blogging q&a

Last month’s advertiser Taylor from Somewhere Over The Runway is here to tell you her blogging tips and what her fashion sense is all about!

What inspired you to start your Blog?: I was inspired to start my blog as a new way to explore the fashion world and to give me something to do all summer!

Why did you choose Fashion as a topic?: I chose Fashion as a topic because Fashion is pretty much what interests me, and I wanted to be more involved in the fashion world.

What are you top tips on starting a Blog?: My top tips on starting a Blog are probably to be yourself, enjoy blogging, keep everything organized, and do different types of posts.

What are your Blogging Targets for this year?: At the end of this year, I’m hoping to have a more developed blog that is very unique and different from all the other Fashion/Beauty blogs!

Who are your favourite fellow bloggers?: My favorite blogs are probably Atlantic-Pacific, your blog, Tolly Dolly Posh Fashion, of course, That’s Zoe, and Take a Lovely Look.

What trend are you most looking forward to this summer?: My favorite summer trend so far has been peplums. I don’t really think this is a trend, but I’m always obsessed with polka-dots as well!

Where’s your favourite place to grab a bargain?: My favorite place to get a bargain is definitely Forever 21! Their items are surprisingly okay quality, but they have super-cute, trendy items for a very inexpensive price.

What’s your favourite beauty product you have ever bought?: My favorite beauty product is  the Maybelline BB Cream. It’s fabulous!

Who is your favourite beauty brand and why?: My favorite beauty brand is also Maybelline because it’s inexpensive but their makeup is good quality!

What’s your personal style and what do you do to work it?: My personal style is probably very girly or preppy but sometimes I like to wear kinda punk inspired items. (Like my Dr. Martens) It all really depends on my mood.

Make sure to check out Taylor’s blog by clicking the links:
Somewhere Over The Runway // Twitter // Instagram

One of last month’s advertisers, Flora from Pretty Little Things To Do, to be precise is here to talk to you about her blog, fashion and all things lifestyle! Take it away Flora!
(Images courtesy of Flora Pick)

What inspired you to start your blog?: Probably reading successful blogs like ‘A Beautiful Mess’ by Elsie Larson. I saw how big something relatively easy to make could become, I think I just thought: ‘if she can do it why can’t I?’. I guess that another aspect of my inspiration was my ambition to become a journalist. It’s been my dream job for quite some time and as I’m still too young to work I wanted to come up with a way of sharing my views easily. 

Why did you choose fashion and lifestyle?: I chose my blog to mainly focus on fashion and lifestyle because those are the kind of things that interest me and they’re already big parts of my life. Fashion is just so fun to write about because there are so many different looks, styles and opinions and it’s constantly changing. 

What are your top tips for starting a blog?: I know that this is what every blogger says, but it’s important: Blog about what you love. There’s no point in forcing yourself to write about something that doesn’t interest you, you want something you can stick with. But always think: people visit their blog for a reason, what’s the reason they want to visit my blog? Their are so many blogs on the internet that it’s hard to get noticed but if you are unique people will listen. Also, have a design you love because it will draw your readers in. My final tip: Network! Make friends with other bloggers on Twitter, Facebook, Email- whatever! Most bloggers are friendly, just like you Tolly!

What are you’re blogging targets for this year?: To write posts more often- currently I’m too lazy, include more of my own photography- again, the reason I’m not doing that is my own laziness. Pay to get my blog professionally designed- I’ve found someone but just need to decide what I want and save up and learn html coding- I think it will really help me to develop my blog.

Who are your favourite fellow bloggers?: You (Tolly) obviously! You were one of the first bloggers I made proper contact with. Kat – I know Kat (distantly) in real life. She’s friends with my mum and her blog is probably one of my favourites ever. Florence – I haven’t actually made contact with Florence yet but I recently discovered her blog and I love it! Blossom – Blossom is a wonderful new blogger who is just starting out!

What trend are you most looking forward to working, this S/S 13?: Definitely belted vintage dresses, they are something that I would love to wear anyway so I’m pleased designers have put this style on the catwalks. 

