TypePad Featured Blogs

Being Belisi

When Peter Belisi, author of Being Belisi, was working in Palm Beach, he started dressing like his high-end clientele because he knew that “if I wanted success, I needed to look the part.” Peter started by building a tie collection, a look both noticed and praised by his customers, and one which ultimately served as his inspiration - to sell a line of luxury fashion accessories with roots in the Palm Beach lifestyle but at a more approachable price. Peter blogs on “fashion, celebrities, and life”, and you can see examples of the first here and here, get a glimpse of some of the stars of Palm Beach, even be a star yourself. The whole sunny, casually elegant Palm Beach style is evident throughout the site, perhaps nowhere more than in Peter’s credo: “giving is part of the Palm Beach lifestyle as much as luxury” – and to that end, a portion of any purchase you make will be donated to the cause of your choice.

Next Hottest Model

Ready for some eye candy? Next Hottest Model has it in spades – and what’s more, you get to see the action from both sides of the camera. An online portfolio of the models, photographers, designers, and professionals in the industry, the site is rich in photographs, as you’d expect. It covers areas such as design and fashion, so you get a real sense of what’s happening, who’s wearing what (and where), who’s it, and what some of the hottest styles and trends are. And if you’re considering shooting for success – as a photographer or model – you might want to check out some of the campaigns, the styles, and the contacts embedded in the site.

Fly Girls

Fly Girls is an array of colors, text, photos, and designs that reflect the author’s desire to share “the things that inspire me “ with her readers, (in order) “to create a train of inspiration”. To that end, Fly Girls is “fabulously creative”, and scrolling through the site is like walking through a wonderful artists’ bazaar in which you can see and experience literally anything, as posts about designers, lettering artists, dancers, and artists bear out. See what we mean? Whatever your creative bent, you’ll likely find it here displayed in posts, pictures, videos, and books. Many of the products shown here are available for purchase – and just maybe, they’ll inspire you to create your own works of art.

Wickedly Chic

It’s fun, it’s funky, it’s fabulous! It’s Wickedly Chic, a blog filled with great things to wear, to decorate, and to lounge in. Unique products are gathered from artists and designers around the country and the world, to create a wonderful, one-of-a-kind bazaar chock full of jewelry, home décor, food and drink, and lots more. The designs range from retro to contemporary, the fragrances from divine to decadent, and the food to simply delicious. Ladies: it’s your one stop shop to looking great and feeling better, and men, it’s a life saver for Valentine’s Day!

Modish

Jena Coray runs Modish, a blog “celebrating handmade goods, the people who create them, and the shoppers that buy them”. Modish means stylish and these pieces are presented as a unique alternative to the mass-produced goods we encounter daily. Featuring product reviews and guides and a variety of columns designed to give us a peek at the people behind the handmade movement, Modish will inspire you with independent art and design and the creative vision of its subjects. Those that have carved their own sense of style will find inspiration (and temptation) in distinctive eco-friendly designs, jewelry, clothing, and items for bath and body. For those that feel like shopping right now, Jena's store is open for business (with no lines)!

Invade My Closet

Attention, shopaholics – have we got a blog for you! Invade My Closet is your one-stop “shossip” (that’s shopping and news about shopping) source for urban style, trends, reviews, and sample sales. And with a tag line like that, you can bet you’re going to find what you need to wear, eat, apply, and see, such as jeans, funkadelic footwear (), and first looks at 2008 sportswear. That’s just the start, as the bloggers scour the streets of Manhattan for the latest styles and trends; in addition to the daily posts, there are links to many of the top name designers and media sources that cover fashion and gossip – not to mention the lively comments left by the readers! (Yes, you can order online!)

She's a Betty

Who’s a Betty? She’s a woman that loves fashion, all fashion, from vintage to indie to budget, and She’s A Betty has them all – and the best part is, they’re affordable! You want shoes (and who doesn't)? Try them on here. You want a blast from the past? Look at the Vintage collection. You want budget styles? They have ‘em here. And because a true Betty is stylish and hip, there are witty, informative posts on travel, food and drink and more! Photos and posts are accompanied by reviews, facts and figures on the merchandise - everything you need to dress up your holiday is in here, so stop by today!

