Katy Rose of Modly Chic wrote a really interesting post about labels a few days ago, which was the jump-off point for this week’s FBFF questions.
1. As a someone who writes/blogs about fashion, have you placed yourself into some sort of blogging category? This has always been a struggle for me, from the moment I decided I wanted to start a blog. For a little while, I thought if I wanted to blog about fashion, I had to post outfits daily with nice big pictures and very little text. However, the problem with this is that I thought I only needed a few pictures and I want to write more. Those who know me IRL would say I don’t talk a lot, but for some reason, when it comes to blogging I want to a couple of paragraphs or so! Also, I have other interests besides fashion, such as knitting, and I wanted to include them on this blog too. I finally realized that I can blog however I want to about whatever I want and I’m still finding my groove in that respect.
2. What keeps you from or encourages you to label yourself as a certain kind of blogger? The times I’ve been required to label myself has been when I signed up for certain online communities. When they have a drop-down menu for type of blog and there’s not a lot of options, that’s when I’ve really thought to myself, “What type of blog do I write?”
3. When picking blogs to read and follow are you drawn to ones that indicate a certain group or way of thinking/being? Being primarily a fashion blogger (I think! haha), of course I’m drawn to a lot of other fashion blogs. But, like I mentioned earlier, I have other interests and I like to follow blogs about those interests too. I’m not sure I would say that I’m drawn to other blogs that indicate a certain way of thinking, but I am drawn to blogs where I feel comfortable, as in I can see myself and that blogger getting along quite well IRL :)
4. Do you think there are benefits in labeling yourself or others? I supposed the benefits of labeling would be the specific community that is created by that label, but thankfully we don’t have to limit ourselves by that label! I like belonging to various online communities such as IFB and Ravelry, as well as the wonderful little community I’ve created around my blog!
5. Agree or Disagree – We’re all just people; we don’t need all the labels. Well I have to agree with the first part of the statement! Unless someone’s an alien from a different planet and they just haven’t told me yet! ;) Anyways, I don’t think labels are completely terrible. Like I mentioned in the response above, I can see how they can be useful in creating specific communities where you can turn to when you need help with that specific thing. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with identifying with a label, as long as you don’t let that label completely define who you are.
![TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW by Gabrielle Zevin (@aaknopf #gifted) • Everyone was raving about this book, including several people whose taste I trust, so I had to pick it up a few months ago. Well, y'all were right! I loved it and I thought this was a beautiful book, both inside and out.
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It’s interesting to see how the friendship between Sam and Sadie, the two characters at the center of the novel, evolves over the years. At their best, Sadie and Sam really see and understand each other. They both describe how the intimacy they share is both different and in some ways better than their romantic relationships. But at the same time, there are things that they don’t know or misunderstand about each other, even after years of being friends.
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These characters really grabbed me. This is definitely a slower-paced, more character-driven story. But every time I picked it up, I was excited to get back to these characters and read more about their lives. Zevin’s writing in this book was beautiful and I liked the way she played around with the writing style at certain points in the book.
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As several people have mentioned, you do not have to be into video games at all to enjoy this book. It's about artistry, craft, relationships, and friendships that are difficult to categorize. It’s about the ability to build or escape to a world that’s better than the one we live in. This book was excellent and I’m not over these characters yet. I’ll be thinking about them for a while.
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If you've read it, what did you think?
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[ID: Nnenna holds a copy of the book in front of a beach with some greenery and the water visible in the background.]
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#TomorrowAndTomorrrowAndTomorrow #bookreview #scsreadsreviews #fictionreads #beautifulbooks #booksinstagram #booksintheair #whattoreadnext #literaryfiction #2022books](https://starcrossedsmile.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
Great answers! I think it’s human nature to categorize/label groups. That’s actually how we process and remember information. I think as long as we realize that we are more than a label of any sort—that we all wear multiple hats and shouldn’t be boxed in, it’s all good.
Thank you Vahni! I definitely agree- labels aren’t all bad, it’s just when we let them take over our lives.
I like your answers, I’m like you I’m really drawn to fashion blogs but due to my other interests (mainly art) I follow a few art blogs. It’s nice to have a taste for something else once in a while.
Thank you Katie! Yes, I’m glad we don’t have to be limited to one interest and can explore anything that catches our fancy :)
Thanks, I actually went to france, I love in holland haha! Like this post, great answers babe!
Haha, woops, I mixed them up! Thanks Marielle! :)
hahah “IRL” is perfect. and this is a really interesting post! i didn’t ever intend for my blog to be a fashion blog, but that’s kind of what’s happened… i’m glad you feel comfortable to do whatever you want, though! i feel the same way. your blog is kind of a reflection of your personality, so it should be as true to you as possible!
Hehehe, thanks! Isn’t it so funny how big of a difference there is between our original intentions for our blogs and what it actually turned out to be? I totally agree, I’m just going to let it carry me where it may =)
That’s a really interesting question… I think putting myself into the ‘fashion blogger’ category helps me to focus on what the blog is actually about when I start talking about lots of other things. But in the end I’m more interested in personalities than categories… So would always rather read an captivating blog about other things from a person I can relate to than a boring ‘I want to have this’ fashion blog.
I’m in complete agreement Sabine- a captivating blog, one that I can relate to, is the one that I’m going to follow! :)
That’s the great things about blogs, we have the power to write what we want :)
Exactly. Well said! :)
Hello Nnena, I’m not sure how I clicked and stumbled over here, but glad I did. This was the perfect post to get to know you better!
DoublClik Photo Blog
Thank you very much Andrea for visiting! Glad you enjoyed the post! =)
what a great piece! love the q&a format, your answers are awesome. too right, never box yourself into one category. you’ve obviously got a sweet spirit who is diverse in your passions. nice one, way to keep it unique! happy week.
Yes, I love FBFF, I think the questions are quite thought-provoking! You’re so sweet- thanks for you kind words and I hope you have a great week too! =)
Great post, ur blog is really amazing
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Rosabellebyvasu
Thank you very much Vasu! =)
I read a variety of blogs, too!
It’s fun to mix it up! =)
Great post and questions. The responses to the questions are well thought out and interesting. I have a personal and professional opinion about labels. On a personal matter, like many, I understand labels and feel we all wear many hats and should not be limited by a category. We should be able to explore everything. However as a PR/communications professional, I find labels as a necessary must to succeed. Having specific niche, keeps the individual/organization focused and helps target a specific group that will in return help the bottom line.
Sorry, I can’t help it my mind seems to always run on a PR/marketing mode:) I blame the CEOs.
-Madeleine
Thank you so much Madeleine for reading the post and commenting! It is really interesting to read your perspective as a PR person. It makes sense that if a company wants to work with a blogger to market something fashion-related, they would work with ‘fashion’ blogger and would need to create those labels to decide who would best fit into that category. Question for you- do you think that if you are someone who blogs about a variety of topics, it comes off as a ‘lack of focus’ to companies? I wonder because I am always reading posts that say you should make your blog specific…