Blog Event: Your Best Posts of 2010!

When I first decided to do this Blog Event I wasn’t sure what the response would be like.   I decided to do this fairly late in the game, and with the Holiday Season in full swing, I wondered how many bloggers would even have the time?  Of those that did, how many would even want to participate?  I am absolutely delighted to share that over 40 bloggers submitted links!  Thank you for participating!

For most, the common theme seemed to be that choosing just one “favorite” or “best” post was akin to choosing between their children – it was difficult, but it made them really think about why they chose the piece they did.  This is the part I have enjoyed most.  In some instances, I loved finding out what the thought process behind a post was because it added a whole new element to the piece.  In others, I learned why a post was “special” because it often marked a turning point for that blogger.

If I had to select my favorite post of the year, it would be Water & Oil: Social Commentary or Tasteless Fashion. This post helped me establish who I wanted to be as a blogger.  The narrative flowed freely because it was a topic I was passionate about, and, though controversial, I think it was one that had to be addressed.  After writing it I realized I wanted to move away from  “daily inspiration” type photoshoot posts and focus on heavier editorial content.  This is where my passion lies – delving deeper into subjects, be it something controversial like Water & Oil or researching the history of a corset.   This post is what helped me define myself as a blogger.

Read on to find out which posts inspired the rest of our Style Nation in 2010!

260 Days, No Repeats: What To Wear To A Job Fair

“This post was one of my favorite (and most useful) posts that wasn’t about my clothes! I feel like it’s very relevant for recent college grads or job seekers. You could always wear a suit but, this gives you some other chic options that are equally acceptable.” – Iris

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Adventures of Superalzy: Fashion Friday ~ Cartoon Couture

“I make a modest living and can’t often afford the clothes I’m writing about or drooling over, but I love putting outfits together and online “window shopping.”  The outfits I put together here not only showcase my creativity, but they all really nail the diversity of my personal style within one theme.” – Alison

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BonBon Rose Girls: Champagne Saturday ~ A Dressed Up Look for Under $100

“We posted a few of our fave [posts on BonBon Rose Girls], but this one really has my heart… because I’m a bargain luvah and being able to put together a look for well under $100.00 that was featured over at Glamour proved to me, and hopefully our readers, that great style doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg!” – Kristin

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Bubbling with Elegance and Grace: Coach goes after St. Louis County Flea Market

“I think  “Coach goes after St. Louis County Flea Market” is my best post because it’s a topic that’s very close to home. I have visited this flea market in the past and witnessed the selling of counterfeit handbags. Even though I didn’t know they were counterfeit at the time – when I purchased one (gasp!). It’s very relevant to what’s happening in the world today. That counterfeit bag may look appealing but beware – it’s not worth it.” – JTWisdom

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Cloud of Secrets: Dark Antoinette

“I chose this post because it was exciting to share costumes and customs from one of my favorite eras, and to show how Dior had drawn from them.” – Sarah

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Coffee and a Cardigan: A Tale of Two – – – – – – –

“I picked this post because it took a lot of courage for me to actually talk about my breasts! :-)” – Louise

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Depict This!: How to ~ Vintage Style Hair Bow Holder Tutorial

“The reason this is my favorite is because I had a lot of fun creating this post and the hair bow holder at the same time.  I was also really pleased with how both the finished craft and finished tutorial came out. I think it helped me realize how much blogging is important in helping me to document my own crafting journeys as well as how much I love being involved in/and sharing the behind the scenes processes. I really want my blog to give back some of the creative ideas that I soak up.   I hope that as I am inspired by bloggers out there they will also be inspired from the things I do.” – Bonita

Dressful: 10 easy tips to promote your fashion blog and get more followers

“I picked this post because it’s useful information for many fellow bloggers, not just me.” – Eva

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Dusk Rising: Lady Gaga, Role Model?

“I chose this post because I don’t really view myself as a writer and I felt like I really wrote well about something I was passionate about. :)” – Philli

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Elle Enchanted: My Style Ethics

“I love this post because it really represents why I chose to have a fashion blog, and be into fashion no matter what the world thought of me because of it – whether they criticized something they view as superficial, or thought I was strange.” – Elle

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Elle Sees: Elle Entertains ~ Mad Men Party!

“I chose this post because I felt it was the point I started to take my blog seriously… and who doesn’t love a good party?” – Elle

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The Fashionista Next Door: Not So Mellow Yellow

“As I was scrolling through my old posts, I realized that July was about the time when I finally hit my stride and figured out what worked best for me and my blog, and there was no turning back.  I decided that I was going to be a personal style blog…period! I would have other posts sprinkled in, but my focus would be personal style and I decided that I was okay with that.” – Ife’

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FIERCE: What’s your Stylish Obsession?

“This is one of favorites because I had a chance to talk about one of my favorite fashion items – fashion jewelry!  Though it wasn’t a big hit on my blog, it was a big hit on Yahoo! Shine, earning a sidebar spot on their Fashion and Beauty page for a few weeks which was a very proud blogging moment for me!” – MJ

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Fresh Radiant Skin: Is It Because I Stole the Candy?

