Only Fashion

Blogs have been around, almost since the establishment of the internet. From the beginnings, bloggers learned that fresh content could build a loyal following of visitors, which in turn meant, they could earn money from advertisers. Blog Hosting companies have made it fairly easy to start a blog. You simply sign up for a free blog and start typing your heart away. That's all fine and dandy, until the competition amongst bloggers heats up. How do you get your blog noticed amongst all those other bloggers out there?

Niche blogging communities are sprouting up across the web like FashionsBlogs.com, that specialize in niche market segments. FashionsBlogs.com offers free blog hosting to fashion bloggers, a unique "Fashion Oriented" url, fashion blogging tips and a community of fashion bloggers that share valuable information on the art of fashion blogging. What are the advantages and disadvantages of starting a blog at a niche blog hosting community or a mainstream blog hosting site like Wordpress, Typepad, blogger or blogspot?

Advantages of Niche blogging Communities

SEO- Your site will rank higher in your market segment.
For example: at FashionsBlogs.com you will have a unique URL like myfashionblog.fashionsblogs.com. Search engines will rank your blog higher when people are searching for fashion blogs than a site that has a url like myfashionblog.typepad.com

Social Networking- Build relationships with the movers and shakers in your industry

For Example: at Fashions Blogs you will be able to connect with other, high profile fashion bloggers and discuss tips and tricks of the trade.

Stand out from the crowd.

When people head to the niche blogging community they can search for specialties like: Celebrity fashion blog, Teen Fashion BLog, Womens fashion blog, Designer Fashion Blog and depending on the content of your unique fashion blog, your site will easily be found by potential new fans.

Custom Themes, Templates and Plugins

Useful tools are available like plugins that offer free access to royalty free fashion images. Fashion styled Blog templates are also available.

Disadvantage of Niche Blogging Communities

Not many around

There are not currently a lot of Niche blogging communities around. It is still a fairly new concept online.

Technical Support-
Since these emerging blogging communities are in the infancy stage, they may not have the resources to help you and resolve problems as fast as a larger company like Wordpress or Blogspot

Communities start small

when you join a Niche blogging community like Fashions Blogs, you may find there are only a couple of registered members. This is because they are still new sites and have yet to attract the vast quantity of members. Just like eBay started small, so do these Niche blogging communities.

Whether you are a fashion blogger trying to get noticed amongst the sea of fashion bloggers like Girls Trends [http://www.girlstrends.com] or you are an inspired celebrity blogger trying to attain the status of Perez Hilton, there is one thing for sure. BLogging takes time, dedication, passion, commitment. If you have these ingredients, you will surely get noticed amongst the thousands of other bloggers in your industry. Be patient and find a niche that other bloggers may not be writing about. Like Fashion for Dogs:)

Jerry McKinish is the CEO of fashionsblogs.com as well as girlstrends.com and has over 15 years experience in the fashion industry as a designer and entrepreneur. Mr. McKinish is pursuing his doctorate degree in Fashion Merchandising and plans to become a College Professor in Fashion Merchandising.

History

The idea for Free People actually started decades ago, in the 1970s. It was then that Dick Hayne opened the first store named Free People in Philadelphia. He catered to young people living in the city. As his line of clothing became more popular, he expanded the business and changed the name to Urban Outfitters.

Hayne's wife, Meg, was put in charge of the private label division, which produced clothes exclusive to Urban Outfitters. Demand nearly outstripped supply for these unique pieces. In response, Hayne instituted a wholesale line. It quickly took off and the two different businesses were separated. The wholesale company was known by several different names, including Bulldog and Anthropologie, before it finally went on to become Free People once again and regained its roots.

The Clothing Today

Free People strives to fill the need for young women to express their femininity, spirit, and courage, while appealing to a more mature clientele. The company has kept its quality high and prices affordable in order to reach its target demographic of a 26-year-old woman with an adventurous, creative spirit.

All of the design and production is done in-house. This allows Free People to create a full and diverse line of clothing to suit nearly any twenty-something woman, whether her style is softly feminine or more carefree tomboy. They offer options that allow a woman to mix and match pieces and patterns and colors. Free People clothes are appropriate on the beach, at a club, or even in a casual workplace.

Their specialties include knits, sweaters, and skirts, from on-the-town fashionable to weekend casual. Their newest additions include a line of intimates and accessories. These new lines include a variety of jewelry, shoes, belts, and even fake eyelashes and black lipstick. Bras, slips, and panties in edgy styles and materials can also be found. Hats and bags perfect for the beach are some of their current seasonal items.

Where to Find It

There are only three showrooms nationwide and these are located in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. Two department stores carry their products. The bulk of their sales comes from specialty stores and boutiques - both online and traditional bricks and mortar.

