Blog of the Month: Ria Michelle

Our Blogger of the Month for June is Ria Michelle, a Miami based blogger with fantastic style and one of my personal favorites!

photo c/o Ria Michelle

 

– When did you decide to start blogging?

I started blogging when I was young around 13, but professional fashion blogging I guess about two years ago.

– How would you describe your style?

I wouldn’t, I’m labeless. I dress to express my moods usually. I guess some would say I’m sort of edgy, but I switch that up sometimes too. 

 

photo c/o Ria Michelle

– What are some of your favorite blogs (local and not)?

Locally, my friends Le Pretty Stellar and Capture Fashion, they have a fabulous sense of style and the type of production quality I like to immerse myself in on the internet. I’ve recently fallen in love with Bambi’s Armoire, seriously good personal style and photos and I love Oracle Foxfor inspiration. 

– How do you think your blog has helped your online boutique, or vice versa?

I don’t really connect my blog and boutique together too often. I think of them as separate business entities. I do have an ad up for Filthy Magic up on my blog of course and I wear pieces on the blog a lot and link to the store. That’s as far as the cross promotion goes. I rarely push the store via my blog but just linking to the products like any other item definitely sends traffic my way. 

 

photo c/o Ria Michelle

– Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in fashion blogging or is just starting out?

Find your voice and be true to it. Set a standard of quality for yourself. 

– What do you think is unique or different about the fashion scene in Miami compared to other cities?

The fashion scene in Miami is kind of new in that it’s just now coming into it’s own so it’s wonderful to be at the birth of something instead of just coming in to an already established scene. Here you get to grow together.

 

Check her out on Facebook

Twitter: @RiaMichelle

She also runs an online boutique: Filthy Magic

May Blogger of the Month: Ash in Fashion

This month I’m bringing it back to New Orleans with Ashley of Ash in Fashion (formerly Dramatis Personae). She’s got great style and that local flair we all love.

photo c/o Ash in Fashion

– Why did you decide to start blogging?
It was about 5 years ago, and people were just starting to move to self-hosted sites. I had been posting a lot of “What I Want” fashion posts in my Livejournal, and thought moving to a separate place would a) stop boring the guys who read my LJ, b) find others who loved fashion like I did.

 

– Your blog isn’t limited to just fashion and style, do you think it’s important to incorporate other aspects into your posts?

Incorporating other elements keeps me from getting bored! It also helps, I think, to humanize me & the site. Niche blogging is great, but as we’re finding out, it’s hard to create longevity with a solo topic or super refined niche. I want my blog to evolve as I do, and to reflect my interests as they’re happening. There’s a lot more beauty, for example, on my site right now, because I’m having fun experimenting in that area of my life more! I always have a hard keeping balance within multiple topics though– both due to time and too many interests!

 

photo c/o Ash in Fashion

 

– How would you describe your style?

Others have described it as theatrical. I like to think comfortable and classic, with a twist.

 

– What are some of your favorite blogs? (local and not)

…Love Maegan, Agent Lover

 

– Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in fashion/style blogging or just starting out?

Be realistic! Blogging looks like this amazing resource and everyone wants to tap in to it. The truth is, it’s hard work for (often) not a lot of payoff.  It can be really slow to receive the benefits.  It feels nearly impossible to manage a blog full time and full-time job– I don’t know how women do both of those AND have children!

 

– What do you think is unique or different about the fashion scene and local style here in New Orleans?

New Orleans is a wonderland for fashion! Anything and everything goes, and I think you’ll find diversity that is similar, if not more extraordinary and out there than large cities. New Orleanians have to be creative with fashion when it comes to weather– it’s hard to stay stylish in the heat we get (just like Northeners have that same issue with snow). I’m always looking around me to see how people look cool while it’s hot out!

 

April 2012 Meetup at Glenn Michael Salon

The Southern Fashion Bloggers’ April 2012 meetup was generously hosted at and by Glenn Michael Salons in Metairie, Louisiana. Not only was a fabulous time had, but our gathering was entertaining and informative, thanks to the invaluable tips provided by the Glenn Michael team.

Glenn Michael Salon

Tweeting tips from the day #blowout101:

“Hair gets frizzy not from overdrying, but from lack of control.”

