1. Know your intention and establish your direction before you begin. Originally, I began my blog as a way to communicate to my friends who were constantly emailing me: “Where can I get a pencil skirt for under $60,” “What do you think about clogs,” “What’s the one fall trend I have to buy now?” So in the beginning, Lollie Shopping was a hobby, and as such I relied on the free blogging platforms Blogger and later OnSugar to host my blog. Because it was “just for fun,” I didn’t think it necessary to buy a URL, sign up with a web hosting service and learn WordPress. Of course, I eventually did all that, because I believe you should….

2. Allow your blog to evolve. Okay. So originally my blog was a hobby, but unbeknownst to the world, Lollie has some really sharp writing skills. And unbeknownst to me, people like that. I started getting a lot of compliments and attention from brands, and my readership grew. My husband, who is also a writer, predicted I would be approached by editors to write for their publications (he was right) and advised that I needed to present my blog in a more professional manner. But it wasn’t until a dear friend of ours (Las Vegas’ resident WordPress expert) jokingly threatened to buy my blog’s associated URL and hold it for ransom that I finally caved in and decided to turn my hobby into a job.

Lollie Shopping is still fun, but my focus is much more serious and sophisticated than it was before. Here’s what I tell a lot of people: if you are okay with being an amateur, then Blogger, OnSugar, Tumblr, WordPress.com and Square Space are fine. But when you’re ready to go pro,  buy a URL, sign up with a host service, download and install the WordPress software and purchase a premium theme. If you’re hoping to land a super cool blogging job with a well-respected company, having an actual website as opposed to using a free blogging platform just looks so much sexier and makes you look like you really know what you’re doing.

3. Have a mission. You should establish your mission in the beginning, and even post it somewhere on your blog. While your blog should evolve, don’t allow your mission to change. There’s a point to your blog. What is it? State it and use it as the guideline for how you manage your blog. My mission has always been to inspire others to believe they can look good no matter their age, body shape or income. This mission statement is the backbone of Lollie Shopping.

4. Write right. Only about half of you will agree with this tip. Yes. There are a TON of bloggers (and even published writers) out there who can’t write worth a dime. Their posts are filled with typos, spelling and grammatical errors and even embarrassingly unsuccessful attempts at cultural references. And some of these folks are being treated like VIPs, nabbing endorsement deals and/or being given truckloads of expensive merchandise for free. Obviously you don’t have to be a good writer to attract millions of hits to your website. But I BEG you to please write with care and respect for the written word, because writing is an art. Do it for your mom. Do it for your seventh grade English teacher. But mostly, do it for yourself. Should the Internet come to an apocalyptic end one day, and all of our blogs go away, you can at least enter the world with excellent writing skills. Being charismatic can only take you so far in the job market. Being a great writer will take you anywhere.

5. Write what you know. This is the oldest writing tip in the book, and it applies to all kinds of writing, from fiction to non-fiction to blogging. So blog what you know. Maybe you’re not a writer. Maybe you’re a stylist or a designer or a photographer. So style what you know. Design and draw what you know. Photograph what you know. Rely on your own personal expertise and knowledge as the topics for your blog posts. You ARE an interesting person. And you DO have something cool to say. Always remember that.

6. Be honest and sincere. This is super important and will help you maintain integrity. First of all, being honest is the law. The Federal Trade Commission established a law to regulate bloggers who receive gifts and/or financial compensation for a blog post. Now, it’s a completely unfair law considering Steven Spielberg can place Pepsi and Pizza Hut all over his blockbuster films without ever having to tell his audiences that he got paid for it, but nonetheless, it’s a law. So abide by it. If you get money for a blog post, say so. If you got a free gift, reveal that.

When I get paid to blog I say “sponsored blog post” at the end of the post, or I’ll add the words “dedicated post” prior to the main title of the post. For gifts, I normally mention I received a complimentary sample within the text of the post, or I’ll simply state “complimentary gift received” at the end of the post. And if I really, really like a product, I say so. If I don’t…, well, honestly, I just won’t blog about it. I don’t want to do bad reviews of products. I’d rather just not give them the press. But I do contact the publicist or brand and give them my negative feedback, hoping that it will help them to improve their product.

7. Find a way to stand out. About a couple of years into my blogging, when the site started garnering interest, I got a lot of pressure from others to move to New York. Truthfully, if I didn’t live in Las Vegas, I’d live in New York. I LOVE New York. It’s a fabulous city. But there are a bazillion fashion bloggers there. And at least half of them are amazing! How could I possibly compete with that? How would I stand out?

Here in Vegas, I’m one of a handful of fashion bloggers, and I get treated as well as the top fashion bloggers in New York. Why on earth would I want to leave that? I may not sit front row at Marc Jacobs’ fashion show, but when Tim Gunn comes to town, believe me, I’m invited to interview him. Being a Las Vegas fashion blogger helps me to stand out, as opposed to blending in with the many struggling, still unknown fashion bloggers in New York. Find your niche and stand out from the crowd.

