How To Start a DIY/Fashion Blog: Formspring.me Question

from formspring.me:
I’m thinking of starting a fashion/diy blog.  What tips would you give to newbies about starting their blog, as well as how to get their blog publicity?

Congratulations!

First and foremost I would say you need to figure out what you want with your blog. Obviously if you just want to share photos of things that inspire you or post a few outfit photos because you just want to share with your close friends (and maybe some strangers), your approach will be different than if you want to be, say, the next StyleBubble.

Each type of blog has a pretty different approach to it, whether you focus on posting outfit photos, or designer interviews, or magazine scans, or party pix.

clipart

But one tried and true piece of advice is to post as often as you can, on a regular schedule. Like once every 3 days if you can manage it (even scheduling your posts in advance if you can write a couple posts all at once). You want people to keep coming back.

And commenting on other people’s blogs is key. (Lately I haven’t been following my advice because I’ve just been so busy, but once upon a time I was responding to every single comment, and commenting on other’s blogs as I surfed the web.) Don’t leave silly comments that could be made by anyone like “I like your dress!”, leave comments of worth, somehow tying things back to your blog, or asking the blogger to visit. Be nice! Word gets around on the web if you’re flaming people.

And clear photos are ESSENTIAL. There are many blogs that use few, if any, words to describe – and instead say it all with pictures. Use a digital camera and learn how to do the basics when it comes to cropping, resizing, and adjusting the brightness to your photos.

Style Sample Magazine [www.stylesamplemag.com] (the magazine for and about bloggers), is a wonderful resource, so I’d highly recommend you read through all the past issues. Probably everything you ever wanted to know about blogging is covered there!

Best of luck and keep us posted-
xoxox
Carly

Leave Comment

The 3 Earrings You Can Style Aaannnything With

On formspring.me a reader asked what my 3 favorite earrings are.  Well here they are!  (Sorry I deleted the question by mistake when I went to post it to Blogger.:-(

These are usually the three that I reach for regardless of what outfit I’m wearing.

The oversized rhinestone earrings (from Forever21; no longer sold but a very similar pair here) I wear when I want to go crazy over-the-top glam…and they look surprisingly fun paired with an old t-shirt and jeans.  Plus, for a really formal event (not like I have many to go to!) they’re perfect with an LBD for some retro glam.

The large hoops are light as a feather and I love the tiny star detail at the back.  They’re for when I want to be a little more dressed up but more classic.  (bought in Japan)

The small gold hoops are a recent purchase in Tokyo (LaForet Harjuku though I also found them in another store along Takeshita street there) – I really love secure-post small hoops in gold since I don’t have to take them out in the shower and can sleep with them in, and they still look chic and dressed-up with a number of different outfits.  I love the subtle studding on the surface.  Alas, I found that they have too much nickel in them for my sensitive ears – and the post is a bit too thick, so I’m still debating what to do.  After wearing them for 3 days straight I got a massive infection in my right ear that took more than a week to clear up. *sigh*  Sorry, maybe that’s a bit TMI!

I also tend not to wear earrings that much, since while my hair is short I wear it covering my ears a lot, and it seems kind of pointless to put in earrings when they can’t be seen anyway…

What earrings do you gravitate to?  Hoops, studs, sparklies?
Thanks for your question!
xoxo
Carly

Leave Comment

How to Make a Corseted Bralet: Formspring.me Question

 from formspring.me:
Hey I wondered if you could help me with making one of these “bralets”, do you know how to make a pettern for them? http://api.ning.com/files/zcwHPg1VgsLUzsS1e99DsdD4ZlRqQdct0bCSs9*1rseLJIAKirKx55a0ARHDEJCLVDBdi8fpp9Gn0zIw37Jm5Vb-jsk5K1bz/bralet.jpg
Probably the easiest way to make a pattern for one of these is to make a rub off pattern of a bra you already have that has similarly-placed and shaped cups as the bustier (if you can’t find a similar bustier to rub off) . Hook the bra back together using the hooks you normal use to close it when you rub off the pattern for the body piece. Then you have to cut that body piece into both front and back (creating side seams and adding seam allowance). Then simply extend the body piece of the pattern downwards about 3″ or so (perhaps using a tight-fitting corseted dress you may already have as a guide for the angling of the seams?) You will also have to cut boning seams for front and back body pieces (again adding seam allowance). And finally, cut the front body piece in the center and add fold-under and seam allowance to create that zipper closure. You may also have to eliminate excess at the bottom of the piece by further angling your boning seams. Again, if you have a tight-fitting corseted dress (especially one with boning seams already in it), creating the fit of the front will be a lot easier than making the pattern from scratch.

You may also be able to find a pattern from a fashion-forward pattern company like Vogue Patterns (Vogue Misses’ V8288 has a similar neckline http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8288-products-6711.php?page_id=943), or even use just the top of a corseted dress pattern for your bustier. Or a vintage corset pattern! Or you could buy a corseted dress/top from somewhere like Forever21 or H&M to use as your pattern base. Or even a real piece of corset lingerie from Frederick’s of Hollywood!

If you are interested in sewing your own lingerie (and making patterns for it), I’d highly recommend the book Sewing Lingerie That Fits (Karen Morris, 2001). It has some easy projects for beginners that you can also customize to create something as involved as this bralette.

Hope that helps and good luck!
xoxo
Carly

Leave Comment

How to Make a Fabric Yo-Yo Necklace

 from formspring.me:
Hi! Do you have any tips on how to recreate this necklace? http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/5264/dsc0749.jpg Thanks!
Simple! Fabric yo-yos made out of what looks like light gray chiffon (how to make a fabric yo-yo tutorial here: http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-to-sew-fabric-yo-yos.html) hand-stitched to one another (you can even see the tiny stitches anchoring them all together in the photo).

Crystal glued in the center of each yo-yo; tiny pearls glued or sewn in a ring around each crystal. I’d recommend using a wide satin ribbon that you can tie around your neck as a closure for the back of the necklace, attaching each side to the sides of your yo-yo cluster.

Hope that helps and have fun making it!
xoxox
Carly

Leave Comment

How to Make Shoes fit Different-Sized Feet: Formspring.me Question

Lambswool for pointe shoes.  Ewwwwww.

from formspring.me:

Is there a way to make cheap flats fit someone with two different sized feet? I have a size 7 foot and a size 6 foot and can’t get ballent pumps to fit unless they are elasticated and they are hard to find or are expensive.
Well, short of buying 2 different sizes of shoes or having one shoe professionally altered, I would recommend buying both shoes in the larger size, and stuffing the excess room in the shoe on the smaller foot with lambswool. Ballet dancers use it to pad the toes of their pointe shoes; it conforms to the shape of your feet well and holds warmth, won’t cause blisters, and is cheap! You can buy some here: http://www.capeziostore.com/Capezio-Lamb-s-Wool-p/lw.htm

Or Google “ballet lambswool” to find a store that sells to your country if you live outside the US.

And though that really is the ugliest product shot of it I’ve ever seen, that is kind of what it looks like!
Hope that helps!
xoxoxo
Carly

Leave Comment

Pin It on Pinterest