An online store is the best bet for finding the greatest sales prices and the largest amount of inventory. Free People clothing lines are updated seasonally, and it can be hard to find last month's pieces at all but an internet boutique.

Free People clothing is de rigueur for any woman in her twenties who wants to look fashionable and chic without breaking the bank. You cannot beat the quality, price, or styling. So go ahead and update your wardrobe by doing a bit of virtual shopping now.

You can buy Free People dresses, tops, shorts, and accessories at Stylerocket.com.

The question many aspiring young artists with a flair for fashion often ask is, "How long does it take to become a fashion designer?" The answer differs according to the individual, but there are some standards that can be set so that anyone who wishes to enter the industry and become successful in it can have some idea of what to do and how long to wait before he or she can launch a clothing line and start getting public attention.

Starting as Early as Possible

Students in high school should already have some idea of what they want to do in life, so if an interest in fashion is already apparent as early as fourteen years old, students can already start taking classes to get a jump start on training. There are art and design classes, home economics, sewing and tailoring, pattern-making and other fashion-related classes that high schools offer. If not, community colleges and other institutions are always open for students who are interested in taking classes like these.

After high school, how long does it take to become a fashion designer in the professional sense? Tertiary education is the next step in order for anyone to truly earn a niche in fashion. Four year bachelor courses in fashion design are offered in major colleges and universities, so are two year associate degrees. More prestige means a bachelor's degree, but those who wish to finish their education in a shorter time may still enroll in associate courses. These courses give students the necessary background and knowledge and hone their skills in order for them to progress.

Getting into the Industry

After graduation, the logical step to answer the question how long does it take to become a fashion designer is to enter the industry. This can be done either through an internship or by getting employed as an assistant or any entry-level job, preferably with a big company or well-known fashion name. This way, a student can maximize the experience and learn a lot that can later be applied. Depending on how long the contract is, or how well a person does, this can take anywhere from two years to until the aspiring designer reaches middle age. New fashion designers can even opt to enter amateur contests in order to show the world what they can do.

For those who are just beginning, starting as soon as high school may knock a few years off the training process, so that it is possible to have gained the necessary education and experience in the early to mid-twenties. For those who found their passion later in life, it can take as little as five years if the person is really determined and has the proper drive to succeed, and as much as ten years if the individual stays longer with a fashion company or label. In the end, the only person who can tell how long does it take to become a fashion designer is himself or herself, as success in the field involves a lot of factors aside from education, such as talent, skills, experience and motivation.

Samantha Lorence is a consultant for up and coming fashion designers and her mission is to get aspiring designers to get the best start possible. She likes searching the web and other resources to seek out what is worth while and what you should steer clear of.

Visit her site [http://www.howtostartaclothingline.org] for more information on how to get started on your exciting fashion journey.

Like women, men can also be fashionable. What a man wears is as crucial as his communication skills. A man can look more attractive when he dresses up neatly and wears the right types of clothing. Consider these five basic fashion tips to improve your style:

Tip #1:

Fit is very important. Even for women, it is important for a piece of clothing to fit perfectly. You would notice a lot of men wearing clothing that are very big or too tight for them. If you wish to look perfect, you need clothes that fit best. Your outfits should be hugging your body's shape but it doesn't mean that you're going to choose very tight garments. Choosing bad fitting outfit can have a big impact on the way you look.

Tip #2:

Be simple. Though you want perfect garments that will look best on you, you shouldn't overdo it. You can look gorgeous and stylish even if wearing simple attire. Don't wear too much accessories. At least three accessories or jewelry will do. And, do not choose to wear more than 3 colors. Another important tip is to never dress up like a rock icon unless you are a rock band member.

If you want to look perfect and standout from the rest, wear simple clothes. It's a matter of mix and match. However, don't mix and match pieces of clothes that do not fit well. If you wear a dark blue striped shirt with a white blazer, you can wear a dressy belt and a dark pair of jeans. Of course, your shoes will also matter because it will complete your look. Therefore, choose a pair of shoes that will go well with your clothing.

Tip #3:

Don't go shopping alone. Most of the time, we ask the opinion of the sales people whenever we shop. These sales people work for a commission and it's not easy to trust them for fashion tips.

Tip #4:

Your shirt or top and the bottom half should go well with each other. If you want to wear a big fisherman knit sweater, the bottom should be rugged also. Pairing a fisherman knit sweater with beautiful silk pants is an eye sore. Why not pair it with a cargo pants instead?

Tip #5:

You should never be afraid to take risks, but there's a thin line between taking a risk and going too far. Therefore, you should be careful. Experiment one thing at a time and as you go, you can add on. Don't be afraid to express your style through your clothing. Just remember to always keep it simple and not ever overdo it.

The Boardroom specializes in all areas of men's clothing in Augusta, including formal wear, boardroom dress, corporate casual and weekend wear.Give us a call to set up an appointment after hours.