Favorite Things | Blogs to Read

Before I begin this entry, you must be warned that I am a very wide but also very picky reader--I'm not the type of person who will follow just one type of blog, but I am also not the type of person to follow just any blog that is out there. And just to get the blog love going, I wanted to share some of the blogs that I love reading. In this entry, I'm also going to include a couple of Vlog Channels on YouTube, because while they use a different medium to share their lives, what they're doing (Video-blogging) is essentially the same.

I think when I look for a blog or vlog channel to follow, I am always looking for more than fashion or music or just one topic: I'm looking for a window or a peak into someone else's life whether it be directly (through them telling us about their life) or indirectly (through them talking about the things they love). 

1.) A Beautiful Mess

A Beautiful Mess is a vintage fashion/DIY/lifestyle blog that is headed by Elsie Larson--a photographer and vintage store owner--and her team: Emma, Kinsey, Amanda, Rachel & Katie. They post beautiful projects about everything from fashion to food to decor and because there are a lot of them contributing to the different entries and features, the site seems to be in constant conversation. I also love that they update almost everyday; there aren't a lot of blogs that do that.

These ladies definitely have a very refreshing zest for life and it is always inspiring how they keep themselves creative and are always looking for new things to do. It's also wonderful that they break away from what sometimes becomes fashion's very cold sense of perfection. This blog is quirky, fun, beautiful (visually pleasing, I mean) and always offers its readers a learning experience (I've been meaning to try out their jewelry rack DIY project soon).

2.) FleurDeVlog

Fleur, the beautiful british woman behind this YouTube channel is pretty famous on the YouTube beauty community for her channel, FleurDeForce where she features make-up tutorials, product reviews and different fashion hauls. And while FleurDeForce is a wonderful channel to subscribe to as well, I find that I enjoy Fleur's Vlogs a little bit more than I do her tutorials. 

Her Vlogs feature different tags (like the boyfriend tag, which requires the vlogger to interview her boyfriend) and she often takes her subscribers with her on her holidays (she is currently vlogging from New York) and on her adventures with her family. Another wonderful thing about Fleur's vlog channel is that she talks about topics that are relevant to her market audience (which ranges from teenagers to 20 or 30-something year olds who love beauty and fashion) like what to expect when going to University (although granted, this may not apply exactly across countries) and what to pack when going on a trip. She also talks freely about her experiences and it's refreshing to encounter a channel where the person talking is more concerned with sharing experiences than just looking pretty (although she does look beautiful). <33

3.) Cassettes In the Mailbox

This blog is written in by Brian Fallon from The Gaslight Anthem. And while his updates are few and far-between, whenever he does update it's always very (excuse the image) meaty. He wrote at length about the recording process for his side project, The Horrible Crowes, whose album Elsie is one of the best records I've ever listened to.

Also, Brian opens his blog up to his fans and answers a lot of their questions. Definitely a more personal source of updates than their site, Brian's blog talks about how it is to be making it in the music industry when you're from a part of New Jersey where most people don't make it, life on the road, blues music, music in general and a lot of other very fun topics that I think any music lover with enjoy.

4.) Shutterblug

Funny thing about this blog--the brain behind this blog is my officemate. Nina Laset, who writes/photographs for this blog is one of the friendliest people I've ever met. She's the type of person who can make anything interesting and is always willing to help a sister out--advertising, couriers (she also sells stuff online, go check it out on Shutterblug), where to buy good food; she's always willing to lend a hand. She's been on the blogosphere for a while now and is always looking for new and exciting things to do. Zest for learning, yes.

Anyway, Shutterblug is always a fun read. :) Nina loves to travel and loves to eat (despite her girlish figure) and reading about her adventures is always fun--no matter if you're stuck in an office or a library while doing it. Also, she's able to post about things that excite her with no hint of shyness to show or tell people what she's enthusiastic about. Definitely one of the best lifestyle blogs I've chanced upon.

