Dear Fashion Bloggers,
I love to wear clothes. I love fashion. I think I have fairly good taste too. However, just because I have good taste in clothing, shoes, and accessories doesn’t mean I’m an expert at fashion, nor does it mean I’d become a serious fashion blogger.
If you think you’re an expert, but no one’s really said anything, you might as well be writing a fashion blog about putting clothes on in the dark, and then going out into the world to let people see the entire train wreck happen. Just wanting to start a fashion blog, is a hobby blogger’s dream. Becoming a serious fashion blogger takes a lot more effort, and a keen eye for what looks good.
The blogging niche of fashion is interesting. You can do a lot with it. You can be laser focused with talking about the fashion industry itself, or putting stylish looks together, or do much more. It’s okay to have an eye for fashion. A lot of people do, but that doesn’t mean that having an eye for fashion means it might look good on other people.
If you plan to get into styling, you need to think about who you are creating a look for, what the occasion is for, what colors look best together as well as on the person you’re using as your model. It’s definitely okay to take a couple risks, but it’s not okay to take them without stepping back and actually looking at it before posting it for the world to see.
If you’re using yourself for modeling, take pictures and look at them before blogging. Brush up on fashion terms, types of clothing cuts and fabrics, and learn fashion history. Know your body types, and familiarize yourself with skin complexion and colors. Many of the best fashion designers and stylists do this to enrich their knowledge and passion.
Yes, I said passion. You have to have a passion for fashion that extends beyond “Oh, I like that pair of pants, this shirt, and that bracelet. I think they’ll go together quite well.”
The readers that a fashion blogger will be much more brutal than this post, and believe me, I was tempted on placing a few pics of the fashion disasters I’ve found around the Internet, in this very post. These are the people that you should look to in order to grow as a fashion blogger. You may find that putting together a new look isn’t what you’re cut out to do, but don’t fear, there are plenty of ideas for fashion bloggers that will keep your blog rolling for a long time. Don’t be afraid to reach out and do roundups with successful stylists or other bloggers with a knack for gathering new looks.
As a last note, I’ve found that a lot of the sites have a tons of commentators that leave feel good responses that I’m not sure if they are really genuine, or they are half blind. It’s really a disservice to the blogger, especially one that may want to become syndicated by a larger fashion resource (like Glamour Magazine or another big online new resource that has a section dedicated to fashion.) The crowd from the larger syndication won’t be very forgiving, and more than likely the editors may not even let the blogger through the door in the first place, just based on their lack of fashion sense from the pictures taken for new style looks.
Your Friend in Blogging,
Nile Flores
P.S. Are you a fashion blogger? If so, what advice do you have for other fashion bloggers out there to improve their own sense of style in order to avoid another fashion disaster? Oh, feel free to link out to some of the fashion train wrecks you’ve seen from other bloggers.
Thanks for sharing this valuable post.
I really like it. Because you wrote it very perfectly.
Also it’s very important for all fashion blogger.
Ha! I blogged about something similar a while back. Where I’m from everyone thinks they’re a pro!
Nile i am agree with you . no-buddy should think that he is a very bad looking guy or he every time uses old fashion clothes , shoes and accessories. because there are many peoples in this whole world and these tastes are also differ from each other.
toatlly agree with you @Nile really eyes opening post 🙂 i mean great there is lot of idea literally are available. And i am glad you shared this post. good job keep it up 🙂
Altamash Sid
(from Altamash Sid & Brands)
Hi Nile,
I totally agree with your points, mere having interest in any topic doesn’t make you an expert. You have to your own study and research before publishing anything so that you can leave good impression. But yes one can’t learn unless commit few mistakes. As you already mentioned passion is really important for any task, if you have passion then you can do it by going through all bad patches.
I think it must be hard for a fashion blogger to make a mark. They have to compete with online retailers who have got the presentation of clothing down to a fine art.
Great article for fashion, bloggers and or stylists! I’ve had stylists try to push their taste on me and i wasn’t successful at all.
I’m not a fashion blogger but I happen to think that personal fashion blog is about personal style. There are different ways to go about it. The first question would be, what and who are you blogging for? Are you doing is a creative outlet because it makes you feel good? Are you doing it to help others achieve better style? Are you doing it report on the latest trends? I think knowing your purpose for blogging is the first step. Going back to personal style, the fashion blogger style it’s again personal. Some may hate it, some may be indifferent, some may love it. We are all different and that’s the great thing about having such a diverse group of woman writing about their personal style. I think breaking the rules is acceptable when it comes to fashion if that makes them happy.
Fashion scapes me. Like you say in your article having a good eye doesn’t meant that it would look good for everyone else. Cheers!
This is a very beautiful post one that has me put my thinking cap on, I am no fashion blogger and dont claim to be but i agree with your sentiments here.we need to be honest especially people who aiming to one day work for big magazines etc.
I would hope that people leave genuine comments on blogs *sigh*….it really is a disservice when you don’t give an honest opinion. I like to read fashion-related blogs that showcase someone’s personal style. If it complements my own, I will follow them. I also kept up with this fabulous blog (that I need to find again), where a girl took something she got from the thrift shop, and recycled it into something more fashionable. I loved seeing what she’d come up with. She was very creative.
Great post – I’m no fashion blogger. Which is why I rarely do fashion posts.
