Issue #7 cover girl Shini’s brilliant do-it-yourself fashion projects have inspired us to at least think about getting creative with our hands. The jury is still out on whether anything will actually be accomplished, but in the obsessive DIY frenzy, we’ve discovered some really inspiring how-to’s!

Here are some of our favorite fashion DIY bloggers from around the web:

ThreadBanger

ThreadBanger is the big mama of DIY fashion sites, complete with tutorials for fashion, home, and their own Threadbanger YouTube channel.

Oustapop

Brimming with do-it-yourself suggestions and tutorials, including working with leather pailettes and shredded tees, Oustapop also runs the Trashionista Flickr group.

…Love Maegan

Love Maegan features plenty of simple designer-inspired DIY projects, from Gucci-like tops to Prada-ish necklaces.

Style Hurricane

Fun and inspiring craftiness from Style Hurricane’s Anni, including her signature scrolled zipper cuffs.

Out of Order

If you’re handy with a sewing machine, check out some of the projects by Meghan at Out of Order. We’ve been promising ourselves to at least try the full skirt tutorial.

Chic Steals

Chic Steals has plenty of ideas on sewing your own creations from upcycled clothing. Check out the “How to make a ruffled top from a men’s shirt” tutorial. Nothing short of fab!

P.S. I Made This

P.S I Made This is a well known do-it-yourself dream haven of simple projects with maximum impact.

2 Bitchez Deep

If you like it raw with studs and spikes, 2BitchezDeep is the spot for you! You can also buy some of their finished pieces at Patricia Field.com.

Adventures in Dressmaking

Adventures in Dressmaking is a great place to learn the things your mother never taught you, from hem-facings to invisible zippers. You’ll find handy sewing tutorials aplenty, and Suzannah makes it look easy.

New York Design Shop

If you need inspiration and materials, check out New York Design Shop, home to how-tos and all of the studs, sequins, and extra bits and bobbles needed to complete them.

Do you have any favorite resources for DIY inspiration? Share ‘em in the comments!

The next issue of Style Sample magazine comes out on Tuesday, May 4th! Expect more fashion, shopping, photography, illustration, and tips and advice from your favorite established and up-and-coming bloggers!

Features in the upcoming issue include:

• A day (actually, a night!) with Topshop Visual Merchandiser Steph of Walk the Sand, complete with creating color stories, building outfits, and previewing the new makeup line.

• Fashion illustrator Brooke of Fabulous Doodles talks about the “Project Runway” nature of design school and what she’d do for Rachel Zoe.

• Shae of Everything Style talks about her transition from selling vintage wares to chronicling her adventures in the world of photography, and the “exercise” she does to improve her skills.

• Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly provides an extremely thorough instruction guide for creating a vlog (that’s a video blog for the uninitiated) and setting up your own YouTube channel, and recommends some of her favorite tools for getting the job done.

• Looking for a great place to travel? Carolina of Closet Full of Nothing and Maristella of PYT in PTY provide an insider’s introduction to the best style, shopping, and nightlife in Vancouver and Panama City, respectively. You’ll definitely want to allot some of your frequent flier miles to visiting these amazing destinations!

• Ceri of Style Eyes talks about she used her blogging and online marketing skills to start her own fashion marketing business, and offers tips on finding your own way.

Also, look for the best styles for summer sun, tips on writing professional reviews, how cover girl Shini came up with the name Park & Cube, and more!

Be sure to follow the Twitter list of contributors to keep up with everyone, and stay tuned for a chance to win a gift card to one of our favorite stores!

We’ve really been feeling the entrepreneurial spirit at Style Sample lately. Maybe it’s the spring weather and the promise of a new start, or maybe we’re ready to change direction, but we’re looking to past and current Blogging + Business features (and obsessively watching clips of “Kell on Earth”) for inspiration:

“The best part is being able to create this business from the ground up on my own. The worst part is being able to create this business from the ground up on my own… it’s hard work but also extremely rewarding.”
~Rodellee of Adore Vintage, Issue #1

“Engage in Twitter, write a blog, do free PR for your friend with the cute handbag line. If the opportunities aren’t there, look for ways to create them on your own terms.”
Crosby of PR Couture, Issue #2

