#BLOGGERCONF ’15 – The Business of Blogging: IRELAND’S FIRST Dedicated Blogger Conference!

#BLOGGERCONF

Walking up to the main entrance of The salubrious Five *Marker Hotel on a chilly but glorious morning in Dublin my heart skipped a beat. I was overjoyed and slightly overwhelmed by the sense of achievement and just how far I have come in the blogging world – here I was walking into the biggest Blogger Conference Ireland has ever seen and I was featuring on a Showcase Panel.

I paused, casting my face upwards towards the winter sun, closed my eyes and let the feelings wash over me, settle and spurn me on to taking another step in my writing and blogging journey.

The Location: The Marker Hotel, Grand Canal, Dublin.

The Date: November 22nd 2015.

The Event: BLOGGERCONF

BLOGGERCONF is Ireland’s First dedicated Blogger Conference and has solidified itself as a credible, major player and hugely respected conference based on its reputation, incredible feedback and sell-out success on this, its ‘maiden voyage’.

Founded by stellar business woman Emma O’Farrell and welcoming all influencers in tech, business, blogging, social media and digital the conference gives Bloggers and Brands the chance to connect, network and engage in a relaxed environment.

BLOGGERCONF was held in conjunction with Life’s2Good and saw a host of other fabulous sponsors join us such as Canon, Rachel Dalton Communications, Fáilte Ireland, Evoke.ie, Deliveroo and The Marker Hotel.

Xposé also attended in the afternoon to cover the conference and interview some people, including Founder Emma O’Farrell.

Our MC for the event was the delightful and often hilarious James Butler, stylist and Fashion Ed at MFI Magazine and blogger at Jus de James.

The Line-up:

The line-up was phemomenal with not one but Two Showcase Q&A Panels –

○My panel Fashion /Beauty/Lifestyle and a
○Travel/Fitness/Food Panel.

○Presentations included: those from businesses and brands such as Rachel of Rachel Dalton Communications, Jenny Taafe from I-Zest Marketing, William Fry Solicitors and Blogger Anouska Proetta Brandon.
○Masterclasses came from Simeon Quarrie of Canon, Google and The Tweeting Goddess, Samntha Kelly.

{Meeting the lovely Anouska, fellow content creator – predominantly Instagram focused (for good reason, her Insta is gorge!) We had some fun after hours with Simeon Quarrie of Canon and Anouska loves my laugh…which I’m known for. What a compliment, thanks girlie!}

The hype surrounding the highly anticipated BLOGGERCONF was intense and it wasn’t long before #BLOGGERCONF was trending on Twitter!

My Q&A Showcase Panel:

The Showcase Panel I was on speaking on about Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle took place in the morning and consisted of:
☆James Butler of Jus de James.
☆Sinead of Beauttruth.
☆Tara of TarMarz YouTube channel/blog.
☆Niamh Webb O’Rourke of LoveLife Blog.

Time to Shine:

I was the newbie blogger on the panel (I’m blogging 11 months) but the respect from my fellow bloggers on panel and in general has been amazing. To get such validation as an influencer and content creator to speak at such an event has been incredible and I truly appreciate it every day!
I’ve had a tremendous amount of positive feedback at and since, BLOGGERCONF regarding the fact that in a year I’ve gone from being an attendeè at a previous conference for bloggers, to being an Award Nominated Blogger and on the bill at Ireland’s First Dedicated Blogger Conference this year! I cannot fathom what an incredible achievement that is for me!

Just some of the positive feedback I got after panel: delegates and fellow bloggers approaching to congratulate me and say that:

○they loved my blog and style of writing, loved hearing about everything I’ve accomplished in this short amount of time and admired my attitude towards blogging.

○ They liked that I was included on panel with some high profile bloggers.
Delegates approached me and said they admired the fact that such an acclaimed conference had “acknowledged an up and coming blogger (such as myself) who is relatable and inspiring” to them – relatable in that I am in the process of building my blog and brand and that they were in the audience and thought, “that could be me, I could make something of my blog.”

I cannot tell you the impact these words had on me, only to say I was floored and quite emotional on the inside which I struggled to conceal.

It’s so lovely to meet people you don’t know/haven’t met before and hear they read your blog content, it is such a humbling experience!
To hear that your passion, dedication and actions inspire others has a powerful impact and will stay with me forever.

