Coming soon to a billboard near you!!

new swing tags and mini shop front!!

new designs coming to my ebay store!

check out my ebay store for updates on funky new items for your wearing pleasure!!

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/princess_tentaclehead1

check out my ad!!

"EXPRESSING THE BEAUTY OF NATURE THROUGH BEAUTIFUL WOMEN"

wel i think this sums up my designs and my garments, does exactly what it says on the label!

new exciting designs!!

Check out the newest designs for 'tentacle head' coming soon for 2011!

watch this space!!

Fashion Media Report

Vogue Magazine

Vogue is among the elite of fashion magazines, since it first went on sale in September 1916, for the princely sum of one shilling, models have aspired to be featured in it and fashion and lifestyle victims and flocked to the shops to purchase it. Unfortunately it currently retails at more than, £3.50. This is more expensive than a lot of other magazines, cosmopolitan is £2.90 in comparison. I do personally feel that the extra expense is justified by both the quality and the quantity of contents.

It is a combination of both the almost affordable and the downright too expensive, which succeeds in allowing the common folk such as myself to aspire to something realistic whilst still holding the privileged above the rest of us, at this point people who are against a class system will be raging against me but unfair as it is this is the way of the world at the moment and we all need something to aspire to! For me the fantastic thing about this magazine is I can flick through and just forget the mounting credit card bills, and the fact that no matter how much I adore them I just cannot justify spending £500 on a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes...

Vogue is what I would consider first and foremost a fashion magazine and secondly a lifestyle magazine. In a typical issue you would expect to find:

Fashion Photo shoot Spreads:
These vary between artistic and simple, some in the form of glossy surreal photo shoots more about the art than the clothes and others as layouts usually set out by a certain style or colour depending on the trends of the month. Vogue is very much inspired by the catwalk so expect to see some outfits and trends that to us simpletons would appear ludicrous but somehow these glamourous models still manage to look good in them...thank God I have enough sense to realise that I wouldn't!

Features and Articles:
There are always a variety of well written articles to read, there are real life stories of tragedy and triumph, I found a recent article by a former cocaine addict very enlightening having known people who have used this drug, it was also positive to the extent she detailed the lowest point of her life, which was beyond something most of us could ever comprehend and still rose to become a fully functioning member of society. There are also interviews with film stars, models, singers etc. Their column style articles a la Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City on topics such as does dressing differently affect our personalities? There are also a host of other articles. With the magazine being about an inch thick there is plenty of space for articles as well as the fashion shoots.

Hair and Beauty:
There is an extensive section on hair and beauty featuring products and helpful tips to achieve the catwalk looks. Again the products featured do tend to me expensive but Christmas is coming up! They also tend to feature some more unusual products that you would not necessarily see in day to day life. A recent spread showed Japanese beauty products and included a mask to hold against your eyebrows while plucking and another to hold against your cheeks to ensure you only apply blusher where it's needed.

Lifestyle:
Vogue also showcases home accessories, again in the same way as the fashion layouts some of these seem ridiculous and I couldn't imagine them in any home however these are intermingled with affordable and classy pieces so this section is definitely worth a perusal. The magazine also has a property section which I would warn the non-millionaires among you to approach with caution. It is very easy to fall in love with the beautiful properties shown as they are usually high class apartments in Chelsea, Kensington and the Docklands and are priced accordingly. There is also a travel section which can be invaluable to people looking to go away. Usually one place is featured and many details are given from shops to visit, restaurants to eat in and bars to frequent. The latest issue featured New York and having been there I found the report very accurate and wish I had read it before I visited.

Regular Features:
Like every magazine Vogue has its regular features such as the Fashion Diary, detailing fashion events (mainly in London in the UK edition and I would imagine New York in the US edition) over the coming months. Horoscopes, Readers letters and reviews on films and books.

Adverts:
This is probably my only criticism of the magazine is the sheer volume of adverts, these range from the glossy designer spreads, which almost appear more fashion layout than advertisement, to the classifieds at the back. There is also the usual cosmetic surgery etc adverts found at the back of most women's magazines. To give you an example of the volume of adverts there is usually at least three or four two page spreads before you even reach the contents page. Having said this more artistic ads can be enjoyable to view and often show off the latest designer bags, watches etc.

