Link Love With a Twist: May 30th, 2011

LINK LOVE with a TWIST, May 30, 2011


One of the best things about this series is the selection of topics that have been covered to date.  Self-Acceptance.  History lessons.  Feminism.  Labor issues.  Photography.  Sex.  Motherhood.   To name a few.  I am going to go out on a limb and say that included amongst this week’s Link Love submissions is the most controversial post to be shared yet.


Please read on for some amazing posts that delve into the world of make-up, online shopping, self-labeling and much, much more!

Dress With Courage – The Labels We Wear on the Inside: When Bella of The Citizen Rosebud decides to submit a post to Link Love it is sure to be one that will make you think.  Both of her picks this week do exactly that.  “For starters, this post is a powerful one.  Elissa, one of my most recent blogger crushes, makes me  think,” shares Bella.  “Then she throws down an AMAZING outfit to go with. LOVE.”  Bella puts it best when she calls Elissa “the  thinking woman’s style blogger.”  What labels do you wear on the inside?

hollywood housewife – everyone can wear red lipstick: Heidi of The Closet Coach wanted to share this post with everyone even though it was written back in 2010.  “It proves, definitively and with photos, that everyone in fact *can* wear red lipstick!” says Heidi.  “But sassy prose and fun photos aside, this post also caused me to  drop $49 at the mall today on the Clinique Angel Red and NARS Cruella lipsticks.  Now *that’s* a heck of a fashion/style blog post.  Look out world, I’m wearin’ red lipstick now!”

Joanne Faith – 5 Tips for Rocking At Online Shopping: My personal submission this week is courtesy of one of my favorites –  Joanne Faith.  Although this topic has been tackled before, Joanne presents some unique tips outside of the usual “use ebates” and shop sales.  She provides some great information including a wonderful guide that will walk you through the measurement process.

Looks Good from the Back – Writ of Habeas Shortus: This is the second time that the women from Looks Good From the back have been featured in Link Love.  Cate of inkblot*photography said: “Ok, I HAVE to nominate these lovely ladies again.  Again, I read, I rolled (with laughter), and I read again.  I even  showed it to my ex-boyfriend (who is fashion-unconscious) and he  thought it was hilarious.  They are my new favourites.” I have to admit this post had me rolling with laughter as well!

Retro Chick – Campaign for Clearer Clothes Sizing: Vanity sizing has been a popular Link Love topic but this week’s feature takes it to the next level.  “My choice is Retrochick’s campaign for  clearer clothes sizing,” says Franca of Oranges and Apples.   “She takes on vanity sizing and the complete  randomness of the sizing system with some practical suggestions. I’m  with her all the way!” Will you join the campaign?

Style Brief – OOTD versus Editorial: A Modern Day Debate: I am so excited that Stephanie of the-loudmouth included this blog post.  “This was my first time visiting Style Brief and I was immediately sucked  in!   I absolutely love this post because I think the pressure of  posting photos of ourselves is something that all of us, as bloggers,  have to deal with,” shared Stephanie.  “Lately I have been re-thinking my own blog and what I  want to post.   I think this is a thought-provoking editorial that  everyone should read!” As an editorial blogger myself, I could relate to much of what was said!

This Girls Vintage – Vintage Make Up Looks:  Jamillah of made-to-travel proves that she is a bit of a history buff with her two selections this week.  The first takes a look at make-up application.  “Jessica’s look at makeup through the decades was such an  interesting read,” says Jamillah. “From the desired shape of the lip to the different  trends on complexion, I love her observations on the different eras.”

The Verbosery – Gender Isn’t Simple:  This is the second submission by Bella of The Citizen Rosebud and it is just as thought-provoking as the first – if not more so.  “[The Verbosery] is not a fashion blog, but a local Sacramento photographer,” shared Bella. “[The author] is a smart, savvy beast so when she  writes about something big, it’s BIG – and today is was on gender.  This  is a seed-bed of spicy conversations, which is so relevant, even to a  fashion blogger.”

