In the current issue of Style Sample, Kristina of Pretty Shiny Sparkly wrote a great article detailing how to set up your own YouTube channel and video blogs. One community that seems to have perfected the art of video blogging is beauty bloggers. These ladies know how to blend–and they aren’t afraid to share their skills. Covering everything from application tutorials, to product reviews, to swatches (sampling and showing all colors of a particular product), beauty bloggers are spreading ideas and information all over the ‘net.

Many have combined their talent for creative color combinations into entrepreneurial ventures–from developing product lines, to working as makeup artists on photo shoots and runway shows, to writing instructional books! Here are a few of our favorites:

Frantastic Makeup

Fran started as a homemaker full of good old fashioned entrepreneurial spirit, and now works as a freelance makeup artist. How’s that for inspiration? In this video, she shows us how to create a dramatic fire and ice look.

Xsparkage

Leesha aka xsparkage is extremely friendly and personable in front of the camera, which makes it that much easier to relax and (try to) follow along. Here are her tips for creating the perfect red lip.

Lauren Luke

Reigning queen of DIY makeup Lauren Luke has parlayed her popularity into a book, her own makeup line, even a video game! Check out her take on an Egyptian Goddess makeup look.

Misschievous.tv

Self-taught makeup artist Julia does freelance work in addition to her regular day job. This is her inspiring version of an Arabic eye makeup look. Seriously, the “tape technique” is brilliant!

We’re always intrigued by the segregation of the fashion and beauty blogging communities–the two niches are so similar you’d think they’d be more closely intertwined. Do you keep up with beauty blogs or watch makeup tutorials? Who are your favorites?

In the last issue of Style Sample, Alicia of Instant Vintage shows us how to set up an online shop step by step. Setup is relatively simple, but once you have your store up and running, you have to get out there and promote it! Here are some easy and (mostly) free ideas:

1. Put a link to your shop in your email signature, blog comments, and forum and message board signatures.

2. Create a Facebook fan page for your shop or line. Post pictures of customers wearing your products, links to articles about your shop, and info about how you create your merchandise.

3. Create a behind-the-scenes video like this one about The Brush Factory. Post it on YouTube, Metacafe, MySpace, blip.tv, Vimeo,  and others using an all-in-one video posting service like tubemogul.com.

4. Use descriptive keywords in your item description so people searching can find it easily. Instead of “vintage dress”, try “red cotton vintage sundress size 6.”

5. Post classifieds on free sites like Craigslist and Kijiji.

6. Send email newsletters announcing a new line or collection. If you have a small list (under 500 subscribers), try a free service like MailChimp.

7. Promote offline, too! You can get inexpensive business cards from Moo.com or OvernightPrints and hand them out to friends, family, and potential customers.

8. Participate in area craft fairs or trunk shows. Hand out those cards!

9. If you’re interested in selling offline, create postcards to mail to businesses and publications who might be interested in selling or writing about your products. Be sure to do your research when preparing your pitch.

10. Write press releases when something big happens–a new collection comes out, you snag an investor, or you’re carried at a new store. Submit your release to writers who would be interested in your story and online newswire services like iNewswire and PRLog.

11. Join an ad network–as an advertiser.

Besides blogging, how do you promote your store?

Style inspiration comes from many places, not the least of which include the dynamic images and dialogue in movies, television, music videos, and of course, on the runway. We took a break to share some of our favorite fashionable video picks and decided to share them with you, too. Enjoy ours and share your favorites in the comments!

The obvious choice would have been “Freedom ’90” as it features some of the biggest supermodels of the time, but Father Figure’s haunting melody and sensual imagery always got to me. Model Tania Coleridge is so cooly gorgeous and that white coat (look at those shoulders!) practically screams Tom Ford for Gucci. - Tamia

This early 90′s Herve Leger runway show includes a baby-faced Tyra and one of my favorite old-school supermodels, Yasmeen Ghauri. Plus, it proves the long-standing power of gorgeous Leger dresses–you know, before they were worn by every starlet within a stone’s throw of Fred Segal. Do you think Tyra and Naomi got into a catfight backstage? - Tamia

My name is not Alice but watching this video makes me feel like I am in Wonderland.  The gals’ wardrobes seem like a merger of the burlesque women placed in the renaissance with vampires and the guys gear came from a combination of the mad men three piece suits with a off color ties mating with the carnie ring leader.  I am a big fan of the Killers look in this video. -David

I am pretty sure there are many people out there that just scream “Born in the U.S.A.!” thinking this is a patriotic song but I know this song is a little anti-American, and a little anti-Vietnam war, so naturally being the son of Vietnamese war refugees born the U.S.A this song made me laugh, cry and hug my neighbor. Regardless, I love The Boss. Arigatou Gozaimasu! -David

I know Lady Gaga’s taste may be debatable on several levels, but when it comes to avant-garde artistic direction and creativity, you really can’t deny her thecrown. Despite her aversion to pants and love of dresses made of Muppets (poor Kermit!), Gaga’s look intrigues me every time.  I can’t take my eye off this video any time I see it…she just does what so many others are too afraid to do, and for that, I adore her. -Hayley

As enticing as it is eerie, I find Victoria Beckham’s Fall Collection ad campaign incredibly chic in its element of mystery. After all, isn’t the best beauty the kind that is debatable? Plus, I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to have a porch swing on my doorstep…-Hayley