“Hair does not stay where it is heated up. It stays where it is cooled off. Hot to dry, cold to hold.”

“Your tools matter! Ceramic round brush and nozzle on the blow dryer for control.”

“3 elements to a look: 1) Hair texture, 2) Hair cut, 3) Hair color. All combine to create your style.”

One damn good blowout

In addition to blowout 101, we were treated to makeup tips, learned about Desigual, a clothing line with an international customer base.

Desigual is perfect for festival season

In addition to the #Blowout101 tips we received (and yes, use today), we also learned about an amazing service Glenn Michael Salons has introduced to the area. The Evolve Hair System is “a unique semi-permanent hairpiece that provides body, volume, texture, and color without the use of chemicals and requires low maintenance. The Volumizer meets both hair needs and fashion wants, without physical limitations.” The before and after photos are nothing less than unbelievable. And since it’s human hair, you can treat it as you would your own hair; color, blowdry, flat iron, curl. While the transformations are stunning, the stories are often beautiful. Currently, the service is exclusive to Glenn Michael Salons in Louisiana, which is one of only two certified salons from here to South Carolina.

Many thanks to Glenn and his team for the wine, treats and goodies, and for hosting the Southern Fashion Bloggers at your salon!

To see more pictures from the day check out the Southern Fashion Bloggers Facebook page.

Lia Sophia Jewelry Party

Photo c/o Lia Sophia

Hey Dallas readers! We’ve got a little info on an awesome event for you guys. Jewelry brand Lia Sophia are taking their mobile jewelry party to Dallas. They’ll be on hand to discuss upcoming trends and giving personal style tips. There will also be giveaways, music by DJ Quality // Control, mini manicures and makeovers courtesy of  NYX cosmetics.  So if you’re going to be in the Dallas area April 20 & 21, this is definitely an event worth checking out.

Where:

The Shops at Park Lane
8070 Park Lane

Dallas, Texas 75321

*West parking lot at the north west corner

When:

Friday April 20

Noon – 6pm

Saturday April 21

10am – 6pm

Be sure to check out Lia Sophia on Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter: @lia_sophia

April Blogger of the Month – Off of Broadway

For our April Blog of the Month I chose Arkansan blogger Amanda from off of broadway. Her style is fun, eclectic and the perfect mixture of old and new. Be sure to check out her amazing vintage selection on her Etsy store: amandromeda

photo c/o off of broadway

-What made you decide to start blogging?

i started blogging because i had recently stumbled upon sites like chictopia and lookbook and started reading other style blogs such as calivintage and secondskin style.  i loved all the inspiration i was gleaning from them.  i thought, ‘hey there might be people who could get outfit inspiration from me too!’

– How would you describe your style?

      this is so hard for me to pinpoint.  i think my style is always evolving.  just look through my blog archives!  my style changes as i get older, as i do my hair differently, as i get inspired by others.  the list goes on and on.  but what it all comes down to for me is individuality and creativity.  fashion is quick and easy, style is a reflection of who you are.

photo c/o off of broadway

– What are some of your favorite blogs?   

      i put those into 2 categories.  there are the ones that are my favorites because i truly love the girls and i want to keep in touch with them like merl (merl kinzie), jessie (style and pepper), yen (my edit), julie (orchid grey), jen (jen loves kev).  and then there are the ones i go back to just for the pretty outfits, like street style blogs.  and tales of endearment just because i want to BE natalie joos 🙂

– You mix a lot of vintage and current pieces, how do you think that helps you better define your style and make it more unique?

      well i own a vintage store so i kinda have to look the part 🙂  but i like how vintage sets you apart from others; you’re not gonna look like everyone else.  but also, you can find so many vintage items that are almost identical to what’s on the runways and in big box stores for waaaaayyyy cheaper.  but yeah, the mix is key.  no one wants to look like a period piece.

photo c/o off of broadway

– Do you have any advice for people who want to get into blogging or are just starting out?

i’d say just be authentic.  don’t immediately go after sponsors or try to make blogging your career.  just have fun, find your voice, your style.

– What do you find to be unique or different about the Southern fashion scene?

      i think there’s still a sense of demure conservatism in southern women.  not at all in a bad way, but in a more respectful way.  not everything has to be skin tight and see through to be sexy.  am i right?

