Every week we bring you a featured blogger or talent who inspires us. This week we’re so excited to share with you Ashley of Dressed to Kill Austin! Ashley is a commercial wardrobe stylist, model and fashion blogger who shares her personal style and tips as well as behind the scenes of her many projects. She has styled and modeled for many well-known companies and brands including Neiman Marcus, BMW, Bud Light and many more. Learn more about Ashley and her blog here.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I come from a very creative background and worked as an architect when I first moved to Austin after college. I loved the creative side of design but felt that it wasn’t really for me, so, after a lot of hard work, I started my own wardrobe styling company. It’s not like I had a ton of free time, but I thought blogging would be a fun side project to jump into. I spruced up the blog and started blogging again as a fun hobby! So, now I’m an architect, wardrobe stylist, fashion influencer! haha
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Edgy, Classic, Blunt
What Profession other than yours would you love to attempt?
Hmmm… good question!! I actually think about this all the time because I love finding new hobbies that I could potentially monetize. Surprisingly enough, I have my degree in architecture, so I would probably try and do something design oriented. Flipping houses is always a fun option! Blogging has actually been an amazing hobby for me that has practically turned into a budding career! I’m always ready for the next best thing. As long as I’m not tied down, my options are limitless!
What is your favorite quote?
“Happiness is found when you stop comparing yourself to other people.” I feel like this is perfect; especially in the industry we are all in.
What inspired your blog?
Having another creative outlet within my fashion career inspired me to help others get fashion inspired.
What is your favorite social media platform and why?
I’m actually loving Snapchat! Follow me – dtk_austin! It, obviously, used to be Instagram, but with the new algorithm change, I am taking a step back and focusing more on other social platforms and growing my blog.
Where do you find inspiration for blog posts?
I love showing people my true fashion colors; or lack there of! 🙂 I used to have a really colorful Instagram and blog, but realized that just wasn’t me, my style or personality. I love finding unique pieces that really fit my style and theme. Not only does this help with my brand aesthetic but am much more inspired when I actually find pieces I love and want to share with my viewers.
What do you think it is about your blog that keeps people coming back for more?
I’m hoping because they love my amazing content and eye for style! 😉 But really, I think I have a unique style compared to most fashion bloggers out there and I try and write content that can help the reader figure out if a certain piece is really for them, why I styled something a certain way and a little about each brand. I hope that info. is helpful and engaging enough they come back each time.
How does a brand get your attention for a feature?
I definitely have to look for pieces from those brands that exude my own personal style. I have to turn down retailers and brands that just don’t fit my aesthetic, which is a goal of mine to actually keep up.
What do you love most about blogging?
I love the creative freedom it gives me to show off my personal style. I have met so many inspiring people in the blogging community, all over the world, that I wouldn’t have met in my everyday life.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
My life is always evolving and changing constantly, so that is definitely a tough question. So much has changed in the last 10 years, I can only hope the next 10 are just as exciting and successful!
In your opinion, what separates a great blog from an unsuccessful blog?
This is a great question. I feel that having a successful blog is so tough these days with the rise in social platforms. I’ve noticed more and more people fail to go to actual blogs if they have to leave the social apps and blog hits are down because of this.
Content is key! What I have noticed helped my blog was to have some sort of competitive advantage compared to other blogs out there. Having different styles and content is a huge factor in setting yourself apart and drawing more traffic to your site. Organization is also extremely important. I try and plan out my posts for the next 2 weeks and improvise if needed. I’ve noticed having all of my content prepped and ready to go with a few teasers on Instagram has helped draw traffic to my site.
Lastly, utilize the blogging community; trade ideas, help each other out! This industry is viewed as such a competition with each other. I’ve noticed that once a great group of us banded together, we were able to create an amazing support system, grow together and share experiences with each other.