Overall I would rate Vogue a 7/10 as I do find the articles interesting and inspiring, but on the downside there are far too many adverts.

http://www.fuk.co.uk

“Fashion for the people by the people - get involved.”

“The fuk fashion community welcomes you. Join us for fashion news, trends, the latest from the catwalks of London Fashion Week, Alternative Fashion Week and Graduate Fashion Week, competitions, podcasts, videos and conversations with designers and regulars on Threads, the finest fashion forum on the web. “

This is one of my favourite fashion forums, on it you can find lots of information and fashion stories from all over the internet. You can interact with other members of the forum and share ideas and creative thoughts as well as finding useful research. I like the fact that you can communicate with real people and get real opinions.

The downside of this forum is that you have to filter through alot of useless items to find exactly what you are looking for.

Overall I rate this site 6/10

http://www.fashionising.com

This fashion website links to many fashion blogs all over the internet; it is a quick and easy way to access many blogs within the fashion world online.

There are lots of images and links which are very helpful in directing you to the type of blog you wish to view.

Overall I rate this site 8/10.

Punkyfish............. a new concept

Instead of choosing a whole new market for ‘Punkyfish’, I want to re-invent their brand. They are currently aiming at teens to mid 20’s (female) and I would like to stick to that target audience.

Instead of choosing a whole new market for ‘Punkyfish’, I want to re-invent their brand. They are currently aiming at teens to mid 20’s (female) and I would like to stick to that target audience.

Rivals such as ‘Cyberdog’ and ‘Bench’ have a slightly more mature style that I think young women of today edge towards. I want to create a whole new image for the company. It should be affordable, sexy and stylish. Companies like ‘Cyberdog’ are overpriced and a little to outrageous for street style fashion, and ‘Bench’ is a little too boring and also very expensive.

(Above left: Cyberdog. Above right: Bench)

I want to create a re-brand that takes the sexiness of ‘Cyberdog’ and the street style of ‘Bench’ to create a chic and sassy new look for ‘Punkyfish’ that its target market will love.

Punkyfish Research

Punkyfish is an exciting clothing label with a reputation for affordable designer clothing that has real 'streetcred'. The label has become a modern cult classic and its popularity has now spread well beyond its own retail outlets to include a network of dealers across Europe. Founded in 2001, Punkyfish’s main market is girls between the ages of 14-25 years old. Their customers like to express themselves and are influenced by many creative cultures and general urban lifestyle. Punkyfish is clothing for the young and energetic woman, making them feel confident; with a certain “attitude”. The company is distinctive in their choice of bright and exciting styles and colours. Punkyfish offers a unique and exciting range of clothing and accessories lines. The site is slick, fun and despite its extensive offering, newcomers can quickly get to grips with the ranges. Whichever way the customer follows, there is plenty of information on hand to help them choose the right products all of which results in an excellent sales conversion rate and average order value.

Reviews:

(Sourced through ‘Google’ online)

Claire L.

London SW18

17/12/2008

Punkyfish sell "urban" style clothes or fashions that I see on kids on the streets, garish clubbers or kids. I'm not a fan. The designs are really awful and I wouldn't waste my cash on this place at all.

This place really is a little cheap and nasty but, hey, if that floats your boat then fine. Expect things like *ultra* short little tartan skirts, bright neon t-shirts and big dirty heels. This place lacks class.

As I said, it's not my thing at all but if this sounds like the place for you then by all means go visit this place otherwise, best to avoid!

Lusea W.

London

26/12/2008

Punky Fish, once in its time was a cool brand for the 16 year Avril Lavigne, I'm in love with a Skater Boy kinda chick.

But 10 years down the track, you'd wouldn't be seen dead wearing this gear. It's well placed being in Camden, but you've gotta feel sorry for the designers of this shop... as you know 5 metres down the road, some stall has ripped off their designs and are selling it for half the price. It's quite frankly out dated, and slightly nasty.

Felix W.