Where’s your favourite place to grab a bargain and why?: New Look because it’s not just good for on-trend styles but also for simple wardrobe bases. It may seem weird but I can never go into a shop without picking out a nice vest top (yeah, kind of odd) and new look just have loads of cute things like that. As I’m 12 and pretty much broke all the time I find It’s the best place to get fashions that fit my budget. 

What’s your favourite piece of clothing you have ever bought?: Even though I didn’t strictly buy them myself (they were an amazing present from my mum) I’d have to say either my jack wills playsuit or leggings. I honestly don’t have many expensive clothes but the ones I do have I wear all the time. The playsuit is white and lacy and just a really cute thing to throw on on rare sunny English days. And the leggings work in loads of different ways whether it’s casual or dressy.

Who is your favourite lifestyle brand and why?: My favourite lifestyle brand is definitely Hambledon. They are a relatively small business run from a shop in Winchester very close to where I live and sell all sorts of cute stationary, make-up and (admittedly expensive, but gorgeous) fashion. I could pretty much make up my whole wish list out of stuff found in this shop. If you are down south make sure you visit it!

What’s your personal style and what do you do to work it?: I’d probably say that my personal style is a bit quirky, eclectic but a bit preppy. I love chunky knitted jumpers, shorts, and brightly coloured tights/ weird leggings. I also like to accessorise- I own a ridiculous amount of hats, and hair stuff. I love my massive- and I mean massive- red bow hairband because it goes with anything in a sort of weird way!

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW FLORA’S BLOG HERE!
Follow on Twitter too!

P.S Tomorrow (July 10th) is my (TDP’s) feature in Girl Talk Magazine! I’d love if you could pick up a copy! Make sure to tweet me a picture too! Thanks guys!

My second Fashionista of February, is going to answer some questions for you today. The stunning Sarah from Friday Is Forever, will be talking about her blog and a few things about Fashion! Here we go…!

1.    What inspired you to start your Blog?: I’ve been blogging in one way or another since I was 13 – But over on LiveJournal! I joined a community years later where members used to share what we’d bought recently, and loved it! Then I started coming across blogs outside of LiveJournal and had a whole load bookmarked. Then one boring christmas eve, I just started one up on a whim, and I haven’t looked back since!

2.    Why did you choose fashion?: I guess it came naturally to me – I only really became interested in fashion around the ages of 18-19 and I’ve been finding myself since then. I’m 24 in a couple of months and I still don’t really think of myself as having a particular style – I just wear what I like, and I like to document it and see the changes!

3.    What are you top tips on starting a Blog?: I’m not sure there are any tips that I can give! I like blogs with personality though, where I can really feel like I’m getting to know the writer and can associate with them. I tend to avoid blogs that are so far out of my depth and reality , with the exception of a few.

4.    What are your Blogging Targets for this year?: I don’t really set targets. I’m a full time student so the blog is not my main focus, though you’d sometimes think it with the amount of time I spend on my blog in relation to my studies (oops)! Perhaps reaching 2,000 followers would be a good target, that’d be awesome.

5.    Who are your favourite fellow bloggers?: There are LOADS, but a few are: Sparkly Vodka, Nubby Twiglet, Jemima & Ted, Dainty Dresses, Belles Boutique & Stephanie Dreams.

6.    What trend are you most looking forward to working, this S/S 13?: Monochrome and stripes, definitely. Two of my favourite styles anyway, always have been!

7.    Where’s your favourite place to grab a bargain and why?: I have to say, Primark! Their stuff might not last forever, but every now and then theres a gem that looks like it could’ve been bought for four times the price.

8.    What’s your favourite piece of clothing, accessory etc that you have ever bought?: Probably my old yellow Karen Millen coat. I’d never previously, or since, bought anything from there but I’ll always love the bright colour and structure of this jacket. I also have an amazing military jacket from Zara with huge angled shoulder pads that seriously wouldn’t look out of place in a music video. (Image from Friday is Forever)

9.    Who is your favourite designer and why?: I don’t really have many designers who’s work I follow, but I’ll always be a lover of borderline gothic Ann Demeulemeester who really pushes the boundaries of aesthetics.

