I met Anthea of Clothes Line Finds last fall when she came to Toronto (from Vancouver) to volunteer at Fashion Week.  While she was here, she brought together a few local bloggers for a brunch meet-up – a fashion blogger after my own heart.  Since then she has gone to Japan – covering fashion events there and giving lucky readers a taste of what its like to be a fashion blogger in the land of the rising sun.

Recently she hired me to create a new header for her blog!  I selected some choice garments from her archives and had fun “tying in” the clothes line title.

I asked her a few questions about fashion blogging and her international life.

What inspired you to start Clothes Line Finds?

As I was finishing up my undergraduate degree, I decided that I wanted to pursue fashion journalism. I had been actively involved in the Vancouver Fashion scene: I had modeled, dressed models and attended fashion shows. I was spending a lot of time reading fashion blogs and so I started my own! I found that blogging allowed me to write freely on a variety of themes and subjects. It has given me the opportunity to see and blog about Vancouver, Toronto and Japan Fashion Weeks!

You’ve relocated to Japan and have been posting about a lot of Japanese events and fashion designers. How would you compare the Japanese fashion scene to the scene in Canada?

The Japanese Fashion Scene is unlike anything I have ever seen. My first experience with the scene was for Japan Fashion Week. The production of the shows was meticulous and the shows were always full! The collections were beautiful and designers were willing to participate in interviews and talk with the press. There were a lot of bloggers in attendance at Toronto and Vancouver Fashion Weeks. I didn’t see very many bloggers at Japan Fashion Week. It would be great to see a wider variety of media sources attending Japan Fashion Week to help spread the word. I will be attending again in October and I can’t wait!

What are your favourite magazines, blogs and websites?

It is really difficult to find English magazines here in Japan! They are also really expensive. I have resorted to reading Women’s Wear Daily, ELLE Magazine online, Who What Wear Daily, Harper’s Bazaar, New York Magazine and The New York Times. I also keep up with the Toronto and Vancouver fashion blogs too: Style By Fire, Solo Lisa, Final Fashion, Rantings of a Fashion Addict and With Love… I have met with many of these fabulous ladies at blogger lunches (Vancouver and Toronto) and kept up with them over the past year.

Do you plan on returning to Canada? What are your goals for Clothes Line Finds?

I will be returning to Canada in December 09. I will be applying for Masters Programs in Journalism for the Fall of 2010! I have really enjoyed attending Japan Fashion Week and blogging about the Japan Fashion Scene. I hope to continue traveling after Japan and attend Fashion Weeks in other cities around the world!

One of the greatest omissions in my fashion education as a design student was the incredible influence that public relations has on almost every aspect of the industry.  Graduating with very vague, biased perceptions of PR, I was unprepared for the extent that it would become a part of my life as both a fashion blogger and an entrepreneur.

PR Couture is the only website of its kind that I know of.  Crosby Noricks, a publicist and educator, has managed to bridge the gap between fashion blogging and fashion PR.  The site is a bit like a trade magazine – informative and entertaining.  I asked her a few questions about her industry and her career.

Do you have any heroes or mentors in the fashion PR business? What have they taught you?

This question kind of throws me because I haven’t really had any professional mentors, most of the time it’s me just fumbling through trying to do my best. There are certainly practitioners I respect, and through PR Couture I now count myself lucky to have a community of practitioners I can ask for feedback or advice, but it’s really been quite the solo climb.

What are your favourite fashion blogs, websites and magazines?

Ah! This question is much easier. Let’s see – for print Lula and Bust are my favorites. Online I read a ton – Independent Fashion Bloggers, Fashionista, The Business of Fashion and The Daily Obsession are current must-reads, for inspiration I like Garance Dore, Lookbook, NotCouture, and for a quick pick me up I check out Think Simple Now.

Public Relations has a very superficial image in popular culture and its characters are not often remembered outside the industry. Can you tell me of any anecdotes, names or events that define the best of fashion PR, either fictional, historical, or recent?