“This is one of my longer posts and the reason I enjoyed it so much was because it was written from a personal experience.  It was so easy to write and funny too.  Everybody has a story but many times beauty bloggers do a lot of “educating” without sharing our own slip ups.” – Michelle

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Fuyume.Net: Japanese Fashions Influence on Western Style and Trends

“I chose this one because it was the 1st post I did that made IFB’s Links à la Mode and it was the first that delved deeper into the fashion world and made me confident in my writing ability.” – Faye

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grit and glamour: Why I’m Not on Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, or Hypeed

“I’m pretty proud of my post, “Why I’m Not on Weardrobe, Chictopia, Lookbook, or Hypeed,” because it not only got Lookbook.nu and Hypeed’s attention, but it validated the feelings of inadequacy and unpopularity so many bloggers have had when their photos didn’t get dozens of “hypes” or votes. New bloggers often think these sites are the only way to grow a loyal readership, but it’s not the case. There are fairer and less time-consuming (and emotionally damaging) ways to expand your reach in the blogosphere. And frankly, I think it’s still incredibly irresponsible to allow girls as young as 13 to post photos of themselves online. Of course, we must ultimately do what is right for us—but we should do it knowing all the facts.” – Vahni

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ink*blot photography: Friend Friday – New Year, New Goals, New Blog

“The reason I’m proud of this post is because reading it back to myself really shows me how far I’ve come with this blog in the space of a few months. I’ve had my blog for a little over a year, but I’ve only been actively blogging since around April of this year.  In that time I’ve connected with so many new bloggers and learned so much about the fashion community, and it makes me proud that I’ve taken the initiative to get involved and that at the end of 2010 I can look back and definitively say that I achieved something with my blog.  It feels great. :)” – Cate

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JennieClaire: A Serious (Sirius?) Post

“I chose this post because it was when I shared what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go career wise (my dreams basically).  It is special to me because it was something I’ve been holding in for awhile and I decided to take the leap and throw it out there when I would normally keep something like this private. I’m proud of myself for opening up and for sharing something so personal.” – Jen

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JOURNEY: Yes I’m single actually

“I have chosen this blog post because it showcases my voice and my personality. It’s one of my faves for 2010.” – Leela

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Kirstin Marie: One is Silver and the Other’s Gold…

“The reason this is my favorite post is because I felt it took a lot of courage (not something I generally have a lot of) to write something that was and is so painfully personal and close to my heart. In writing this post I realized that in the loss I experienced I gained so much.” – Kirstin

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Kittenish Behavior: An Online Dating Survival & Etiquette Guide

“I like this post because it was fun to write and all the tips have come from personal experience. I’ve been told it made people laugh too!” – Purdey Singleton

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the-loudmouth: not so lucky

“I’m choosing this entry because it’s regarding an important issue that I’ve been dying to address: Lucky Magazine lacks diversity and does not address Facebook comments or e-mails pleading for a change.  I’ve been a long-time reader of theirs, but I had to cease my subscription because I don’t want to support a publication that doesn’t feature anyone but skinny white blondes.” – Stephanie

Note: the-loudmouth has moved!  Click here to be taken to the new Blogger site.

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Lust, Love, Lose: How to Apply Red Lipstick

“I love this post because it was the first time I had the courage to write a how-to.  Before this I never felt like I was an authority on anything worth writing about!” – Jenna

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Midnight in a Perfect World: WikiLeaks & You: Why It Matters

“I chose this post because I really wanted to bring something to the table of our blogging community that, at first, may not relate to what anyone else is doing, but in the end is important as it relates the possibility that one day in the future, could affect us either negatively or positively depending on what happens with Julian and his cables.” – Lady Cameron

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Miss Vinyl Ahoy: Is the controversy surrounding Forever 21′s maternity inaccurate?

“I wrote this post back in July, after an off-hand comment from my husband.  I interviewed a few bloggers and pregnant women to get their input, and was very proud of what I wrote.” – Suze

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Modly Chic: What you need to know to be an Outfit of the Day Blogger

“To me, this was the post I wish I had found when I started blogging. I think I would have gotten on my feet a lot faster if someone would have shared their know-how with me. This post was swimming in my head for several weeks and suddenly I started writing it, penning it in less than 20 minutes when I finally started typing. It became a great resource.” – Katy

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Narrowly Tailored: 30 for 30 – In Review

“My favorite post of 2010 was this one, my 30-for-30 recap post after I finished the challenge. Even though it was a retrospective of things I’d posted and discussed before, it’s the piece I’m most proud of from this year because it represented a big achievement for me in both blogging and style: finishing Kendi’s Fall 30-for-30 challenge. Participating in the remix was a really special thing for me, because it pushed me to greater heights in both style and writing, brought me in contact with the blogging community, and reminded me that great style does not cost a fortune or involve an endless succession of new things. This post captures many of my thoughts on the experience, and recaps all those outfits!” – S.