“I’m in love with storytelling, which makes the pieces intimate and meaningful to the owner. The personal touch is best.”
~Wendy of Wendy Brandes Jewelry, Issue #3

“Whatever I put into it is what I get out… so at the end of the day, there is nothing as rewarding as this.”
~Mimi of Brook&Lyn, Issue #4

“Just write about something that you are passionate about and it will come easy. If you really love what you do and work hard at it, then you will be successful.”
~Krista of MyLookbook, Issue #5

“I guess the most crazy part of it is how quickly it’s grown from a small online store to a business which has over 100 stockists.  Rach and I literally squeal when we see girls on the street wearing Stylestalker.”
~Sue-Ann and Rachel of Stylestalker, Issue #6

Are you interested in building your own fashion-based business? How do you get inspired?

Informative fashion fodder, just in case you missed it:

• “Has our quest for convenience forever altered fashion?” Dumbing down American design (Part 1)

• Singapore’s Next Fashion Superblogger Contest: Cute bloggers, great style. And it’s sponsored by a mall! When will America catch on to this?

• Suddenly Print is taking the blog challenge seriously: Interesting perspective from a fashion journalist about the so-called showdown between print and online.

• We’re always interested in seeing what bloggers ’round the world are doing: Hong Kong’s hottest fashion blogger Cindiddy

• Gilt Groupe brings flash sales to the iPad: Online flash sale giant Gilt Groupe is keeping up with technology by introducing an iPad app. Tech-geek fashionistas rejoice!

• Speaking of technology, Go Try It On Will Be Your Wardrobe Consultant And Personal Stylist In One

• Interview with 15-year-old Danish fashion blogger, teen insider Nicklas Skovgaard. Way to make us feel old.

• Sure, you love fashion, but will you invest in it? New website allows anyone to invest $50 in young labels.

What were your favorite fashion stories this week?

Some of our favorite picks from blogger-owned online shops:

We’re loving the print (ready for summer with a pop of grass green) on this Mara Hoffman wrap dress, on sale for $110 at Brook & Lyn.

The Beehive Bramble Bib mixes multiple metal chains with beaded flowers for a touch of sparkle. $215 at The Glamourai.

This graphic yet feminine print clutch, €35 from Vintage Affair, goes with pretty much anything–perfect for breezy spring outings.

Do you have any favorite blogger-owned shops? Let us know in the comments!

This is a guest post by Crystal of 11:11. If you’d like to write a guest post for Style Sample, check out the guidelines and submit your idea.

Some of Crystal’s self-portraits

The easiest and most efficient way to take self-portraits would be to purchase some sort of remote for your camera. They can run fairly cheap to mid-range, and depending on the brand, they can work up to 300 ft away. I currently use a Phottix wireless remote that I bought on Ebay for about $40.

For those who don’t have remotes, there are a few tricks I’ve learned to help better my self-portraits:

1. Set up your tripod and figure out where you want to stand in the photo in relation to the framing of the camera.

2. Once you’ve picked the spot find some sort of found object such as a rock, a stick or even line up your camera to a crack in the sidewalk and focus your camera on that object.

3. This works best if you focus your camera on that spot and then switch your camera over to manual focus so the focus doesn’t change with each shot.

4. Set your self-timer and go stand next to your found object. The photo should be in focus each time.

Lighting

I tend to stick to only natural light so I don’t have to worry about lighting and shadows when I can’t really see the overall effect in self-portraits.

To create better interest and better photos, the most important factor to remember is the time of the day when you’re shooting. For even and attractive lighting to better highlight your look, I suggest shooting a little later in the evening or early morning. The mid-day sun usually provides a harsh light that does weird things to colors and is just difficult to shoot in overall.

Posing

When you have a remote I think it makes posing a little easier just because it’s easier to capture continuous motion. I tend to do small turns or movements to show off the clothing and just press the shutter button several times throughout the movement until I get that one ideal capture.

Move it, baby!
For people who use timers it’s a bit more difficult but not impossible. To avoid looking stiff I just have to emphasize the importance of moving!

It doesn’t even need to be anything drastic, even just a slight shoulder/hip shake to keep things from looking forced. I usually count down until I get to that last couple of seconds to do my movement so it doesn’t look like I’ve been holding the pose for a lengthy period of time.

