Style Phile: Personal Style Blogging 101

Hi all, hope you had an amazing weekend! Mine was nothing special, but it was nice to have a little break from school, and have the chance to sleep in til 10 both days. Who am I? I guess I needed all that extra sleep 😛

Well, it’s been waaaaaay too long since I did a Style Phile post (in fact, it’s been almost 5 whole months–eek!) so I decided to do a quick one, all about my experiences with personal style blogging. In case you didn’t know, I have a Blogger-based blog called Apparel Addiction that’s all about fashion. I started it back in 2009, so it’s been going strong for almost 3 years! That’s definitely a testament to my love for style. Anyways, here are a few tips I wanted to share about it, whether you have your own personal style blog, like to read them or just want to know what they’re all about!

1. Design the blog to fit you

I've had this design for awhile, but I like to tweak it every once in awhile.

If you don’t like how the blog layout looks, how likely are you to stick with it? Luckily, most blogging platforms have plenty of customizable designs, so you can make it fit your personality. Also, make sure it fits with the theme of your blog. If you have a beauty blog, and the background has pictures of dogs, that doesn’t really make people relate to the content, no matter how good it is.

2. Have a ‘twist’ that makes your blog unique

I'm always down for a good sale!

Maybe you’re really into hunting down the best deals (I wish I were a bargainista, but that’s usually not the case), or DIY fashion is your thing. Whatever niche of personal style blogging you fit into, work it!

3. Include a bunch of pictures!

If you don't have your own photographer, use a tripod!

Personal style blogs only work if you show off your personal style–and the only way to do that is through pictures, of course! When I first started my fashion blog, I rarely had photos, but how boring is that? Now in every single post, I include at least one or two pics, whether it’s self-shots of my outfit of the day, Polyvore collections or photos of new arrivals from a store’s website. Visual appeal is key, so try to switch up the photos. You can use programs to make collages, or have close-ups of your accessories. Whatever you do, make sure you have them!

4. Learn the tools of the trade

Polyvore is a lifesaver!

This includes sites (like Polyvore, for creating outfit collections, or Picnik, for cool collages) and terms, like OOTD (outfit of the day) and lookbook (a category or tab on many blogs where they keep all their outfit posts). The more you know about what you’re doing, the easier it will be. And no worries, it definitely comes with time. Just brush up by checking out other personal style blogs and soon you’ll be a pro.

5. Get inspiration

One of my favorite sites for fashion inspiration!

Don’t think that your style is set in stone! Like most people interested in fashion, my personal style has changed over the years and is constantly shifting. Read up on other fashion blogs, check out magazines (Vogue for high fashion, People StyleWatch for celebrity fashion, etc.) and go on sites like Polyvore and look at other people’s collections and sets to get inspiration if you feel like you’re in a style rut. I personally like to do this when the seasons are changing and I need some ideas for what to invest in and try out.

Do you read personal style blogs? What’s a tip you have for blogging in general?