I live in a town in a state that doesn't necessarily have a fashion community or a creative outlet to be fashionable. When I lost all of my weight, I found myself loving clothes and how I could remix them and do so much with them. It became a passion. I learned about fashion blogging through "who what wear" when they ran a feature on fashion bloggers and was immediately inspired and started mine that same week. That was in September 2009 and I can't believe the response I've gotten so far!

2) What got you into fashion in the first place?

I was always interested in fashion and wanted my own personal style, but felt held back until I lost my weight. Once I felt ready and comfortable, I dove right in. I was truly inspired by the September issue of Marie Claire and found myself trying to recreate looks from the model watch articles. It was all downhill from there!

3) Where do you draw most of your ideas for creating outfits?

I get so much of my inspiration from other bloggers. I see a way they've styled an item and I take photos back to my closet and try to rework an item I have that is of similar style, but in my own way. I feel like my closet is a wonderland. I usually don't buy "outfits" but instead pieces I love and then take it all back and try on a million options before I feel content with the final outfit.

4) Is there a specific time period that you really look to when thinking about/ looking at/ buying clothing?

I've never truly looked to a certain time period. I'm all about living in the moment with current trends and styles. I've been told I look like I'm from the 60's, but truly my favorite time period for style is the 40's, but I also love elements of the 80's, so I do believe it's a mix.

5) How do you decide amongst your own wardrobe what to wear each day?

I play dress up every night that I possibly can! I try on different things that I never would guess that would go together, I fling clothes out of my closet, I try every possible remix and when I finally feel an outfit is complete I set them in piles for each day!

6) Is there a technique or a set of rules that you use when putting clothing together (i.e. always put this sort of accessory with this; or never wear a blank because of blank)?

I don't think there are rules in fashion and I've never liked to say, "No I don't like this or this together" because I may not at the moment but I probably will in the future. I've seen so many girls pair things together I would have never thought of - but the way they present them - it's unique and totally reflects their personal style. Everything is possible!

7) What is your most prized fashion possession? It could be clothing, make-up, an accessory. Anything really.

My most prized fashion possession.. can it be plural? If so, it would be my tights collection. They are the one thing I can easily mix and match with everything, they really define an outfit and I have finally gotten quite the collection that I'm so proud of. Tights are the one thing I can never have too many of!

Miss Emmi from http://thebarnothing.blogspot.com/ writes:

1) Why did you decide to write a fashion blog?
As I developed an interest in sewing my own clothes from vintage patterns, I stumbled across Sew Retro – it seemed like a great community that I wanted to be involved with, so I started a blogger account in order to get involved. My page looked so sad and empty that I just began rambling about projects, outfits and interests in order to fill space! I got addicted fast – there are so many wonderful bloggers out there; I think it is the sense of sharing my passion with a like-minded, positive and warm community that keeps me coming back.

2) What got you into fashion in the first place?
My personal style developed as a sort of backlash to modern trends – I didn't know much about vintage fashion when I was younger, I just knew I wasn't comfortable in short skirts, fake tans and clubbing dresses. I wanted something more modest, yet still flattering on my figure and classically elegant. I stuck to sheath dresses, blouses and pencil skirts (and frankly ended up looking like an office worker a lot of the time :/ ) One of the mothers of a school friend pointed out that the look I instinctively leaned towards (red lipstick, black eyeliner, curly hair) was very 40s/50s – this prompted me to do some research, and lo and behold, I had found the look for me!

3) Where do you draw most of your ideas for creating outfits?
Being a vintage afficionado, I draw a lot of my inspiration from old movies (or modern ones set in the past). I'm particularly drawn to the 40's femme fatale look, but I also like seeing how 'ordinary' women dressed. Sites like http://myparentswereawesome.tumblr.com/ and http://momstyleicons.blogspot.com/ are great for seeing how those -outside- of hollywood dressed!

4) Is there a specific time period that you really look to when thinking about/ looking at/ buying clothing?
I like a broad range of styles, from the 40s to the early 60s. I'm not against buying modern clothing that takes inspiration from those eras – it's far too expensive for students like myself to have an entirely 'true vintage' wardrobe. I keep an eye out on what trends are in, as I know it's only a matter of time before the looks I like become fashionable again, and I can stock up on cheapies to knock about in everyday. Just recently, 50s circle skirts, playsuits and dresses were 'in' again; and I believe that the 40s look is going to be popular for winter *readies wallet*

5) How do you decide amongst your own wardrobe what to wear each day?

I pick clothes for practical reasons, like temperature or how much walking / trying on clothes I plan to do that day. Terribly boring, I know! That said, I have a lot of beautiful and comfortable items to reach for – so many people at my university dress in trackpants and singlets everyday, I'm determined to prove that comfort and style are not mutually exclusive.

6) Is there a technique or a set of rules that you use when putting clothing together (i.e. always put this sort of accessory with this; or never wear a blank because of blank)?
I hate fashion rules! I particularly love breaking the “never wear dramatic eyes with a dark lip” one constantly! Not to mention “always mix your vintage statement pieces with modern, on trend clothing – avoid looking costumey”. If it makes me happy to look like an extra from Grease, I'll do exactly that! Fashion is about having fun. When your style becomes so bogged down by rules that it's more like a uniform, it's easy to lose that enthusiasm for dressing.

7) What is your most prized fashion possession? It could be clothing, make-up, an accessory. Anything really.

Most of my 'prized fashion possessions' are gifts – they're special because they represent how close I am with my friends, and how well they know my tastes. I would have to say my most treasured is the bottle of Coco by Chanel that my boyfriend bought me – I wear it most everyday as my signature scent, so I feel like it counts as a fashion accessory! It puts me in a glamourous mindset and inspires me. One of my closest friends bought my a Chanel lipstick for my birthday (man, I sound like a brandwhore now, haha) which is also special to me – nothing gives you a quick shot of confidence like red lipstick!

Again not everyone could respond but these two responses were great. Even still, here is a short list of my favorite fashion blogs (in no particular order):

http://www.onepearlbutton.com/
http://thebarnothing.blogspot.com/
http://chic-onthe-cheap.blogspot.com/
http://whatiwore.tumblr.com/
http://thebrowngirlfiles.tumblr.com/
http://selectivepotential.blogspot.com/
http://secondskinstyle.blogspot.com/
http://bridgesonthebody.blogspot.com/

So I've decided that there are quite a few fashion blogs that I keep going back toand checking out as often as possible. I wanted to know what makes these bloggers tick so I've come up with seven little questions for the bloggers themselves to answer. Once some of them answer I will put up who said what with a lnk to their blogs on here. Here are the questions that I asked for those who want to know:

1) Why did you decide to write a fashion blog?

2) What got you into fashion in the first place?

3) Where do you draw most of your ideas for creating outfits?

1) Why did you decide to write a fashion blog?

2) What got you into fashion in the first place?

3) Where do you draw most of your ideas for creating outfits?

4) Is there a specific time period that you really look to when thinking about/ looking at/ buying clothing?

5) How do you decide amongst your own wardrobe what to wear each day?

6) Is there a technique or a set of rules that you use when putting clothing together (i.e. always put this sort of accessory with this; or never wear a blank because of blank)?

7) What is your most prized fashion possession? It could be clothing, make-up, an accessory. Anything really.