Beautifully Invisible – Nail Lacquer: Blood Red Nails on Your Fingertips: Jamillah’s second submission this week tackles the somewhat unexpected history of nail polish.  “I am a nail polish fanatic and I love the informative and charming way [B] delivered a brief history on one of my dearest addictions and  really the gateway to all my blog reading. ‘Nails I have. Paint them I  must.’” Thank you Jamillah for including my post as one of your picks this week!

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their favorite post of the week!

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in the next edition of Link Love with a TWIST, please do so here.

If you would like to publish this post on your own blog, the code can be found here.

Link Love With a Twist: May 23rd, 2011

LINK LOVE with a TWIST, May 23, 2011
This week’s Link Love tackles life lessons, make-up, body shapes and beauty… to name a few.  Grab a nice glass of wine, kick up your heels, and enjoy!  You may also want to have something huggable close-by.  Maybe a pet.  Or a significant other.  Or a stuffed animal.  If you don’t have any of those handy – virtual hugs all around!

Arash Mazinani – My Beef With Body Shapes:  Let’s take a moment and think about all the male fashion bloggers out there.  Most are either street style photographers or strictly cover men’s fashion.   Arash is a bit of an anomaly in the blogosphere.  He covers both women’s and men’s fashion equally on his blog and he does it beautifully.  This week he offers a male perspective on labeling and body shapes.

by Anika – The art of not feeling threatened by the beauty of others: There are certain people who  touch our lives and inspire us with their beauty, strength, wisdom and kindness.  Anika is one of those people.  Her words leap off the screen and warm the heart.  Allyson of decoding dress was particularly touched by Anika’s post this week:

“[This] is quite simply the most wonderful thing I’ve read on the  internet in I-don’t-know-when.  The whole thing just touched my heart… I just want to print off a million copies of this post, fold them  into paper airplanes, and drop them over every city and town in the  world.  Beauty isn’t a zero sum game, you know?  It’s not a competition.   It’s art and it’s a gift and it’s universal.” – Allyson

The Citizen Rosebud – Momento Mori: Sometimes we get so caught up in the daily grind of our lives that we forget to actually live.  “Bella reminded me to live life to it’s fullest and appreciate those  around me,” shared Rocquelle of Consider Me Lovely.  “[Plus, she managed to do this] while looking fabulous in cut-off shorts and mint green  sunglasses (that I am now looking for)!” Thank you, Bella, for another beautiful post!

decoding dress – Good Days, Bad Days || Why I Wore It: This is the first of two submissions by Jamillah of made-to-travel.  “I love that Allyson recognizes how her outfits effect her disposition on  Decoding Dress,” said Jamillah.  “I think we all go through this and the thoughtfulness  Allyson puts into what she wears and the takeaway from her outfits on  how she feels is just a great read.”

Divergent Musings – Life Lessons Learned: I was completely blown away by this post.  I found myself nodding my head in agreement (and sometimes wiping away tears) as I read the 5 greatest lessons that Kate has learned in her life.  If Anika’s post above didn’t make you cry, this one might.

The Styling Dutchman – You Can’t Argue With Taste :   This submission comes to us from Mrs. B of Mrs Bossa Does the Do.  “This post is a must-read.  In it, Annebeth rises above an upsetting comment about one of her outfits, and  asks the question: does anyone have a monopoly on style?” said Mrs B. “In these times  of body-image issues and styling woes, it’s a much-needed reminder that  no-one does… and that we should just enjoy what we wear. Her  colour-blocking ain’t bad either!!”

Stylish Thought – Are you a Savage Blogger?:  Scott Schuman’s remarks about personal style bloggers have caused quite a bit of commotion.  decoding dress and a thrify LA life both write rebuttals to the piece and Vahni from Grit & Glamour coined the term “Savage Blogging.”  Eboni Ife’ of The Fashionista Next Door decided to share this insightful post by Fajr of Stylish Thought:

“I don’t know where  I’ve been but I hadn’t seen Scott Schuman’s comment about personal  style bloggers.  It’s maddening, but I love that Fajr didn’t get on the  defensive… instead she tried to get to the root of the problem… SAVAGE  BLOGGING!  She makes some very good points and offers some great tips  for avoiding the “savage blogging” syndrome!”