• Walking across the view of the camera provides a natural pose that can often times show off the clothes nicely.

• Varying your head position can change up a pose so experiment.

• If the pose looks funny just change it up slightly and try again! Self-portraits are all about trial and error.

In the beginning to have a few poses that you can perform in just a few seconds. There are some simple things you can do to make the pose look more casual such as a lift of a leg, looking at the camera from over a shoulder etc. that don’t require much thought and from there just move around.

Shutter speed

It’s important that you keep your camera’s shutter speed on a mid-range speed to fast to capture these movements. If you have a camera where you can control the shutter I would suggest using a minimum of 1/50 speed for motion photos otherwise blurring might occur.

It’s here! Issue #6 of Style Sample magazine is packed to the brim with Spring shopping picks, an interview with two friends who started their own design business, advice on working with blog sponsors, commentary on what happens when bloggers limit or – gasp! – remove their comment sections, independent designers, fashion illustration and photography, and much more!

Thanks to all of the wonderful bloggers who contributed to this issue:

Beauty and the Budget
A Stylized Hysteria
Kansas Couture
Coop Style
Come Over to the Darkside We Have Candy
Mode-moi-selle
Glisters and Blisters
I Know What You Wore
Zanita
SORINO
Looking Sharp!
It’s On With Allegra BJ
Closet Full of Nothing
Accessory Pirate
Fashion Trend Guide
Gotham Hipster
Intrinsically Florrie
Confessions of a Fashion Editor
11:11
Nonsense on Stilettos
NIC*FISH
Stylestalker
Natural Disaster
Late Afternoon
Holier Than Now
Style Eyes Fashion Blog
Song of the Exile
Fashion for All Mankind
Give Me Platforms
Savile
TRY a Fashion Blog

Be sure to stop by and say hello to everyone, then settle in with your computer (or the print edition, available at MagCloud on March 9th if you prefer not to cuddle with electronics) and enjoy!

If you’re a fashion or style blogger and would like to contribute to Style Sample, complete the submission form.

With one fashion week behind us, one underway, and two to go, fashion bloggers–and by association, blogging–are being discussed by new and traditional media alike. It’s up to all of us to keep up with the good and bad press, so here are a few links –just in case you missed something:

“The new celebrities are the fashion bloggers, who are courted, coddled and charmed like never before.”

from Fashion’s New Fever: Bloggers in Spotlight As They Aim for Fame

Social Media: The New Front Row of Fashion

Style Bloggers in the March issue of Vogue

Social networking pulls mask from fashion world

“Mary Katrantzou…said bloggers offered her useful input, but most critically, put her in direct touch with consumers.”

from Designers embrace power of fashion’s blogging crowd

Bloggers are snapping up front row seats at London Fashion Week

Fashion is Burning!

Highlight of The Week: IFB Fashion Blog Conference

New Digital Era Spells Trouble for Fashion Bloggers

What’s your take on the attention fashion blogs are getting? Is it a boon or a curse?

Ann Colville Somma of Holier than Now covered the IFB Evolving Influence Conference for Style Sample. Here’s her insider’s take:

IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers) is a community made up of more than 6,000 bloggers around the world. The Evolving Influence Conference, held at the Helen Mills Theater in New York on February 15th, provided a forum to discuss growth opportunities for this now-highly influential arm of fashion media and sought to address the future of monetization, ethics, and influence for fashion blogs.

L to R: Bryanboy, Tavi Gevinson (Style Rookie), Susie Lau (Style Bubble/Dazed Digital)

The day brought together a global who’s who list of successful independent and corporate-sponsored bloggers including Gala Darling (iCiNG), Tavi Gevinson (Style Rookie), Bryanboy, and Susie Bubble (Style Bubble/Dazed Digital). Representatives from new and traditional media like Business of Fashion and The New York Times also spoke. Minx provided complimentary must-have manicures by day, while the Couturious Cocktail Party capped off the event that night with food, drinks, and a photo booth by Weardrobe.