{Pictured: with fellow Panelist and Blogger James Butler. I’m wearing Penneys/Primark Soft Knit Embellished Sweater and Burgundy Suede Wedge Ankle Boots, River Island Faux Leather Snakeskin skinnies and jewels from Accessorize and Arnotts. Make-up is predominatly Urban Decay. I gotta get this ‘posing’ stuff down guys…people make it look so easy!}

Showcase Panel 2: Travel/Fitness/Food included Fitness Bloggers Sarah Murphy and Rob Lipsett and Food Blogger Niamh of Gourmet Grazing Blog whom I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time!

A networking lunch provided a fantastic opportunity for brands, businesses, industry related folk and bloggers to connect, complete with delicious food from The Marker Hotel, even catering for various food requirements!

Several brands had stands at the event allowing delegates to casually peruse their wares during intervals, such fabulous brands as Caravelle New York, Beutifi, So Fragrances, Declare, Connector.ie, MeeMaw Bags and Athlone Town Centre.

{Caravelle New York: I fell in love at BLOGGERCONF – with Caravelle New York and this Rose Gold beaut…}

{BEUTIFI.com stand were I was kindly gifted this Redken Shine Spray – love this stuff – thanks guys!}

{The Canon stand at BLOGGERCONF were I perused the best of the best camera equipment – every must have in a Blogger’s arsenal of tools! I have my eye of some nifty gadgets thanks to some YouTubers I watch, as well as Simeon Quarrie and Anouska!}

{Declare’s newest release their “Essential Eye Lifting Serum” was showcased at BLOGGERCONF!}

{A great selection of clutches and a beautiful “Dreamcatcher” chain, caught my eye at the Mee Maw stand at BLOGGERCONF.}

{So…? Fragrances – Sponsors of The Fashion/Beauty/Lifestyle Panel also had a stand, to the delight of delegates and were on hand to offer guidance on their new Couture Range of scents. I was lucky enough to attend the launch of The So…? Couture Range earlier this year!}

A truly fantastic event from the organisation, to speakers and masterclasses, to the panels and Q&A sessions, a chance to meet like minded people all with lunch and a jam-packed goody bag included!

If you attended BLOGGERCONF tell me I’d love to know!
Comment below or:
Tweet me: @DublinGail or Tag me on Instagram: @littlegforce leave a comment on the GlamForce blog by Gail O’Connor Facebook page!

Thank You Notes:

A massive thank you to organiser and founder of BLOGGERCONF Emma O’Farrell for believing in me and my abilities. I can’t thank you enough Emma and have loved being part of the BLOGGERCONF Family!
Also thank you to: Life’s 2 Good for being our headline sponsor.
Our Masterclass speakers Google, Simeon Quarrie of Canon and Samantha Kelly, The Tweeting Goddess.
All of our other phenomenal industry related speakers.
Thank you to So Fragrance for sponsoring the Beauty/Fashion/LifeStyle Showcase Panel.
All delegates who attended brands, businesses and bloggers for making it a truly memorable experience.

Thanks for stopping by guys!
I hope you enjoyed this post and are excited for BLOGGERCONF ’16 – I know I am!

Gail. Xx
Photography: All images © of Gail O’Connor, Nicolette Spelic Photography,
Patrick O’Leary Photography and
BLOGGERCONF.

Beauty Alert! The NEW So…? Couture Perfume Range You NEED To Know About!

On a cool and cloudy September day in Dublin, my spirits were lifted in a haze of perfume and the promise of cocktails and chat at the So…? Fragrance Press Day for their new Couture Range!

The Date:

Wednesday, September 2nd 2015.

The Location:

One of my favourite venues the gorgeous space that is, House Dublin.

Being a huge fan of the original So…? (anyone else love this one?) fragrance from my teenage years I was intrigued and delighted to get an exclusive sniff of their new offerings and I have to say I was not disappointed.

Drawing inspiration from the fashion realm the new Couture Range delivers a hip, vibrant and fresh scent experience capturing the essence of fashion capitals such as London and Paris beautifully.

Let the streets be your catwalk. – So Couture campaign

My fave?

Oh SO Good!

Although they all smell lovely, I’m predominantly a fresher fragrance fan and so I was pleasantly surprised (and excited!) by the London fragrance, a sophisticated, cool, refreshing yet zingy scent.
It oozes the cosmopolitan vibe associated with London as a Fashion Capitol and I just love it!