Text by Meghan Wright, Photos c/o off of broadway

March Blogger of the Month- Little Chief Honeybee

Our March Blogger of the Month is Kaelah Bee of Little Chief Honeybee. She’s a fabulous gal from gorgeous Nashville!

Image c/0 Little Chief HoneyBee

What made you decide to start blogging?

I’ve been blogging online since 2002, back on LiveJournal, so it was never really a big step for me. I mean, I was 14 and basically relived my entire teenage life through an online diary… it wasn’t pretty! But in May 2009 I decided to start Little Chief Honeybee as a way to document my solo move from Nashville to NYC while I worked at BUST Magazine. It was then appropriately titled Honeybee in the City, but I decided to add several pieces of the puzzle along the way.

How would you describe your style?

To be honest, I’m very basic! It’s a frilly party dress, tights, cardigan, belt and often very ugly shoes for me. I like to say I “dress as though every day is a tea party”. Maybe overtly feminine but it’s roughed up by my tattoos, piercings, and bright red hair. It’s just a style that I feel comfortable in.

Image c/o Little Chief HoneyBee

What are some of your favorite blogs?

I honestly feel like I don’t have a chance to read many anymore, but when I do it’s always SusannahBean, Love Elycia, and Elsa Bilgren.

Where do you like to shop?

(As in, are you more of an “I’ll find something anywhere” kind of person, or you’ve got your set places you like to go)

I like typical fast fashion places just as much as the next girl (Forever 21, H&M, Urban Outfitters, etc), but a hefty portion of my wardrobe comes from discounted retailers like Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. What I love about them is that not every store carries the same stock, so the (blog) world is slightly less saturated with the same stuff. Ross especially. I’ve found my absolute favorite dresses in the world there for $10-$15!

Image c/o Little Chief Honeybee

Do you have any advice for people who want to get into blogging, or are just starting out?

Be yourself. Don’t chase fame or followers or sponsors or free things. Get into blogging because you have a sincere interest in sharing your opinions and meeting likeminded people. The good things come to those who are honest and diligent about working hard! It doesn’t happen overnight so don’t let the lack of comments or subscribers trip you up! I was blogging to the same 7 people for like 6 months… receiving 0 comments on a hefty majority of my posts. Now I feel like I’m constantly overwhelmed (in the good way!) with how many people read and interact with me!

What do you find to be unique or different about the Southern fashion scene? How do you think the people of Nashville differ from those in the surrounding areas in that sense?

Nashville is a very hip city. Especially where I live in East Nashville. It’s a small version of Portland, honestly! Tons of vintage clad guys and gals, and plenty of people with their own take on what is stylish. There’d be absolutely no way to lump them all in one category but to say that everyone here seems to have a unique perspective on personal style. It’s fun!

Text by Meghan Wright, All images c/o Little Chief Honeybee

How to start a fashion blog in four easy steps

1. Start writing.

2. Start taking photographs.

3. Hit publish.

4. Repeat.

Sounds overly simplistic right? Not really. With so many fashion bloggers monetizing their sites, attracting national attention, and upping the bar on professionalism, it can be intimidating to start a blog these days. You might feel the need to hire a graphic designer for your logo, buy a custom domain name, a dSLR camera, start a Twitter, Facebook page, the list goes on. With all of that work, it’s amazing anyone has the time to put out content!

No matter how pretty everything looks, grammar and proper spelling rule the roost. You’ve got to have substance to back up that style! Find a topic to focus on, but give yourself the freedom to explore as you develop your voice over time.

You’ll also want sharp photos, but there is no need for shelling out $1,000 on a camera if you don’t have that kind of cash. Buy what you can afford, and let your originality shine through. There are people that blog just using their camera phones, and use filters to create interesting images.

And most importantly, have fun with it! There’s so much emphasis on going pro these days, that sometimes the fun of blogging gets lost in the sea of monetization discussions. Remember, content and creativity first!

 

February Southern Blog of the Month

We’re a little late with this one but say hi to our February blogger of the month, Myrna! She lives in Mississippi and shares her outfit of the day photos on her blog, My Beat Boutique.

What made you decide to start blogging?