Stepney, London

17/12/2008

Punkyfish is an ok girls clothes shop. It's ok, because I wouldn't really want to see my girlfriend in this lot. But that's not to knock it.

there's a lot of pink, it's quite alternative. Leggings. Woo-Hoo. Chandeliers. And Coats. AND THERE'S A SALE ON WITH 70%. As if it's not cheap enough.

Skinny hoodies. Neons. No denims. Boots. Wellingtons. It's all ok, but only ok. I'd shop here for clothing accessories, not the clothing. But, then I don't wear womens clothes. And if I did, I wouldn't buy them here.

Jennilee B.

Seattle, WA

USA

23/1/2009

Punkyfish with its cutesy namesake definitely stands a chance in Camden. Their slightly off fashion is spunky with a lot of pink, purple, and green. I don't know if I'd shop their myself, but I had to go in because they did have a few things that had me borderline gushing- maybe for my sister, maybe for a friend. Either way, I'd pay a visit again- their sales associate seemed nice enough for me to do a second round- if not, I wouldn't think twice about coming back.

Jed C.

London E1

9/12/2008

A punkyfish shop is what it is - a brand who became big enough to open their own shop and peddle off their renowned goods to the girls who worship them. Punkyfish is generally a fashion statement of its own. Starting off as a clothes dispenser for the alternative styles, but when everyone started to buy them they became mainstream styles instead! The clothes are well designed and generally cute, but they sell lots of other accessories as well - look for lunchboxes, pencil cases, all kinds of merchandise and crap that kids are interested in. A good little place.

Write a Review

Advantages: colourful clothes, recognisable designs, good sale prices

Disadvantages: poor quality, bad service form online orders, questionable sizing

PunkyFish are a mainstream high-street clothing brand that sells 'alternative' style clothing. It's sort of like a colourful version of Hot Topic for us Brits. They have a very distinctive style and it's quite easy to spot if someone is wearing a Punkyfish item, as they have a strong identity within their designs. The sorts of things you can expect to find are aimed at a young female market, from teens to 20's. They have a bold use of colour and garments are heavily embellished with notions such as studs, eyelets, and zips. The trademark logo is a pink fish with piercings (!) and can usually be found on every piece, often in the form of a metal charm attached to zips, or embroidered on a small patch.

There used to be a store in central Bristol, in the Broadmead shopping area. This closed down a while back and I can't say I'm sad to see it go. On the positive side the shop was well laid out, with the rails arranged by garment type. If you wanted tops, you'd go to one section, jeans another, accessories at the back, etc etc. It was light and clean and in a good central location. Sadly the staff were inattentive and always appeared to be disinterested and unhelpful.

The prices seem to be above the average for items of this type, and I think the heavy branding plays a part in this. You can get quite a good deal on the sale items, and some of the accessorises are reasonably priced. However, I think that for the quality of the items they are asking too much. Currently, tops cost between £15-£30, jumpers £20-£35, skirts £25-£28, and trousers £28-£35. Leggings are a hugely popular trend now and there are loads to choose from around the £20 with different designs and prints. Punkyfish only produce women's garments but some of the accessories could be unisex, and I'm sure a lot of young men are wearing women's skinny jeans these days... I'm finding that I am losing interest with the brand as it becomes less punky and more trendy. The style seems to have developed and changed to suit a different target market.

From my personal experience I had a bad time ordering online with Punkyfish. I found a great pair of jeans in the sales and decided to order several pairs to stock up my wardrobe. They sent only the one pair despite my order stating a multiple, and they had already charged the amount from my debit card. It took weeks of back and forth emailing with their customer service department for this finally to be rectified, but in the end I did get my items after a long wait and perseverance.

The other problem with ordering online is their sizing options. It is difficult to determine which size will be best suited to your shape as they do not use the standard UK sizing of 8,10,12... etc. The 'one size' option is also something I will avoid in the future, I purchased a one size top online and it seemed totally out of proportion with my body. It was too low at the cleavage and not long enough in the torso, and it was a shame that there are no specific measurements listed on the descriptions as I could have saved myself some hassle.

