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reLYME

Links à la Mode: Elements of Style


Aug03

The Elements of Style

Edited by Retro Chick

Whether it’s Winter or Summer, relentless rain or an unceasing heatwave where you are, this weeks Links a la Mode is packed with entertainment to keep you out of the sun/rain/wind.

If you plan to travel to escape your current weather conditions then Hi Fashion has some great travel tips and Idiosyncratic Style has some ideas for easy fashion DIY projects you can take with you.
Other highlights this week include a hilarious mans view on some Celebrity Fashion choices from Unfunded, Our Ocean’s coverage of Vivienne Westwood’s appearance on Jonathan Ross and Style Amor’s refusal to buy a wedding dress, as well as some insightful interviews and gorgeous give-aways.

Choosing just 20 links from the number of fantastic submissions is a challenging task and this week I found it particularly hard to whittle down the numbers so be sure to go and check out the rest of the links in the full Links a la Mode thread.

Links à la Mode : July 30th

  • Breakfast at Saks – Aschobi: Sierra Leone Couture
  • Brick My Lane – Interview with Christian Joy, the genius behind the costumes worn by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
  • by Hillary – Deciding if you really need to dry clean that dress that says “dry clean”
  • Culturistas – The Culturistas find a ‘Lust vs Must’ profile of the Romper Trend!
  • Fashion Cents – Can you wear the romper trend? Fashion Cents helps you decide if and how to romp around
  • Fashion Hippo – Fashion Hippo is having a fantastic giveaway: Mary Frances “Mercury Rising” wristlet bag.
  • Fashion in my eyes – Interview: Fashion editor at 17
  • HiFashion – Tips for fashionable travellers
  • Idiosyncratic Style – A round up of 5 cool projects that are perfect for summer vacation, because they are light on supplies and low maintenance.
  • Independent Fashion Bloggers – Rhythm is Gonna Getcha: Maintaining Consistency in Your Blog
  • iStyle – The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Looking Fab: A real-life 5 minute make-up guide with unedited photos
  • Mademoiselle Robot – An interview with headwear designer Jennifer Loiselle about films, motherhood and independent designers.
  • Only Style Remains the Same – Offer an outfit idea to win a pair of Current/Elliott jeans from only style remains the same and chickdowntown.
  • Our Ocean – An insanely inspiring interview with Vivienne Westwood on Jonathan Ross
  • Pursed Lips – Lara Stone, size 4, heralded as bringing “curvy” back. But isn’t the bigger difference her C cup bra, and not her weight?
  • Rags to Reverie – A look at the Stella McCartney Fall 2009 ad campaign + a couple of deals from the eponymous label
  • reLYME – It’s Beka’s birthday, and in the spirit of birthday giving, reLYME is giving away SIX China Glaze nail lacquers from the Kicks collection!
  • Retro Chick – Can I wear it? Yes, I can! Retro Chick gives Harem Pants a try with surprising results.
  • Style Amor – Check out why I have given up buying a wedding gown from a traditional bridal boutique.
  • Sweet Fuzz – Score one of a kind fashion treasures at your local thrift store and check out the insanely cheap items I snapped up at mine.
  • The Coveted – Amsterdam Fashion Week bridges the gap between fashion students and industry at Lichting 2009
  • Unfunded – Unfunded collaborates with J. Money from Budgets are Sexy to learn what guys really think of the things we wear.

Rhythm is Gonna Getcha: Maintaining Consistency in Your Blog


Jul28

Just thought I'd share the latest piece I wrote for Independent Fashion Bloggers about the importance of establishing a consistent rhythm with your blog posting. (reLYME is living proof!!!)

Once upon a time, I used to help bloggers expand their brand online. I watched tiny blogs grow to very big blogs, and very big blogs grow to take over the Web. All the while, I preached the gospel of consistency.

I would tell my clients that you must find your rhythm (frequency of posts, time posts occur, regular features, etc.) so that readers learn to trust you as a respected resource. Little did I know that my advice would come to bite me in the behind, so to speak.

Fast forward a few months, and I was living in a spacious studio apartment in Manhattan. My fashion blog, reLYME, had opened a lot of doors for me. However, in trying to get used to my busy New York life, I’d ended up closing the door on my blog.

