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"What to wear or what not to wear?" That is the real question.
We all have our own style and although the mirror never lies, feedback and tips on what's out there and hot right now always helps.
For those of us who can't afford our own stylists and personal shopper, in steps the Fashion Blogger…They can be biased, kind or cruel but always informative.
Here are a few of our favorites; they are in no particular order. They all have their own style and personality that makes each unique and as interesting as their commentary. If you read them daily a few could almost become a trusted friend or fashion advisor who would answer you honestly without a blink of an eye…."Do I look fat in this?" and then pass you a tissue
Fashion Blogs:
Kristopher Dukes
"Because life is short, your skirt should be too"
Kristopher Dukes could be the brutal but honest friend you can ask "do I look fat in these"…and get an honest answer, so don't toss that receipt yet, she will most likely answer candidly… no matter what and then wisk you out for shopping or cocktail therapy, whichever neccessary...Her blog is entertaining and informative and not for the demure. Kristopher seems like she could easily be a character on Sex and the City, but she could very well live next door and would actually speak to you on the elevator. Kristopher's blog covers everything from her signature Soy Lattes from Starbucks to Manolo Blaniks most of us lust for but will only try on if we can leave the store without sobbing and looking back several times. Every item she writes about is pure lux and her writing even makes soy lattes sound sexy and edgy.
This woman lives and breathes her blog and its part of its charm, it reads like your spending the day and part of the nite with her and she is talking directly to you. http://www.kristopherdukes.com/
Daily Candy
"a daily dose of.."
If wondering what's in style is an addiction Daily candy is the cure. It's a daily shot in the arm about what is out there in your city or closest fashion capital. Daily candy covers East, West, North and South and a few European Cities. Patients can sign up to receive emails on a daily basis or just check in when they like. The topics covered are Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle, Home, Travel, Food and Art, there is even a section listing local sample sales. Unlike other blogs that tend to be a bit opinionated about their choices, you're either in Daily Candy or your not... The writing is informative and fun and it's considered quite a feather in your cap if you're chosen as a subject, a peacock feather of course. Unknown designers and new shops have been known to "blow up" after a mention. Even if your not shopping, its just fun to read. There is always something for everyone in Daily Candy. Daily Candy started primarily targeted to women; to date there is now Daily Candy for men and kids. Could there be a Daily Candy for pets on the horizon? www.dailycandy.com
Go Fug Yourself
"Fugly is the new pretty"
This site can hold your interest on pure entertainment value alone.
This site is great source for what NOT to wear since celebrities often start up or fuel the latest fashions
Forgive me, but along keeping up with fashion I love a good laugh and this blog has both, leaning towards the humor of fashion hiccups... I call it Haute Humor.
Most of the victims, I mean subjects, are celebrities on the red carpet. Although there isn't a whole lot of shopping info it makes you almost glad you don't have to depend on a fashion stylist to dress you.... Go Fug yourself There is no official explanation on the blog site, but most of us have heard the term "Fugly", short for F%$##@ing Ugly. There really isn't a whole lot of fashion advice and shopping info on this but its gives new confidence in your fashion choices and a good laugh. www.gofugyourself.com
The Shoe Goddess
"A perfect pair"
www.theshoegoddess.com For those of us with a specific addiction to shoes, this is a site we want to check out.. It's all about shoes, shoes and more shoes. From Payless to Prada, the styles featured each day are generally chosen from the high fashion, Rolls Royce of shoes, but the gal on a budget searching for an everyday pair just might be able to find something to tickle her toes and fit her budget. Some of the featured items were a pair of boots designed especially for Payless by costume designer, Patricia Fields, a pair of high top sneakers by Louis Vuitton, and a pair of sandals covered with white feathers and reinstones on the heels by Dior, not exactly "sensible" shoes but stunning. Readers are invited to sign up and create profiles to post comments and chat. Like most sites there were several links and banners, but I noticed this site had philanthropic links to a non-profit youth center, A Place Called Home and the ASPCA http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer
Top Button
"A Community of Fashion Insiders ..."
