Take Note: September's International Blogger of The Month

The international blogger of the month is always so tricky to pick because there's so many amazing blogs out there run by girls with great style but this month I picked one of my favourites to share with you.

Caitlyn from Bees With Feathers was kind enough to do a little interview for me so I could introduce you all to her wonderful feminine style. You might recognise her from my inspiration posts as she often crops up with some of my favourite looks.

How did you first get into blogging?

I used to lurk on all different blogs/fashion blogs and admire all the wonderful clothes and people that enhabited it. Brian is the one who told me that I could be one of them easily, and he (almost!) forced me into creating a blogspot. (:

How would you describe your personal style?

It really drastically changes by season I feel. In the spring and the summer I am the ultimate romantic dresser. I love light colors and lace, florals and all that good stuff. Come fall I like tough boots, deeper colors and more basics.

Do you have any style icons?

I really don't I mean there are many that I completely admire for their crazy and wonderful fashion (Zooey Deschanel, Natasha Khan), but I kind of just march to my own beat.

Your style is so feminine and delicate, where do you find inspiration from?

I really like to feel like I am in living in a different time era. I want to feel like a classy girl from back when, with floraly dresses and dainty accessories.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be?

Anywhere in the world at this moment? Well I wish I was with Brian at this moment! But if I could be somewhere crazier I would have to pick Europe. I'd really love to visit Norway or Switzerland or any Mountainous region such as those. I love Fair Isle sweater prints and such and it always reminds me of those such places! They seem so homey!

As an art major, do you feel that art and fashion have a connection?

Oh absolutely. But it's really different for everyone. I have many people tell me that they can tell I'm artsy just by the way I dress. You really have to be a creative artistic person (even if not good at fine arts!) to be able to put together outfits that work!

Where are your favourite places to shop?

I love Urban Outfitters. I always feel sooo overwhelmed when I walk into there! But I have recently discovered Zara and I am loving that store a lot alot too!

You and Brian always sound so sweet in your blog, is he supportive of your blogging?

Absolutely. When I get lazy, or fed up with an outfit he never just lets me give up. He loves my fashion taste and says all my clothes are "cute little girl clothes". He is the one who told me to start blogging, and he is a huge help with it constantly!

Do you feel where you live affects your style?

Considering weather climates, then I suppose that would affect something, but otherwise I really don't believe so. I live in a rural (but becoming much more suburban!) area, and trust you me, I am the ONLY one I ever see wearing the kind of clothes that I do. I just have my own tastes and likes and that's why I love everyone in the blogging world, it gives me a chance to have friends who enjoy style too!

Has blogging helped your style develop and if so, how?

In a way it has both helped and not helped it. I feel like I need to be getting new things to throw into my wardrobe a lot more than before, and I sometimes feel uncontent even with my tons of clothing already. I hope this is just a season transitioning type thing! But it has also taught me to be a lot more inventive when it comes to putting an outfit together!

How did you come up with your blog's name?

Ah I was waiting for someone to ask this question at some time or another. I kind of went through a phase where I would like to pair things together that don't go together or things that just made you think. Brian told me I should use Bees with Feathers (I believe an old screen name of mine on aol?) for my blog so I did ha. I like to think of it as feathers= fashion, bees= regular old people. Bees don't have feathers, but they sure as heck could wear them if they wanted right?!

Do you have any tips for any aspiring personal style bloggers?

Don't try too hard. I know when you are starting you think you have to seem like the coolest person, or that you really know what you are doing so others think that too, but to be honest my favorite bloggers are the ones that seem so real, so acheievable. Ones that you can become friends with, you you won't get lost in the numbers.

You can reach Caitlyn's lovely blog by clicking here and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do.

Take Note: September's UK Blogger of the Month.

For September I picked a blogger who is recently getting a lot of hype in blogworld and for good reasons. Her style is really inspiring and lovely plus she's a really nice girl as well. 

Lizzie from Quite Quaint is a personal style blogger from Cambridge and I'm sure you're all going to love her.

How did you first get involved in blogging?

I had just graduated from university and had no job and a lot of spare time on my hands! One Sunday afternoon in June it was pouring with rain and I had nothing to do, I'd been reading a few fashion blogs that day and just thought it would be a good time to start my own. I didn't think for one minute that anyone would read it, it was more about giving myself something to do! 
 
Describe your personal style?