The Couture Range:

Featuring names of fashion capitals such as NYC, London, Paris and Rio the range to me, vies to encapsulate the modern living associated with some of the world’s fashion capitals and fuse fashion with a suitable scent experience, conjuring up favourable memories and feelings surrounding said cities.

Other products newly launched:

Dry Shampoo: in So…? Lovely and So…? Va Va Volume, they also come in a nifty pack with two mini body sprays perfect for travel, concerts, events, music festivals and the like!

New Rock and Roll Range: So…? Rock and Roll –  trendy fragrances boasting a mixture of street chic and edgy style in tattoo-printed sleek, cylindrical bottles – my favourite from this range being the So…? For Me fragrance.

The Edible Delights & Thirst Quenchers:

Couture style cupcakes and delectable treats from House, Dublin – including signature cocktails created for the event!

Nails Dublin were on hand providing some much welcomed manicures to guests.

Gail Kaneswaren – changing it up and embracing winter white as her nail colour of choice!

So Social!

The event was so popular it even started trending on Twitter!
#placetobe

My fellow Bloggers and I enjoying the event.

Tell me, who out there is a fan of So…? Fragrances and what is your earliest memory of the brand? I love hearing from you!

A hugely successful event full of fun and frolics with a fabulous jam-packed goodie bag. Delighted.

Massive thanks to the So…? Fragrance team Joanne and Therese and also Event Manager Emma O’Farrell for the invitation and hospitality. Also, the staff and management at House Dublin for their friendly attitude, professionalism and attention to detail throughout the event.

You can get your hands on these goodies, available in Penneys (Primark) and selected pharmacies nationwide or shop the collection: So…? Fragrances.

Thanks for stopping by guys!

Gail. Xx

Photography: © Gail O’Connor.
1st image: So…? Fragrance.
Blogger Group shot: Mei Ling Tong.

Thomas Sabo: “Love Bridge” Collection Launch – Arnotts, Dublin: NEW jewellery designs celebrating love!

Thursday 24th July 2015:

Girl About Town!

Last Thursday was eventful. No really.”Event Full” – as a double whammy of events saw me having one of those glorious, Carrie Bradshaw Sex in the City moments, dashing about town from one event to another!

From jewellery to clothing launches, it was a fun-filled evening.

First up was the Thomas Sabo launch and a sneak peek at the brand new designs to feature in the “Love Bridge” collection.

The Location: Arnotts Dublin.

All that Glitters!

Having chatted with the lovely Lorna Weightman (blogger, fashion commentator/presenter and regular contributor to TV3’s Xposé), the gals from Revolve PR and some fellow bloggers I hadn’t seen in a while (plus some I hadn’t met – always great!), I went about checking out the Thomas Sabo counter and all it had to offer!

Love Bridge Collection:
#MyLoveBridge

This new collection was inspired by the love locks attached to bridges by lovers in cities like Paris.
The message of this collection urges us to “Make Memories Last” with engraving, which always adds a really nice, sentimental touch to any piece of jewellery we give or receive. It is particularly perfect for this campaign I think, solidifying ones love in an engraved piece, as is done in the practice and symbolism of a love lock!

The ritual of a “love lock” is practised mostly by couples, however the beauty of the Love Bridge campaign from Thomas Sabo for me, is what I like to call, a simple “Celebration of Love” – a love of family, friends, life motto’s, life achievements and ourselves! Such a beautiful and empowering, core message within the campaign. Even the hashtag #MyLoveBridge allows one to feel that they are creating their very own “Love Bridge” moment!

The pearl bracelets from this stunning collection, have already made it onto my Christmas list! #christmasinjuly

The engraveable “love bridge” and freshwater pearl beaded bracelet being a particular fave.
I am a pearl fiend and adore this classic in its traditional and contemporary styles, for me the pearl oozes class and sophistication, with a touch of glamour, prep and power – all things every woman should aim to have, or at least feel like they have.

Some other pieces that caught my magpie eye! #sparkleandshine

I also adore and respect the meaning behind the “evil eye” and I’m loving the simplicity and daintiness in these pieces!

The Thomas Sabo Charm Club celebrates it’s tenth birthday this year! *sings Happy birthday to ya…

Tell me have you got your charm on yet and joined the club? I really need to take the plunge and join! Isn’t it good luck to receive your charms as gifts or is that a myth?! Let me know in the comments if there’s any truth to that! #superstitious

What about the men?