Stylish Thought – Channeling Your Inner Kanye West: How to Be Your Own Biggest Fan: This is a first in Link Love history – a second post by Stylish Thought was also submitted for inclusion this week!  Jamillah of made-to-travel couldn’t let the week pass without sharing this post with all of you. “I think women especially have trouble recognizing and acknowledging when  they’ve completely rocked the house,” said Jamillah.  “I love how Fajr says to attack  this problem by channeling your inner Kanye West.”

Those Graces – Women, Fear and Make-up:  I thought this was a really interesting look at the mental impact of makeup.  Courtney realized that a lot of women downplay what they do/don’t know about make-up and she wondered why.  Here she delves into that topic and explains why women shouldn’t be afraid of it.

Beautifully Invisible – 5 Things Jack Sparrow Taught me About Fashion & Makeup: I have been blown-away by the response to this post. In less than a week it’s become the most clicked article I have ever posted on this blog.  Thank you Tanvi and Stephanie for your kind words and this submission to Link Love!

“I really enjoyed this post for several reasons: a) It was out of the box; b) Thoroughly entertaining; and c) Brought back the ‘lighter’ and ‘fun’ side of blogging back.  Sure, we all enjoy the insightful posts, technical posts, and honest  memoirs, but you can’t deny that every once in a while, all you need is a  ‘bang’ of a post like this to lift your spirits. B did a fabulous job  with this post and hit the nail on ‘out of the box’ literally.  This is  exactly why I love her and Beautifully Invisible, the blog!” -  Tanvi of The Fabulous Life of Not-So-Rich and Infamous

“Damn, I was going to nominate this too.  Can I?  Good… I’m nominating this post because she is so incredibly talented and  smart with her humor.  She explained a true and funny concept in an  organized, well-written fashion that only B can bring!” – Stephanie of the-loudmouth

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their favorite post of the week!

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in the next edition of Link Love with a TWIST, please do so here.

If you would like to publish this post on your own blog, the code can be found here.

Link Love With a Twist: May 16th, 2011

LINK LOVE with a TWIST, May 16, 2011

Do you dread shopping for new lingerie?  There was a time that I did.  I always knew what my correct size was, I just hated shopping for it!  I mean, seriously – who likes to walk into a Victoria’s Secret and be told that your girls are too big to fit into their bras?!  Sorry if I am over-sharing.  I am over it now, but the first time that happened it wasn’t pretty.

Wait, you say lingerie-shopping has never been an issue for you?  Sorry.  OK, well, perhaps you hate it when random strangers tell you “guuurrrrlll, you need a tan!”?  Really, who are they to tell you what shade your skin should be?

No, that’s never happened to you, either?  Sorry to bring it up then.

Well, what about that time you wanted to die your hair fire-engine red, or that time you wanted blue highlights?  Did you stop yourself because you were afraid you’d get into trouble at work?  No, that never happened either?  Sorry.

Sorry… I am over-apologizing.  I do that sometimes.  I hear it’s a common occurrence amongst fashion bloggers.  I’ll be quite now.

Read on for some great insight on all of these subjects and more…

8asians – True Activism Missing in Asian American Fashion Designers: Jamillah of made-to-travel first came across this post on Taryn’s Design Diary.  She decided to share it here because it spoke to her background.  “As an Asian American, I found this post stirred a lot of agreement and disagreement in me,” said Jamillah. “But at large I wonder what everyone’s   takeaway is of designers clearly using ethnic tropes as points of   inspiration for their design.  I left my thoughts there and really hope   more people do because I’m really very curious to see the a discussion   on this.”

already pretty – On Paleness: To tan, or not to tan. Is that really the question?  Bella of The Citizen Rosebud has a knack for finding and sharing posts that are always relevant and this week is no different.  Both of her picks this week are hot topics of discussion right now.  The first is all about tanning!  “[In this post] Sally McGraw raises some colorful talk on people giving [her] unsolicited advice to tan,” says Bella.  Has this ever happened to any of you?

