Hi Ms. Leyn,

I want to start a fashion blog. pero ayoko magmukhang trying hard. haha. Can you give me some tips on how to start it?

Thanks

MM

Dear MM,

Hi, you are the third person to ask me this kind of question. So I guess I need to write something about it.

One thing I learned in blogging is that if you want your blog to be interesting, don’t talk too much about yourself. Almost every online person is a celebrity wannabe who publishes everything on the internet and we have enough of that. If you really want to start a fashion blog, then focus on writing fashion-related posts. Yes you can relate your entries with your daily experiences but make sure you still share your ideas instead of collecting stalkers.

For example, a personal blogger will just post pictures and write about the latest bag she bought while a fashion blogger reviews the bag – mentions the price, where she got it and what outfit should go with that particular bag.

Second, make sure that you really are into fashion. Assess yourself if you dress fashionably on occasions and if you’re familiar with even the basic fashion terms. Your blog will definitely sound trying hard if you’re just one of those fashion victims who copy-pastes entries from other fashion sites.

At first, I thought fashion blogging would be expensive but it actually depends on how you manage your content. Luckily, sosyalera.net doesn’t even spend a fortune just to look for things to blog because I have a different approach. But IMO, a typical fashion blogger should include the following on his/her blog to have sensible contents:

• Review products (beauty products or fashion items and write details about your personal experience with the product).
• Share your opinion about the latest fashion trends which requires a bit of research and reading.
• Attend product launchings and fashion related events and blog about it (so you have to be constantly interacting with other active fashion bloggers to be updated with events).
• Lookbook!

Basically, invest on the contents of your blog instead of worrying if people are reading it or not. And lastly, ‘wag ningas cogon sa blogging.

Aight?

Love Lots,

Leyn

hi! i need an advice, my mom and i are always arguing when it comes to color combination, proper dressing and speaking. i would say my mom is quite maarte when it comes to those stuff. she says, hindi daw ako marunong magpasosyal kahit konte. so i looked for a site or blog that could help me. i actually feel small when she say those wordsto me (sigh). she even told me to enroll in a finishing school. what do you think? would i go and enroll myself or just buy some etiquette books? maybe books can help me. if you know some books that could help me solve these problems, pls give me the titles and authors. i badly need them.

thanks.

-pat

Dear pat,

How are you? I hope you’re okay. You seem stressed and pressured but I believe you can still handle this personal issue. I don’t know the exact details but I hope I can encourage you a bit.

I understand if you can’t directly tell your mom about how you feel. I don’t want to sound idealistic and advise you to open up your feelings. You and your mom should meet halfway and don’t force yourself on doing things that she wants. First, analyze your personality and lifestyle. Baka naman there are times that you don’t act properly or you’re too boyish. Moms tend to expect their daughters to be prim and proper so know your mom’s expectations.

Try to improve yourself gradually. No faking or pretensions. Do it for personality development and not because your mother wants to. Enjoy while you educate yourself and love what you do. Instead of reading technical books, buy yourself some fashion magazines and draw inspiration from them. There are lots of online websites you can follow that can improve your fashion sense. Even window shopping and checking what’s new in stores can help you.

Another thing, actually the manner of speaking depends on the environment you grew up with. Conyo people are engliseros and engliseras because they practice it at home and they study in schools where almost all people speak in english. There are some who didn’t grow up in a well-off environment but can still speak well. I suppose this is a matter of inborn intelligence, on how you were brought up and the kind of people you’re with. So I don’t think you can change yourself overnight. Reading books, watching films and even blogging can develop your communication skills.

To be honest, I’m not familiar with etiquette books so I can’t name any. Well I know I can pick the right clothes, know the latest fashion and speak properly without basing on books. But if you insist and you’re willing to enroll for a finishing school, that’s still up to you. Though I can sense you can do this on your own without any technicalities and pressures from your mom. Also, don’t feel shy on showing some changes. I know each of us wants to improve our personalities but shyness tends to suppress us.

Don’t feel bad about your mom, I bet she just want you to appear well-bred and cultured. You’ll thank her someday. Just be positive and good luck!

Love Lots,

Leyn

Hey everyone,

I’ve been piled up with emails regarding prom/grad ball dress ideas for weeks. I hope you understand that I can’t answer them all especially if someone has already asked the same advice. I’ll have to pick a few emails for the benefit of all. And by the way, thanks for some letter senders who are attaching some pictures, it helps actually.

Love Lots,

Leyn

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Dear Miss Leyn,

Siyempre naman, hindi puwedeng hindi ko banggitin dito sa mail ko na super nalilibang ako magbasa ng blog mo. As in mula noong nasa blogspot ka pa sinusubaybayan ko na ang mga entries mo dahil sobrang nakakaaliw. (BTW, trip ko din ang mga page designs mo.;)) Pero ito, may problema ako, hindi ko alam kung sinong tatanungin dito na may sense ang isasagot sa akin.=( Ikaw lang ang alam kong may saysay na makakausap ko tungkol dito sa problemang ito. — Seryoso ‘to ah! Di kita binobola!!!