Originally, garments were advertised for their function and durability. It was through the influence of people like Edward Bernays (often referred to as the Father of PR) who understood how to tap into human desire and leverage the human condition, that PR was used to help companies promote goods – no longer based on function but personal expression, cultural affinity (or a reaction against it), etc. I like the example of how Edward Bernays got women to smoke in the US (when previously it was completely culturally unacceptable), by making it seem that by not smoking, women weren’t supporting suffrage. He did this (I’m glossing over the particulars a bit) by having a bunch of pretty lady suffragettes light up during a big parade. The power, influence, and ethics of PR are worth examining and addressing. In terms of fashion PR, I think a lot about our responsbility to share messaging that makes women feel good about themselves, that is respectful of both the industry and the individual.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

I think that’s still to come. What’s most meaningful to me are the emails, requests for coffee and anecdotal stories I get from young women intersted in fashion PR who tell me I had an impact on them and that they appreciate what I do and what I have to say, or practitioners who let me know that PR Couture inspired them to start their own agency.

One of my favourite things about fashion blogging is making friends and watching eachother grow up and grow into our blogs as our lives change, and we learn stuff.

Shortly after I started blogging I noticed Isabel at Hipster Musings – she was a teenager who didn’t take the H-word too seriously.  It used to be subtitled “a bitch fashion blog” or something like that.

I loved her style and was kind of blog-starstruck when she visited Toronto and called me up to hang out a couple times.  Isabel, you can call me any time.

Since 2006 Isabel has graduated from high school and moved on to university, where she is in an academic program completely unrelated to fashion.  She has even been featured in Teen Vogue.  Best of all, she still hangs out with us internet types, sharing her punk-magpie outfits and sweet and snarky little slices of life.

I asked her a few questions about fashion blogging.

Why did you start Hipster Musings?

To be completely honest, I don’t really remember. I guess I just had something to say and needed to vent about it on the internet. Which is kind of funny thinking about it, because sometimes I have to censor myself because I know a lot of friends read the blog.

How would you describe your style? Has it changed as you graduated from high school and started university?

My style is constantly evolving, so much so that I couldn’t even describe to you in what ways my look has changed. I have become more selective with the pictures of myself that get uploaded. In high school I was a lot more willing to post crappy mirror shots of myself. Now most fashion blogs are so “high-quality” that I wouldn’t even dream of that anymore.

What are your favourite blogs, websites and magazines?

I follow a shitload of blogs on that Bloglovin’ website, but I am rather partial to Style Rookie. She’s my favourite! I am also consistently inspired by The Selby.

What is your favourite part of fashion blogging?

Comments! Every time I open up me email inbox there’s a bunch of little self-esteem boosters that I can smile at. I also love doing clothing swaps with bloggers! Recycling yet still receiving is an excellent feeling.

Before Auntie Fashion arrived, we did not even know there was a Zob.

Auntie Fashion appeared out of the ether in 2008 and made fashion blogging a lot more interesting.  Besides being fashion’s most enduring muse, Auntie is the director of Moose Jaw Fashion Week, and instigator of events like Wear a Gown to Work Day.  She also drives the Motorhome of Style, which I hope will stop by Toronto someday soon to pick me up.

She’s adopted me as her protoge, though I feel like I’m skating on thin ice with that job.  If I ever manage to be a fraction as fabulous as she is, I’ll be shocked.  I wonder why she picked me.

I asked her some questions about muse-hood.

Does your special relationship with Zob give you any insight on the future of fashion? What can we look forward to?

Of course it does. Thanks to Zob, I’m positively psychic when it comes to fashion. I’ll go out on a limb and predict that most skanks will continue to wear Ed Hardy’s hideous, overpriced crap and those crotch-grazing skirts from Marciano well into the future, while people like you and I will dare to keep our things under our underthings.

Is there any kind of devotion we can do for Zob when we need to fashion some good luck?

I thought you’d never ask. You can show your devotion to Zob and all that’s beautiful in the universe by purchasing a gift card for me from Hermes on Bloor Street.

What websites do you visit frequently? What magazines do you like best?