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No Guilt Fashion: Social Networking – Smart tool or another way to feel like you don’t make the cut?

“Social networking is a great tool, but don’t let yourself get sucked into feeling bad that you aren’t king of the hill ASAP.” – Danie

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Oranges and Apples: On glamorising vintage life

“[My post] is called ‘On glamorising vintage life’ and I’ve chosen it because I took a difficult topic and really thought about it and presented my own point of view as best as I could. I don’t think I quite got to a coherent answer, but the post stimulated some great discussion, and there were some excellent responses in the comments, which was another reason I chose this post – I love it when my readers tell me what they think! Plus, the post has got pretty pictures of 1950s fashions!” – Franca

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over 50 feeling 40: Here’s to “The Lasts“

“Women over 50 (predominantly the target audience for my blog) face many life passages…for me one of the hardest was attending my last football game with one of my sons on the field.  I believe our personal style is made up of many components (fashion being just one of those pieces)…how we handle difficult times and the ability to actually rejoice as we say good bye to stages of our lives can all be done with great style!” – Pam

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Passionated: How I Describe Myself As A Blogger – Plus My Oath To You

“[This post] is about what I want to be as a blogger and how I want to be it, how I describe myself and a promise to all of my readers. It’s painfully honest and how I want it to be.” – Storm

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Ripped Nylon: Interview ~ Fischer Clothing

“My favorite post from this year was when I interviewed the designer of Fischer clothing, Kristina Angelozzi. I honestly had a lot of fun, she was very sweet, and I love her line! It just felt awesome to interview someone so responsive, who genuinely thought about their answers. I conducted an interview previously that totally bombed, after I spent days thinking of what questions to ask! The interviewee was very nonchalant and vague, which made for a total flop. I took it as a learning experience, and was lucky enough to build up the courage to approach Kristina, and through our interactions, I may be assisting her with upcoming trade shows (fingers crossed)!” – Ely

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Silvergirl: My Personal Holiday Challenge

“I chose this post because I was excited to challenge myself since I chickened out on the 30/30 challenge. I had just begun my blog when the challenge came along and was very intimidated by it.  My personal challenge is almost finished and I am proud to say that it was fun and made me think outside my box which I hopefully passed on to my readers.  I also like this post because I think you can get a feel for my style and personality.  I think that if you can have that come across pretty quickly on your blog your readers will know immediatley whether or not you are someone they would like to follow.” – Brett

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stripes and sequins: Fool’s Gold

“My favorite post from the year would have to be the one I did on Fool’s Gold Jewelry.  It’s my favorite because it accomplished some of the things I’d like to post about more (adding elements of nostalgia, telling a story.)  And also because it was a turning point for me as I’ve gotten better developing my graphics (using Polyvore).” – Grace

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Taste and Style Files: This one’s for you, Babe

“I felt compelled to write this post after much thought and even some inspiration from Vahni of Grit & Glamour. It puts things into perspective for those of us who spend so much time blogging, and may need to refocus on other things in our lives, such as the people around us. Since writing this, I have not let blogging come in the way of things that I should pay attention, or maybe more attention to.” – Marissa

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Two Birds: six degrees of vintage clothing

“[I chose this post because] every article of clothing comes with a story. I love vintage clothing not just for the style, but also for the life that it once lived…” – Megan

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Vogue Inspired Fashion for the Real World: Per-Sueded – When Your Wardrobe Turns Vintage

“I chose this post because I enjoyed sharing the history behind the clothes and the brands. I also really liked this post because I think it shows when you buy good pieces they really can last a long time and still be fashionable many years later. I really enjoy bringing out “old” pieces and making them “current” again. I think this post shows that can be done without looking like one is wearing a costume.” – Yvonne

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Vogue Vintage: One LBD. Endless Possibilities

“I am relatively new to blogging and this post exemplifies the direction I hope to see my blog take this new year: creating stylish outfits from an average closet that inspire others.” – Katelyn

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The Well-Appointed Catwalk: Health Matters~Weight and Wellness in the World of Fashion

“Design (and my blog) can get caught up in frivolity, so in this post, it was important for me to focus on something that matters beyond being beautiful. Writing this post took me past what I like, want, or need and challenged me to comment on a vital social issue.” – Marissa

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Wonderpug Graphics: How to Survive the 5 Stages of Grief with Grace and Aplomb

“I have been working on [this post] for about a month, deciding if I should post it or not or if it was too personal. I have had a tough couple of years with an even tougher couple of months, and I wanted to talk about that pain and change that I have been feeling.  And instead of resolutions that I probably wouldn’t keep, I wanted to share some life lessons.” – Carolann

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Thank you, again, to everyone who participated!  I hope you enjoyed this Blog Event as much as I enjoyed organizing it!

What do you think – is this something you’d like to do again?