Friday style blogging debut (*cough*)
I like clothes, all right? I’m not going to apologize for that, or turn in my feminist or intellectual credentials. In fact, I’ve been so inspired by some of the excellent style bloggers out there that I’ve decided to devote my Friday post — weekly? biweekly? monthly? haven’t decided — to style blogging, both of my own outfits and Boston/Cambridge street fashion. Pictures will go under the jump, for those who aren’t interested in such things.
Unfortunately, on Friday, making pictures go under the jump was about the most I could manage, technically. There’s a lot I need to figure out about photography and lighting, and also about blog-picture layout.
Then, this weekend, I realized: this is a blog. This is a dress rehearsal. If my pictures aren’t that good, maybe you can tell me how to make them better.
If y’all don’t like my outfits, though, you’re wack. I dress great. See you after the jump!
This is one from a while ago, when I was experimenting with that photograph-yourself-in-the-camera thing:
Dress: Thrifted (Poor Little Rich Girl)
Scarf: Unknown, London
Belt: Target
Brown fishnets: ??
Brown boots: Matisse, at DSW
The lighting’s not great, so I did a collage as well:
And this was my outfit from the second “Lady with All the Answers” event Meredith Goldstein and I did at Central Square Theater:
Brown long-sleeved T: Target
Olive scarf: ??
Bag: Hobo Bags, Looks Boutique
Chain bracelet: J. Crew, eBay
Skirt: Ann Taylor, eBay
Brown fishnets: ??
Brown lace-up boots: Rocket Dog, eBay
And a collage of that one, along with a close-up of the boots, which really made the outfit:
I love this short sundress I got at Utso, which works so well as a dress or a tunic:
Dress: Utso
Scarf: TBD
Pants: Ann Taylor
Sandals: Mephisto
A summer outfit for errands:
Dress: Eileen Fisher, eBay
Scarves: Utso Tibetan Boutique
Earrings: Hidden Sweets (no fooling! And they’re Swarovski, yet!)
Silver bracelets: various
Sandals: Mephisto
Collaged so you can see the accessories better:
The dress for the Animal Rescue League event (this is a brilliant dress if you’re going to get shed on a lot, but still have to look good):
Et voila, mon debut du blogging de la fashion! What do you think, folks? Any camera tricks you could recommend? Anything you’d like to see?
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11 Responses to “Friday style blogging debut (*cough*)”
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Love it! I’m far from a fashionista (SAHM, OMG), but I love your blog and love to hear about your fabulous fashion.
As for photos, self-portraits are always tricky. I am doing a weekly self-portrait challenge with some friends on Flickr, and I found it very helpful to get a tripod and a remote. The remote was under $20 for my fancy-schmancy DSLR, and the tripod wasn’t much more. (I bought them both via Amazon, search for “Joby Gorillapod” for a nifty and not pricey tripod.) Anyways, the remote and tripod combo allow you to avoid the camera-in-the-mirror trick, as well as holding it nice and steady in case it needs a slower shutter speed in low light.
As you can already see from the photos you posted, daylight is nearly always going to get you better photos. I have been known to put things in front of a window or door in my house, just to have the natural light, even if the weather isn’t conducive to being outdoors. Definitely avoid the flash whenever you can.
Other than that, while they say it’s a poor craftsman who blames his tools, the style, age, and quality of your camera will make a significant difference in the quality of the shot.
I’m only marginally less of an amateur in photography than I am in fashion, but I thought I’d pass along the things that have helped me take better shots.
The lighting in the two mirror pics doesn’t work so well. Ideally the light should be mostly coming from behind the photographer (which is actually the only camera trick I know), but the mirror puts the light source right in the frame with you, which will wash out whatever you’re photographing.
[having hit Submit too soon] I really liked that last dress!
I do like your style–a nice mix of “fun” with “responsible grown-up.”
Photography-wise, I like the outdoor shots the best. Not only is Jerry right about the lighting, but the more stuff there is in the background, the less focus there is on you and your awesomeness.
(I’m taking a class on “photography for informative documents,” and the professor is very big on “noise” vs. “information.” Bookshelves, cut-off bits of framed pictures, etc., all seem like noise to me.)
I like these outfits! I would love to see a step-by-step how-to of simple scarf knotting and draping. When I look at pics like yours and try to make my scarves do the same thing, it just does. not. work.
These are great outfits! I really like that you did collage shots. Those were especially helpful for the first few outfits where the lighting’s not ideal. Also- cute hair!
Love all of them! I can’t image how you manage to wear those incredible books when they have such high heels, though. If I try on something that high it’s like I’m on a Tilt-A-Whirl.
Great outifts! You’ll find lots of tips for doing these type of photos in the Wardrobe Remix (Flickr) group’s discussion threads: http://www.flickr.com/groups/wardrobe_remix/pool/with/51470720/
Bad lighting, great idea, and interesting wardrobe. I love reading style blogs because 95% of the women have a style that isn’t anything like my own. I know I could not go purchase those items, put them on, and look like me. But they are nonetheless inspirational, and I have found new things right there in my very own closet because I am looking at them all differently.
I do love the drape and fit of that last dress, and it looks fun enough to be simple — a dress where all you need to add are shoes, and it all looks perfect. Love that level of simplicity.
I always feel like such a schlub next to you. That’s intended as a compliment. :)
Thanks for the helpful comments, everyone! I will check out that Flickr page. And I think the idea of “noise” v. “info” is a really useful one, KellyK. I realized when I thought about it that I’ve been putting “background noise” in my photos deliberately, because one thing I like about style blogs is that it’s about real people’s lives, not “fashion” as this decontextualized thing that you don’t actually wear. But you’re right, it does detract from the actual outfit.
Eve, I bet if you Google “scarf tying” you’ll find a LOT. I think Already Pretty did a tutorial a while back.
Katherine, these boots are pretty high for me. You’ll noticed that my feet are zipped, laced, AND buckled in. There’s a reason for that!