Why I'm Proud to be a fashion blogger!

Last week IFB posted a great article titled, What makes you proud to be a fashion blogger?  and it got me thinking..... 

The article by contributor Jess Estrada, starts out with a convo she had with a "fashion industry star" that turned unexpectedly, making her think a lot harder about the term "blogger" vs writer or journalist.... “It’s okay to call you a blogger, right? Because sometimes I've met bloggers who get offended if we don’t call them ‘writers’ or ‘journalists."

When I get called a blogger, writer, journalist - whatever it may be, it makes me proud to know I'm being recognized for my writing. If I'm recognized for my writing, it means my voice is being heard. 

When I think of the term blogger, I put in the same category as writer or journalist. Some may disagree with the comparison, because as a journalism alumni, we were taught to write following journalism ethics BUT from there I think it's the individual's decision on where to take their writing.

Getting a degree in communication, I did "all of the above." I created Tickle Me Chic in college so I could strengthen my skills and get my writing out there more. I also created the fashion column at my college newspaper, working in WordPress. From there I wrote everything from newsworthy pieces to personal style posts. I even did video pieces. Once I graduated, I created a blog for a wedding planner whom I've written for, for over 2 & 1/2 years. I was also the Conscious Fashion Editor for Modern Hippie Mag for a year and half, using WordPress to create, edit and manage content as. Now as a Brand Marketing Manager, I'm constantly blogging, creating content, and being the voice behind the brand. So when I look back at my experience with writing, blogging has had a huge, positive impact on my life. 

While in college, I even wrote a guest post for IFB titled,  

Should Bloggers Adopt a Code of Ethics? In the post, I describe bloggers as citizen journalists, because, that's what they really are. Bloggers can post directly, in real time while journalists usually have to research, interview, photograph etc. I believe bloggers are a one stop shop! Bloggers have created a new approach to writing, allowing the tone to be more personal.

photo from Independent Fashion Blogger post I wrote

What makes me most proud to be a fashion blogger is you create your own destiny. YOU are your own boss, you choose the content to write about and you edit the material - the freedom is amazing! I love focusing on the "controversial" topics in the fashion industry.... it gives me a voice to get those "sticky" topics out there more, like the portrayal of plus-size women or the photo-manipulation epidemic. 

Personally, I think if more people focus on breaking the misconception of these "taboos," maybe the fashion industry will hear us and start changing the way some do business. I honestly think that it's happening as we speak.... the more bloggers who focus on the tough fashion topics, the more changes we will see. 

I think the biggest difference from blogging to writing is you have an OPINION! When writing news, you're supposed to hide opinion and stay "unbiased" but that's something I love about blogging.... You're able to speak your mind and share your voice! That's why I love being part of Independent Fashion Bloggers..... You have a huge community where you can connect, share, ask questions, get opinions and interact with other bloggers.

Writing is what I love to do. That's why I pursued a communication degree and created Tickle Me Chic. Writing is an outlet for me... when I'm sad, frustrated, happy, excited, I turn to blogging. Even if I don't publish the piece, blogging is my release. Whether it's a controversial piece or a Bloggers Do It Better piece, I'm very proud to be a fashion blogger!

From runways to beach days, Mi Ola swimwear has you covered

Trading her fashion plated high heels in NYC for flip flops on the beaches of Costa Rica, designer Helena Fogarty is creating luxury swimwear for chic, active women. 

 Photo cred:Dusty Hale

After graduating college, Fogarty moved to NYC to pursue a career in fashion. She worked for companies including Bloomingdale's, Avon, the Vanity Fair Corp, Hearst, Zac Posen, Ferragamo, "and finally - the pinnacle - Chanel." On a visit to Costa Rica, Fogarty learned to surf. She couldn't get the sandy, salt water out of her head. Becoming completely obsessed with surfing, she left her NYC Fashion Executive background, and moved to the beaches of Costa Rica. 

"I visited first to surf. And then I came back and came back and came back. Finally in 2009, I left my fancy job in NYC and sold a bunch of my Chanel shoes and moved down to surf every day," Fogarty said. As she got acclimated to her new surroundings, Helena struggled to find better swimwear. That's when Mi Ola was born.....

"When I moved to Costa Rica, I was surfing 4 hours a day, every day, and I went through probably 200 bikinis - without finding what I needed. Expensive bikinis, cheap bikinis... it didn't matter, they all fell off when I was active, and they all fell apart pretty quickly," she said. Fogarty's designs are for happy, healthy and active women who have trouble finding suits that stay put. "She wants to look great and feel great. To be present and enjoy her day at the beach, without adjusting her suit every few minutes."

Creating sexy, wearable swimwear with durability and comfort, the collection offers tops and bottoms as well as rash guards, in a variety of colors and patterns. 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ms. Fogarty and dive into the idea behind Mi Ola. 

Jody Marich: What does Mi Ola mean? More importantly what does it mean to you and why did you choose the name?

