Every Monday we bring you a feature on a talented blogger who inspires us. This week we are excited to feature Elaine from Fashionlaine, a young and talented lifestyle blogger. Having worked in PR, marketing, Events and even TV production, she eventually left to pursue her passion and share her viewpoint with the world. We can only respect her for doing such and are excited to get her perspective in this weeks feature.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Growing up in Los Angeles, I was always fascinated by this world of entertainment so I started my career by going into the Public Relations route– working in every field from TV and event production to brand marketing. Yet, there was always something about photography and fashion that always intrigued me which led me to where I am now!
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Passionate, Unique, and Determined
What Profession other than yours would you love to attempt?
I feel like I’ve actually tried so many things in my life already, which is where I get the inspiration and motivation to encourage others with my blog. Other than heading down the path and world of PR, I was pre-med in college while also taking the LSAT thinking I might go down the law school route. College was a very challenging time for me as I was always on this hunt to figure out a career that had a balance between doing something I loved and doing something that required a talent that I could be successful in. If I wasn’t doing this blog, I think I would have focused more on graphic design. I took a bunch of classes post-college in Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, and I love the idea of being able to great content and graphics on your own. I still use all of those skills to create the content for my blog today.
What is your favorite quote?
Try to discover
The road to success
And you’ll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind.
— Robert Brault
What inspired your blog?
A lot of my friends had encouraged me for years to start a blog because of my interesting sense of style so one day I finally gave in and did! And in addition, going through the challenges I faced in college of not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, I was really inspired to create this blog to become a voice and an example for others that they too can do anything they want. Growing up, I was always searching for that person who I was hoping to be that voice for me so it makes me feel fulfilled and happy to hopefully be that voice for others.
What is your favorite social media platform and why?
Instagram for sure! Being a photo-obsessor from day one, I love being able to share my life with others through simple pictures and captions.
Where do you find inspiration for blog posts?
Really everywhere! I get so much inspiration from the people around me that I find on the streets or with mannequins I come across at clothing stores that show me unique and new ways to dress up outfits. I’m also very inspired to write about topical matters whether it’s a holiday (like Halloween this month) or the latest and greatest collaboration between a designer and a brand.
What do you think it is about your blog that keeps people coming back for more?
I’m very much about having a story to go along with my photos as I want my blog to be something people can take something away from (whether it’s about how to dress up a current trend or simply motivating people to be a better version of themselves). When I first started out, people would suggest to me to cut down on the writing and make my blog more photo-focused, but I strongly believe in the storytelling of it all and think that my honest voice paired with the photos is what people appreciate and love the most.
How does a brand get your attention for a feature?
I love unique brands that stand out and are different and align with my out-there style. And when it comes to sending emails, I always appreciate a brand that I feel like has taken the time to get to know me and go through my blog, feeling very personalized and not like I’m one of a million people they’re emailing.
What do you love most about blogging?
I love feeling like I have a voice in this world and am capable of bringing a positive message that hopefully inspires others.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
There’s just so much that I haven’t even begun to do yet! I want to get into clothing, books, TV, and so much more. Heading into almost year two of my blog next month, I really feel as if I’ve only just begun.
In your opinion, what separates a great blog from an unsuccessful blog?
Passion, time, and commitment. People mistake putting together a blog as something that’s easy but it really takes a lot of time and effort. To me, a successful blog is one that someone really commits to and cares about. They always say that if you believe in something, everyone else will. So if you care about your blog and YOU believe in it, I think that’s the number one ingredient to success.
Read More from Elaine at: http://fashionlaine.com/