I went from humble-and-not-ultra-impressive traffic (about 3,000 MUV, give or take), to having less than 200 monthly unique views. That’s nearly a 93% decrease in traffic for my math people. And how did this happen, you ask?

If you’re one of my fashion blogging buddies, you already know the answer: I disappeared! I wasn’t active in social media, I hadn’t posted on my blog in months, and I simply didn’t care.

These days, I’m burning the midnight oil, trying to post more regularly in hopes that I can, once again, rebuild my readership–and all of this with the realization that I won’t be attending this season’s NYFW

So, my point, fellow fashion bloggers, is this. You MUST find your rhythm! And here’s how:

  • You’ve heard people mention editorial calendars. Make one! Stick to it. Decide what you’re going to write about and when. If you’ve committed topics to paper, you’re more likely to stick to deadlines. They’re not written in stone, so if a more pressing piece comes up (or you’re pitched by an amazing brand because you’re getting more traffic) you can just pull an ol’ switch-a-roo. You’re a journalist, so you should act the part.
  • If you’d like to include regular features (link love posts, look of the day, must-have item of the week), choose a particular day you’ll include these features, and stay consistent.
  • Plan a time of day people can expect to see your latest offerings. Do you want to reveal your masterpieces in the morning, in the afternoon? (This is why the automatic post feature that is inherent to most blogging platforms is magical!)
  • Make sure you know how often you plan to write. For some, posting once or twice a day is a lofty goal. So, if you can only squeeze out a few posts a week, by all means, bust a move! But, try to consistently post around the same time every week.

Finding your rhythm and maintaining your consistency, helps your readers to know that you respect them, and that sharing your knowledge or insider scoop with them is important to you.

It can also open up a lot of doors as far as sponsorships and advertisers are concerned–they will be more likely to invest in a professional blog that maintains consistency.

And again, the more you post, the better your chances are of welcoming many new readers, and building a community!

So, even though it’s tough, and you might have to sacrifice a girls’ night out (or boys’ night out, as the case may be) every once in a while, it’s worth it. Trust me, I know first hand.

image by lanuiop

Links à la Mode : IFB Weekly Roundup


Apr04

Back to the Future

Edited by Debutante Clothing

I was honored to be asked to be and Independent Fashion Blogger editor. The diversity here is so impressive. This week, Dramatis Personae continues series on corsets, Clutch 22 shows us a rockin’ bondage anklet DIY, Daisy Fairbanks shares drool worthy vintage gowns going up on the auction block, and WendyB takes us back to the future in 80s jackets. Enjoy!

Links à la Mode : April 2nd

Links á la Mode: IFB Weekly Roundup


Mar27

Sense and Sensibility

It’s all about sensibility here. How do you thrift successfully? Style Symmetry will let you know. How do you dress for an fashion job interview? 39thandbroadway will show you the way (no pantsuits!) reLYME investigates feminine studs, and The Coveted talks to elegant punks. Dramatis Personae keeps it all in (corsets).  There’s the full version of Links á la Mode here in the forums… there’s a lot of great posts there too.

Links à la Mode : March 26th

Links à la Mode : IFB Weekly Roundup


Mar19

Spring Fever

Are harem pants a passing phase? What seemed like a one season gig is going through fall on reLYME, which are perfect for going out, and when you do, don’t forget to practice your smokey eye as The Coveted gets tips from Benefit Cosmetics! If you wear makeup, it might be a good time to do spring clean your make up kit with What the Pros do… and if your short on cash, Retro Chick give us 5 tips to have fun anyway… and if you do have cash, maybe you’re planning on buying something you already have, Consume or Consumed delves into her multiple habits.

