New York Swap!


Dear Lydia,

Last Wednesday I attended an awesome swap event hosted by The Bloggers’ Collective. It was totally fate that I was clearing out my closet when I saw the post about it on I Have a Degree in This. I took fun things like my old Burberry sunglasses and DKNY scarf that have been on my swap page forever, as well as an American Apparel skirt that apparently was in high demand (sorry Nnenna, but you know I’ll just be giving things to you when there’s no swap to go to).


I got to connect with old friends (um, and by old I mean about six months?) and made new ones. …

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When Bloggers go to Blogger Events in Alexander Wang


Dear Shen Dove,

On Friday I was lucky enough to get together with fashion bloggers Katy, Nnenna, and Jamillah! We went out to two fun fashion week events. You might remember that we met in person for the first time last September and were together for the first Bloggers Night Out. For F/W 2012 we added the Lulu*s Style Studio event to our plans. We picked up loads of fun free products before heading uptown to Bloggers Night Out, which had an unbelievable turnout. It was so packed! I’m so glad we didn’t check our coats. Definitely the longest line of the night.


I originally planned on wearing my 4.5 inch heels, but my knee injury started feeling weird in the middle of the day so I ended up in my often-photographed MIA ankle boots again. It started snowing while we were out so the boots ended up being an excellent choice (they have little treads on the bottom). I’m wearing my Alexander Wang Dress (F/W 2011, sold out at Net-a-Porter where I got it during the post-holiday sale), Forever 21 belt (old favorite), Assets by Sara Blakely tights, and MIA ankle boots.

This is also my submission for Bloggers Do It Better: Red! I don’t often wear red clothing, but red lipstick is definitely becoming my go-to lip color. In the past few months it’s been edging out the pink I used to favor. I use Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Lip in Red 8C. It’s by far the best red I’ve ever used and my favorite.

Alex

For a few more photos (including inside the gift bags)– …

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IFB Conference Top Fifteen

Yesterday I attended the IFB Conference at Milk Studios. I was looking forward to hearing what the panelists had to say after hearing about how great IFB was in September. The conference was excellent for new bloggers just starting out, but as someone who’s been blogging on Tumblr since March 2008 and who even had a Xanga (yes, I’ll admit it), I found the amount of useful information limited.

So instead of a panel-by-panel recap, I put together fifteen quotes that I personally thought were the best of the day.

Hilarious photo of Shenneth and me. This was apparently our best of six– the early morning must have been getting to us.

On brand partnerships:

Brands are looking for bloggers with credibility, flexibility, and scalability. Blogging is the next marketing medium. – Lauren Tesar, Lifebooker

Have a media kit ready when you start to reach out. – Jessie Thorpe, Denimology

Glamour looks for level of engagement when considering new contributors. Blogging and bloggers have changed the meaning of brand. Influence. – Susan Cernek, Glamour

Think about a lifestyle mindset because a lot of brands are becoming lifestyle brands. Check in on GetGlue. Share where you eat, where you go. – Macala Wright, FashionablyMarketing.Me


New friends Jaimie and Shari.

On content:

Don’t be afraid to be too different. – Karen Moon, Style Musée

Be transparent, honest, have good voice. You can’t be everywhere [on every social media platform] focus on a few and do them well. – Aliza Licht, DKNY

Your point of view is so important. Pay attention, even to your layout. Stay consistent. Keep the same look and feel no matter what platform you’re using. – Erica Domesek, P.S.- I made this…

Make sure quality is not sacrificed. Post at a speed you’re comfortable with. Your readers appreciate consistency. – Connie Wang, Refinery29

Don’t post for the sake of posting. Take the time to edit yourself. Good high quality content is more important. -Nicolette Mason, Nicolette Mason


I also met Jill and Nicole (also known as Glamamom and MomTrends)!

On community:

It’s important to value your audience and respect their time. Always disclose sponsored posts. – Kat Griffin, Corporette

Find out how you can add value to the current community. – Wendy Ngyugen, Wendy’s Lookbook

Create a community you can give back to. – Erica Domesek, P.S.- I made this…

It’s important to keep your blog and presence organic. Dont follow in anyone else’s footsteps. – Bryan Grey Yambao, Bryanboy

You never know where great relationships will take you. – Grace Atwood, Bauble Bar

And what Bryanboy does in the dressing room at Barneys (wouldn’t you?): hide and take a picture of this and tweet.

Friday Part Two: Blogger’s Night Out

September 9, 2011

After ModSwap, Nnenna and I grabbed a drink at Bar Breton and then walked over to Pranna, the venue for Blogger’s Night Out. My voice is still recovering from several nights out in a row. I haven’t had a party schedule like this since college!


Feel like a tourist lately… been out near the Empire State Building like five times in a week.

I think that might be the elusive FNO bus?

We visited all the sponsors present at the event and picked up some gifts along the way. I won a Mink Pink leopard maxi skirt from LuLu’s! Also introduced myself to Kimberlee and looked for other bloggers I knew would be there, including Kristen (BonBon Rose Girls). There was a huge turnout and it was so crowded that I actually couldn’t find anyone else. Didn’t even know where to look!




Luckily I located Nnenna and Laura again. Later in the night plopped in a randomly velvet roped-off section with a familiar face and I snagged business cards from made-to-travel and Kendall Donaldson, one of the minds behind Blogger’s Night Out. Hope no one minded my stalker photos again. I try not to take posed photos and bloggers are used to having photos taken.

And last, if you’ve made it this far: the gift bag. ZOYA’s smoke and mirror collections, which are incredible. I painted my toes with one coat. Also included were these sparkly earrings from Send the Trend. We were talking about all styling them up and posting on the same day– let’s make it happen! I originally thought it would be a good visual FBFF, maybe someone can host a show us your earrings post?


Thanks for the photos, Laura! If you’re curious, I wore a giant black sack dress. Okay not really, I just have to learn not to dislike my camera’s flash so much. It’s a Laugh Cry Repeat by AZFN shirt (from the consignment store next to Rag & Bone in SoHo, I forget the name) and T by Alexander Wang skirt.

Lydia visits tomorrow!

ModSwap!

Last Friday night I went to the ModCloth and The Swapaholics Blogger Party! I looked totally out of place in head-to-toe black. Oops. Should have at least worn a circle skirt. It was tons of fun though and I met lots of bloggers!






My mildly paparazzi-ish tendencies caught this awesome print…

… and leopard and hot pink belts!



These last three photos courtesy of the event photographer. Makes me wish I had an external flash! View more on The Swapaholics’ Facebook page.

I swapped two items and picked up one compliments of ModCloth. I also basically pulled a dress off the ModCloth rack, handed it to Nnenna, and said “this is for you” (she ended up leaving with it).

Just before we left for BNO I introduced myself to Tieka with the totally original “I love your blog!”. She’s just as genuine in person as she is on Selective Potential.

Tomorrow will be Blogger’s Night Out! Hope you guys aren’t bored of hearing about fashion week events yet!