Highlights

The conference consisted of four panels, each rich in ideas:

Philosophy and Pragmatism

Seated, L to R: Pamela Castillo (Market Publique), Corinne Leigh (Threadbanger), Erika Miller (Elle.com), Melody Biringer (The CRAVE Company), Nichelle Pace (StyleMom), Shubhankar Ray (G-Star Raw)

The Fashion Blog Marketing Workshop kicked off the day. Shubhankar Ray, Creative Director of fashion brand (and conference sponsor) G-Star Raw, provided a refreshing context for fashion bloggers. Drawing a parallel between the inception of indie style magazines like I.D., which began as home-made media in punk-rock rebellion against traditional fashion magazines like Vogue, Ray reminded the audience that blogs represent the “democratization of journalism.” Ray urged independent blogs to “be careful about branding” because blogs’ individualism made them relevant partners for traditional brands looking to be “part of culture.”

Practical marketing advice was also shared. Erika Miller (Elle.com) lent her expertise on SEO, stating that “the long tail is your opportunity if you want to capture traffic.” Her tips for optimizing ranking included tagging images with specific, keyword rich descriptions and adding RSS feeds of blogs within your niche to your homepage. D.I.Y hub Threadbanger’s Corinne Leigh reminded bloggers that a simple call to action like “Follow me on Twitter!” is a surprisingly powerful tool.

A Wealth of Business Advice

The Business of Blogging panel brought together experienced blog monetizers including Gala Darling (iCiNG) and Lauren Dimet Waters (Second City Style). Professionalism, integrity, and relationship-building were key themes.

L to R: Gala Darling (iCiNG), Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond (BlueFly.com), Dina Fierro (Eye4Style, Attention! Agency),  Lauren Dimet Waters (Second City Style), Aubree Nichols (Urban Signals). The panel was moderated by Yuli Ziv.

The panel reminded the audience that their blog was the “first impression” on the web and should be a place that brands are proud to be featured. Bloggers were urged to maintain a high level of professionalism in their blog’s appearance and editorial content, and when participating in social media and interacting with marketers.

Knowing your blog’s metrics, understanding the ad rate marketplace through resources like BlogAds, and devising unique revenue streams (Gala sells podcasts) were all cited as powerful tools for monetization. While ads and sponsored newsletters can be key revenue sources, the panel warned bloggers to “read the fine print” before signing up with ad networks.

Opinions and Outbursts

Navigating Blog Ethics paired bloggers like Jessica Schroeder (What I Wore) and Diane Pernet (A Shaded View on Fashion) with new and traditional media gurus including Imran Amed (Business of Fashion) and Clark Hoyt (Public Editor, The New York Times) to discuss this controversial topic.
Alluding to the strict ethics code of the Times (journalists cannot accept gifts of any kind), Hoyt pointedly asked Schroeder and her fellow bloggers why it was “O.K. to accept gifts from someone you’re covering.”

Schroeder offered up honesty and transparency as the solution to this complex issue. Gina Garrubbo, EVP of women’s blog conglomerate Blogher suggested that a “separation of church and state” can ensure ethical practices, describing the company’s defined “reviews” sections (which are set apart from blogs’ editorial wells).

Amed felt strongly that compromising ethics meant compromising the blogger-reader relationship. He reminded bloggers that “the whole reason blogs have emerged as such a powerful and influential force is because everyone was really saying what they think” without the bias of financial incentive. “That’s why your audience is coming to you.”

The panel and audience struggled with the idea that blogs should be held to a higher standard than traditional fashion press, who receive countless incentives from brands, P.R. firms, and advertisers. A particularly defensive audience member drew gasps with a comment about the age-old practice of “bartering,” an outburst deemed highly inappropriate for its reference to a particular religion. Scandale!

A-List Inspiration

Tavi Gevinson (Style Rookie), Susie Bubble (Style Bubble/Dazed Digital), Phil Oh (Streetpeeper)

The Future of Fashion Blogging panel ended the day on a high note. Featuring blogosphere stars Tavi Gevinson (Style Rookie), Bryanboy, and Susie Bubble (Style Bubble/Dazed Digital), as well as Phil Oh (Street Peeper), Britt Aboutaleb and Lauren Sherman (both of Fashionista.com), the panel’s arrival had the crowd buzzing. The house filled with late-coming luminaries including Garance Doré, Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) and Rumi Neely (Fashion Toast).