The other problem I have with Punkyfish is the quality of their items is not to a good standard. Of the few items that I have purchased from them, I have had problems with about 50% of them. I bought a long line trench jacket with studs and embroidery on the back, most of the studs have fallen off and the inside button was missing. I have had problems with the buttons falling off but re-stitching them seems to work ok, I just think that the metal buttons used were too heavy for the fabric and tend to pull down then wear and fall off. Zips on jeans are a big problem, they become very sticky and difficult to move, and once you've done them up they won't stay up so the zip is constantly falling down! Not a classy look. One of my favourite items I've bought from Punkyfish was a stretchy 3/4 sleeve black top, but the number of times I have found splits in the arm sleeves is ridiculous, it looks like they have sewn the item with regular cotton thread instead of using something with a bit of elastic so that the seams will also stretch along with the fabric. As the fabric stretches and the seams don't this is a recurring problem. I also have a Punkyfish brooch where one of the embedded crystals has fallen out.

I'm not a fan of Punkyfish any more after experiencing several problems with their items and ordering. However I do occasionally get tempted by the odd piece and some of their designs can be unique and interesting. I am not a loyal customer to the brand and would only recommend people to shop with them if they are aware that what they are getting might not meet their expectations. It's ok if you want cheap "alternative" clothes and would be great for teens but I guess I'm just growing out of it now!

Summary: Worth a try for the occasional piece but don't expect too much

Advantages: Cool designs, fairly affordable prices

Disadvantages: Not easy to access products, poor quality

Punky Fish is a cheap designer label, known as clubbing wear for women. It is fast becoming the new Gucci, and everyone's talking about the weird and wonderful clothes made by this company. I too had raved about this new range of clothes for a months, until a couple of weeks ago, I bought a skirt by Punky Fish. It was a pink, tiered skirt with a wide waistband. I absolutely loved it, and couldn't wait to wear it. I'd worn it once, when, just as I was about to wear it to a wedding anniversary party, I discovered a large split where the waistband joined the skirt. I could have understood if the item had been cheap, but at a price of £20, this item was quite expensive. However, when I returned the skirt and asked for a new one, the staff were very understanding and swapped it.

Since buying the skirt, I have read many reviews stating the same problem. Clearly this is a big concern for Punky Fish, and they do need to sort it out. As well as the clothes being poor quality, they are quite hard to "get hold of". Not many shops sell products by Punky Fish, and so this is also a problem for the designers. Moreover, I found that most of the clothes didn't even have a proper sizing range. On the label, it jus said "One size". When I tried the skirt on, it fitted perfectly. Well I'm 13, so surely that in itself is saying something. If the skirt fits on a 13 year old, what chance has it got of fitting on a 23 year old, who the clothes are really aimed at?!

So, although the clothing may be nice and fashionable-is the quality really up to the price? I don't think so.

Summary: Nice, but poor quality clothing.

From the reviews above I can see that Punkyfish needs a new direction, it seems that its target market are dissatisfied with some of the elements of the company. From what I have learned from my research, I am going to redesign punkyfish and create a new brand concept that I think would work for them.

Coming to a city near you!!

This illustrates what my new re-launch advert for Punkyfish would look like on a billboard in the middle of a busy city! This would be a very effective way of promoting their new look.

Promotional material.......

Another example of how 'Punkyfish's new advert could work to their advantage.....

Swing tags and bags for Punkyfish

This are the swing tags and new shopping bag I have designed for 'Punkyfish'
I wanted my designs to look sleek, mature and exciting.

I created these from my previous designs for their mood board and new logo.

Plymouths most stylish!

‘Plymouths most Stylish’ Street Style Review and Report

Walking through the streets and parks within the city of Plymouth I have noticed that many of the young ladies this summer are wearing clothing with a hippy and ethic influence. This is a style which I particularly like and am personally influenced by so I was delighted to see so many people of my age keeping the trend going. I really like the use of brighty coloured fabrics teamed with exotic looking prints, it has a summery sixties appeal about it. Floating fabrics and layers teamed with leather boots or delicate sandals really set the look off. Even the hair is styled long and floaty or roughly styled up to complete the whole appearance. Accessories are coordinated too, big chunky bangles with many bracelets, large sunglasses and earrings. I for one, am glad to see that this kind of style, that has been around for years through the fashion industry, is still very strong within the city of Plymouth and surrounding country. In my opinion it is a flair that will never die out.