Helena Fogarty: Mi Ola means 'My Wave' in Spanish. I chose this name for a few reasons:

- Every wave is unique, and like life, only you can surf the wave the way you do.  I left a career in high fashion in NYC and a life of glamour, high consumption and excitement, for a more simple life.  That choice made sense to me and it's "my wave."  But everyone's got to find their own.  

- It's a nod to the genesis of the brand being in Costa Rica

- It's doesn't sound like a cheap SURFING BRAND... because that's far from what we are.   Mi Ola is a premium brand of chic swimwear, with added functionality. It's designed to sell at high end department stores, boutiques and well-curated surf shops. What woman doesn't need a great bikini that stays on?

- Lastly, surfing can get a little macho and competitive ... and sometimes men will drop in on you or snake you (surfing terms!), because they don't believe you can surf. So this is my inner way of saying "hey buddy, get off my wave!" You can imagine me saying that while I'm shaking my fist like an angry old man.

JM: How are the suits different?

HF: Every style is engineered to stay on, built to last and still make you look great.

We use a variety of tools do this on each style, using drawstrings, tension, silicon elastic, and different types of construction. Our suits are made of a substantial swim material - which we've tested in salt water and chlorine to make sure it doesn't fade or stretch out.  And we line them with the same fabric, which makes for a very sturdy garment.  You can feel the difference in our suits when you touch them. They are built to last.

JM: What process do you go through to test the suits for wearing?

HF: We go out and play! We surf in them. We do yoga in them. We do stand up paddling. We play with our kids in them.  

And if any of the seams are chafing, or the straps are not working, or the suits are not staying on, we go back to the drawing board. We do the same if the suit is not flattering, as well.

JM: Does the fabric matter when designing suits?

HF: Absolutely! I once got a suit from a surf brand. SUPER CUTE. I loved the fabric. It was a serape knit fabric. Best bikini ever. UNTIL I WORE IT.

The fabric did not stretch or support. When it got wet, it sagged AND the super cute fabric chafed my cheeks when I walked.  Seriously. It was like sand paper. That's a crime. Bikinis should be a force of good, not evil!

So, these are the things that I think about....as someone obsessed with bikinis. We use soft, and yet sturdy fabrics that hold up. No chafed hineys here!

JM: What is your favorite suit and why?

HF: My favorite combo is our Pin-up Top and the Doublestring Bottom - for me. I surf in this combo and never have to adjust while I'm in the water. I like the way it looks.  And the bottom is adjustable, so I can tighten it when I'm being active in the water and loosen it a bit when I'm out.

JM: What inspires you?

HF: When I'm in Costa Rica, I'm constantly inspired by nature...whether it's Sting Rays in the ocean, little crab babies that are rustling around, or the flowers and palm trees.  I was out doing yoga today surrounded by butterflies.  And when I walked home, I saw the family of monkeys that lives across from our house. This season, we have a print called Medusa (inspired by jellyfish),  another called Plumas (inspired by birds in the area) and an amazing Palm print, all inspired by my "backyard."

I'm also still obsessed with high fashion and city life style and that inspires me. 1 of our new metallic rash guards is inspired by all the sequin tanks that I don't have occasion to wear in Costa Rica.  It's my little way of bringing the city to the beach.

Helena on the beach with her daughter.

Fogarty took a leap of faith leaving almost everything she knew behind. Little did she know, her knowledge from working in fashion for over 15 years would lead her to her true passion, designing high quality swimwear.

 "I found my calling: Making the beach better for women, one bikini at a time"
-Helena Fogarty

For more information on the sexy bikinis that stay on, check out Mi Ola. 

Jill of all trades

Want to know the girl behind Tickle Me Chic?!

Meet Jody: 

Not only do I LOVE me some fashion, I also love to shoot video! My fiancé is into drifting so we go to as many events as possible. Here's the latest video I did for CFRC's, The Aftermath:

Aftermath 2013 from Jody Marich on Vimeo.

If that isn't enough, I just got back from a work trip to the BVI. As Social Media Director of Virgin Island Sailing, I constantly interact with users and build rapports to create lasting relationships. Traveling down to the BVI, we met with all of our bareboat companies and shot video of each base, for our website. Once the work was over, we had some fun, sailing the beautiful waters of the BVI! 

In my spare time I love to write. I went to school for communication and focused on multimedia journalism. With my passion for fashion and writing, I created the fashion column at Flagler and continued to write as Conscious Fashion Editor of Modern Hippie Mag. Unfortunately, MHM, closed at the beginning of the year, but I still try to keep up with my blogging. It brings me back to me. 

Anything else you want to know, just ask :) 

LIttle Miss Sunshine

It's officially spring here in Florida and I was ready for  something new! Last year I got ombre for the first time and absolutely loved it! So I thought I'd try it again this year! Since April is my birthday month, I thought it would be the perfect time to change it up a bit!

