LINKS À LA MODE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP 03/10

Great news! My post on “Everyday Essentials” made it to this week’s Links à La Mode from the Independent Fashion Bloggers website. Also, be sure to check all the other great posts!

Making it Your Own

Edited by Vahni of Grit & Glamour

Wow…I’m a Links à la Mode editor…can you believe it?! So thrilled to have the opportunity to discover new blogs and compelling posts to share with all of you. That said, give me two minutes in the pulpit, and my “better blog” sermon starts welling up, totally involuntarily. So allow me a moment to share what I am looking for when I review submissions. It’s pretty simple: Be creative and original, tie your post into beauty or fashion, use proper grammar and punctuation (spellcheck and proofread before publishing), and credit your photo sources. Always.

And on to the list…bloggers were in deep thought this week, pondering ethical fashion and feminism, male gaze and Marthettes. But in case you need to escape the heavy stuff, there is: denim! Happy reading, and as you peruse and comment on this week’s posts, why stop there? For every comment you leave, why not check out the blog of the person who commented above you and comment there too? It’s a great way to expand your mind—and your readership.

Links à la Mode: March 10th

  • ALinetoZ: An Open Letter to High-Waisted Jeans
  • Arash Mazinani: How ethical are you when it comes to fashion? A look at the hypocrisy often involved in being ethical in fashion.
  • Beyond Fabric: Men’s daily essentials—inside one man’s bag holdall.
  • Corinne Monique: Cellissimo: a music-meets-fashion photoshoot inspired by high fashion ad campaigns.
  • Dress With Courage: Are you more likely to buy something if the model looks like you?
  • Designed By Ann: Reading glasses are suddenly fashionable—so here are makeup tips for girls who wear glasses.
  • Free Honey: On moving to wordress.org: 5 must-know tips for new bloggers.
  • Fishmonkey: On The Man Repeller, the male gaze, and its role in shaping fashion choices.
  • Grit & Glamour: Klout: What it is and Why it Matters
  • Holier than Now: Spring’s Most Beautiful Lace Looks—5 Ways for < $50
  • In Her Stilettos: How to organize your jewelry while traveling—cheaply and stylishly.
  • Made-to-Travel: Asos Africa—the incredible ethical makers of this gorgeous line—oh! and it’s on sale!
  • Melina Bee: Life and style tips inspired by Sophia Loren.
  • Obsessive Coolness: On the relationship—or surprising lack thereof—between talent and success in fashion blogging.
  • Oranges And Apples: Thoughts on Marthettes, blogging about ‘feminine’ stuff, and perfection.
  • Pretty Shiny Sparkly: A chic and easy way to wear the double denim trend.
  • Sidewalk Chic: Six ways to showcase accessories in outfit photos.
  • Sugar and Spice: Natalie Portman is effortlessly eco-chic at an Oscars after-party—in an inexpensive dress that hits H&M next month.
  • Trés Awesome: The weather may be crappy but that didn’t stop people from being out and about with their bright and beautiful umbrellas.
  • Try It On Me: The resurgence of the denim shirt—not just for cowboys!

SPONSOR:

Shopbop Jeans: Citizen’s, Seven’s, Juicy, Joe’s, Hudsons, Paige, James Jeans, Vince, True Religion, J Brand, & Siwy

Everyday Essentials (Winter edition)

I’ve been wanting to write about my daily carry around kit for a while now, and the heads up by xgavenx was the perfect excuse to do so…

I’ve been going on and on about how bags are a great accessory and the need men have of them, but, what exactly do we “have” to carry around on a daily basis? While the items which comprise an essential daily kit are bound to differ from one person to the next, there are a few basics everyone should have access to at any given moment.

Luckily, providing an inside scoop of my holdall is an easy task, since, as a man, I have no restrains when it comes to sharing the contents of my bag (ladies don’t hold a grudge). Bear in mind that this is what I’m carrying at the moment, and it may be adjusted according to the time of year or specific needs.

Camera (Canon G11) - since I started the blog a few months ago, it has become my most important item. I take it with me all the time as I never know what I might bump into;

Notebook - I wrote this very post on it…usually I tend to jot down ideas for posts or their draft versions, as it allows me to take some time off the screen and work at enjoyable places such as the beach, parks, etc;

Sunglasses (Rayban Aviators) - it’s interesting how dependent we get on these…can’t do without them even in Winter;

Moisturizer/lip balm - Dry hands and cracked lips are not an option;

Leather Gloves - Hate the feeling of numbness that comes with freezing hands. I take a brown or black pair according to what I’m wearing that day;

Cap/Hat - another inconvenience of lacking in the hair department, besides the immutable aesthetic and a hurt ego (at times), is that your head is exposed to cold. These will keep you warm with a stylish feel;

Business Cards - you never know who you might come across;

Pen Drive - a portable backup of my daily work;

MP3 Player - mine was a relic which just crashed last week. I’ll get an Ipod this time around;

Mini umbrella - don’t want to be caught off guard in the rain;

Supplies - bottle of water, fruit, powerbar: a light snack.

How about you? Care to share your everyday carry?