The Business of Fashion

Imran Amed is a Canadian-born, London-based expert operating at the distinct intersection of business and fashion on a global scale. Read his take on 'which designers were in and who was out' at London's fashion week. Or get a taste of what the future holds through the eyes of industry leaders in Fashion 2.0:. It's all available in Amed's unparalleled blog, The Business of Fashion. If you're still craving more from this renowned professional, check out the attention he has garnered from publications such as the Financial Times and American GQ.

Oh Joy!

There’s something delightfully inviting about handmade and design-forward goods. Oh Joy! celebrates the grace and beauty of such items, gathering them from all over the country (but especially focusing on hometown Philadelphia finds). Joy Deangdeelert Cho knows all about great design; as founder of Oh Joy! Studio she specializes in designing for home accessories, textiles, branding and stationery (and what a stunning portfolio it is!). Joy’s online collection of gorgeous finds includes everything from food to clothes to home accessories; all guaranteed to empty your wallet (the TypePad team has admittedly been drooling over every. Single. Item). Take a browse through; you’ll most certainly have a joyful visit.

HELLOmynameisHeather

Heather Bailey is a mother of two and the creative energy behind Freshcut™, a beautiful line of fabrics she designed. Her blog, HELLOmynameisHeather, is awash in gorgeous fabric projects made with her talented hands. Proving good taste and a knack for style can equal success, many of her designs have been snapped up by celebrities and high-end boutiques and department stores. Just a quick glance through the blog will have the fabricphiles ooohing and aaahing over the lush patterns and the eye-candy photographs. For the more ambitious, Heather has thoughtfully provided free patterns so we can try our hand at creating her wares. Keep an eye on this blog for new fabric designs and projects.

Retail Design Diva

The Retail Design Diva blog gives the avid shopper a place to put up her Manolo-clad feet and revel in the consumer experience. Hosted by DDI Magazine and GlobalShop, Retail Design Diva is a fascinating read about the art and science of retail design. From upscale Neiman Marcus to modest J.C. Penney, no store is safe from the scrutiny of the Diva; even something as innocuous as mall curfews and dressing room mirrors fall under her discriminating eye. If retail design is among your interests, be sure to take a look at the articles about branding, visual merchandising, and retail technology. And if retail design is your career (or dream job), there’s a section just for you. The blog invites feedback and conversation, and encourages praise and venting equally. Because, hey, every diva should have her day.

Scoutie Girl

Jan DiCintio of Scoutie Girl had an epiphany as she pretzeled herself around a client's toilet to paint the wall behind it. It just wasn't worth it. She embarked on a new creative venture, designing handbags for her own store, Daisy Janie. As she was exchanging links with other independent designers, she discovered a whole world of unique, labor-intensive products out there just waiting to be coveted. Scoutie Girl brings that world of outrageously talented indie designers to you, with jewelry, clothing, art, and paper goods all well represented. Each item is hand-picked by DiCintio for its creativity, beauty, and above all, its independent spirit. If you eschew mass-produced consumer products and appreciate items made with hands instead of machines, then you may be a scoutie girl, too.

The Watch Report

Whether you wear a twenty-dollar Casio digital or a paycheck-busting piece of old-world Swiss craftsmanship, most people can certainly appreciate that a watch is about more than just the utility of time-keeping. At The Watch Report, horologically obsessed blogger Christian Cantrell has been offering in-depth reviews of timepieces at all price-points for more than two years. While his posting schedule has been light lately, the archives are rich with eye candy and insights. We dare you not to find something to covet at this impeccably organized and illustrated resource.

Lulu's Vintage

Despite the hours of fun it can be to sift through racks at thrift stores and antique shops, it's even more fun to have your own vintage scout! Let Lulu be your guide to the best of all things retro. Lulu's Vintage is a well-designed blog with posts more reliable than most shop hours.  Fashion Fridays includes new clothes inspired by old styles, while Manly Mondays cover hard-to-find men's vintage clothing. We love that Lulu doesn't hoard her finds.  Not only does she share last-minute sales on eBay, but she also directs us to her Top 10 Vintage Clothing Websites so we can hunt for our own gems. If an auction is too much for your patience, check out "the store" to get your hands on Lulu's personal stock. Crafters will love the link on Antique Fabrics, while gossip-hounds will rush to the Celebrity category.

