Jun 13, 2012 / General Advice & Pro Tips

Focus On: Personal Style Blogs

Image courtesy of Flickr user floridamemory.

A few years ago, I read an essay by a young writer who claimed that posting photos of her outfits on her personal style blog had given her the confidence to write bolder, better fiction. “Ridiculous!” I thought, and clicked through to look at her blog. Then, I looked through all of her archives. Then, I checked out all the blogs in her blogroll. And I’ve been reading personal style blogs ever since.

I’m not sure why I find them so fascinating. I’m certainly no fashion plate. Perhaps it’s partly aspirational – I do sometimes wish I could dress better. Perhaps it’s because, like food blogs, they elevate an often tiresome daily necessity (getting dressed) into something noteworthy and fun.

If you’re interested in blogging about style, here are a few things you can try to make your posts stand out:

  • Shoot in a variety of locations. Nobody wants to look at daily pictures of your mirror. Hit the streets , explore the parks. I read style blogs written by people who live all over the world, and I love discovering their cities through their daily outfit photos.
  • Define your niche. Do you know how to dress for business? For comfort? For a pear-shaped figure? Are you a young trendsetter? A mature dresser who embraces the classics? A vintage hunter?
  • Don’t hide the rest of your life. Personal style blogs are just that – personal! After looking at your mug for several months, your readers are going to wonder: what do you do for a living? Where do you live? Where’d you wear that gorgeous gown? Style blogs are great because they’re about real, knowable people – not just models on a page.
  • Remix. Again, readers of personal style blogs are seeking real-life fashion, and real people wear their clothes more than once. Show us the ten different ways you’ve worn that floral blouse.
  • Include details. How much was the sundress, where did you get it, and is it still available? Are you happy you bought it? Does it fit well? Has it held up with repeated washings?
  • Include variety. Break up the daily outfit posts with a round-up of summer accessories, a tutorial on how to set your hair in pin curls, or an ode to pastels.

Do you like to read personal style blogs and if so, why do you like them? Would you ever blog about your own style, or are you strictly a jeans-and-T-shirts person like me?

Browse the Fashion topic page to find great style posts on WordPress.com!

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  1. I started reading this post because I thought you were going to be talking about personal-style blogs, instead of personal style-blogs. Oh well. I guess all blogs are personal – to agree, but so is style. Can’t help but be. We’r all different. . .so are we all.

    Admit it – the title is a bit ambiguous, is it not? Or was that your intention? 😆

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    1. Hi Paula, thanks for pointing this out! I feel like people use the term “personal style” blogs to refer to a certain type of fashion blogging that’s more focused on what the blogger wears every day than on the subject of fashion overall. But “What exactly is a personal style blog?” is a really good question, and maybe I should have started out by defining what I mean by that term! 🙂

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  2. I speak English real good, too! Sorry about that: Instead of the third line above, it should be:

    “are personal – to a degree, but so is style. Can’t help but be. We are all different.”

    😳 Sorry!

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  4. I get so many comliments on my personal style and have been thinking of including more “fashion” posts on my siny new blog. This article gave me the push i needed! Hooray for wordpress…hporay from new style posts coming soon to my blog!

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  5. While I do appreciate the jaunty slant of a great hat, my comment is about an idea / challenge a friend offered last night and your comment about confidence reminded me. “What if”, my friend said in hopes of encouraging this teacher in the grip of post-semester slump, “you wrote a gratitude journal of self and recorded the daily difference you make in students’ lives.” What would happen if teachers did this as a regular part of our planning for nextWhile I do appreciate the slant of a great hat, my comment is about an idea / challenge a friend offered last night and your comment about confidence reminded me. “What if”, my friend said in hopes of encouraging this teacher in the grip of post-semester slump, “you wrote a gratitude journal of self and recorded the daily difference you make in students’ lives.” What would happen if teachers did this as a regular part of our planning for next semester? I’m certain our confidence and competence would improve and that would inevitably improve the teaching-learning experience. semester? I’m certain our confidence and competence would improve and that would inevitably improve the teaching-learning experience.