I read The Cut blog every day, along with wwd.com and fashionmagazine.com. I’ve given up on style.com because of the technical issues on the site. How many times do I need to have my system freeze because the same stupid Ralph Lauren commercial won’t load up? I read your blog every day, too. You’re like the elder stateswoman of Canadian fashion blogging. Everything I know about blogging, I’ve learned from you.

I’m still a huge fan of Harper’s Bazaar because when they get it right, no one does it better. I also adore FASHION Magazine. I only wish that they could work a little harder to increase their presence in the market outside of Ontario. If you visit Moose Jaw, Canada’s Glamour Capital, you have to work hard to find a copy of FASHION anywhere.

How did you become fashion’s greatest muse?

I guess I’m always at the right place at the right time — it’s dumb luck! This one time I remember waking up on Mr. Valentino’s yacht after his deck hands had apparently fished me out of a the Mediterranean Sea. I don’t recall how I got there in the first place, but I do remember that his next couture collection was inspired by my appearance that afternoon, only in the designer’s signature red rather than kelp green.

Is it lonely being fashion’s greatest muse?

Being a legend in the world of fashion isn’t so lonely now that I’m blogging. This venue provides me with an outlet that I didn’t have a few years ago. I used to spend my days running around with the beautiful people, inspiring them to make beauty more readily available to the unwashed masses. I was like a stylish Mother Theresa, flirting with sainthood while I lead by example, teaching designers that they need not be afraid of fashion’s lepers. Nowadays I can influence the world of fashion from the comfort of my leper-free home.

What misconceptions do we have about your work?

As far as misconceptions are concerned, I suppose that some people believe that my feud with Marc Jacobs is all in my head. I’m sure it’s quite difficult to accept that evil really does have a face, and it’s the too-tanned face of a forty-something chain smoker who could use a few more hours of sleep every night.

What is the greatest challenge?

The greatest challenge that faces me in my role as the fashion world’s most-enduring muse is getting the people at Fashion Television to take me seriously. I know that they know I exist, but they continue to ignore me. Jeanne Beker is like the Alpha-male gorilla of Canadian fashion, beating away at her ample chest in an attempt to scare away the competition. Meanwhile, creative people like you and I are sneaking around behind her silver back, breeding new and original content that will get us to the top some day. In the meantime, it’s rewarding to see the number of hits I get each week growing and growing. Today, WordPress; tomorrow, the world!

It was the first time I was in New York City, to attend the Gen Art Competition show that Zoe from Verbal Croquis had entered (and won).  Zoe and I were standing in line to get in and for the first time ever, we got recognized on the street!  It was Joi from Stereoette!

It was pretty random to go somewhere and meet people on the street that I had met on the internet – and it was delightful.  It felt like we had all been friends for ages.  Joi even let me stay at her downtown apartment the next two times I came to NYC.  She’s generous, smart, ambitious and productive.  Thank goodness for the internet, I’m very grateful to have met her!

The craft area in her apartment is full of buttons and shards of glass and fabric and glue and beads.  Joi has great enthusiasm and prolific creativity.  She makes clothes and accessories and cute jewelry, some of which she makes available on her Etsy (including the frog prince on the right).  I asked her a few questions about craft blogging.

What do you like about craft/fashion blogging?

I think originally I liked the community of fashion and craft bloggers – it seemed there were a lot of us that met each other through our blogs, and I now count several of these bloggers as good friends. It has been nice to have an online community that you can turn to for advice or encouragement regarding designs!  Over the last few years, a few bloggers have slowed in posting (myself included) but a lot of new faces have shown up, doing some really inspiring stuff.  I’ve continued blogging to keep friends posted on what I’m up to, and to show off when I’ve made something cool ;o)

What are the top five blogs/sites that you check regularly?

Girls With Slingshots – not exactly a blog, but a daily updated cartoon. hilarious, and so well drawn!
Decor8 – I love Holly Becker’s interior design sensibility, she is totally knowledgeable, and her blog is humorous. What more can you ask?
Counterfeit Chic – Susan is totally my hero. I want to be her when I grow up! Only she can make trademark and anticounterfeiting issues so fashionable.
Flickr – Its just plain eyecandy, and a great way to keep up with fellow crafters and friends.
Etsy – Its where I sell my crafts, and I have to admit I am a wee bit compulsive about checking it. Also, when i’m bored, I like to hang out in the “Techniques and Materials” section of the forums, to trade tips and get ideas for new things to try out.