Thomas Sabo even cater to the male population with masculine yet blinged out watches and earthy, toned down, beaded pieces.

How do like the collection from what you’ve seen? Any faves? I’d love to know!

Lorna, our host for the evening spoke about her favourite pieces from the collection.

Lornas favourite pieces.

The Outfit:

I went for a palette of black and white to match the Thomas Sabo colour scheme and decided on a sports luxe approach to my outfit as the second event I was attending was a luxury sportswear clothing launch and I therefore felt the outfit was fitting for both launches!

A pop of yellow with the statement necklace provided a sprinkling of summer to the monochrome outfit. I also stepped way out of my comfort zone with pointed, backless, plimsoles – which I now adore!

P.S. I have to mention, the henna tattoo applications, a fab and unexpected twist to the evening! I opted for the triple heart – no doubt brought on by the “Love Bridge Collection” influence of the night. The lovely Sarah from Revolve PR provided some laughs whilst applying the henna tattoo and I was delighted with the result!

Thanks so much to Revolve PR for the invitation, Thomas Sabo, Arnotts Dublin and it’s staff and Lorna Weightman for being our “hostess with the mostess” on the evening!

Stay tuned for a post on the second launch I attended and a bit of a summery one for you too, coming soon to the blog guys!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Gail. Xx
All Photography: © Gail O’Connor.

Shop Thomas Sabo at Arnotts.

The “EMERGENCE” Exhibition Launch & Fashion Show! Irish Designers in: Clothing, Jewellery & Millinery Design!

A Celebration of Irish Designers!

A few weeks ago I received a delightful invitation to an exclusive fashion event. An exhibition launch dubbed “Emergence” built around the idea to showcase emerging talent in Irish Design within Gorey’s fashion hub.

A chance for four designers of clothing, jewellery and millinery, to showcase their creative talent and latest collections for Fall/Winter 2015. I had been looking forward to this event for a while now, so I packed my bags and went along to the event last Thursday!

The Location:

The Gaslamp Gallery, Esmonde Street Gorey, Co. Wexford

Esmonde Street is known to be part of Gorey’s fashion district. The Gaslamp Gallery made for a modern, personalised, bright and airy space perfect for a showcase event, fashion show and to house the “Emergence” Exhibition.

Gallery owner Claire was a warm, welcoming presence upon my arrival at the gallery on the rain soaked afternoon and was an amazing host for the evening.

The Designers:

(L-R) Naoimh Prim, Kabira Allain, Amanda Byrne and Áine Breen.

Naoimh Prim – Naoimh Prim: Hand Printed Textiles.

Kabira Allain – Fashion Designer and owner of the label KYMAÏA.

Amanda Byrne – milliner and owner Highbury Designs.

Áine Breen- Limu Jewellery.

Each designer is registered with and members of, The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland and their passion and dedication to their craft is apparent in the detail of every piece they create.

The Behind the Scenes Access:

The “sunny south east” of Ireland obviously didn’t get the memo that I would be in town and I arrived in the afternoon off the train from Dublin to a rainy, cool and breezy “summer’s” day.

The Gaslamp Gallery was a hub of activity upon my arrival. I met with the designers, chatted a little, snapped some sneak peek shots of the collections, updated social media and then rolled up my sleeves to freshen up the hats from Highbury Designs to give a helping hand.

I have a real appreciation in seeing “the behind the scenes” at an event, it’s always so interesting to see the last minute details come together. From steaming garments to making sure hair and makeup is running on time and the photographer is getting the shots he wants, seeing everything fall into place before any event, especially a fashion event – is very satisfying to witness as a Fashion Blogger.

I couldn’t resist snapping this hat/jumpsuit combo. Hat – Highbury Designs.

This look stole my heart! The handmade, handstiched hat, adds a showstopping element to the exquisite jumpsuit and the simple, complimentary colour scheme makes this a versatile look – a modern, sophisticated take on separates resulting in a winning combination. A stand out look for me and one I would totally sport to a myriad of events and occasions!

Amanda Byrne of Highbury Designs.

Up Close and Personal with Liwu Jewellery:

A stunningly crafted collection with different meanings behind each of the designs, such as; “Love – life to the heart, grace to the body.”