I am not a fashion blogger but I have seen fashion disasters. Great tips you have there for them.
Totally agree with you!!! Fabulous post!!!!
Well I know what looks good on me and what I would wear for my lifestyle, but I am clueless on trends at my age. So I’m staying out of this territory unless I’m specifically given something to review.
I’m not a fashion blogger but I do admire fashion. I try to wear things that make me feel good about myself.
Fashion is a real world. Literacy and passion is a must for fashion bloggers.
I love how you keep it real! I like fashion blogs, but I will be honest, I get annoyed when somebody posts 1,000 photos of themselves with the same outfit but slightly different poses. *now I’m looking down at my shoe, and now I’m looking down at my other shoe!*
I’ve got the hang of what suits me and not by now.
I love this!!! What you said are all true
I don’t understand the fashion world so I won’t criticize it. I do however prefer when fashion blogs explain what something is rather than attempt to dictate what someone should wear. Fashion, to me, isn’t about forcing a style but about expanding one’s perception of what style is.
I LOVE this! Thanks for sharing.
I am a blogger but not a fashion blogger. I have seen some pretty crazy fashion posts by my blogger in my time though, i am sure you have too!
Great advice. I love well-put together fashion bloggers.
I’m not a fashion blogger but I tend to agree that everyone is different and so what may look ugly to someone may look perfectly fine and even fashionable to someone else.
I choose to be kind and inclusive with everyone opinion 🙂
I like my own style and that is what I usually share more about my blog – not really on whats good lately or not, I guess I stick with the naturals and basics – sometimes when accentuate those things it becomes really elegant and I like it that way haha!
There are so many fashion blogs out there that it’s almost overwhelming. However, I do like the fact that there are different types of fashion blogs (i.e. informal, shopping, and personal style), and I feel like none of them or better or worse than the other. They all contribute to fashion in plenty of different ways. 🙂
GREAT post! I’m going to share with a few fellow fashion bloggers!
I’m not a fashion blogger, but I do like certain fashion blogs. I’m very selective who I follow or value opinion wise because of the truth in the content. I think everyone has an opinion on what looks best for them, and their style/culture has a big role. So as a reader, I tend to look toward the trendy mommy plus size fashion blogs. What looks good on a size 2 woman never works for me at 16/18. Does that make sense?
I really like Your post and insight on being a fashion blogger. I’m a beauty blogger who occasionally share fashion / ootd posts. I also follow some fashion blogs and I agree with what you post here 🙂 thanks for the amazing post
I am not a fashion blogger too. Thanks for the info
Thank you for this post! You are totally right!
I am not a fashion blogger, but at least I learned a lot from your post and thank you for sharing this.. 🙂
Blogging is a tough gig, especially fashion! It can be expensive too, lol
I don’t think I could do fashion blogging because I wouldn’t want to take photos of other people and I am just not very photogenic. I do like to read fashion blogs on occasion though.
Personally, if I don’t like something I see on a blog, I simply don’t comment. I don’t know why some people have to be so harsh. If they don’t like the fashion then they should just move on.
Sometimes I wish I were more of a fashion blogger but I don’t think I have that much style!
You touched on an important point here that i think most fashion bloggers should adhere to which is creating styles for various body types, i’m not too keen on fashion blogs where the only model is the blogger.
I agree with this post 100%. People can call themselves a Fashion Blogger but not sure if they should 🙂
I’m not a fashion blogger, but I do like certain fashion blogs. I really like it.Thanks for sharing this valuable post.
Nile, I would think. A fashion blog like any other professional blog. Would be creative ideas being shared with your readers. You would love what you do. Have to be in the world of fashion, movies and openings.
We all write to share our perspective and enable others to view through our eyes, per say. The same in the entertainment industry and fashion design, I would think.
Great tips and suggestions. You insight is going to help a lot of newbies get something started. Courage, and enthusiasm is the key.
Great article these fashion bloggers are increasing day by day and even if they are not fashion experts they are blogging the crap. Great points.
I´d say that is not only for fashion bloggers. I’ve also found that a lot of the other sites have a tons of commentators that leave feel good responses that I’m not sure if they are really genuine.
I’m a fashion blogger but more of a beauty. I post OOTDs but not often. So I can’t call my self a full time fashion blogger. I think a fashion blogger should be passionate about fashion.
Wonderful sharing Nile, I am loving your content because its full of information and learning material which is surely going to help me a lot. Thanks mam 🙂
good One…Thank you for sharing this information….Keep it up..waiting for next Blog….
This is both hilarious and a kind of “ok, this is intervention and fashion police time”. But I do have to agree with everything you are saying. There is a fine line between dressing well and understanding what makes a good look come together. That being said, as someone whose day job is to enroll fashion students in school, I love your advice to actually study fashion and become a pro.
I talk to way too many kids who want to be stylists for the sake of the glamour associated with fashion… but hardly any of them are serious or creative enough to follow through and become successful. This is why I believe your advice is excellent and will be sharing it from now on.
That is some really sound advice Nile!
And hopefully you have spared some the embarrassment of trying to turn one
of hobbies, into anything more than that!LOL!
And you’ve spared Victoria’s excellent definition, (“The fashion police”) the
headache of having to viciously attach their attempts at trying to blog
about something they’re only mildly qualified to do!LOL!
You’ve offered some really sound advice!Thanks!