I think my style is quite relaxed, even when I go on a night out I prefer to dress down. I wear a lot of high street clothes but try to style them my own way so that it's not too obvious!

You've just graduated, what are your plans for the future?

Oh I hate that question! Mainly because I'm asked it so often and I don't know how to answer it! I have no idea what I want to do in the future and whether I want to get a job related to my degree. At the moment I don't feel like I want a proper 'grown up' job! I would love to go travelling again, so for now I'm just saving up for my next trip.
 
Where do you get your inspiration from?

So many things inspire me, my grandmother always had amazing style, she would dress for dinner every evening, I loved that tradition. I also found a whole new area of inspiration when I started reading blogs, it's great to find ways of styling an item that you never would have thought of.

 
I love how your style has a vintage and often lady like feel to it, has your style developed since you started blogging?

Haha, I have never thought of my style as lady like, so it's quite funny to hear it described that way. I wear a lot of brogues and loafers, I always thought of myself as quite boyish and scruffy! I suppose summer brings out my girly side, I do like wearing pretty dresses but always feel the need to rough them up a bit with boots or a hat. I've been blogging for such a short time that I don't think my style has had much chance to change.
 
Do you feel where you live affects your style?

I think it does to a certain extent. When I was living in London I was a lot more experimental with what I wore. Since moving back to Cambridge I think my style has become quite boring, I think it's down to the lack of good vintage and charity shops here. 
 

What's your favourite book, band and film?

I don't have a favourite book, which makes me sound pretty ignorant! I read The Lovely Bones years before the film came out and have always liked it.

I can't choose a favourite band! I've always liked the Kings of Leon, I tend to listen to a lot of old music though. 

Film is such a hard one because it's what I've just spent 3 years studying! I love anything by Wes Anderson, Darjeeling Limited is a firm favourite. I'll always love Garden State and Me, You and Everyone We Know because it's nuts.
 
If you could be anywhere right now, where would it be?

If you had asked me that a few months ago I would definitely have said I'd like to be back in Asia. Recently though, I've really missed just going round London markets with my boyfriend, especially Borough market, the food is amazing.
 

What are your favourite trends for autumn?

Oh I just did a post on all my favourite autumn items, there's so many! I love satchels, lace up ankle boots, leopard print, peter pan collars, and dark berry lips. I'd love a faux fur coat coat too and plenty of chunky knit cardigans and socks.
 
What are your favourite blogs to read?

There are so many I love, all for different reasons. I think LuLu Letty, and Liebe Marlene are always full of beautiful photos, as well as The Clothes Horse, who I recently had the pleasure of meeting up with. Another Day to Dress Up andFancy Treehouse are great for vintage style and I have to mention Wishwishwish. 

 
I'm so glad I've been able to feature some great UK personal style bloggers, do you read more UK blogs or international?

I think I admire a lot of American style blogs, but find it easier to relate to UK bloggers, plus when I see them wearing something gorgeous, there's always a chance I can go and buy it too! haha. I love the old favourites like LLYMLRS andGem Fatale because they're great to read, not just full of pretty pictures. 
 
Any tips for aspiring personal style bloggers?

I think good quality photos are often the making of a good style blog and of course, doing it because you enjoy it. When posts are rushed or just churned out it's quite obvious, it's all about quality not quantity!

Head over to Quite Quaint to check out more of Lizzie's style.

International Bloger of September will be up in a couple of days.

Take Note: UK Blogger of The Month.

Welcome to my first installment of Take Note. The way it works is every month I'm going to choose a UK blogger, ask her some questions then post them up here so you can all find some new and lovely blogs out there. I have an international edition coming up later in the week too so every month you'll get two amazing bloggers delivered to you. What's fairer than that?

Our first blogger of the month is going to be Helen of Afeitar, she has such a classic feminine style that I really love and her outfits are a great inspiration to me. Her baking photos always produce tummy rumbles as well. She works as a librarian which is one of my dream jobs and you should all head over to the blog after this to check it out for yourself.

How did you get involved in blogging?

I guess it all started on Livejournal and posting to communities on there like The High Street and then I started reading blogs like Gala Darling and The Clothes Horse and thought 'I could do that!'. So 2 years ago now I started my little blog.

How would you describe your personal style?

Hmm I'd say it's quite girly but classic. I don't like to follow trends, although I am influenced by some. I prefer things that look flattering and feminine.

Is there anyone you consider a style icon?