New designs for Punkyfish....

These are the potential new design ideas for 'Punkyfish'. My designs are much sexier and edgy than their existing clothing, though they still have the use of bright colours and embellishments.

I think that these designs would be great for my re-launch as they are sexy, sassy and feminine. much classier than the current clothing 'Punkyfish' stocks......

Punkyfish Re-Invented

This is my mood board for a new image for 'Punkyfish'. It is much simpler and chic than the one portraying their existing image. I have used sexier and more mature imagery to illustrate their new look.

I am trying to aim at their existing audience, being teens to mid-20's. In this era of 2010, young girls want to look chic and sexy, not quirky and childish, so this is how i would do it.

Punkyfish... their existing image......

This mood board I designed to illustrate 'Punkyfish's current brand profile. I think it looks quirky and a bit childish really. They definitely need a new image and a re-launch in my opinion.................

My creative identity

this is my storyboard which represents everything that influences me. Beautiful place, Beautiful people, knowledge, experience and spirituality......

I have based this on photographs taken at influential times of my life, to me photos are very specail and imporatant and record the memories that we have.

Press release

The brand ‘Tentaclehead’ is inspired by Greek mythology, the gorgon Medusa, which means ‘guardian and protectress’, she was not only a monster but a daughter and a strong woman. Medusa was originally a beautiful maiden, "the jealous aspiration of many suitors," priestess in Athena's temple, but when she and the "Lord of the Sea" Poseidon lay together in Athena's temple (in some versions of the mythology Medusa was raped by Poseidon), the enraged Athena transformed Medusa's beautiful hair to serpents and made her face so terrible to behold that the mere sight of it would turn onlookers to stone.
Inspired by this legend I have created the name ‘Tentaclehead’ and each ‘tentacle’ has a different representation: Beauty, Innocence, Powerfulness, Femininity, Goddess, Elegance and Protection.
These are all the elements that my brand stands for, I want women to feel empowered and beautiful, like Goddesses when they think of my brand. But like me, to maintain a fun and childlike innocence. All of these elements inspired by Medusas snake-like hair, pull together to make one beautiful brand, and beautiful women...................................................

The blogging phenomena

A fashion blog can cover many things such as clothing and accessories. Other topics include runway trends, fashion items, e.g. shoes, handbags, celebrity fashion and street style outfits worn by regular people. They cover fashion at all levels from the biggest names to the smallest indie designers and clothing worn by people on the street.

Many fashion blogs could also be categorised as shopping blogs as "most of the conversation is shopping advice, liberally laced with consumer recommendations", and some fashion retailers have now started blogs of their own to promote their products.

Impact on the fashion industry

Fashion is a multi-billion-dollar industry that has considerable impact on the way ordinary people clothe themselves. As fashion is trend-driven and fashion blogs provide a new way to follow these trends, it is likely they will have a considerable long-term influence on the industry.

These are some of the things fashion journalists have said about fashion blogs and the impact they are having on the industry:

§ "These days, to have one finger on the fashion pulse, you need to have the other one on your computer mouse, reading (or writing) the latest blogs."

§ "Before a designer’s runway show has even finished, you can bet your bottom dollar that someone in the audience – or better still, backstage – has recorded every silhouette, signature shoe, styling detail and sulking supermodel, then uploaded it onto the internet for style watchers across the globe to Enjoy."

Number of fashion blogs

There is considerable disagreement regarding the number of fashion blogs in existence.

In a February, 2006 Women's Wear Daily article, Corcoran stated:

There is an enormous, and growing, number of fashion and shopping-related blogs: about 2 million, according to Technorati Inc., [...] or slightly less than 10 percent of the 27 million blogs the company tracks. (That number includes blogs in languages that use the Roman alphabet and that contain anything fashion-related, including sites such as Pink Is the New Blog, which focuses on celebrities.)

It is likely that this figure is inflated by a substantial number of personal blogs that mention fashion. These are not considered fashion blogs using the criteria above.

All other estimates of the popularity of fashion blogs are considerably lower. In September 2005, La Ferla stated that "as little as a year ago, the number of [fashion bloggers] could be counted in the dozens. Today there are hundreds." Lara Zamiatin estimated in November 2006 that there are now "several hundred fashion blogs".