5.) ArtsyFartsyAva

This blog is the fashion/lifestyle/personal style brainchild of Ava Te. I discovered this blog when she started following me a couple of months ago and following her back definitely turned out to be a great blog-reading experience. 

See, (as you might notice on my blog list) I don't follow a lot of local fashion blogs because I find that a lot of them subscribe to that cold sort of perfection and there doesn't seem to be any real sharing of experiences or whatever. It's just "here are the clothes, I look beautiful". But the thing I love about Ava's blog is that she isn't afraid to talk about her life--she describes each event and each outfit in relation to an event in nitty gritty detail. She talks about the hassles of the weather and commuting, things you wouldn't find on your ordinary fashion blog. She also has the most adorable son who sometimes makes cameos in her entries. 

And the clothing is beautiful, of course. Ava's style is simple but unique and always tasteful. She takes clean silhouettes and makes them her own. :) 

6.) MyDemeanor

I found Rizza Lana's very unique blog while browsing through our common friend Mon Maulion's profile on Facebook. I chanced upon Viva La Manika, an online store run by Rizza & her friend Afianne. I was looking at Mon's tagged photos and one wrong-click away was the VLM page--they have some of the best collections I've seen online. Anyway, I started following Rizza because Afianne started following me and every time someone starts following me, it's always worth a shot to look at what they themselves write. :) Equivalent exchange, or a shot at it at the least.

Anyway, MyDemeanor is an amalgamation of Rizza's fashion adventures and her photographs are always beautiful. She's able to pull off a fresh, distinct look that stays true to the spirit of vintage--which, in my opinion, is a certain tastefulness and classiness that seems to have disappeared in times of late. Follow this blog and you will not regret it.

7.) Fashiontoast

Rumi Neely is one of today's most famous personal style bloggers--and with good reason. The thing that I love about this blog (aside from obviously, the clothing) is that Rumi Neely's love for fashion encompasses brand--she will shop almost anywhere. One of the earlier entries that I read which really got me hooked was this one where she was wearing an almost entirely thrifted outfit; she said the outfit cost her $20 total. 

And her style is amazing. She is able to create clean boheme, if that makes sense. She combines  clean, simple silhouettes with a sprinkle of bohemian mess--a loose thread here and there, torn up denims, messy hair. Much, much love for this blog.

8.) WeLiveYoung

This is one of the whimsiest, most wonderful blogs that I've ever read. It's written by Nirrimi, a 19-year-old free spirit living in Australia. She and her husband live in a small house in the mountains and she works as a fashion photographer. The wonderful thing about this blog is that through it Nirrimi tells her story as a little girl growing up in a small town and eventually moving out to New York, where she and her husband, M experienced how it was to live off their backs and really try to make a living out of their photographer.

It's wonderful how they've made it. In her most recent entries, Nirrimi talks about the water birth of their first child, Alba. Beautiful blog. The clothing and photographs are wonderful and it's very, very well-written, which is strangely rare in the blogging community. <3 This blog is, in itself an experience.

9.) The Insomniac Diaries

This is written by Benny Horowitz, drummer for The Gaslight Anthem. Benny's blog is shamelessly sarcastic and inanely introspective. Whenever I feel like my life is full of bullshit and I need to be slapped back to reality, I read this blog. Benny writes about lots of different 

things--music (obviously), touring experiences, near-death experiences (they were in Japan during the earthquake/tsunami last year) and bouts of insomnia (hence the title).

Being a bit of an insomniac myself, I can definitely relate to his midnight paranoia and unwilling introspection. Very fun blog to read indeed. 

10.) CultofStyle

This blog is one devoted to bringing us the most beautiful magazine spreads and fashion trends. The thing that I love about CultofStyle is that it never features anything not worth looking at and their updates are frequent and the writing is flawless. 

Beautiful styling, beautiful clothing and all wrapped up in a certain context--florals, brights, knits; they never do anything hodge-podge and I really appreciate that. Wonderful for browsing through different looks and ideal for anyone in need of some inspiration. <3