Bonne Vie – I Whip My Hair: Our styles visually represent who we are as individuals – but what happens when rules get in the way of that expressionism?  I loved this submission by Eboni Ife’ of The Fashionista Next Door because it explores how the rules of the workplace may dissuade us from expressing ourselves via hair color.  Eboni said:

“As [Birdie] says, everyone doesn’t have the privilege of saying “I realized  that I don’t want to work in a place that doesn’t accept me head to  toe,” especially in this economy, BUT her point is still valid. I think  we’d all agree that at some point in our careers we’d like to be in a  position to express ourselves freely in our place of business.  It’s not  reality for most people, but in a perfect world we’d be evaluated based  on the quality of our work rather than our body art preferences.  I say  Kudos to Birdie!”

Dress With Courage –Outfit post: an exploration of blogger over-apology:  This is the second submission by Bella of The Citizen Rosebud and it’s yet another hot topic!  Do you find yourself saying “I’m sorry” a bit too much? Why?  What are you apologizing for exactly?  Here, Dress with Courage discusses the blogger bad habit of apologizing.

Grit and Glamour – The Unexpected Beauty of Social Media, Part 2:  Considering that Part 1 of this post was included in the April 25th edition of Link Love, it was no surprise that Part 2 also touched quite a few hearts. “Well, obviously, I’m going to have to nominate V for this post,” shared Marissa of The Well-Appointed Catwalk. “It’s just so full of love and mushiness, I couldn’t resist.”

interrobangs anonymous? – FFB: Guest Post on Planet Holiday and Mrs Bossa Does the Do – Holiday Identities: time to experiment:  This is a double-nomination by Franca of Oranges and Apples who explains it best:

“I am nominating two posts that were part of this weeks Feminist Fashion   Bloggers post swap, by Mrs. B of Mrs. Bossa Does the Do and Millie of Interrobangs Annymous.    Both their posts are based on an academic paper exploring how women use  fashion  to construct their identities while on holiday. I love a good  bit of  social research (I’m a social researcher by day) and the  findings were  not what you might expect. And both their takes on the  paper were so  interesting!”

keiko lynn – On Body Image:  I’ve noticed that many Link Love submissions are posts that unexpectedly touch the reader’s heart.  This one is no different.  Vanessa of my heart blogged “loved this honest, and heartfelt post from Keiko Lynn.”

Kendi Everyday – Less is More: Are there any fashion bloggers out there who haven’t heard of the 30 for 30 Remix Challenge?  It has become a sensation in the blogging world yet some of it’s original purpose got lost along the way.  “As the creator of the 30 for 30 Remix, Kendi has become a leader in the  blogosphere,” shared Stephanie of The-Loudmouth. “However, she’s realized that the Remix has lost its focus  and initial purpose.  A humble, honest and heartfelt post, it’s a  must-read!”

The Lingerie Addict – Can We Please Stop Making Women Afraid of Their Lingerie?: Courtney of Those Graces tackled the subject of lingerie in her Link Love submissions this week.  “Treacle of The Lingerie Addict wrote an eye opening article… where she reveals that most, if not all, studies that state figures like “85% of women wear the incorrect bra size!” are done by lingerie   companies,” shared Courtney.  Interesting, no?

From Head to Toe – Ask Ms: Bra Fitting 101: As a compliment to the post by The Lingerie Addict, Courtney of also shared this post by Jen of Frm Head to Toe.  “I think Jen has one of the best articles on how to find the right bra fit!” she said.  That is something we can all benefit from (unless you are a male!).