Shoe Flyer

You don't have to be Carrie Bradshaw to appreciate Shoe Flyer, a brand new trend-watching site for all things shoetastic. Owned by Shoe Fly, a boutique chain in the Northwest, the blog hosts a team of reviewers composed of both women and men who make sure no hip footwear is left on the shelf. We love the look and feel of Shoe Flyer and the content they offer. Sure, since they're a business, they link to shoes within their catalog, but the posts are also filled with celebrity gossip, pointers to fashion sites, and links to lively shopping bloggers, too. The posts read like an email from your best friend telling you her latest find. Bargain hunters will dig the Sole Steal of the Week, while others will thank Shoe Flyer for their candid shoe reviews. Diehard shoe-lovers can subscribe via RSS or sign up for an email newsletter, of course. 

Beauty Dish

Birdie Jaworksi is a courageous leader and she doesn't even know it. Sure, Avon sales reps probably give her endless thanks for all the experience and wisdom she shares on Beauty Dish: True Underground Adventures of an Avon Lady -- but her effusive optimism, steadfast honesty, and positive attitude towards living life is a nice example of how being a great woman shows more beauty than cosmetics can provide. Ladies, it doesn't matter if you don't wear Avon, many women (especially those starting their own business) can benefit from this blog. Take heart to the entrepreneurial lessons offered in Avon Lady Quote of the Day, have a laugh (and note the terrific viral marketing example) in Avon as big as your head, and relish in knowing that life is not always about work. This is a sweet blog that unveils the human spirit, and how much of a difference positivity can make for everyone, let alone the so-called average mom.

Invade My Closet

Shopping + Gossip = Shossip. That's a formula for a pretty great blog. Invade My Closet delivers both subjects, with a vengeance. Your guide to who's wearing what, and how you can get it on sale -- that's the beat of Invade My Closet's author, Tara Fisher, a 26-year-old New Yorker addicted to soy lattes and dreaming of working at Elle. We love that she speaks through her clothes in What I Wore 2 Day, because what you wear is often dependent on your mood. Find the right handbags, catch a sale, help Tara make more room in her closet, or use your lunch breaks to see what's hot (and not) with the glitterati. Invade My Closet also offers a Q&A for the hesitant shopper, and encourages others to leave her a message in the sidebar. Like a magazine, you'll be looking at the ads just as much as the posts for hints on what's hip today, but it's fun! Hooked and eager for a fix between posts? Check out the IMC blogroll for more like-minded sass.

Miss Tified Beauty Blog

Miss Tified details one woman's quest to learn the tools and techniques of modern cosmetics, and while it's relatively new, this blog seems like its written by someone who knows what she's doing. The tip-off is all the little things: She chose an interesting topic that she can dive into, where her readers can offer their own insights or just come along for the ride. She customized the look and feel of the blog and gave it instant personality with a playful header. She clearly states the question she's tackling, right at the top of one of her sidebars: "How the heck do I master all the products and techniques out there that are supposed to make me look good?" She's knows her own voice and she's posting frequently, illustrating her entries with well-placed graphics. The sidebars have a great mix of navigation into the blog and over to related sites and resources. So, while she may not have completely mastered makeup, if her ability to put together a great-looking blog is any indication, we think Mena Trott will probably be ready to start her own line of cosmetics in about a month. [Full disclosure: Mena co-founded Six Apart. Ever fuller disclosure: We would've featured Miss Tified even if she hadn't.]

Fly

You don’t have to be rich to be beautiful or to appreciate beauty. Fly inspires women to take notice of what's lovely in every day life, and how to enrich their own wardrobe and style. It doesn't matter if you have a natural talent for accessorizing or if you need a little help in that department. Consider Fly your personal shopper and follow the talented Andrea into Soho, Philly, or Harlem. When she's not out on the town, Andrea creates drool-worthy wish lists from magazines, and other style bees on the web. Women are celebrated in Fly Girl of the Week. Even if you don't live in New York, you'll appreciate the trend-watching and gorgeous illustrations and collages that adorn the posts.