Inspired by a trip to Beijing and influenced by Chinese calligraphy and the ancient meaning of the beautiful characters, Áine set about designing a jewellery collection, even the company name Liwu has a meaning – “gift”. I certainly wouldn’t mind receiving anything from this collection as a gift would you?!

The Liwu Jewellery collection is a superb array of super stylish, delicate, yet eye-catching pieces to adorn ourselves with ladies!
#newfave in the jewellery world for me!

Naoimh Prim: Hand Printed Textiles:

An earthy, classic, yet sophisticated collection including snoods, scarves and wraps – here is a closer glimpse at some of these pieces actually being showcased and some possible ways to style them.

I adore the print on these pieces and the colour selection!

Organic jersey cotton, hand printed designs in a myriad of colours and styles.

KYMAÏA: by Kabira Allain.

This coat is a must have this A/W 2015! Effortlessly stylish, yet will keep you cosy in the depths of the Irish winter.

This dress is another favourite of mine, I adore the modern, egdy addition of leather and the combination of different textures in the piece.

This cape and leather monochrome skirt ensemblé was a favourite amongst the crowd with a number of folks “coo-ing” over it!

What I love about all of the collections from the designers, is that their pieces suit a wide variety of age groups and styles.

Pretty as a Picture!

A journey of inspiration and preparation by the designers, captured and displayed in a unique fashion (pun totally intended!) at the Emergence Exhibition:

Hours of work went into creating this photographic piece by the designers themselves.

Behind the scenes the atmosphere was charged and the energy was electrifying, the pace high octane and there was a buzz of excitement that intensified with every tick of the clock…

After all of that, I freshened up and got myself ready for the event.

The Event:

Guests were greeted with Prosecco on arrival accompanied by an Artisan cheese reception. Mint and blueberry water was also available and after a well deserved glass of Prosecco it was the infused water that became my drink of choice. Delicious!

The gallery was soon packed to capacity with a guest list that boasted some of Ireland’s most influential faces in fashion, art, craft, business and entrepreneurship, with local support in abundance.

The footfall was astounding for a first time “collective” showcase by the “emerging” Irish Designers and even on a soggy evening, the queue to get in was out the door!

The Showcase:

The fashion show went down a storm and many pieces were met with appreciative nods from the attendees.

Here are some of my favourite looks from the fashion show!

Liwu Jewellery kicked off the show.

The “Three Lucky Stars” long chain necklace (pictured above) – worn with outfit from fellow “emerging” designer Kabira Allain of KYMAÏA designs. All other jewellery: Liwu Jewellery.

Caped monochrome ensemble from KYMAÏA.

Hat by Highbury Designs.

The pops of mustard are the perfect “pick me up” for winter in the KYMAÏA A/W 2015 collection.

The blue scarf and creamy coloured cape are a must have for me…yep, I’m currently lusting after them!

In the Frame! The designers and I “framing” our memories of the night.

The Outfit:

I opted for a chic, monochrome ensemblé, featuring a romantic touch with a white broderie anglaise top and added a lightweight leather jacket to give my outfit a little edge. A long, delicate pearl necklace, statement pearl bracelet, black skinny jeans, nude and black strappy wedge heels, red nail polish and a flash of silver to my bag completed the look.

I was “Live Tweeting” the event and Xposé Magazine showed their support for the designers and the event on the Twitter machine by re-tweeting my coverage of the event!
Totally unexpected but sincerely appreciated.
Absolute dolls the lot of you!

The powers that be at Xposé HQ have even given the Emergence Exhibition some coverage in the A-Listings Section of this month’s edition which is on shelves now!

The event eventually wound down and the attendees dwindled until it was time to celebrate the evening in a local pub, a chance for the designers, to actually comprehend the success of the event and the fact that they have successfully “Emerged” into the psyche and onto the radar of fashion lovers everywhere in the world of Irish Design and beyond.

Admittedly, I did do a little PR for the event but it was the designers themselves and Claire, owner of The Gaslamp Gallery who worked non-stop to pull off such an amazing event. Hard workers and talented…hats off to you ladies! (I’m full of the fashion puns today!)

This was my first “out of county” event invitation and here’s to more events like this. I’d so much fun covering this fashion event!

Emergence Exhibition at The Gaslamp Gallery:

The exhibition has been extended by special request and is now running from July 17-29th 2015 at the Gaslamp Gallery, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

A huge thank you to the designers Kabira, Amanda, Áine and Naoimh for inviting me to attend the event and to Claire from The Gaslamp Gallery for her hospitality.