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  7. I do personal style post, I find that it forces me to use the clothes in my closet since I work from home as well as show my readers how I mix vintage clothing with new items.

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  9. Pretty cool stuff. I enjoyed that. Hmmm I could write about personal style I actually have a very distinct perspective and I live in the coolest place on earth, Jamaica!

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  10. I’m already holding website/b logs, in the personal realm. In fact, I believe in acclaimed personality, and I write, as well, by I’ve not written on myself. I hope to include “personal style” in future. Thanks for your idea.

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  11. Great post! It was certainly inspiring and gave me some great ideas for future blogging, particularly about the “personal life” part. And, thank you for linking to one of my post:)!!!

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  12. I’ve never been a fashionista. As a writer, I spend a lot of time at home in “comfortable” clothes. As a photographer, I’m in jeans and t-shirts most of the time. But every now and then, when I do venture out to the rare charity ball, I anguish over my limited wardrobe. And now that we are taking cruises (which usually have “formal nights” for dinner, I’m paying more attention to my closet. Choosing appropriate clothes for travel destinations (so I don’t look like a total tourist) is something else I’ve been exploring. So, fashion—yeah, I’m starting to get it, especially when mixed with personal style.

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  14. Hi! Interesting tips you got there. Thank you for sharing. I’ve been loving personal style blogs for years because I find them not only entertaining but truly helpful with “elevating the often tiresome daily necessity” of getting dressed into something fun (love how you put it that way 😉 ) I look to these blogs for inspiration not only for dressing up, but for other stuff as well that would require some imagination. 😉

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  15. Thank you for sharing the tips, I definitely agree that not everyone wants to see some girls reflection in the mirror showing what she wore to work or out that day, especially when her head is cut off as well. My blog evolutioned from being personal style to Lifestyle blog, that’s why I include posts on beauty, cooking, thrifting and just “a day in life” post every once in a while, because don’t we all like to peek into some one else’s life?
    Xo,
    Being Zhenya

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  16. I felt the same way until I checked out a few style blogs and visited LookBook. I was sold and duly impressed. TY for bring this up. It’s been on my mind too. 🙂

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  19. Thanks for linking to me – I started the blog as a challenge with a local charity. I buy no new clothes for a year and instead send girls to school in Sudan. But ever before starting my blog I read a billion fashion/ style blogs. It’s just people watching, via the internet. I think the best thing you can have is good photos. Mine aren’t great (working on it!) but most of the blogs I read regularly have about 8 pics and then two lines of text!

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  20. I don’t read any fashion blogs and find it a bit tiresome. I don’t own a pair of heels… If I need a pair, I’ll have a hard time finding a pair that won’t hurt. I have horses and other animals, work outside, play a string instrument, and most of my activities require rough and ready clothes. I’ll never win a fashion contest, unless the criteria is wearing a smile. I’ll never stop wearing jeans, though on many occasions, I wear beautiful antique jewelry and silk blouse or sweater and I even enjoy my one pair of designer jeans that my grown daughter made me promise not to wear outside to clean horse stalls! 😀

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  21. Definitely not fashionable myself but I love personal style blogs myself. I would love post a picture of my outfit but haven’t found an occasion to or an outfit worth showing off. I’m in the process of cleaning out my closet, so I’m hoping I put cuter things.

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  25. That’s interesting I’ve never thought of doing a personal style blog before. Maybe because I question my own personal style. At times wearing mismatching socks. Recently it dawned on me that I am an impatient shopper which leaves me buying clothes impulsively and wondering when I get home what was I thinking?

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  26. I’ve always wanted to start a style blog, but I’ve been too embarrassed to do it…I thought I’d just end up looking dorky and get made fun of. Thanks for all these great tips! Knowledge IS power…I feel more confident in this endeavor now!

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