Links à la Mode : March 12th

    ♥A Few Goody GumDrop - A Few Goody Gumdrops asks…if you are coming apart at the seems then enter to win torn leggings from LnA!
    ♥Breakfast at Saks - Still sifting through Paris Fashion Week shows? Be sure to make time for Ann Demeulemeester F/W 09.10
    ♥    Capitola Girl Jewelry Blog - Check, Please!♥Consume or Consumed - Consume or Consumed Sees Double and Triple: On Buying Multiples

    ♥Couture Cult - CoutureCult.com: Alison Lewis (formerly of Mooka Kinney), Spring/Summer 09

    ♥Debutante Clothing - Missoni is Inspired By Vintage Modernist Necklaces

    ♥Dogmom’s Dish - Desperately Seeking Orla

    ♥Fashion Daydream - What your didn’t see at Fashion Week: A behind the scenes look into fashion week, fashionistas en route to the shows and models being made up.

    ♥Fashion Pulse Daily - reports on the latest colors for fall 2009 — the season isn’t comprised of various hues of black or even bright colors for that matter either.

    ♥Felicia Sullivan - beauty & styling products that work for curly, coarse hair, really work. part 1: frederic fekkai

    ♥fete a fete - Larkspur & Hawk’s GORGEOUS antique and vintage inspired

    ♥Independent Fashion Bloggers - Burnout Aversion Tips From Bloggers

    ♥reLYME - An analysis of the Persian-inspired trend that’s hitting the runway

    ♥Retro Chick - Top 5 Ways to have fun with no money

    ♥Shopping and Info - Shopping and Info found Gossip Girl scarves bags and jewelry oh my!

    ♥Solo Lisa - Sunny fashion picks inspired by Freida Pinto’s character in Slumdog Millionaire

    ♥Studio Purpura Fashion Blog - Shopping Hops in the Far & South East Asia! Photos to Come!

    ♥Style Symmetry - Check out my interview with Jennine of The Coveted!

    ♥Style With Anna - Fashion for Guys: How to Dress Like David Beckham

    ♥THE COVETED - Exclusive Video Preview & Tutorial: Benefit Smokin’ Eyes

    ♥the musings of ondo lady - Get ready for a retro prequel of Gossip Girl which is about the trials and tribulations of a teenage Lily van der Woodsen

    ♥what the pros do… - Spring Clean Your Makeup Kit!

IFB Dress Up Soirée at a Glance


Feb17

The sweet and beautiful Jennine from The Coveted, who is also the genius behind Independent Fashion Bloggers (I'm telling you, this entrepreneurial girl is going to go far!), put together a meet up for NYC fashion bloggers. Or at least those who would be in the city for NYFW.

It was a blast! It was so great to meet so many other bloggers I greatly admire in the flesh. I also enjoyed meeting some new faces. I feel like it reaffirmed my love of blogging. I look forward to connecting with these folks in the future!

A special thanks to Jennine, and to all of the others who made this night happen.

Check out some photos from the event:

[gallery=7]

2/5/09 Links a la Mode: Weekly Roundup


Feb06

Boys & Girls

This week on Links à la Mode we have an lots of lovely things… John Waters Inspiration from Mademoiselle Robot, Menswear inspiration from Solo Lisa, and if that’s too much man… 39thandbroadway contemplate equality in the fashion indsutry, and Or False Glitter talks about negative male perceptions on style… and Fete a Fete dishes out the new Spring colors from Givenchy, and reLYME dishes the new colors from Smashbox.

  • 39thandbroadway.com - We are fierce, fabulous, fashionable women; now show us our freakin money!
  • A Few Goody GumDrops - A Few Goody Gumdrops scoops an interview with famed fashion editor, Lien Ta about Oscar Style and Fashion!
  • Calgary Fashion - Calgarian Up and Coming Designer raises the bar for Project Runway Canada contestants.
  • Couture Allure - An open letter to Blumarine about body image in their advertising.
  • fashion in my eyes - Tour de Paris
  • féte à féte - Givenchy spring beauty colors!
  • Independent Fashion Bloggers - IFB wants you to DRESS UP for a global soirée
  • Iwanttowearit. - Karl and Katsyua Kamo rock the paper and scissors for the Chanel couture show. Arts and crafts never looked so glam!
  • LeCityKitty - An even edgier option of blacl polish, Flatte Black by Knock Out. Oui Si Chic
  • Little Black Book - Exploring the fusion of fashion and music through singer songwriter Lady GaGa
  • Mademoiselle Robot - Worshiping John Waters & getting inspired by his films
  • Modelizing - bergdorf goodman 5f window display
  • Or False Glitter - Pondering negative male perceptions of my style!
  • reLYME - Smashbox’s new spring live brings out your inner muse.
  • Shopping and Info - Shopping and Info found Angelina Jolie’s Hippie Chic black dress for Spring 2009.
  • Solo Lisa y Nada Mas - Menswear-inspired looks for the ladies
  • Style Symmetry - Eyeliah sits for 10 artists to paint her portrait… not naked!
  • Style With Anna - Valentine’s Day Contest - Win This Fabulous Necklace!
  • Technology Starlet - Journey of a Pro Fashion Techie and her HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition
  • THE COVETED - Packing light for the compulsive over packer.
  • the musings of ondo lady - Meet Chanel Ward, the fabulous blogger who brings us Hip Candy as well as six other blogs including Michele O. Style.

