Ones to watch: 5 influential blogs that brands should be paying attention to

Digital strategist, Agata Seidel from Fashion’s Collective invited me to write a guest post about 5 influential fashion blogs that brands should be paying attention to. It wasn’t easy to come up with 5 ‘top blogs’ that weren’t the obvious Bryan Boy, Tavi, Susie Bubble etc so I went for my ones to watch that I thought had cornered a niche. The crux of my post was that it’s important to own your category while giving it a personal spin. The five I came up with were Sophy Robson, Fred Butler Style, 00o00, Coco’s Tea Party and That’s Not My Age.

While some of these have quite high traffic, they’re not necessarily that well known to brands or outside the UK. What I like about these blogs is that they have made their blogs into a brand (cheesy I know but hey) which has a clearly defined subject, voice and opinion. When bloggers ask how to get more traffic or followers, the standard answer is to have original, engaging content. Here I have gone into a bit more detail of what that means.

That’s Not My Age
It worries me when people think blogging is the sole domain of young people. Brands who ignore the fact that plenty of older people blog are missing out on crucial knowledge and insight. Wake up! There are thousands of fashion-aware thirty-somethings writing and reading blogs and one who has cornered her market in the UK is That’s Not My Age. This ‘style for the over 40s’ blog is written from the perspective of a consumer (although her background in fashion gives her added authority). Her wry observations, tip-focussed street style reportage and general musings on fashion after 40 have amassed a loyal following which allows for much debate and interaction. For brands looking to engage with this newly fashionable demographic (let’s face it, many have recognised that 40 is the new 30), insight from a blog like That’s Not My Age is of immeasurable value.

Fred Butler Style
More and more fashion professionals are launching blogs as their own personal day-to-day PR news feed. These bloggers talk about the projects they’re working on and the things that inspire them. It’s a clever way to engage with the public and also secure more business. The unstoppable accessory and prop designer, Fred Butler is a prolific blogger who has reported on her own projects and those of her London fashion and art friends for the past three years. She has perfectly utilised the power of social media to propel her brand. From her blog you get a clear sense of what she’s about as a designer and a nose into her rainbow-hued life as a young creative.

Sophy Robson
Another fashion creative documenting her work in blog form is Sophy Robson. An in-demand nail artist (her clients include Tom Ford, Chanel and Louis Vuitton), this blog is a brilliant example of how a creative can promote their work in a way that shows their talent and personality. I think it’s absolutely crucial that a blogger opens up and lets their character come through as that honesty and spirit is essentially what the reader responds to. Sophy has also made the most of her authority in this niche by peppering her product reviews, industry insights and fashion shoot imagery with Youtube tutorials, which push her brand even further. Not only do Youtube videos bring a great deal of traffic to a blog, they allow the reader to get to know the person behind the blog.

Coco’s Tea Party
Coco’s Tea Party is an example of a celebrity fashion blog done really well. Blogger Ella has a discerning eye and chooses the most important and up-to-date celebrity pictures to analyse, giving her own personal take on the outfits. Her tone is engaging without being snarky and her love and understanding of fashion and celebrity style come across as genuine and relatable. The success of the blog lies in its editing – each post is well researched and written and high standards are maintained throughout. It’s a filler-free zone. I don’t follow celebrities but on the occasions that I need to know who wore what, Coco’s Tea Party is the obvious destination. Woven through the celebrity posts are commentary on catwalk shows, ad campaigns and magazine editorials, giving us more of Ella’s personality and individual opinion.

00o00
As the men’s fashion industry grows, so does the number of menswear blogs. 00o00, written by a London fashion enthusiast who works in the City, merges luxury and high street menswear commentary with the number-crunching business of fashion. Again, bringing a personal perspective to fashion means he has carved a niche for himself and people know what to expect from his blog. For me, the main selling point is his tone and understanding of business. He makes the business of menswear entertaining and informative and, although he keeps his identity secret, his approachable personality comes through to allow a two-way conversation with his audience.

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