If you do attend I’d love to know what you think of the Exhibit so you can:
Leave a comment below or:

Tweet me: @DublinGail 

Tag me on Instagram: @littlegforce or:

Leave a comment on the GlamForce Blog by Gail O’Connor Facebook Page!

As usual thank you so much for stopping by guys!

Gail. Xx

All Photography: © Gail O’Connor.
*Please do not use without permission.

SHOP the Looks:

Liwu Jewellery

Highbury Designs

KYMAÏA by Kabira Allain

Naoimh Prim Hand Printed Textiles

The Gaslamp Gallery Facebook Page

FASHION FOCUS: The Rise of The Male Fashion Blogger – Male Fashion Blogs, & Style Influeners!

The Rise of the Male Fashion Blogger:

Male Fashion is making big waves in Ireland with MMA fighter Conor McGregor and the always impeccably turned out, Darren Kennedy, being style favourites (amongst so many others) and it continues to gain in popularity amongst on-line style influencers, giving rise to – The Male Fashion Blogger.

With Men’s Fashion gaining more traction and attention in the blogging world (thanks to the likes of influencers such as David Cashman and James Patrice) it is style influencers like the UK’s YouTube personality (daily vlogger) and GQ’s Best Dressed Man Jim Chapman that are really paving the way for the Male Fashion Blogger, on a bigger scale, as they come from the blogging world. Recently hanging out at LCM with the model David Gandy and a frequent fixture at the BURBERRY shows, Chapman’s style is a clean, modern take on the “classic English gent”, coated in 21st Century tailoring and finesse.

With this in mind, I decided to contact an acquaintance of mine from the recent Irish Blogger Conference and an up and coming Male Fashion Blogger. In doing so, I hope to capture something different on my blog by showcasing a Men’s Fashion Focus on a fellow blogger who’s fashion sense is instantly eye-catching, (especially on the streets of Dublin) and is a style I truly admire!

Meet:

Damien Broderick: Irish Male Fashion Blogger.

Respect and good manners go a long way.

My grandfather wore a suit every day of his life and I loved that.

From waistcoats and cardigans to pocket squares and trenches Damien’s style reminds me of classic country prep, with an edgy 21st Century twist on it, in the form of open collared shirts and tattoos, his style omits a confidence of self, complimented with a “modern gentlemen” appeal. He definitely gets the GlamForce Fashion Seal of Approval – You heard it here first…Damien Broderick truly is #onetowatch

Tailored, gentlemanly, a peacock is a word thrown about. I like to mix tones and fabrics so it’s like a peacock showing off his colours I guess.

Read on for the Interview!

The Interview:

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do in your spare time?

I’m Damien I’m almost 24 (shhhhhh) and I’m a men’s fashion blogger, I’ve studied photography and digital imaging, and also fitness. I like to eat out, and okay hurling in my spare time.

2. What prompted you to start blogging?

It was actually a few bloggers that told me I should do it seeing the following I was starting to generate on Instagram in particular. I had always read blog but never thought about doing it. Always a little apprehensive. But once you do the first it becomes a lot easier.

3. Who/What inspires you to blog?

Bloggers like I Am Galla and Mariano Di Viao are big inspirations, for me blogging about my style and men’s wear is education for men that buy a suit and don’t know how to dress it. Fashion is what you buy style is what you do with it. I also use my platforms to get my ideas on being a modern gentlemen across. Respect and good manners go a long way.

4. How would you describe your blogging style? 

Tailored, formal, smart.

5. Speaking of style, where does your style/fashion inspiration come from?

My grandfather wore a suit every day of his life and I loved that. I love suits it’s like a superheroes costume, you put a well for suit on it makes you feel like a somebody, you feel confident and powerful. My style evolved as I matured. As I got older and was taught a lot of life lessons by people I respected, my style started to match my personality. Also people like David Gandy, Johannes Huebl inspire me a lot, both on how they conduct themselves as men and how they dress.

6. How would you describe your personal style?

Tailored, gentlemanly, a peacock is a word thrown about. I like to mix tones and fabrics so it’s like a peacock showing off his colours I guess.