The panelists expressed excitement and confusion about their new place at the forefront of fashion media – all with a sense of humor and recognition of their humble beginnings. Bryanboy joked about the reason for his blog’s initial popularity, saying “Everybody loves a trainwreck on the internet!”

The group seemed unified in their wish to be an integral part of fashion media – neither stars nor pariahs in the eyes of the industry. “It’s not about replacing [mainstream] press,” said Bubble, it’s about being “a part of a fashion consumer’s daily routine.”

Sherman summed up the day with a simple maxim for bloggers hoping to rise to the top: “Don’t do it because you want attention, do it because you love it, and people will come to you.”

Why Should I Attend?

Clockwise from top left: Diane Pernet (A Shaded View on Fashion) and Tavi Gevinson (Style Rookie); Scott Schuman (The Sartorialist) and Garance Dore; Rumi Neely and Colin Sokol (Fashion Toast)

The IFB community has been a forum for sharing inspiration and wisdom since 2007. Like Tavi Gevinson and Bryanboy, the organization was thrust into the spotlight this Fashion Week, and Jennine Tamm (IFB’s founder) rose to the occasion by nearly single-handedly pulling off an event that exceeded expectations. For only a $20 suggested donation, bloggers were able to share stories and advice, learn from experts, and mingle with their heroes and heroines at a cocktail party that became the place to be on a night packed with fashion soirees.

The success of this year’s event sets the stage for future IFB conferences, and though they may become larger than this 300-person affair, they will certainly only become more valuable for the blogging community.

The IFB site is free to join and provides access to events throughout the year.

What’s it All About?

Fashion week is coming soon! Here are some great articles full of tips, behind-the-scenes information, and everything you need to make the best of blogging fashion week:

How to Cover NYFW…When You Are Not There

Blogging Fashion Week: The Dos and Don’ts

Debunking Myths About Fashion Week

McDonald’s Gets McFancy for Fashion Week

10 Things I Don’t Want to See at a Fashion Show

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend the opening of The Brush Factory, a fashion design collective & retail space located in–you guessed it–an old brush manufacturing facility here in Cincinnati, OH.

At The Brush Factory, new designers have the resources and ability to create their own ‘mini’ store and sell their collections at an affordable cost. Current designers carried at the Factory include Lynda Lucas, Chris Kittrell, Brittany Rose (Poncho Rose), Margot and Kit Anderson (CoolSisters), and Jennifer Sult and Lacey Voss.
Founder and fashion designer Brittany Rose Kovacs is profiled in the upcoming issue of Style Sample magazine, so be sure to check out the feature when the issue drops on January 5th. In the meantime, you can keep up with Rosie via her blog, A Dose of Design, and become a fan of The Brush Factory on Facebook.

~Tamia

Blogger and online boutique owner Rodellee of Adore Vintage picks some of the most coveted items from her shop:

1.Dash of Nutmeg Dress
Why I adore it: I love this with a pair of black opaque tights and little heels or booties. I love mini dresses with bows and this vintage 1960s dress is just so darling!

2. Aphrodite Necklace
Why I adore it: I LOVE the cameo detail on the pendant, it’s cupid! This vintage necklace looks like a mini piece of art with lavender gemstones and the triple strand gold chain.

3. Licorice Stripe Dress
Why I adore it: I love this because it can easily go from “Farmer’s Market” to “First Date” with a change of shoes, handbag, and jewelry. It’s a lightweight vintage 1970s cotton sundress.

4. Fall of Cleo Cuff
Why I adore it: Very reminscent of something Rachel Zoe would wear and I adore her glamorous 1970s vintage-inspired style.

5. Manolo Blahnik Heels
Why I adore it: An instant classic, an essential to any girl’s wardrobe! A black pair of pumps, and what better than vintage Manolos? I love these because they’re not too overly trendy looking, and instead look stylish and classic so they can be worn season to season.

6. The Secret Garden Dress
Why I adore it: I love feminine and flowy vintage dresses and this 1970s gown is just so very pretty, I especially love the hidden details like the ruching on the shoulders and tiny flower buttons on the sleeves.

7. A Bouquet for Cie
Why I adore it: I love whimsical vintage handbags, especially if they feature floral print. There is just something so dandy and old school about them, a little Granny I suppose, but I really love how sweet this vintage 1940s frame purse is.