I didn’t even know style blogging existed and one night I stumbled upon Cupcakes and Cashmere and that’s when my obsession began. I started following other bloggers and my urge to start my own began. I felt like and still feel like I have something to share.

 
How would you define your style?

My style is about comfort, mixing color/pattern and classic pieces with the occasional risk. One thing you will always find me in is a comfortable pair of shoes.

 
What are some of your favorite blogs?

Cupcakes and Cashmere, Lucy Laucht, i am Khatu and Gal Meets Glam

 
Where do you shop?

I like to shop at J.Crew and Zara for my classic pieces, and for my basics and accessories I go to Forever 21 and my local Goodwil

What do you think is most interesting or unique about the Southern fashion scene?

Southern fashion is very interesting ,Mississippi fashion tends to be pretty safe where as New Orleans I find that people take more risks down there. I know  alot  has to do with the availability. New Orleans has so many boutiques, stores and malls where as in Mississippi it’s very limited.

Southern Fashion Blog of the Month- Chanel Craves

We’re starting something new with the new year; each month we’ll be featuring one of our favorite local fashion bloggers. For January we chose the always fabulous Chanel of Chanel Craves to be our Blogger of the Month. 

Image via Chanel Craves

-What made you decide to be a fashion blogger?
A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon a fashion blog.  I had no clue fashion blogs existed.  I became obsessed with them not only for a daily dose of inspiration, but as an outlet to share my love of fashion. Over time I noticed that there were very few bloggers from the south, and none that I knew of from Baton Rouge.  That motivated me to start my own blog “Chanel Craves” in 2010 as a way to express my personal style.

-How would you define your style?
Classically girly with an edgy twist.  I like to mix feminine and edgy pieces together to create a look that’s polished, but effortlessly done.

Image via Chanel Craves

– What are some of your favorite blogs (local and not)?
A local favorite of mine is Swank Heights. Other blogs I go to for inspiration are Atlantic-Pacific, This Time Tomorrow, and Brooklyn Blonde.

– Where do you shop?
I definitely like to mix it up, and pull pieces from a variety of places. I shop at high and low end stores. I tend to go to higher end stores for classic pieces that never go out of style, which I don’t mind splurging on. For trendier pieces that may go out of the style the next season, I shop at more affordable stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Zara.  One of a kind pieces that you won’t see anyone else wearing…..vintage stores. My favorite local vintage store is Time Warp in Baton Rouge.

Image via Chanel Craves

– Do you have any advice for people who want to get into fashion blogging, or are just starting out? 
Be yourself.  Let your personality set you apart from the rest.

– What do you think is unique or most interesting about the Southern fashion scene? 
The fashion scene in the south is evolving. Our fashion is influencing others from across the country and events are emerging that were never here before. People are starting to pay attention.

Blogging Resolutions

It’s been a minute, but we are reformatting and refreshing the Southern Fashion Bloggers for 2012. That’s right, welcome to an active new year. You’ll start seeing changes starting in January, including a new blogger of the month series. Each month we will be highlighting a different gal from a different state, so start casting your votes now by leaving a comment on this post.

Until we get fully up and at ’em we’d like to suggest four tips, blogging resolutions if you will, to help stay on track in the new year.

1. Start an editorial calender

Whether you choose to use Google calenders or find a pretty one at a bookstore, setting a schedule is a big help when you’ve got writer’s blog or find yourself too distracted to blog. Map out a week or even a month’s worth of posts and see if you can stick to it.

2. Start a mood board

Again whether you are on Pinterest or prefer cutting out magazine images, keeping pictures of things that inspire you close by can be the difference between pulling your hair out trying to formulate a post or happily hitting publish.

3. Comment on other blogs

As bloggers we all become giddy when we check out inbox and find that someone has left their insight on a post. Remember the mantra “What goes around comes around” and make an effort to leave a heartfelt comment on every blog that illicits a response from you.

4. Break your own rules

Always post on a Tuesday? Switch days. Only post outfit posts or Polyvore sets? Try branching out by covering a local event, scanning vintage photographs of your family, or interview someone you know with great style. You’ll have fun doing something different and your readers will appreciate the fresh content.

Do you have any blogging resolutions for the