7. Favourite Designer?

I love Marcus Anthony, he’s a tailor from Bristol or Joshua Kane from London, but a big BIG designer I’d have to say Tom Ford, or D&G.

8. Being a girl I have to ask about shoes! Do you have a favourite shoe designer/shoe style?

I like a nice formal dress shoe. No square toes or super pointed that would take the eye out of a spider. Classic elegant, I also like Chelsea boots and loafers are an amazing summer shoe. Very Italian.

9. Fave High Street store?

I’d have to say either Topman or M&S, both have an amazing selection of formal wear that fits really well and is high quality.

10. Wardrobe staples?

White shirts and lots of them. A grey 3 piece suit that you can take apart and make 4/5 different looks with and a good quality pear of shoes.

11. Signature Scent?

Hugo boss, I started to wear it at 17 when I got it as a gift.

12. Tailoring?

If you’ve the money to get bespoke clothing. Do it. If not buy slim fit to for your chest and waist and get it altered. The fit is everything.

13. Key pieces for summer?

Loafers, tailored shorts, white navy and grey crew and v-neck t-shirts, a light blazer, and a pair of nice white trainers.

In saying that I only wear trainers working out same for shorts.

Okay back to blogging…

14. How do you manage time to run your blog efficiently?

I have set days that I’m going to put a post live. I’ll work on the post 2/3 days prior to ensure it’s done and ready to go live. I don’t have a 9-5 so I can really focus on my blogger and social media platforms.

15. Tell us some Bloggers you admire and why?

I admire I Am Galla, he was the first men’s wear blogger I ever came across. He started 6 years ago and has gone on to incredible thing. Also a good friend of mine, Joanne Larby (The Make-up Fairy) she’s amazing at what she does, so driven and passionate yet so lovely and down to earth. I’m proud to call her a friend.

16. What would you say is the biggest challenge about Fashion Blogging? 

Consistency, and fresh content.

17. Being bloggers we’re always seeking the latest Apps etc, so tell me what is your “can’t live without” App?

Instasize, Vasocam, are two important apps for me in terms of sharing good images to Instagram, of course Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook Periscope and Pinterest are all apps I couldn’t go without. And Google calendar is great for setting event reminders you can set it to remind you days before events it’s be in the notifications bar so you can’t miss it. And won’t forget. I input my life into that app.

18. How do you keep yourself motivated to keep blogging?

I’m a very goal driven person, I’ve set myself 12 months to find out exactly what career path I want to take and I know exactly what I need to do in order to find that out. Other bloggers & friends motivate me and inspire me, and when people I don’t know tell me they enjoy what I’m doing or their BF loves it, that really makes me smile and motivates me.

19. What is the biggest difference to your life post-blogging?

Em, people knowing who I am, because there are not many men doing it, if you’ve good contacts and get yourself out there people get to know you. Walking into a shop and someone says “oh I know you from Instagram you’re a blogger”, I think that’s the biggest thing.
Also my social circle has grown quite a bit. I’m really good close friends with people I didn’t even know 3 months ago, and attending events, getting your photo taken and meeting new people, some know you, some don’t. It’s all an experience and I’m loving it.

20. In the future where do you hope your blog will take you?

I want to work in the fashion industry obviously, what do I want to do? I’m not sure yet, editor, photo editor, stylist, influencer. I’m not sure exactly what yet, but I hope my blog takes me international, I’d love it to connect me with big brands, both high street and designer, I’d love it to take me to Fashion Week, especially LCM. We’ll see where it takes me. A lot of hard work and a little luck will pave the way. I’m excited to see where it takes me.

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I hope you found this post interesting and enjoyed this male take on Fashion Blogging and getting to know Damien Broderick,  I know I did, some great answers there, especially regarding him always admiring his Grandfather’s wearing of a suit! Exposure to great style from an early age has certainly rubbed off!

Be it style advice you can bring to the attention of your boyfriend/brother/friend or if you’re like me and just appreciate the beautiful, aesthetic of Men’s Fashion, this post has something for everyone and I hope you enjoyed reading it! Do you have a favourite Male Fashion Blogger and if so, who? I’d love to know!

As usual, I want to thank you so much for stopping by!

Gail. xx

Jim Chapman Images via: GQ & Burberry respectively.

Damien’s blog: Damien Broderick
Twitter: @BroderickDamien
Instagram: Damien Broderick.
Damien’s Facebook Page
Snapchat: Damien_b13