Marjan Pejoski at Doshaburi

Doing research can be fun…

But it can take hours, days, weeks, months to get a good selection of resources compiled to make finding new content easier. As a fashion blogger, knowing where to find the good shops can be very difficult in the sea of online shopping. While some of us are happy with some of the more mainstream sites, others are on a quest to find the little boutiques featuring lesser known and more unique designers. Ara Anjargolian has created a resource to make our lives a whole lot easier. Since January 2005, Jargol, an online shopping guide featuring independent boutiques, some user submitted, some added by Ara himself, and all of them have something interesting about them. You can search by city, by boutique type and you can even subscribe to the Jargol blog to get the latest on sale announcements and new inventory (like the above photo: Marjan Pejoski @ Doshaburi, Barcelona). And if you are going to visit a new city… it’s best to visit this site before you go, as it has a comprehensive shopping guide for cities, mostly in the US, but also around the world.

Here Ara talks to us about why he started this valuable resource, and how the internet has affected independent fashion…

[Read more]

Bazaar’s 2008 Editorial Calendar

The single most important part of a blog is the content.

It might sound like a redundant statement, but without consistent, quality content, readers won’t have a reason to come back. An Editorial Calendar will not only help you decide what to post, keep you inspired, but it also helps your readers know what to expect. Magazines use editorial calendars to plan a year in advance allowing time to develop content properly. While most blogs may not need to plan posts a year in advance, having some kind plan for your posts will help save time and curb blogger’s block. And don’t be afraid, editorial calendars come in all shapes and levels of detail, you can work what’s best with minimal effort, and still reap the rewards. [Read more]

Anna Wintour may be one of the few people on the planet who can say to us “buy this, because I say it’s good” though opinions of US Vogue may vary widely the fact remains that it is one of the top selling fashion magazines in the world.
[Read more]

Cosmopolitan is a magazine chocked full of goodies that can make a sailor blush. In fact, it’s probably the only women’s magazine men are interested in. Well, it’s certainly one that they have an opinion about.
[Read more]

In the beginning thinking of posts are easy, you probably had some posts lined up in your head before you even started blogging… you hit your stride, posting all the time, then it comes, or more accurately it doesn’t come.

I’ve had times when it’s difficult to think of what to post, really difficult. There is so much out there, and the focusing on a topic for a post can at times be overwhelming. Sometimes the ideas just stop. Frustration can build up perhaps because there aren’t very many comments, or traffic numbers are dwindling.

Ah… the worries of a blogger.

So here are a few tips to keep the ideas posting.

1. Make blogging a habit. You are more likely to keep blogging if it is part of your daily routine. Posting every day isn’t necessary, but working on writing everyday will enhance your writing skills.
2. Keep a notebook of ideas. It’s old school, but it works.
3. When in doubt, post. One of the cool things is seeing a blog evolve over time, there is no such thing as a perfect post, so don’t worry and have fun.
4. Write about your experience. Be honest. Maybe your having a tough time, or maybe you’re having the time of your life, chances are, someone can relate, and probably needs to hear it.
5. Go out and interact with the analog world. It’s so much richer than the digital sphere. I like to go window shopping and to actually try on shoes and clothes as inspiration, perhaps future posts. I also like to go out and meet shop owners and designers in person, then they become part of my experience… and easier to write about.
6. Hang out with your friends. Maybe what you really need is a break.
7. Visit a museum, the zoo… take a class… these things help add richness to your writing. I am a huge art lover and I like to draw parallels between art and fashion, it makes for interesting posts.
8. Find more blogs and comment on them. Seeing other people’s perspective may free some of your own perspective.
9. Chose an angle and write from it. Sure ankle boots are hot this fall… why do we care? Ooooh…. because they look so good with acid wash skinny jeans? Because my best friend bought a pair and I shamelessly copy her? My legs are my favorite part of my body?
10. Read how others overcome bloggers block, Pro Blogger has a great post with 20 different ways to overcome blogger’s block.

And if all else fails…. take a nap. That always helps.

Post taken from The Coveted on it’s 6-month anniversary, 21Aug07…
Today, The Coveted has been in existence for six months. Six months ago, I was obsessed with blogs. I read them every day, mostly Style Bubble and Style Bytes, which at that point had already transformed my life. At that time I did not consider myself a knowledgeable person in regards to style and fashion much less an expert. And I certainly did not think I would be able to write a daily post.

After starting The Coveted, months had passed before people started leaving comments… I knew people were reading, but I didn’t know if people were reading because they liked it, or if they just liked to make fun of my daily outfits. It kept me focused on writing posts on topics that genuinely interested me and not what I thought people would enjoy reading. It was hard, but a blog (about user interface) called Creating Passionate Users, Kathy Serra wrote, How to be an Expert:

The only thing standing between you-as-amateur and you-as-expert is dedication prodigies? We could all be prodigies (or nearly so) if we just put in the time and focused. At least that’s what the brain guys are saying. Best of all–it’s almost never too late…

This post really had a profound impact on my life. If you click on the graph above she made an excellent illustration on what separates losers from experts, because nearly all of us suck at the beginning. Just like the first time I tried to balance on a Swiss Ball, I couldn’t even stay on it, I kept falling off, but after trying over and over, I was able to use it for all kinds of exercises. The same applies for bicycles, swimming, golf… and writing, dancing, art whatever. In fact, nearly all people I know who have succeeded in achieving their goals subscribe to the notion of doing what you love every day. Twyla Tharp, wrote a book The Creative Habit that eloquently illustrates this concept. That even Mozart practiced every day. That book by the way, is on my night stand.

Now I’m not an expert in fashion or style, that’s something that takes years of working and remaining teachable. But I do feel that I am on my way, and what I’ve learned over the past six months is by just putting my best foot forward, the world can open in ways I never knew possible.

Top image is one I tweaked… from Steven Miesel.