My hair is pretty thick and long so it takes a while for color but I couldn't have asked for better results. After about three hours of color and cut, my stylist, Lili, asked if she could take photos of the finished product for a Bumble & Bumble contest she was entering. If she wins she gets a page in a magazine!

So we had a little fun with my hair. She blow dried it with a round brush creating massive amounts of volume and voila! Since Bumble & Bumble loves volume and messiness, she created lots of texture too. I absolutely love my hair as always! 

Here's hoping you win Lili! You're the best hair stylist out there! ♥

Wildfire

Ombrè hair is back and BIGGER than ever. From chalked hair to dyed colors this hair trend is so fun. Celebrities are even sporting the ultra stylish, super easy look.  

I never really thought much about the look until my friend Allison, aka Love Bug, met me for lunch. She had just gotten her hair done and I was obsessed with the look. 

I have pretty long hair, so it can get boring always having the same style. To be honest, I get REALLY bored with my hair, and I just want to chop it all off at times, but I always stop myself because I do love my long hair. 

(hair before)

But I needed a change. I had already scheduled an appointment to darken it with a little hint of burgundy but when I saw that ombrè, it got me. I went to my appointment and my stylist was so excited. I was only the second person she would be doing it on--I SWEAR by my stylist. She does wonders--The whole salon was excited. Customers and stylists kept coming over to see the progress. 

The technique was awesome. Lilly would take pieces and backcomb the hair. It was so interesting to watch. It took about 2 hours since I have a lot of hair and it's pretty long. When it was all finished everyone was in awe. She even took pictures to show other clients. And it inspired her to try it out too! 

It's been about 3 months and I still LOVE my hair! It's so fun. I like to be a little different and my hair is one thing I've always cherished, so this is a fun way to keep it me.  This has honestly been the best color I've ever done.

So if you're contemplating the Ombrè look, just do it! It's a great look for spring and summer and you can be so creative with it. If you are still a little worried, try some fun non permanent looks like chalked hair. The Beauty Department has a great chalk hair tutorial.

I will definitely be keeping this look up, but that's the best part-- there's not a lot of upkeep! I might go a little lighter at the ends in mid summer but I'm loving this trend. It's one more way to express my style. I'm one happy little jojo after! 

xoxo

(hair after)

BDIB: Maxed out on style

When Kirstina, of PSS announced the fifth bloggers do it better assignment I was so excited! It is a piece you can find in almost any store right now and so versatile. It is also right up my alley when it comes to personal style. 

Here is my take on the BDIB assignment #5, THE MAXI. 

I am all about maxi skirts and dresses, in fact, I used a maxi dress for another BDIB assignment.  They just exude a boho vibe but still look chic and I like to spice them up with accessories and belts. 

Once I read the challenge the thought of making it a "high-waisted" maxi skirt immediately entered my mind and I was on a mission to find the perfect one. 

Working full-time at Express, I don't get a lot of free time. With my vacation time starting Friday I was afraid I wouldn't be able to participate in this BDIB because I was scheduled to close all week, so it would be too late for pictures BUT when someone needed to switch shifts, I jumped on the chance becuase I really wanted to do this challenge. 

On Monday, I worked 9-6 and headed out with my wonderful boyfriend to take pictures. 

 From the shirt to the skirt, even the sandals, this whole outfit is Express so it was an easy to transition from work to "play". 

I had a ton of compliments on the outfit and even sold the maxi skirt because a customer liked the look!

I love this outfit because it is totally me. A little bit of boho mixed in with a chic, cool look. 

LOVED the maxi idea!

This last photo I kind of love. In the middle of the challenge I wanted to take a photo with my boyfriend because the background was beautiful. We set the self-timer and this is what came out. ♥

** A special thanks to him, for being my photographer xo

Remember, fashion is fun. It is uniquely you. 

White stripes....

I am really excited to do my first post for "Bloggers Do It Better." This is a new movement of amazing fashion forward bloggers who are given an assignment from creator and blogger, Pretty Shiny Sparkly,  to complete, stylishly with their own unique twist on the project. 

This week's challenge is "White Out." Working in retail, I get to see the latest "IT" trends and white is DEFINITELY  the trend of the moment. I chose a boho chic look with a trendy twist. Maxi dresses and skirts are my personal favorite trend right now so I wanted to focus my attention around this precious striped dress from Forever 21.  

I wanted to funk it up by using another favorite color trend, camel, as accessories with gold undertones. 

As soon as I heard the look was white I knew immediately I wanted to take pictures at the beach. What better place to take pictures, in a white outfit, then at the beach where the sand is powder white? It was the perfect backdrop.

This was a really fun assignment. It inspired me to show off my style a little more. I am usually not a fashion blogger who likes to blog about her personal style but this new group has given me  more confidence to share my looks.

Hope you like "White Stripes," and remember, fashion is fun, it is uniquely you♥

**Special thanks to my wonderful boyfriend, who was my amazing photographer. ♥ xo