Looks Good from the Back – Pouty Goth Hotness. (Not really.): “I am nominating Amblus and Mariane of Looks Good from the Back for this post. I only found their blog a few  weeks ago but this post had me rolling  with laughter.” said Cate of inkblot*photography.  “I don’t read a lot of  partner blogs, but this is an  excellent example of how to make different  personalities work.  Their  chemistry is amazing and hilarious and I’m so  glad I’ve added them to  my blogroll.” Cate is right, this post had me laughing out loud!

Oh LaLa Curves – OOTD: Glowing in Coral:  I’m going to let Madison of Fashion Tales do all the talking here:

“I’d like to submit the beautiful LaCara. I’ve just recently came upon  her blog and really loved her inspiring post about her beauty and being  who you want to be. Of course there have been countless posts about  this, but not like this & within another themed post— so brief. After reading her OOTD post about her sporting the lovely colour coral, I  was inspired by the way she put this post together & with such a  great ending quote: “Real girls are curvy. Or skinny. Or fat, or thin,  or chubby, or slender. Real girls are whatever the hell they want to  be!”   I’m a fan! -xxoo”

Style Through Her Eyes – Living Glamorously in a Small Space:   This second pick by Stephanie of The Loudmouth was one of my favorite reads the past week as well.  “This post is by Casee Marie of The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower.   She also blogs over at SHE,” shared Stephanie. “It’s seriously amazing what she’s done with  her clothes, shoes and  accessories!  I loved reading her organization  tips and seeing the final  result.  Read this and I guarantee you will  find a new way to display  your items.  It’s a wonderful resource!” Agreed, and as for me, I would like to hire Casee to come organize my closet for me, please!

Those Graces – Audrey Hepburn: Service and Grace Beyond Age:  This post was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in a long time.  Courtney takes what you already know about Audrey Hepburn and presents her in a different light. “It is a wonderful dovetail to Casee  Marie’s piece last week further expanding Audrey Hepburn,” said Jamillah of made-to-travel “Courtney’s  selection of quotes and pictures brought me to tears and these images of  Audrey Hepburn’s service with Unicef are the MOST stunning images I’ve  ever seen of Hepburn by far.” I think you’ll agree with her.

a thrify LA life – The Sartorialist vs. Personal Style Blogs:  This is the first Link Love submission by Debbie of Thrify Girl Vintage and goes hand in hand with this decoding dress post which was featured last week. “Kris of a thrifty LA Life wrote a wonderful rebuttal to The Sartorialist’s [now infamous] comments regarding personal style bloggers,” shared Debbie. “I AM a fan of personal style blogs so I  enjoyed hearing Kris defend us!”

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their favorite post of the week!

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in the next edition of Link Love with a TWIST, please do so here.

If you would like to publish this post on your own blog, the code can be found here.

Link Love With a Twist: May 10th, 2011

LINK LOVE with a TWIST, May 10, 2011

If this is your first time reading Link Love you might be wondering what makes it different from all the other Link round-ups out there.  It’s simple really. The posts included below weren’t all picked by me. Most were actually submitted for inclusion by others. Each of the links below left a marked impression on a reader, who then decided they simply had to spread the wealth and share it with you.  All I did was put the list together.

I hope you enjoy them!

Arash Mazinani – Dress Sizes & Self Esteem: Size is a subject that comes up again and again in the world of fashion.  Stephanie of The-Loudmouth was particularly impressed with the way Arash approached the subject here and wanted to share his post with everyone.  “I’m nominating ‘Dress Sizes & Self Esteem’ by Arash Mazinani,” she said.  “It’s  such a relevant and true post!   The variance of sizing between labels is  an issue that needs to be addressed.”

The Beheld – Why I’m Not Looking in a Mirror for a Month: Ashe of Dramatis Personae was so inspired by this post that she sent me a tweet about it to ensure it’s inclusion in this week’s Link Love roundup.  I am ashamed to admit that said tweet completely slipped my mind until she reminded me about it this afternoon. Sorry Ashe, and sorry Autumn of the Beheld!  Here it is now for everyone’s reading pleasure.  I know everyone will enjoy this post as much as Ashe and I did. It’s a beautiful study of self-perception and how something as simple as not looking in a mirror could impact our lives.

