WHAT SIZE ARE YOU?
I am a size 0-2, Small, 26 in Jeans and 8 in Shoes.
WHO TAKES ALL OF YOUR PHOTOS?
I shoot them and my husband steps in when we travel. I also work with various photographers but my favorite is Felicia Lasala. I shoot my Instagram photos using my iPhone and videos on a Canon G7x.
WHEN DID YOU START BLOGGING?
I created Damsel in Dior in September 2011.
I’M IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING A BLOG, DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON HOW TO GET STARTED?
My #1 piece of advice to people who want to blog is to start a blog. Start writing, compiling images and getting your thoughts down. You can worry about the aesthetic later. The branding and overall idea for a blog is the hardest part. I would also suggest taking a Photoshop class {or Illustrator, InDesign, etc…} to help polish your graphic design skills and invest in a nice{ish} camera. Images are everything and so is having original content. I would also suggest getting connected in social networks such as IFB and attending conferences such as ALT Summit {which I went to starting out}, Create&Cultivate and LuckyFABB. Also, commenting on other blogs and engaging with other bloggers is a great way to network and build friendships inside the blogging community. E-mail blogger friends and ask if they’d be interested in collaborating to help spread the love.
HOW DID YOU GROW YOUR READERSHIP?
I truly wish I had an easy answer for this one other than this: It wasn’t easy and it still isn’t easy. I suppose sticking to the formula that you have to treat your blog as a business is helpful. Create an editorial calendar and stick to it so that your readers know what to expect. Engaging with fellow bloggers and making friends definitely helps so that you both promote each other. I also suggest consistency. Be consistent with your content, how often you post, what time of day you post {this goes across the board from blog to all of your social media channels}. Growing your readership takes a lot of time, patience and persistence but if you are dedicated, hard working and create unique and original material, the readers will come.
HOW DO YOU MAKE MONEY?
I use affiliates such as RewardStyle & ShopStyle that provide me with special links to use in my posts. In return, I may receive a small commission {a percentage of the sales}. Not all of the products I post on this blog are linked with affiliate sites and the program 100% positively does NOT affect what I choose to put on the blog. Occasionally, I will work with brands and companies and do a sponsored blog post or fun video, however I will not post about anything that I wouldn’t otherwise post about {for free}. I indicate all sponsored stories at the bottom of the post. You can read more about this in my “Policies” section.
WHO DOES YOUR HAIR?
I use Yvonne for color and Joseph for cut, both are at MeCHE salon in Beverly Hills, CA. I absolutely hate getting my hair done so, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I usually let my roots grow in until it’s on the verge of ridiculousness.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BLOGGING?
I am so very lucky to have something to do every day that I cannot wait to wake up and do. Blogging is a combination of all of my passions: photography, style, computers, graphics and most of all, writing. It’s a never ending obsession that I am blessed to be able to call my career. The absolute best part about blogging is when I hear from readers, brands and fellow bloggers, because if it weren’t for them, Damsel in Dior would not exist.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE LEAST ABOUT BLOGGING?
The misconception that it’s “easy” and having people judge that this is what I treat as my full time job. It’s also difficult on days when I just want to go make-up less and throw on a t-shirt and sweats and not have my picture taken…but those days seldom exist. It’s a good problem to have. Oh, let’s not leave out the fact that I do not love anonymous haters? If you have something to say, say it to my face. I put myself out there 100%. It’s the most cowardly act with people sit behind their computers, anonymously spewing hate.
WHO DESIGNS THE DAMSEL IN DIOR POSTS AND WHO DESIGNED YOUR SITE?
I create all of my graphics within blog posts using Adobe Photoshop. The incredibly amazing and talented team at Article in Toronto developed my site.