Types of fashion blogs

Fashion blogs can be categorised in a number of ways.

Fashion blogs may be written by insiders, outsiders or aspiring insiders.

Insiders are people who work (or have previously worked) in the fashion industry or for the traditional fashion media. In addition, some fashion insiders blog occasionally as guest on larger sites. For example, the fashion designer Nanette Lepore has contributed to Glam.com.

Outsiders are people who know a lot (or at least have strong opinions) about fashion, usually by virtue of being very dedicated consumers of fashion.

Aspiring insiders are people who want to work in the fashion industry or media and believe their blog may provide a ‘back door’ entry into a mainstream fashion writing job. Examples of people who have been employed within the fashion industry on the strength of their blogs include:

§ Manolo the Shoe Blogger, who now has a weekly column in the Express a Washington Post Publication

§ Heather and Jessica from Go Fug Yourself, who recently covered Fashion Week for New York Magazine

§ The Budget Fashionista, Kathryn Finney, wrote a book called "How To Be a Budget Fashionista" that was published by Ballantine Books.

By ownership

Fashion blogs may be owned either by individuals or by companies.

The types of individuals running fashion blogs are listed above.

The types of companies now running fashion blogs include large mainstream media organizations and fashion retailers. Mainstream media organisations that own fashion blogs include The Times (UK), Condé Nast Publications (US), Variety (US) and the Sydney Morning Herald (Australia). Fashion retailers with blogs include Bluefly, Queen of Suburbia and Splendora.

By theme

Most successful fashion blogs follow a particular theme or angle. Some narrow their field to one type of fashion item e.g. shoes, handbags or denim. Some specialise in a particular price point: usually either very high-end or very budget conscious. Some cover celebrity fashion exclusively, while others cover street style. Some cover a mix of two or more of these topics. Many show the authors own personal style and ask for the reader’s opinion.

History

Fashion blogs are a relatively new phenomenon, so there are no detailed published accounts of their history yet.

Fashion blogs first appeared in the blogosphere prior to 2002 both the number of fashion blogs and the number of media mentions of fashion blogs has grown considerably since then. Published accounts of the growing number of fashion blogs are mentioned above, and a Facteva search reveals that media articles mentioning "fashion blogs" grew from one in 2002 to over 100 in 2006.

In 2006, the commercial success and growing profile of fashion bloggers were the two main themes in coverage of fashion blogs.

In 2009, CNN wrote about a blogger, Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast, who went from a small website to the runway for a popular label.

Early fashion blogs

Fashion blogs first appeared in the blogosphere prior to 2002, and at least one fashion blogger was invited to New York Fashion Week as early as September 2003; a short time later, Fashiontribes.com was being seated fourth row at shows like Bill Blass. By 2008 Tina Craig and Kelly Cook of Bag Snob.com were seated second row at shows like Diane von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta.

The fashion blogs that attracted media attention in 2002 include two that are still in existence: LookOnline Daily Fashion Report and She She Me.

In 2004, the first accessories blog, Manolo's Shoe Blog, was launched. While it has been stated that Manolo's Shoe Blog was the first fashion blog, Manolo himself disputes this. He says he read a number of fashion blogs in 2003, and these inspired him to start blogging.

Later in 2004, Michelle Madhok introduced SheFinds.com, "an online shopping publication". By 2005, the site earned $300,000 per year, although most of that revenue went towards running expenses and Madhok paid herself just $40,000 per year.

Recent developments

Recent media reports state that some fashion blogs have become highly profitable, and that the influence of fashion blogs within the industry is growing. It could be said that fashion blogging is now developing from an interesting hobby, to a viable new media business.

Mainstream media acceptance of fashion blogging

Fashion blogs are increasingly becoming a part of the mainstream fashion press.

An increasing number of fashion bloggers were invited to designers' fashion shows in 2006 compared to previous years. Large advertisers like H&M and Gap have bought advertising on fashion blogs, and other large companies like the underwear-maker Jockey are targeting fashion blogs in their PR efforts.

Many big media organizations have started fashion blogs and the best fashion bloggers are now also being offered mainstream media positions. (See above for more details.)