Blogger and jewelry designer extraordinaire Wendy Brandes shares some of her favorite gift picks from her line:

1. My silver Teeny Genie necklace (photographed with a dime to show how petite she is) is only $50 — so affordable. Most genies only grant three wishes but mine is under orders to grant unlimited wishes to her new owner.

2. The Mud Flap Jill cufflinks in silver with ruby nipples for $350 were originally custom-ordered by a woman for her husband. I named the design after her.

3. Naughty girls shouldn’t get coal in their stockings. Give them the Wendy Brandes for Francis swear rings and let them revel in their naughtiness. $375 for a set of four silver rings.

4. All of my adorable fruit necklaces are 50% off while supplies last. Contact me at wbjewelry at hotmail dot com to get the special discount!

5. Actresses Liv Tyler and Hayden Panettiere, as well as pop star Britney Spears, have worn my Borgia Poison Ring. The gold and diamond version is $6,000, the plain silver version is $450.

We’re all about supporting independent businesses, so we’re starting a new series featuring favorite picks from fellow bloggers who own online retail establishments, just in time for the holidays. Get ready to jump-start your holiday shopping!

Marie Denee’s The Curvy Fashionista appeared as a “Blog to Watch” in the very first issue of Style Sample magazine, and we were right–she is definitely one to keep an eye on! Since then, she’s launched her very own online boutique for plus-size fashion, MarieDenee.com. Here are some of her favorites for the holidays:

1.Amanda Uprichard Zipper Dress, $240 100% sumptuous silk dress that easily shifts from day into night in both Teal and Green! Your skin and curves will thank you!

2. B.G.U. Nia Goddess Dress, $176 Rev up the Curve factor with this on trend-updated version of your little black dress!

3. Lilypad Earrings, $32 I DIE for these 100% Sterling silver earrings! Not your usual look, these are sure to captivate and inspire the fashionista in you!

4. Starburst Ring, $52 Sometimes you need a little drama to your look and this sterling silver and mother of pearl ring is sure to deliver!

5. Melissa Masse Sweetheart Color Blocked Dress, $220 When you want to add a splash of sass with the right amount of class, this naughty knit is like butter for your curves!

Available at www.mariedenee.com, an upscale contemporary online boutique dedicated to fashion your curves and bring you styles to keep you Curvy.Confident.Chic!

It doesn’t take much to get fashion bloggers talking about shopping! We asked some of our blogging friends about the first gifts they’ll buy and which shops they plan on hitting first:

Vahni of Grit and Glamour
I’m hitting BCBG in hopes of scoring the Marlene Convertible Satchel in black or grey, and BCBG’s supercool hinged Floral Ring…for me, of course. I have a tremendous weakness for massive handbags and rings! Since I’m heading to Australia for Christmas and it’s summer there, I’m also looking for tunics or minidresses by Free People—a label I’ve really come to love over the last year.

Allegra of It’s On with Allegra BJ
For my friends I like small but nice gifts – year for year we decide not to buy anything for each other, but well, it never works! So, I’m considering some eye-catching accessories like the pearl necklace by H&M or that purple velvet bow tie by Swagger and Swoon. I also adore these checked ear muffs by Burberry or the faux fur ones by John Lewis, which are totally trendy this year.

Since my brother moved out I love to make him presents of furnishings and cookbooks. I can’t help but always find perfect stuff at Butlers.

This year, the choice of the perfect gift for my parents puzzles me the most! I like to give them something they can join together, but I still can’t make up my mind…

PS: You can’t go wrong with Gossip Girl – the complete first and second season!

Natalie of In the Bedroom Mirror
I always have to buy my momjii dolls for my closest friends! There a little bit cliched and perhaps even a bit twee but its a tradition I have practiced for years and I love the fact that they have a space for a message. I like to choose the Momjii doll acording to their personality or because of what they mean to me, Clever Clogs for my bezzie (because she is, but I love her for it!), Giggles for my friend who makes me laugh when I need her to and Pea for my little sister for she is very tiny and always wears green!