Why did you start your blog?

I’ve been blogging and/or making websites about my life for a long time (since 1996 or so, when I had a decently popular website on ska bands) and so when I decided to learn to sew a few years ago, I started a blog to catalog my efforts. Since then it has followed my adventure in entrepreneurship, also called Stereoette, and my crafting of all sorts of things.

What is the greatest challenge in craft blogging?  The greatest reward?

The biggest challenge for me is posting regularly. I have a pretty demanding day job and so frequently I turn to crafting to get away from working. At those times, blogging feels like an obligation, especially if I have nothing new or interesting to say. I’m hoping to increase the number of posts that are just photos of what i’m working on, to decrease the pressure on myself.

The biggest reward is when I make something that other people like, and they leave comments to that effect! Seriously, it makes me super excited to see people say “oh that’s cute!” or “I know someone who would love that.” It is also pretty exciting when someone sees something I’ve posted and buys it, but in all honesty, the postive comments make my day.

Fashion Blog Karma singles out a fellow fashion blogger for a little link love and a couple questions.

When I was looking for someone to feature for my first karma post it was hard to decide; and I only had one day to throw it together.  The answer came to me with a little link love – Anita (aka geekigirl) at I want – I got just posted her year-end wrapup with a little shout out for me.  She’s done a lot of shout-outs for me (including my first ever blog interview at blogTO), and she commissioned a fashion figure, so its about time I sent a little bit of karma her way.

I think we met when I started the first Toronto Fashion Bloggers Brunch.  Our blogs couldn’t be more different and we’re pretty different too.  Anita is into shopping and sports and I’m not, at all.  Yet Anita is a Renaissance woman. She has also a great passion for blogging, gadgets and computers, science fiction, fashion and jewelry designers, models and photographers, art, and the fashion scene in Toronto. Over the course of many events attended we became fast fashion blog friends.

Things you should know about Anita.  She will tell you straight up what she thinks.  She doesn’t suffer fools.  She respects people who are gutsy and smart with their opinions.  Her very diverse group of friends are a testament to that.

Things you should know about I want – I got.  It is unabashedly consumerist.  Anita snaps up every coveted event invite and worthwhile sample she can get.  Even so, she is always candid with her opinions.  Anita is not a journalist and I want – I got is not her job.  She posts whatever she wants to.

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What do you like about fashion blogging?

I like having a forum for talking about something I’m passionate about.  I also really love all the amazing opportunities that have come my way because of it.  It has opened a lot of doors and I expect that will continue into the future. I’m very lucky.

What are the top five blogs/sites that you check regularly?

Link consumption and AskMefi at Metafilter.
Oh no they didn’t for my pop culture fix.
The Toronto News sites – The Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and National Post
The  Fashion Spot
My own site.  I end up spending a lot of time on it.

Why did you start your fashion blog?

It started as a way to record things that I liked on the Internet.  The concept was clear at the beginning with the “i wants” and “i gots” but the rest of it and audience developed with time.

What is the greatest misconception about fashion blogging?  The greatest challenge?  The greatest reward?

Greatest misconception is that fashion blogging is my job/career.  It’s more of a very involved hobby.

Greatest challenge is time management.  With a full time non-blog related career, there isn’t much time for the day to day planning and maintenance tasks on the blog.  Image management is a bitch too, but I’m learning more about tools to speed up the process. That’s why you don’t see novels on my site, it takes too long to write. I self host my blog and I’m the Site Administrator so I’m always upgrading, modifying, debugging or fixing something.  Finding material to talk about is the easy part.

Greatest reward is the people and places I’ve experienced as a direct result of fashion blogging.  For example, I think about hanging out with you in New York City in September for the Spring 2008 collections and it just blows my mind thinking that it actually happened.  Seeing Valentino in person was pretty damn cool too.  The man is a legend.  Those types of things are worth gold.