More Bang for Your Fashion Blogging Buck: Affiliate Programs vs. Affiliate Networks


Feb02

I just wanted to share a piece I wrote for Independent Fashion Bloggers about affiliate programs vs. affiliate networks. Which is the best choice for you? Read on:

post by reLYME.com image by jenn_jenn

If one of your goals for blogging, other than sharing your passion with the blogosphere, is to make money…

You’re not alone. It’s easy to witness the success of other bloggers, and not crave a piece of the pie.

You might want to earn enough to make a full time living, or perhaps just enough to buy a new pair of designer shoes. After all, it’s a lot easier to make money doing something you love. But, where to begin?

First of all, let’s dispel any affiliate marketing rumors that making money online, is simple and enjoyable. Nothing can be further from the truth. When we’re dealing with affiliate marketing, it’s definitely a lot of trial and error. Some programs will work for some people and not for others. If you want to get into affiliate marketing, please understand that it’s going to take a lot of work. You’re also going to have to keep a watchful eye on your analytics.

Affiliate programs versus affiliate networks

Second, there are a lot of affiliate programs out there: Shopzilla, Amazon, and Google Adsense are a few. But, what about affiliate networks? What’s the difference?

An affiliate program is a specialized program through a specific website that caters toward a niche market. Through these programs, you’re dealing directly with the advertiser and you can choose to place affiliate links or affiliate banners on your site. Typically, when people click, you make money. The con of affiliate programs? Although you may have a vested interest in the links or banners you have chosen, with affiliate programs, you’re usually on your own. Better check the FAQ’s or Help sections.

An affiliate network acts as a liaison between advertisers and you, the blogger. When you sign up for an affiliate network like Pepperjam or Hydra Network, for instance, you’re signing up with an affiliate manager who is going to help you find the best advertisements for your site. The con with affiliate networks? Some of the advertisements you can choose are low-quality, irrelevant to fashion bloggers, and some are downright SPAM.

As a side note, Commission Junction is possibly the largest affiliate network out there, linking arms with the top advertisers in the Web 2.0 space. This is perhaps my favorite route because, as a fashion and beauty blogger, I can apply to relevant to different merchants like Pink Mascara and Smashbox, to place ads on my site. However, because of the size of this network, it functions similarly to an affiliate program where you independently choose your advertisements, and you must apply to programs individually.

OK, so I want to sign up for an affiliate program or affiliate network? How do I get paid?

If you want to cash a paycheck, you’re going to have to know the lingo. Hopefully, you’re tracking your website stats through a program like Google Analytics. Often, affiliate programs and networks have their own tracking, so it’s good to be able to compare an contrast.

The first thing to understand are the different models of payment. Different programs pay differently.

Two of the most common are Cost Per Click (CPC) and Cost Per Action (CPA).

CPC usually ensures that you’ll get paid for each click to an ad, like Google AdWords. CPA, on the other hand, means that you’ll get paid once a customer has completed an action, such as placing an order. Many affiliate networks follow the CPA model. For other Affiliate Marketing related terms, click here!

So, which you decide to use is entirely up to you. If you’re new to affiliate marketing, it wouldn’t hurt to start with an affiliate program, and maybe link up with an affiliate network down the road. Either way, good luck earning that blogging cash!

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