I always Holiday shop in Ludlow, they have a brilliant little shop called The Silver Pear which sells my Momjii dolls. Then there’s the Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre, which I strongly recommend to anyone who loves to buy unusual or quirky Christmas gifts.

Maria Louise of Style Intuition
For my holiday shopping I will go to London, where I will pay a visit to Topshop where I can pick up something for my boyfriend, my friend and perhaps also something a for myself. I love how they always are right on trend at an affordable price which let’s you play with your style without ruining the budget.

The first gift is definitely for my boyfriend, because he puts up with me and my blogging all night! I think I‘ll get him a really cool leather jacket.

Steff of KaKofonieofsi(gh)lenS
I live in Canada, almost solely shop online, and do not enjoy human stampedes. Nonetheless, I love helping indie designers go from “being in the red” to “being in the black”! Also, I need to get my dad and sister gifts for Christmas. So, this holiday season may find me quietly clicking around Patricia Ayres’ Etsy shop to pick up a couple (or three) of her gorgeous Artisanal Unisex scarves.

Touted as the practical guide to getting started in the fashion industry, The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider’s Guide to Careers in the Fashion Industry is packed with useful advice into breaking into various aspects of elite fashion world. Every type of fashion-related job was represented in the book, from up-and-coming designers, stylists, and photographers to more established names like reigning fashion queen Anna Wintour, “King of Cool” Marc Jacobs, and many more.

Put together by Teen Vogue’s founding Editor-In-Chief Amy Astley (although not the book’s author), she writes in the book’s forward that she often encountered questions about breaking into fashion and decided there needed to be some sort of guide for those who wanted to make fashion a career.

“It was interesting to read that not everyone got into fashion by having it handed to them on a silver platter.”

Many stories depicted the struggles and tribulations many went through to land the job of their dreams. These kinds of stories instantly make readers feel that it’s okay to start from the ground up, but to always keep that bigger dream in mind.

Besides all the great advice and stories, there is also practical information included in the book, such as how to write a resume, dress for an interview and create a portfolio. You could definitely read the book from cover-to-cover, but I found it best to jump around, reading interesting tidbits here and there. While the book is great inspirational tool to on how to break into the industry, it shouldn’t be followed like a bible, since there’s no one way or formula into “making it.”

Personally, the best quotes were from Anna Wintour’s interview, where she touches upon how her interest in fashion began to what she looks for in an entry-level candidate who’s interviewing at Vogue.

The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider’s Guide to Careers in the Fashion Industry is available now at all book stores and on the web with a retail price of $24.95.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved fashion. When I was younger, I used to change three to four times a day into different outfits and would always raid my mom’s closet for her shoes. As I got older, my interest in fashion grew, along with a newfound love for writing, which led to the realization that I wanted to pursue a career in journalism (preferably fashion journalism).

Currently, I’m a L.A.-based writer who works at a national magazine and freelances on the side. I’ve also recently started my own fashion blog, The Society of Style, and am slowly embracing/transitioning to digital journalism (I’m more of an old-school print journalist). Trying to your foot in the door can be a tiresome and discouraging thing, but I’ve learned through the years to be patient and never give up no matter how many doors close on your face.

I didn’t get my degree in Journalism (I was an English major at UCLA), but I learned the basics by writing for my school’s daily newspaper. As soon as I acquired enough clips, I started pitching stories to local magazines during my senior year, which is how I started freelancing.

I mostly wrote music and entertainment features, with fashion pieces here and there. My big break came when I started freelancing for a national men’s automotive lifestyle magazine, which eventually led to my current position as their features editor.

Here’s what I’ve learned in the process:

• To become a professional or freelance writer, it really doesn’t matter what your degree is, as long as you have a knack for writing. Sure it helps to have been involved in student journalism in high school or college, but now blogging can definitely be your point of entry.

• If you want to learn journalism basics, courses at Mediabistro.com or your local community college’s extension program in writing will suffice. I’ve even taken fashion and beauty writing courses through Mediabistro.

• Once you have some writing experience, the next step is pitching a story idea to the publication or website you’d like to write for. It helps to know the publication really well so you’re familiar with the type of stories they might be interested in. Try and spin your idea to be as unique as possible, even if it has been written about many times in the past. Editors have seen it all, so it takes a really special idea to spark their interest!