LINK LOVE with a TWIST, March 7, 2011

LINK LOVE with a TWIST, March 7, 2011

Feminism. Photography. Controversy. Eco-fashion. Inspiration and honesty.  These are just a few of the subjects tackled in this week’s Link Love with a TWIST.  Grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine!), get comfortable, and prepare to read some posts that are sure to get you thinking!

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55th Street – I know that you know that I know that you know:  Everyone who is a regular follower of Beautifully Invisible knows that I have a soft spot for great photography.  So does B.J. from Confessions of a Couture Junkie, who chose to share 55th Street blogger Arianna P’s work with everyone today.  “She did a photo shoot to explain the four parts of self,” says B.J. “It’s very deep and the imagery and the concept will make you think about your own personality and hidden characteristics on your journey of self-discovery.”

ByAnika – Spreading the Love: Kristy Eléna of Full Time Fabulous and Vogue Gone Rogue:  I am a huge fan of this selection by Casee Marie of The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower.  “The combination of Anika’s creative questions and Kristy’s equally creative, insightful answers make for one wonderful read,” says Casee. “I love how Kristy approaches fashion in a way that’s at once original and easy to relate to. She has so much personality and a killer style, and both really shine in this feature.”  I agree on all counts!

Coffee & a Cardigan – The Hand in the Cookie Jar:  This selection by Fabienne of The House in The Clouds was one of my favorite reads of the past week as well.  “I found this post by Louise of Coffee and a Cardigan to be very poignant. She put herself out there in a very vulnerable way to tell us a story that fortunately ends well,” says Fabienne. “It’s a reminder that there is often much more behind actions we may not understand. Being able to recognize one’s wrongdoings and move beyond forgiveness is key to forgiving others and living with more love in our hearts. I appreciate her candor.”

Elle Enchanted – A bet to a better lifestyle:  Stephanie of the-loudmouth found some new inspiration via Elle’s post.  She says “With this post, Elle has inspired me to live healthier. She describes setting goals for herself and accomplishing them, such as giving up sweets for a couple weeks. She even gives up coffee — something I don’t think I could ever do!”

The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower – How to Make Failed Outfit Pictures Work (Photoshop Tutorial):  Even if you have already read this post on Casee’s blog, or via IFB’s Links a la Mode, it it is worth a second look!  Vahni of grit & glamour chose to share this post for a variety of reasons.  “Casee’s tutorial emphasizes the importance of photo editing for outfit-of-the-day (OOTD) bloggers—especially for those who don’t have a pro photog boyfriend, or a top-of-the-line DSLR (which does make a difference),” says V. “She shows bloggers how to transform a so-so photo into spectacular, and even if you don’t use Photoshop for editing, there are many helpful tips for OOTD bloggers looking to improve outfit photos.”

JoanneFaith.com – Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level:  I couldn’t publish this post without including a link to this unbelievably informative and well-written piece.  This article is a must read for anyone who is serious about fashion blogging and wants to take their own blog to the next level.  Joanne covers it all – branding, content, imagery, SEO – you name it, she probably tackles it here.  I can almost guarantee you will learn something new (I have it bookmarked – it is that good!).

The Joy of Living – Pretty Standard: Tanvi of The Fabulous Life of Not-So-Rich and Infamous selected a post that is both humorous and thought-provoking for inclusion this week.  “I agree with everything [Savannah] mentions in her list. I think hers is a humorous take on stuff which people really take for granted and should instead be a little more careful about.” – Tanvi

the-loudmouth -If I’m flying solo, at least I’m flying free: Sometimes it is a person’s honesty – pure and simple – that draws us in.  Both Brooke of Center Sage and Kristy Eléna of Full Time Fabulous nominated Stephanie’s post for inclusion this week.  Brooke spoke for both her and Kristy when she said “Stephanie’s honesty and courage are inspiring. This post reminds me that we all deserve to be happy and that we all have the ability to take control of our destiny. The end of one thing is the beautiful beginning to another. I know that Steph has a bright future ahead of her and I thank her for inspiring me to fearlessly approach my own life journey.”

Modly Chic – FBFF Awards Explained and Canceled:  If you are a regular follower of this blog you are already familiar with Modly Chic’s Friend Friday (FBFF) series.  Recently there was a bit of unexpected controversy surrounding the series, and via this post – submitted by Cate of inkblot*photography – Katy tackled the subject in a graceful and thought-provoking manner.   Cate said: “… the FBFF awards were essentially cancelled because it created a bit of discord for some bloggers who felt that the awards weren’t as inclusive as they should have been… I think that in this post, she did an excellent job of diplomatically presenting both sides of the argument and placating both camps… I think this post really exemplifies why FBFF has grown so large in the last few months. Katy has proven herself to be an excellent leader by demonstrating that she is able to be considerate of everyone’s opinion in a sea of people who she may or may not even know personally.”

Mrs Bossa Does the Do – Just Seeing Me:  There have been a lot of posts in the blogosphere lately focusing on self-acceptance (I even did one!) but this post – my second selection for the week – approaches the subject from a slightly different angle.  Mrs. B.  focuses on how the words of some fellow bloggers have helped put her on the path to body acceptance.  It is a wonderful example of the positive impact members of the community can have on one another, and Mrs. B proves yet again that she is both beautiful and an inspiration.

RAGS Against the MACHINE – Am I a Feminist?: The final two selections this week, both submitted by Franca of Oranges and Apples, proved to be thought-provoking for two quite different reasons.  Franca says of her first submission:  “I picked this because it’s a moving personal story and an alternative take on the Fashionable Academics’ “This is what a feminist looks like” project.  There was also some amazingly thoughtful discussion in the comments!”

Retro Chick – When is Eco-Friendly not Eco-Friendly?:  Franca’s second submission broaches a different subject altogether: eco-fashion. “In this, a straightforward opinion piece of the kind that we don’t get often enough any more, Gemma questions the real eco credentials behind Livia Firth’s Oscar dress by asking: how sustainable is it really to ‘kill’ 11 vintage dresses to make one gown?” Interesting question, no?

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Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their favorite post of the week!

If you would like to submit a post for inclusion in the next edition of Link Love with a TWIST, please do so here.

If you would like to publish this post on your own blog, the code can be found here.