Don't Believe the Hype

The blogger behind Don't Believe the Hype, Audrey Brashich, is an author and speaker who focuses on healthy body images for girls and keeps an eye on pop culture and the teen-aimed media and how it addresses the concept of "beauty ideals." She's uniquely qualified for the task, not only because, like many bloggers and authors, she's curious, open-minded, and articulate, but also because she's worked as a writer and editor for that very media for most of her career. Now she spends her time on the board of Mind on the Media and consults, as well as supporting her book, All Made Up: A Girl’s Guide to Seeing Through Celebrity Hype and Celebrating Real Beauty. It's great to see a smart voice suggesting some reality checks for an industry that is so scarily effective in shaping the attitudes of its consumers that 43% of middle-school girls would rather be a celebrity's assistant than a CEO, Senator, or university president. If Audrey's voice can carry a little farther, hopefully we'll start seeing more Sassy in the teen media and a little less skinny.

Style Bubble

Like most teens, Susie Bubble's first interest in fashion was an act of adolescent rebellion, but it grew into a passion and eventually into the savvy and irreverent Style Bubble. The posts are filled with all the chic clothes that cross Susie's path, from the beloved Jens Laugesen in her closet to the Wood Wood she's dying to get her hands on. Not all of the pics on this blog are from the designers you'd find in magazines, Susie also takes her camera to the streets to give us London's fashion pulse in Bubble Cam Streetstyle. The sidebars are filled with fashion resource links both for blog and book lovers, and other notable categories include The Art of Shopping and TrendsRUs, Above and beyond the call of a great blogger's duty, Susie offers to shop and ship clothes straight from the UK to her overseas readers. That's what we call international cooperation at its finest.

Retro To Go

Keeping up with the Joneses isn't good enough anymore, the new new in cool is being able to say, "I'm more eclectic than you." If you have hipster friends on your giftlist this holiday season, make sure to window-shop at Retro To Go. Including mid-century modern furniture, retro fashion, books, film and television, and even wannabe vintage gadgets and technology. Outfit yourself in everything you can and then hit the road  for some of their Retro Retreat travel options. It's obvious that authors behind Retro To Go are not just touting trendy wares, but sharing the treasures that they've put at the top of their wishlists. Since RTG is part of a very chic UK blog network that includes ModCulture News and Cinedelica, most of the prices are shown in pounds sterling. But don't let that steer you away if you live elsewhere, heaps of these retro gems can be bought online.

hapa | hale

Anybody who's spent any amount of time in Hawaii will definitely come away with the sense that the islands have a distinctive style, all their own. Unfortunately, that style is often stereotypically represented by nothing more than a lei and a luau. Obviously, there's a great deal more to Hawaii's fashion and food sensibilities, not to mention the tastes of individual Hawaiians. That's where hapa | hale comes in. Written by an island girl living on the mainland, the blog offers "everything modern & fresh from Hawai'i" -- from surfwear to food to travel. If you're a frequent visitor to Hawaii, this is a great way to keep the islands on your mind, without resorting to humming "Aloha Oe." And if you're a native Hawaiian, make sure you check out hapa | hale's locals only category for the inside scoop.

Glenn O'Brien's Style

Glenn O'Brien is the Style Guy for GQ, and his newly launched TypePad blog is featured prominently on the magazine's site. Every week, the sartorial guru shares his thoughts about men's fashion trends and individual style. The posts, cut with sharp wit and tailored from O'Brien's personal observations, are dressed up with the columnist's own photography. Our favorite recent post: O'Brien officially declares that flip-flops are "over." Of course, the site looks great. You'd expect nothing less from a publication dedicated to style. And we love the fact that O'Brien and GQ have decided to make an off-the-rack blog look like a designer website. TypePad -- it goes with plaid shorts or a pinstriped suit.

Awesome

Awesome is the brainchild of bloggers Sarah Hatter and Wendy Atterberry. Featuring cool finds and quirky writeups, this blog will appeal to anyone and everyone who enjoys browser-window shopping. Covering an eclectic mix of products and media, Sarah and Wendy's tastes run the gamut -- from chic to cheeky. You'll find music, clothing, accessories, home decor, food, and perhaps the quintessential Awesome category: fun. Even more, the writing is funny and the periodic "themes" are a nice twist. This month it's "products under $25." For a quick dose of delight, check out Awesome, and while you're at it, take a look at the duo's debut anthology, The Very Best Weblog Writing Ever.