Pretty much sums up Top Button perfectly. Top Button is a great site for fusionists of any kind even those in the biz. Members and readers can get all sorts of info on the fashion scenes in NY, LA and San Francisco. Along with the usual fare on fashion sites, Top Button has up to date information on sample sales held in store and online. Readers are invited to sign up to participate in chats. Q/A and sample sale notifications. Check out the site periodically or you can log on for info or sign up and build a personal profile. There are several categories covered on this site including a star style section where you can keep up with the latest trends worn by celebrities and an advice Q/A section. Two really great features on this site are the rewards insider card where stores and online merchants give % discounts for members and independent and established designers can submit their information for consideration to participate in local sales. http://www.topbutton.com
She Finds
"We shop the web so you don't have to"
They certainly do, this site is jam packed with information, finds, deals and steals on the internet. She Finds covers the very latest and greatest in health, beauty and fashion. You can search category subjects from A-Z and items to find out what's hot, new and in style. Readers are invited to sign up for a newsletter and participate in polls and comments on featured items. There is a daily deal featured each day complete with where to buy info. One of my favorite features on the site is a mini quiz on two very similar items. You are invited to guess which one is the lower priced knock off version and which one is the higher priced luxury version. It was a little tricky and very interesting to ultimately see which was which.. Both were quality items but one cost 1/3 of the other. I scored 2 out of my 3 day attempts. www.shefinds.com
The Budget Fashionista
"Be Fabulous for Less"
The Budget Fashionista shows you how to "Be fabulous for less by scouring the net for great deals on fashion and beauty for their daily features. Each day there are 5 items of different categories chosen, included is a deal of the day with the where to buy info. Readers have the choice to check out the 5 items of the day or they can zero right in on the sections on the site they are interested in: for example: Sales-online stores, Coupons-online coupons for items, and a Forum for members to chat, ask questions and comment. You can sign up for membership to receive emails and vote on the featured items. I personally liked this site a lot, being a big game bargain hunter myself, its also nice to get honest feedback on items before you actually purchase them. And for those of you who were not born with this gift, the website also has a book available titled "How to be a budget Fashionista" you can purchase on the site. www.thebudgetfashionista.com
Uncrate (men's)
Uncrate is "the number one buyers guide for men"
This site dedicated to " all things men, guy stuff, boys toys etc". It's a mixture of fashion advice, grooming tips and information about gadgets, electronics, movies and books. Uncrate tests and highlights 5 new items each week for readers to check out. Items can be searched by categories that are listed. Readers can buy, share info or suggest items there is also a sign up to receive emails. www.uncrate.com .Uncrate has a sister site:
http://www.outblush.com/ Outblush is "like having your own team of personal shoppers". Like its brother site, it's a mixture of fashion advice, grooming tips and info about gadgets, electronics, movies and books, but for gals. New items are posted every weekday and readers can search items by categories. Readers can buy, share info or suggest items to be featured. There is also a sign up to receive emails and a coupon section. For the hardcore bargain hunter there is what I call the cousin site: http://www.bargainist.com/ where you can search a specific item or store, latest hand picked deals, download coupons, tips and even freebies.
The Purse Blog
"Shallow obsessing strongly urged"
The Purse Blog provides a delightfully shallow, daily editorial on authentic designer handbags- it is the ultimate blog for shoulder candy enthusiasts I didn't write that, they did, and oh so true, I could not agree more. This site is only about handbags and only the heavy hitter high ticket handbags, Fendi, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Coach, etc. Although I could not afford a bag from this site, I really enjoyed ‘window shopping if only for the features, they definitely soothe the obsessive envy with humor. Along with the daily features there are featured "Fugly Bags and designers are not immune simply by name, Fendi, Prada, LV ,Coach" and like brands were right up there representing Fugly. Readers can sign up to post comments. Brands, Stores and styles are all neatly listed for shopping and research. http://www.purseblog.com/ . For those of us on a tighter budget, check out :
Arm Candy Girl
(Handbags)
This site is "the #1 site for all purse fetishists and purse fashionistas". The designers listed on the site include a mix of well-known designer names and new comers. Featured designers are listed alphabetical and there is an archive section for research and shopping. http://www.armcandygirl.com/
Each month there are several featured handbags with details and where to buy. Readers and members are welcomed to leave comments. There is a Q/A section and also a guide to spotting fakes. I searched for this feature on http://www.purseblog.com. when I didn't have any luck I searched fakes in the search engine. "Here at the purse Blog we don't do fakes. We don't particularly condone them, neither would we really ever get one…Your walking the ultimate walk o'shame when you get caught in the act of sporting a blatantly fake purse. Not glamorous at all Heavy sigh…..