So ayuuun, bago ako sa job ko kung saan hindi kami required mag – corporate attire. Okay na isuot namin yung gusto namin as long as hindi naman kami mukhang kabastos-bastos or mukhang untidy.=| Pabor na pabor sana ito sakin, kasi, hindi ako comfortable na gumalaw sa corporate attire and mas naii-express ko yung sense of style and individuality ko through my clothes. Dito ngayon papasok ang problema. Super naloloka ako sa boss ko na mga 4 years lang ang tanda sakin. Lahat yata ng nasa wardrobe ko, literal na nagaya na niya! As in halimbawa na pumasok ako nung Monday, naka suot ng pucci print na dress, tapos pag dating mg friday, siya din, naka pucci print na dress in almost the same color!!! At binili niya ito and take note, hahanap din yan sa kung saang ukay-ukay ng sapatos na kahawig ng ini-match ko sa damit ko. (Minsan nga, may mga articles of clothing ako na kahit may kamahalan pipilitin niya bilhin kahit hindi na siya kumain ng lunch and dinner dito sa office!!! Ganoon siya ka-hardcore!). Hindi lang niya ito ginawa ng isang beses, ginawa niya ito by immitating my jeans, my shoes, pati accessories at mga tops ko and wow, buti na lang nakapagpa-gupit na ako dahil ngayon naman ginagaya niya yung haircut ko noong unang pumasok ako dito sa office na ito.=( Nahihirapan ako tanggapin na may copy cat ako dahil hindi naman ako fan ng kasabihan na: Immitation is the greatest form of flattery — and I guess that’s got allot to do with the fact that she really couldn’t pull off most of the things that she copied from me. Bukod sa ayokong may nakikitang nagpapaka-clone ko, naiinsulto ang style ko kasi talaga naman hindi niya keri!!! Ay, karumaldumal talaga.

Ano kaya ang magandang gawin ko, ayoko naman na i-downgrade ang style ko para huwag na niya ako gayahin.=(

Thanks a lot Miss Leyn.=( I would really appreciate it kung mabibigyan mo ako ng kahit na anong suggestion.=)

–littlemissagitated

Dear littlemissagitated,

You know what, hindi ko palalagpasin na sagutan ito because we share the same sentiments. I already had an experience like this but of course I won’t mention details anymore ‘coz from what I heard, my copycats are also my readers. Haha.

I understand that you’re not flattered being imitated so that makes you frustrated about the situation. However, most of our feelings are all in the mind. If you put yourself in the copycat’s shoes, don’t you think seeing someone better or prettier makes you feel kind of frustrated and down (to the extent that you don’t eat lunch anymore)? So as for you, take this as a point of being superior and not the one being pitied for.

One thing I love about chick flick series or movies is how fashionable, hated, mean girls can actually be lovable. In times we have to accept that underdogs are in fact the weaker ones. You have to think like Blair Waldorf that you are no longer affected by copycats and wannabes; instead you treat them as fans. It’s really a part of life where you get to have competitors, which in a sense, means that you are worth contending with…

…and of course, part of a competition is not telling your secret. If your boss asks where you buy your clothes, then don’t tell or lead her to a generic brand. But if she’s extreme that she checks on your brand tag, show that you’re trying to avoid her. Without any words, it will reflect that you are not comfortable with what she’s doing.

I bet you can’t tell it directly because if so, you won’t take this as a problem. It is just so unreal to tell in her face that she’s nothing but a second rate blah blah blah…copycat, tapos whooosh, buhusan ng red wine! First, it’s not a good move to confront your boss about this concern. She might take this personally and can affect your work relationship. So I really advice that you avoid any verbal encounter or pagpaparinig that might lead to a more serious problem.

So if you can’t do it, let your girl friends do the bashing. Haha. I hope you can make friends with other people who are frank enough and can defend you. If you bring up the issue straight to your boss, you will be more like a kontrabida. If other people can help you address the problem, then this boss will think that you are the bona fide fashionista and everyone else sees her like an imitator.

You don’t have to downgrade your style, instead, it will be a reason for you to be more conscious with your fashion taste. So overall, I advice you to change your mindset about the situation. As what you’ve said, hindi nya keri ang panggagaya nya. But for sure, you have been an Eye Opener to her that she needs to make herself feel better through fashion. Hindi nga nya keri, but in a way it’s helping her self-esteem. Unless she’s bragging her clothes – ibang usapan na yun. If I were you, I’ll just do one thing – dress MORE, style MORE, be MORE. Kahit kasi anong gawin natin at kahit i-confront ko pa sya dyan personally (lol!), she might be doing a little research na rin like reading magazines, browsing through fashion sites and window shopping. It might have become a new interest for her, minus the originality.

I assume you’re a stylista by heart because you have the eye to at least know that this or that fashion doesn’t fit this girl. So I think you should be laughing at the issue. Though she works in the higher department, fashion-wise she’s no match with you. Tell that through body language.

Please do understand that I’m just trying to be honest and I’m no pa-righteous person. I might sound mean or judgemental but I’m just answering based on experience. And if you have no more choice and feel like bursting, why not try wearing our lifesaver statement shirts, this might help…

Thank you for supporting my blog. I hope you’re not one of my girl friends setting a prank on me because your story is very similar with what I encountered before. Haha!

Cheers and good luck my dear.

Love Lots,

Leyn