These are just my tips for getting started. Staying successful is a whole other blog post, and maybe one day I’ll write it. But for now, my advice is to take a leap of faith and go for it. Blogging is an intellectually and emotionally rewarding adventure worth experiencing. Don’t deny yourself of that. Take a deep breath. Believe in yourself. And… just… blog.

Ken’s Fall Fashion Advice:

• Bordeaux is the color of the season. “I love the idea of Bordeaux this season. How chic. It’s interesting to me, the idea of wine and roses. And mixing them together. Even eyewear this season takes on the color of Bordeaux and wine and roses.”
• “The pump has left the secretarial pool and made its way to the runway.”
• “For years we told you not to match your handbag and shoes. Well the nice thing about fashion is that we make the rules and we break the rules. The idea of a handbag matching a shoe is very chic again.”
• “Notice the girls are carrying their handbag from the top like a clutch. It’s the new way to carry a bag. It’s the chicest way to carry a handbag.”
• “I’m not a big fan of the wrap. I talk often about how I do not love wraps. I love the idea of taking a day wear piece and tossing it over your shoulders.”
• “Sparkle and shine is always a friend of mine. But just because you are wearing sparkle and shine does not mean you should wear a shoe that sparkles, too.” Downing suggests a nude shoe with an outfit that sparkles.
• “A tuxedo jacket looks just as adorable over a pair of jeans as it does over a cocktail dress.”
• “Shimmer and shine is on everyone’s mind especially for the fall season. I love the idea of a sequin pant. There’s always a reason for a good Liza Minelli moment.”
• “Silver is important as we go to holiday, but it also remains the metal of choice as we move into spring.”
• Referring to neon green: “Pop of color is going to be everywhere as we move forward. I want you to think about the blue and green family and mixing them all together.”

Ruth Furman is a Las Vegas-based public relations and marketing consultant who has gone through an amazing physical transformation that directly affected her wardrobe. Below, she gives us tips on going through that process and coming out on top. Visit her website at www.ruthfurman.com.

Losing a significant amount of weight can be a true fashion emergency. I know because it happened to me.

When I dropped 100-plus pounds, nothing in my closet fit — not even my shoes. As I went shopping, I quickly learned that I was in the market for more than just new clothes.

I had to learn to identify my new style and find clothes that did more than just fit me. In the past, I’d always shopped for clothes that hid or distracted from my size. That was no longer the case. While I’d worked hard for my new body, changing my shopping habits proved challenging.

Lucky for me, I have many fashionable friends and family members – plus terrific online resources, bloggers and stylists in my network. Thanks to all of them, prints and bright colors have made their way into my wardrobe. These days, I enjoy shopping and dressing up more than ever before. Here are some tips that I picked up along the way:
 
1. Try things on. Clothing sizes range from designer to designer and store to store. Style and cut also makes a difference. And gaining or losing five pounds can completely change the way a pair of pants or a blouse fits. I try everything on these days, although that wasn’t always the case.

I wore a standard plus-size 20 or 22 for years. Always one to consult the experts in areas out of my expertise, I worked with a professional stylist in the Nordstrom Encore department to fit me in some skirts, suits, pants and blouses that I rotated for work. I also stalked the clearance departments at Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Loehmann’s and Syms for years. Back then, I rarely tried anything on.

2. Share as you lose. I’m blessed that many, many friends and family members shared clothes with me during my weight loss. Some gave me clothes, others let me borrow special ensembles for events. It allowed me to save a ton of money as I transitioned to a steady weight. I also attended some terrific clothing exchanges and pay it forward parties. I continue to give away my own clothing to other women losing weight and to deserving charities.

3. Invest in some quality pieces. I’ll never forget the first above-the-knee DVF wrap dress I purchased in my favorite shade of purple. It’s still a favorite.

4. Allow yourself to change the rules. It’s still tough for me to allow myself to wear prints, expose my arms and to wear color, but I do. And I wear skirts that fall mid-thigh sometimes. A well-meaning friend, seeing me in a boring black suit with no pop of color, told me bluntly, “Separates or dresses for you–not suits. Suits suck.” Another friend told me a dress I had purchased looked like a “potato sack” and insisted that I borrow one of hers for a business photo shoot.

5. Invest in quality undergarments. I got professionally fitted for new bras when I dropped from a DD to a C. The right undergarments make a world of difference.

6. Shop sales, online and in-store.

7. Have fun with it!

Designers and apparel brands are building the modern man’s wardrobe from the outside in. No matter where one lives in this country, stylish and functional jackets and coats abound in department and specialty stores. There are many choices today beyond the basics like the parka, the rain coat and the navy blazer. Fall 2011 is definitely about choosing the better outerwear story to play off of fashion must-haves including:

• Tweed (used in everything from suits to sweaters)

• Nordic patterns (think ski-inspired on t-shirts, shirts and accessories)

• Military items (pea coat to shirts with epaulets)

• Collegiate (Americana icons like oxford shirts, v-neck sweaters and corduroy pants).

Whether a student at UNLV, a traveling executive in and out of McCarran Airport, or just a businessman going from downtown Las Vegas to hit the strip for a night out, the right outerwear can seamlessly transition a guy’s outfit from day to night.