10.   What’s your personal style and what do you do to work it?: As aforementioned, I’m still not sure I really have a style! I suppose its girly, with a little bit of grunge. I’ll always be a ska kid at heart!

Thank you for those great answers Sarah! Just so you can get a feel for Sarah’s blog, here is a screenshot:

Are you a reader of Sarah’s Blog? Did you find this useful? Make sure to leave a comment!

(If you’re a blogger (Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle) and you would like to answer some questions like this, make sure you Contact me. Or, click here to book your space and to advertise your blog at the same time!)

NOTE: APPLY TO ADVERTISE BEFORE MIDNIGHT UK TIME (21st February 2013), YOU CAN GET A MINI DOLLY PACKAGE FOR JUST 50p!

A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing on YouTube and found a channel which was done by, ‘just your normal girl’, and it made me realise that you don’t have to have the fancy cameras etc, you can just sit at home, and put your point across. So I got in contact with Rosie from Ring O’ Rosie & JustYourNormalGirl, and asked whether she could do some questions for anyone who was thinking of starting a blog, or YouTube channel. Now, I could’ve done this myself, but I wanted to get fellow bloggers involved so here goes…

1. What inspired you to start a YouTube Channel & Blog?: I had watched comedy videos on YouTube for a long time and then moved onto hair tutorials. I remember watching a fishtail braid video continuously until I had it perfected, from there I knew I wanted to create my own channel. When I looked at other videos I felt that I wanted to show my point of view and wanted to be part of the same community.

2. Why did you choose Fashion?: Fashion has always been a love of mine even though I’ve had some fashion disasters in my past! For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to combine a bright green velour tracksuit with a red top and not forgetting a cherry red body warmer!

3. What are your top tips on starting a YouTube Channel?: YouTube is all about fun, it shouldn’t be taken seriously, the minute you feel pressurised to make a video then it’s not enjoyable. Communicating with your subscribers is key and you can make some great friends through it. You don’t need an amazing camera to start, most people start with a webcam or bad quality (I still use a webcam). Please do not go out and buy an expensive camera before you start, its better to know you love it first before making that commitment. You may get hate comments but you will stop caring when you realise how lovely 99% of YouTube is.

4. What are you top tips on starting a Blog?:Blogging in my eyes is much harder than making videos, you have to be dedicated and put in a lot of time, something that I struggle with. Try to include photographs that you have taken yourself and take them in the morning to make the best of natural lighting.

5. What are your 2013 Blogging Targets?: For 2013 I would love to be blogging regularly, its more my challenge for over summer when I’ve finished studying though. I have followers on my blog and I feel I’m currently letting them down for being so inactive, so I’d love to surprise them with a great relaunch.

6. What’s been your favourite trend this year?: 6. Tartan is a love of mine, I’m joint at the hip with my green tartan scarf and yes I had to buy it in red aswell. Leather sleeves is also something I love, I recently brought this jacket from River Island and its my staple for this winter.

7. Where’s your favourite place to grab a bargain and why?: I love looking around charity shops and car boot sales however they require a lot of patience, in terms of high street shops New Look has alot to offer but is sometimes overlooked.

8. What’s your favourite piece of clothing, accessory etc that you have ever bought?: My disco pants from American Apparel, they are incredibly comfy and so flattering. I also love my Leigh jeans from Topshop, a massive turn around for someone who last year was against any form of trousers.

9. Who is your favourite designer and why?: From a designer point of view I would say Victor and Rolf, as they have incorporated typography into their work which is an artistic love of mine. However in terms of ready to wear fashion I take more inspiration from the way people mesh different items together, the combination of brands creating one whole look.

10. What’s your personal style and what do you do to work it?: My style has changed a lot recently as I have grown up, I tend to go for pretty blouses instead of the egdy grunger feel I used to go for.

Thanks to Rosie for those great answers, and I hope they have answered anything you guys wanted to know! Here’s a few pictures of what she gets up to on YouTube & on her blog…

Youtube Channel: JustYourNormalGirl

Blog: Ring O’ Rosie

Watch out for more posts in 2013 which involve fellow bloggers!