Fashion blogging is also now regarded as worthy of mainstream media coverage. The reference list below shows the very high calibre of media publication that have written about fashion blogs. These publications include the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fast Company and the Sydney Morning Herald.

Street Style blogs

Street fashion has recently made its way into the world of blogs. An increasing number of blogs now feature fashion on real people, and show how trends are applied in the street.

Commercialization of fashion blogging

Fashion blogging is rapidly becoming a highly profitable new media business, with a mixture of independent blogs and well-funded fashion blog networks competing to dominate the space.

Manolo's Shoe Blog is believed to be the most profitable independent fashion blog, "rumoured to be [earning] around $700,000 a year" by 2006. Manolo has confirmed he earns a six-figure salary through blogging. Other commercially successful independent fashion blogs include The Budget Fashionista, which reportedly brings in $150,000 a year in revenue ^[ and The Bag Snob, which "generates a six-figure income, mainly from advertising". By 2008 SheFinds.com was generating $400,000 in revenue per year. "White Cat Media Tells You Where to Get a Bargain" More examples of independent fashion blogs that have achieved commercial success can be found in the references listed at the end of this article.

There have also been a series of business deals have brought serious investor money into the fashion blogging space. These include:

§ October 2006: Sugar Publishing Inc. raised Series A funding from legendary venture capital firm Sequoia, to a rumoured value of $5 million. Sugar's small blog network includes FabSugar, a fashion blog.

§ November 2006: Glam.com raised $18.5 million in Series C venture capital from a consortium led by Duff Ackerman & Goodrich Ventures, with other investors including "Draper Fisher Jurvetson, which helped launch eBay, Accel Partners, an investor in Facebook, as well as WaldenVC and Information Capital".

§ October 2007, Sugar Publishing purchased early fashion blog network Coutorture Media for an undisclosed sum.

Monetization Techniques

Blogging is hard work, and few bloggers in any industry are willing to devote the kind of time and effort necessary to build and hold a significant audience without some hope of financial reward.

Bloggers like Manolo of Manolo's Shoe Blog generate enough traffic that they can monetize it directly by selling impressions to advertisers. This is rare.

Pay per click advertising placement is another monetization tactic employed by many fashion blogs. Recent advances in contextual ad placement have rendered PPC placement an increasingly attractive option.

Virtually all fashion blogs employ some form of affiliate marketing, the most straightforward being the simple product review. Some writers blog about voucher codes, sales, men's fashion collections and news and then link through to relevant men's fashion retailers using affiliate links. Affiliate networks like Commission Junction and LinkShare facilitate this process in exchange for a fee - normally a commission of around 5 - 20% of the total transaction.

The proliferation of XML product data feeds has added a new twist to the affiliate marketing play. Companies like GoldenCan now aggregate product feeds from multiple affiliate networks and provide tools that make it easy for fashion blogs to expose product data to both shoppers and search spiders.

Fashion blogs around the world

While there are tens of thousands of English-language blogs dedicated to fashion, the vast majority have little to say and even less of an audience. Identifying the most influential ones can be somewhat of a challenge.

Australia

Various Australian blogs have attracted media attention, including Sassybella, The Bargain Queens and Beijing Baby! Sassybella is an online fashion magazine that allows anyone to "find information about the latest It bags, see what It girls are wearing, as well as what's going on in the industry" with an emphasis on the latest fashion and beauty news. The Bargain Queens blog is a blog "dedicated to sharing information on how to sniff out a bargain”. Beijing Baby! is a site dedicated to a young women's daily insights and stories on life and fashion.

United Kingdom

In December 2006, it was stated that "Britain still lags behind the US in developing the fashion blogosphere, but things are picking up." Catwalk Queen as an example of a UK fashion blog. Catwalk Queen began as a personal blog by Gemma Cartwright before it was sold to Shiny Mediam. It grew into one of the biggest UK based fashion blogs with a handful of writer’s blogging for it at any time.

The London fashion blog Style Bubble has also attracted media attention with her "guide to trends, designers and shopping hot spots in Britain's capital city". In 2008 Susie Bubble was named among the Evening Standard's 'London's 1000 most influential' in the Fashion category.