Themes to keep in mind:

• Outerwear that performs

• Two-in-one jackets

• Reinventing sport coats

• Classics are cool

Here are the headlines for this Fall when it comes to jackets and outerwear:

OFFICE COOL
For the business wardrobe, invest in THE sport coat. Look for jackets that have a new shaped silhouette in textured finishes like tweed, houndstooth, herringbone and flannel. Opt for a two-button closure. The three-button says “I am still dressing like it is 1995.” Time to move on.

Look for lapels that measure between 2-3 inches. Many are designed with less padding in the shoulder, helping to create a natural, rounded garment. When it comes to jacket length, try for 30” or 31” (versus 32” or more).

The sport coat offers versatility, too. It can be worn with a shirt and tie; a long-sleeve knit polo; light layers like an open collar shirt and cardigan; or a turtleneck. Some are also designed with heavier linings or attached vests, making this a two-in-one piece.

J. Crew is offering a variety of blazers and sport coats in wool flannel and Harris tweed for under $300. Global specialty shops like H&M are stocking jackets in cotton, corduroy and wool for under $100.

WEEKEND WARRIOR
Time to look at the classics that have been tweaked and twisted for a bit of edge. Many pea coats, biker jackets and blousons are being presented in a shorter length to hit at the waist versus the thigh. Keeping innovation alive, designers have also mixed leather and suede, nylon and cotton or even wool and cotton knit to make these classic styles look modern.

Stay away from trendy versions though like jackets with both buttons and zippers or oversized logo hardware. When the garment is shrunken or cropped, these concepts are a bit overpowering on any man, no matter what his size.

A few tips on wearing jackets with double-breasted closures or asymmetric zippers, always try them on with a few layers underneath… maybe a plaid flannel shirt with a thermal knit or a shawl collar sweater and a Henley. Why? When closed, these jackets should not look puffy or pull and movement and flexibility is a must.

Burberry is a classic label offering many styles from the trench coat to the pea coat. The prices appear higher (3-4 digits range) but considered this as investment dressing at its best.

TIME TRAVELER
Man-made fibers like nylon and polyester are the perfect picks for that road warrior looking for a jacket that is weightless but still provides warmth. The car coat and the utility coat that measure about 34” are ideal for wearing with tailored clothing and sportswear.

There’s just something that spells “cool” when a man finishes his suit look with a lightweight utility coat paired with urban boots or lo-pro canvas sneakers. This man is mixing the unexpected. For additional warmth without a lot of bulk seek out North Face and Moncler for stylish puffy car coats with or without hoods.

FALL REMINDERS
• Look for zip-out, snap-out or button-in linings as a removable lining for a jacket, coat, on car coats, rain coats and shirt jackets. These allow a jacket to be worn on milder climate days.

• Drawstrings, padded collars with zip out hoods and snap patch pockets are functional details that make the jacket to be more utilitarian.

• Weatherproof, Primloft and Polartec are examples of trademarked terms that indicate lightweight insulation fabrics used for many jackets.

• Some active jackets will have an added piece of nylon on the inside. This is called a skirt and can be protective for runners and snow sport enthusiasts. It gathers with a drawstring on the inside and helps to prevent moisture from coming in.

• Sport coats and blazers with leather and suede accents on the collar, elbows or cuffs add a country touch to the look. These styles are ideal to wear as outerwear pieces.

• Don’t forget the CPO shirt as jacket this season. Military style shirts and shirts with epaulets work best for this look.

VALUE AND SAVINGS
Keep an eye on private label brands in department stores for early holiday sales and savings. Many of these are made by brand names for the stores and provide shoppers with value and style.

To name a few? INC at Macy’s. St. John’s Bay at JCPenney. Axist at Kohl’s. Once October hits, department stores and specialty shops also offer “Family & Friends” discounts for those holding the store’s credit cards.

***

For more information on Tom Julian and his consulting company, visit www.tomjuliangroup.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @tomjuliangroup for updates! To purchase his first men’s style book, visit www.amazon.com.

Tall Ladies
Oh,  how I envy the tall ladies. But they don’t have it so easy, finding that many pants are too short for their long legs or the sleeves on shirts are not long enough. In the spring, the too-short sleeve problem is obsolete. However, where pants are concerned, tall ladies can turn to capris to keep them looking spring chic without length being an issue. Capri lengths can vary from ankle to just below the knee, so there are plenty of options and looks. In the spring, the tall women of the world can leave their long pants behind and depend on capri pants to keep them stylish.

Full Figure Ladies
Ladies, the maxi is here to stay. It took us by surprise when it arrived, and it has proven that it is not going anywhere. Plus Size Maxi Dresses create a sexy, slimming silhouette and can feature anything from bright, bold color to a stunning print. Select something with skinny straps or completely strapless, and show off the arms, shoulders and back, because skin is in.

Petite Ladies
I fall into this category. One thing about being petite is that my short legs allow me to wear heels with anything, including shorts. Tall ladies with long legs who wear heels and shorts can often come off a bit hookerish. But for those 5’5″ and under, we can put our best foot forward with a pair of platforms and a cute short romper. A hot pair of heels and a cool pair of shorts keep the sweet petites looking spring fresh both day and night.

Sponsored blog post.