Freddy and Ma

Freddy & Ma is New York company that offers a very cool line of custom-made and ready-to-buy handbags. Brother and sister team Anthony and Amy Pigliacampo aspire to create more than just flavor-of-the-week looks. They want to inspire people to sport accessories that are a direct reflection of their individual style. Along with a gorgeous product configurator that allows customers to engineer the handbag of their dreams, the team offers a frequently updated blog that shares Anthony and Amy's own unique style sense -- along with press mentions, brand shout-outs, gift ideas, ensemble inspiration, and updates on their crack team of textile designers. One recurring theme on F&M's site is finding other sources of customizable fashion -- a subject close to our hearts since we like to think of a TypePad blog as a great example of a fully customizable accessory that never goes out of style. We hope that Anthony and Amy feel the same as their business evolves, expands, and leads them into new creative directions.

JANE Magazine Blogs

The folks behind JANE Magazine bill themselves as purveyors of "fashion, beauty, music, gossip, and news for 20-something women." Dirty secret: You don't have to be a 20-something woman to enjoy the fun. Check out the mag's site and you'll see that they've jumped into blogging in a big way. They've actually got four separate blogs. One group blog for all their editors, one for music and celebrities, one for fashion and makeup, and one devoted to a monthly guest blogger. This past month, the guest contributor was Lindsay Robertson, who posted up an eclectic storm on everything from American Inventor to leprechaun sightings. With that many blogs overflowing with content, plus friends like Lindsay, JANE is certainly one of the cool kids on the magazine rack.   

Coquette

Natalie Zee, blogger for Make magazine and, presumably, the upcoming Craft, has her own site, Coquette, dedicated to "digital style." Spanning the entire fashion spectrum, Natalie touches on everything from her grandmother's impeccable personal style to gorgeous product design to new-media fashion press to the results of Project Runway. Not only are Natalie's posts a feast for any visually inspired reader, her insights and fashion finds are always stylin'.

Go Fug Yourself

Do you sometimes doubt your sense of personal style? Fear not. Go Fug Yourself is all you need to steady that wobbly self-esteem. Fashionistas Heather and Jessica prove that it's hard not to dress better than Lindsay Lohan. By definition, "fugly" stands for extreme ugliness. (A contraction of, um, "fantasically" and "ugly" perhaps?) This gossip blog is a laugh-out-loud glimpse at the fashion faux pas of today's glam gals (and guys). Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Paris and Nicky Hilton, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Bai Ling appear so often they each have their own category. The duo that The Village Voice calls "the meanest queens in the cafeteria" even have an "Unfugging" section that pays tribute to those stars that have cleaned up their image—can we get a round of applause for Michael Madsen? Reading GFY is as much fun as eating dessert first, so bookmark it and count the minutes till your boss goes to lunch.

Fashion Tribes

Lesley Scott is the lifestyle guru behind this blog. Part of the GLAM network, Fashion Tribes offers the inside scoop on today's fashion and points its readers towards budget-friendly clothes and accessories that even the most apparel-clueless can appreciate. One of the best parts of the site is Lesley's "Fashion Tribes Tidbit" podcast. Short and informative, the podcast hand-delivers the best bits of the blog, while keeping your eyes free for primping. For extra fashion points, take their Personality Quiz to find out which designers fit your persona like a velvet glove.

Modestly Yours

Twenty women speak out and offer their view on the crudity and nudity that seems to be growing in today's media. The bloggers at Modestly Yours hail from a wide range of backgrounds and interests: They include a 16-year old student who crosses the country speaking on non-violence and abstinence, a professional singer who is an ambassador for race relations, a mother who homeschools her three children, the Programs Director at the Poetry Society of America, and an Orthodox Jew who was born in Australia, to name a few. The blog forum is sponsored by the Modesty Zone, which celebrates women who walk their own path of good values. Some of the issues discussed are sexuality and dating for today's teens, role models in modern media, religious holidays, challenging situations for parents, and good book reads.