Daily clothes fix – Stop and start:   Fabienne of The House in the Clouds finds herself continually impressed by Emma of the Daily clothes fix.  “I’m nominating ‘Stop and Start’,” said Fabienne. “Simple   and true to the spirit of outfit-of-the-day posts, it exemplifies the   level of creativity that is demonstrated regularly by Emma. No outfit   resembles the next, often there’s a theme and her use of color is   unmatched.”

decoding dress – Dear Sartorialist, Let’s Chat About Fashion Blogs: This post was favored by both Anika of By Anika and Franca of Oranges and Apples this week.  I have to admit it was one of my favorites as well. Anika put it best when she said:

“I am nominating Allysons post because it really interesting. She  addresses some recent comments made by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist  in an interview with style.com. In her post Allyson defines and  reclaims the concept of personal blogging, and I absolutely adore her  unapologetic approach to it. In her words; when personal fashion blogs  “are at their best they’re not really about the clothes, not anymore.  They’re about the people.” Amen to that!”

Esme and the laneway – how I… curl my hair – ragcurls: I am always looking for new ways to style my hair, and I absolutely loved this tutorial on rag curls by Esme.  I’ve tried pin curls before, but am completely fascinated by the concept of rag curls.  Not only do her curls look gorgeous, this is definitely kinder to your hair than most of the popular curling methods used today!

Fuyume – My Battle with Weight and People’s Perceptions:  I loved this post by Faye of Fuyume.net.  Here she opened up and gave her readers some insight into her personal struggle as someone deemed clinically underweight.  She discusses the negative impact of our society’s propensity to label and categorize people based on their weight and/or body type and begs the question – when will we stop defining one another by our size?

The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower – Our Huckleberry Friend: Remembering Audrey Hepburn:  Tribute posts may be commonplace in the blogosphere, but this beautiful piece by Casee Marie is anything but common.  “I  looooove Casee Marie’s take on the extraordinary Audrey Hepburn,” shared Jamillah of made-to-travel. “Casee   illustrates Hepburn’s beauty goes way beyond her gorgeous exterior and   her list on “How to really capture Audrey’s style” is flawless.”

I am Style-ish – Vintage Chanel Bags: Where to buy:  This amazing guide by Tiffany of I am Style-ish goes beyond Chanel bags.  I had to share it with you because it’s a great resource for anyone on the hunt for high-end vintage products.  Tiffany shares her tips and educates her readers on everything from trusted sellers to how to spot fakes.  Bookmarked.

No Signposts in the Sea – On personal style, blogging, and our narratives:  Franca of Oranges and Apples decided to nominate this post because it is so well written, thoughtful and   honest. “Waves talks about her feelings about how she got into style   blogging to cut down on buying clothes, but how despite everything,   fashion blogging can actually fuel the desire to consume, as well as   help us manage it,” shared Franca. “Of course, through this post she proves herself to be   so much more than just a simple  style blogger!”

The Taxonomy of My Wardrobe – What Wedding?: The world was crazy with Royal Wedding fever earlier this month.  Did you catch it?  I resisted as best I could, but ultimately found myself glued to the TV.  In the midst of all the hoopla, Mrs B of Mrs Bossa Does the Do found herself moved by Veshoevius’ post: “Not only does she provide a reality check on the nauseating media  coverage and the realities of the wedding for us Brits, she also finds a  more chic way to express patriotism.”

trust your style – art inspired: hans hofmann, the golden wall:  I think this submission by Heather of Style Confessions is just amazing.  “Usually I don’t find posts featuring groups of clothes pulled off the  internet all that interesting. But the lovely Mary Jo of “Trust Your  Style” has been doing an interesting twist on the concept,” shared Heather.  “She’s taking  current fashion trends and tying them together with famous works of  art.  This one, on color blocking, is really fabulous.”

Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their favorite post of the week!

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in the next edition of Link Love with a TWIST, please do so here.

If you would like to publish this post on your own blog, the code can be found here.