… OR, chatting to other bloggers
I have been very lucky to be involved with this years Nokia Young Fashion Designer Award. I took part in a talk last night at the exhibition in Powerscourt Townhouse, organised by Spy. I chatted about what it’s like to be a blogger, how I got started and answered a heap of great questions from fellow Dublin bloggers and people who are interested in starting their own blog. It made me realise that although it is still quite an underground phenomenon in Ireland, blogging is on the increase here. The US and European countries like Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany are really at the forefront of the blogging world and the prospect that Ireland is getting involved is really exciting.
It was a really amazing experience, nerve-racking naturally, but getting out and meeting real, rather than virtual people was so refreshing. Not that on-line contact isn’t really rewarding, but it was great to have an excuse to get dressed up and make and effort. Every blogger knows the comfort typing away at home, slurping tea and wearing your dressing gown. (For warmth, you understand…)
The people I spoke to had various queries about writing and running blogs; mostly about building followers and which platform to use. I was really lucky to have chosen WordPress; of course all platforms have their pro’s and cons but I just felt straight at home with this one. The wordpress forums are amazing and an invaluable source of support and information. There are some really knowledgeable people who post on there and I know I wouldn’t have been able to get the blog just as I like it if it wasn’t for the advice I was given so generously on there.
They also wanted to know how bloggers get inspiration. In my experience I just post about things that I really love, because it’s my blog and I’ll cry if I want to. I think it’s that, that makes blogs different to magazines; they don’t rely on sales and therefore any content is completely the authors choice. I know the ones I really love are so appealing because the author has a certain ‘voice’ which makes them individual.
Speaking of blogging about what you like, I’m a sucker for a fashion designer’s moodboard and this year’s NYFDA finalists’ were incredible. They show just how talented the designers are; having an idea for a dress / design is one thing, executing it well, is something altogether more impressive.
Runner up:
Butterfly Effect by Matthew Karp
From the sketch to the final piece:
Runner Up:
Encased by Niamh Rafferty
From the sketch to the final piece:
Winner:
Knotted by Emmy Slattery
From the sketch to the final piece:
From the sketch to the final piece:
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