So if you cant afford the real thing and don't want to walk at a quick pace, you can check out The L Report http://thelreport.net/ this site is another one man (woman) band blog that is devoted to up and coming independent designers and new products. Letitia Rodriquez blogs almost daily and "talks to you as if in conversation about everything and anything "indie Readers are invited to sign up for emails and participation on the site. There is a large directory of independent designer webstores for clothes, accessories, home furnishings and beauty products. The site is currently online but under construction and putting together its own shopping site featuring independent designers,The Indie Cotiere . http://indiecoterie.com/index.htm
The Frugal Fashionista
"Want your favorite celebrity's look but don't have a celebrity budget? Frugal-fashionista finds the latest fashions without breaking the bank"
This website is fun because along with the usual fashion advice and features that are on other sites, it helps you totally recreate a look you have seen on your favorite celebrity for yourself. The really cool thing is you can do it without the celebrity price tag. The merchandise they find looks quite similar and the re-creations are quite impressive. The sites main page starts with recent photos of celebritys their outfits and below are the items available to re-create the look. If you have a favorite celebrity or spotted a look you crave they have archived photos of alphabetized celebrities, male and female. Once you choose your celebrity, the outfit is broken down to items with a price and where to buy. Readers are invited to subscribe, comment, ask questions and give the outfits a yay or nay. There is also a feature that allows you to submit photos of your favorite celebrity or a look you love. http://frugal-fashionista.blogspot.com/
SheSheMe
"The happiest girls are the prettiest girls"
I would call this site a sort of an Ann Landers for anything fashion. SheSheMe is jam packed with fashion info, advice, subjects and events. Readers can click on subjects themselves, search archives or pose a question Along with the usual content; there is a section for jobs and wholesale. One of the features that makes this site unique is the characters that " host":
She She Me is a fictional twirty-something character living life on the edge. She is single, a working girl climbing the corporate ladder and determined to stay chic and stylish while doing so. She She Me writes the She She Scene and the Style de Vie columns. She She Scene is an episodic-type column; sort of a day-in-the-life-of-She She Me, along with fabulous fashion tips, online finds and style advice. Style de Vie is a lifestyle column—home décor, entertaining, vacations, etc. as well as the advice for staying stylish while doing so!
Shop Girl is our resident fashionista and also happens to be She She Me's best friend. She is a little more edgy than She She Me. Shop Girl writes our Style Scoop column, which is all about the latest, hottest fashions, footwear and accessories. She is totally on top of fashion—it is her life and she is our go-to girl for all things chic and stylish. Shop Girl brings years of experience as a seriously dedicated fashionista, is always happy to share her discoveries with her friends and believes that there is absolutely no situation
Girly is our gorgeous beauty expert and she writes our Beauty Bubbles column, which is about beauty products, makeup, spa treatments, etc. Girly also happens to be married to She She Me's younger brother. Girly and She She Me have totally bonded since the wedding last summer and are now the dearest of friends (yes, the kind of friend who will tell you that the blusher you are wearing is totally wrong for your complexion and spiky lashes are soooo last decade!)