Not really, I mean I'm inspired all the time by different people I see in the street, on blogs or in magazines, not just one person. I think if you limit yourself to admiring just one person's style, you lose your own individual style.

Has your job affected your style?

Well, I'm a librarian and I wouldn't say I quite dress in 'librarian chic', but I do feel that my job has made my style grow up slightly (at least for work wear!). I like to wear blouses with nice skirts and always accessorise with a splash of red. I would say that red is my trademark colour, I nearly always wear some of it! I try to put a bit of extra effort into what I wear for work, because I want to avoid the stereotype of the librarian with the twin set and pearls and bun and cat hair all over her! Haha! 

What's the meaning behind your blog name?

Well it was my username on Livejournal and Flickr too, it means 'to shave' in Spanish. I just like the way the word looks and sounds though and thought that I should stay consistent with the same username across every online web presence. I think that is very important what it comes to blogging and social networking.

What do you like to do when you're not blogging?

BAKE! I adore baking, whether it's cupcakes or cookies. I've also recently got into crochet (gosh I sound like an old woman don't I?!). I also love food so love going out to restaurants and trying out new recipes. I am always buying foodie magazines, more often than fashion magazines! Most of the time now I'm working though, as I've just started a new job as a Librarian after studying Library Management at Uni, so that has taken over a big chunk of my life, but I'm lucky to have a job that I love. And of course, the typical things: shopping, going out with friends, reading and taking lots of photos.

What is your favourite book, favourite movie and favourite band?

Hmm favourite book is a toughie, because I am always reading new ones and my favourites change all the time. I like anything written by Murakami though, or George Orwell. I also like the McSweeny writers, Scott Douglas & Dave Eggers. 

Favourite movie: Amelie or Delicatessen. I know that Amelie is a bit of a cliche in the blog world, but it is such a lovely, feel good film. Delicatessen is by the same director, but a lot darker but still funny. I think the cinematography of the two films is amazing. 

Favourite band, oh gosh, I can't choose just one! Can I choose 3? The Smiths are always a favourite, from discovering them way back in high school. I saw Morrissey twice, I think that every teenager needs to get into The Smiths because they are the perfect accompaniment to teenage angst. Then, I would say Belle & Sebastian. They remind me of my college days. Lately though I've been really in to Los Campesinos! Their new album is really great. 

Where do you like to shop and have you got any shopping tips?

I used to like to shop in Topshop & Primark, but lately I've gone off them both. Topshop is overpriced for the quality and I just don't like the style of much of the stuff lately. Primark is always too busy for me and everyone has the same stuff ha! I have been buying lots of things from Dorothy Perkins & H&M lately though (perhaps a sign I'm getting older?! Hehe) but I like online shopping quite a bit. Of course ASOS is amazing and has something for everyone. I always wish I could get more into vintage shopping, but whenever I seem to try, things just don't fit me right or they're not my style. I envy all of these vintage fashion bloggers who always find amazing things!

Has your style developed since you've started blogging?

I've become more girly I think. I am always wearing skirts or dresses. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with blogging though or just growing up. I think that I definitely have a stronger sense of my own style now though. It's a bit embarassing sometimes to look back at old photos of outfits that now look a bit dodgy to me, but it's a learning curve. I'm sure some outfits I'm wearing now will look terrible to me in 2 years time also! 

Your style is very classic, where do you find inspiration from?

Everything and anything! I love blogs for inspiration and Flickr is also great. I'm inspired by pretty much anything though, from food blogs to fashion communities.

Do you have any tips for people aspiring to start personal style blogging?

Yes, don't be too disheartened if you don't get loads of comments and followers instantly. When I started blogging, no-one really cared about how many followers or comments they got, but now people are always counting and saying 'omg I'm 17 people away from having 100 followers, please follow me!'. To be honest, I don't find that fun. I blog because I like to share nice things with other people and I am so grateful of my comments because I've met so many great people through it and found so many inspiring blogs. When you start blogging just for the comments and followers, you take the fun out of it.

Also, good quality photos are key to a successful blog! You don't need a posh digital slr, you can get some good photos with a point & shoot and a bit of editing. If your photos are too dark, a little bit of editing will give them life. I hatehatehate blurry, out of focus & dark photos. Flickr is amazing though because it has picnik integrated into it so you can edit your photos online, their 'autofix' button has saved many a dodgy photo of mine!

Stay tuned later in the week for my international blogger installment and a huge thanks for Helen for answering my questions for this feature!