Pretty Mama is the most stylish of mommies and writes our New Mom Chic column. She is another of She She Me's dearest friends. Pretty Mama is the hip and happening mama of darling toddler and a new baby, and has oodles of fabulous tips on staying chic and stylish as a new mom, as well as advice for keeping up with all that is involved in the life of a busy mom. http://www.shesheme.com/
Too Fat for Fashion
"Fashion beyond sample size"
Plus size clothing is no longer excluded from high fashion and full-figured gals no longer have to search the world over for trendy fashionable clothes and accessories. Most stores and online shops have complete lines devoted to full figured women. One of the best features of ths site is the bloggers are 3 full figured gals who focus on and share first hand info about fashion, where to buy merchandise and comments. The site features full-figured celebrities, designers and models. Another cool thing is this site is although its geared to full figured womens its not exclusive as accessories and beauty products are one size fits all and they way the site is presented, all sized gals are welcome to check out the site.. Readers are invited to sign up to comment on features and search the categoried archives for topics, trends and products. http://toofatforfashion.blogspot.com
Intimate guide
"What to wear under there"
Everything you want to know about undergarments and need to ask is on this site.No need to panic over that wedding or barely there dress, you can find the perfect undergarment on this site. The featured items run from gorgeous lingerie for brides and special occasions, like La Perla to everyday undies like fruit of the loom to gadgets like clear straps and 7-way bras. One particularly interesting fact about this site is its run by a husband and wife team, so readers get the benefit of a real live mans input. So along with the typical sections, there is even a section on men's underwear with expert input. Readers are asked join the site to comment or add items they have discovered.to the watch list. Whether you join the site or not it's a great resource to comparison shop, read input about actual wear and discover new items. http://www.intimateguide.com
E-Stylist
"Online Stylist "
A blog where I play an online stylist while giving you fashion pairing ideas I found this to be a valuable and fun site because its as if you have your very own stylist. Whole wardrobes are featured instead of the usual featured individual item of the day. Shoppers and fashionistas can take what they need/like and leave the rest. It's a really great resource for the "pulling it together "challenged who aren't quite sure how to put outfits together. The site is also a great shopping resource because all of the items that are featured are priced and the where to buy is listed. Readers are invited to join the site to receive emails. There are several options on how to use this site : you can post comments, ask questions about featured outfits or pose a question of your own. The blogger invites you to submit your questions on how to wear a particular item or put together a new look. http://e-stylist.blogspot.com/
Who What Wear Daily
"We don't care about whom you're dating or what you eat, we only care about what you wear"
This is a fun and informative site that reads like a daily newspaper, with a mix of everyday, celebrity and high fashion. Readers can join for daily emails, chat, post yay or nay for items and ask questions. There is an ask the stylist section for advice and for the celebrity style worshippers you can submit the celebrity's name and the item your lusting about and get the 411. For easy shopping all items featured have prices and store listings. There is a cute added feature for those living in the Los Angeles area called the little black book. It's a collection of favorite shopping haunts, where to get the best cappuccinos, mani-pedi and other vital info. http://www.whowhatweardaily.com/website/home.php
The Budget Babe
"Fabulous without a Fortune"
The Budget Babe is a how to guide to looking fabulous without spending a fortune. The site shows readers how to take high fashion out of the magazines and bring it home at a price you can afford. The Budget Fashionista features daily items, idea or great buys. Its also convienient because the prices and the where to buy information is listed right there with the items. Some of the most recent features: a gorgeous Betsy Johnson Holiday dress and the affordable, but equally gorgeous Forever 21 Version, they were kind and didn't post Betsy's price, but I am sure it was 3 times the Forever 21 tag. The site also gives suggestions on new ideas: Vests and how to wear them, where to buy: hot red shoes under $100, and great collection of suggestions for the LBD, Little Black dress. Readers can subscribe for a daily feed or just search categories for specific items, questions, looks and trends. There is also several entertaining points on this site where readers can comment on outfits hit or miss or vote yay or nay on an item. http://thebudgetbabe.com/
Ask Kitty
"Brutally honest fashion advice from the fashion kitten herself."
This site is another one man (woman) band similar to Kristopher Dukes. Kristopher tells you….Kitty will tell you if you ask. http://www.styledash.com/ is the main site. Both read like a daily diary of featured items of the day complete with where to buy info. Readers are invited to join for daily feeds ask questions etc. I thought the top 10 must haves for 2007 was really great since most items could translate or be tweaked for 2008 or just "must haves”.I thought this was a really fun site to check out because along with the usual content,shopping and fashion advice, there are contests, info on fashion week LA and NY, TV shows and the Oscars. http://ask-fashion-kitty.blogspot.com/2007/11/comment-and-win.html
Questions? Comments? Contact Tracey@ShopForClothes.com
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