Q+A with fashion blogger, Hannah
Hannah, a Pioneer, has been involved with TipTap since our early stages. We’d like to introduce her to you!
-When/how did your Chill Air & Perfume blog get its start?
I have always been passionate about fashion, but I grew up and attended school in a small town where few people concerned themselves with style. In high school, college, and even graduate school, I was constantly surrounded by people who wore sweatpants and sweatshirts on a daily basis and believed dressing up meant wearing jeans and a nice t-shirt. I was teased (good-naturedly, perhaps) if I wore a casual dress or skirt to class, so I felt stifled and found it difficult to experiment with and explore my personal style in any meaningful way.
A couple of years ago, while in graduate school, I discovered the world of fashion blogging, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it. Still, I lacked the confidence to get started, so I put it off for quite a while. Last fall I started law school and moved to Boston, a city much more accepting of creativity and individuality than where I lived previously. Starting a new life here finally gave me the courage I needed to start my own blog, which now serves as a creative outlet and pleasant distraction from the monotony of life as a law student.
I have always been passionate about fashion, but I grew up and attended school in a small town where few people concerned themselves with style. In high school, college, and even graduate school, I was constantly surrounded by people who wore sweatpants and sweatshirts on a daily basis and believed dressing up meant wearing jeans and a nice t-shirt. I was teased (good-naturedly, perhaps) if I wore a casual dress or skirt to class, so I felt stifled and found it difficult to experiment with and explore my personal style in any meaningful way.
A couple of years ago, while in graduate school, I discovered the world of fashion blogging, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it. Still, I lacked the confidence to get started, so I put it off for quite a while. Last fall I started law school and moved to Boston, a city much more accepting of creativity and individuality than where I lived previously. Starting a new life here finally gave me the courage I needed to start my own blog, which now serves as a creative outlet and pleasant distraction from the monotony of life as a law student.
-You consistently post about your daily outfits. Has your blog always had a large focus on fashion?
Yep! My blog started out as primarily a fashion blog, though I’ve expanded it to include more about food (I’m a vegetarian, and I love to cook!) and New England in general.
-What are your must-have fashion basics?
I believe every wardrobe should consist of classic pieces, basic pieces, statement pieces, versatile accessories, and a few go-to items that make you feel awesome no matter what.
-I see you blog about restaurants, too. What’s your favorite type of place to go?
Oh man, I love food. I love all kinds of restaurants too, and my tastes totally depend on my mood. Sometimes, I love getting dressed up and heading out to a chic lounge or upscale restaurant for the evening. Other times, I want nothing more than to go to a great dive to drink cheap beer and eat bar food. And of course, I’m always down for pastries from one of many local bakeries. I am a vegetarian, though, so that impacts where I dine as well.
-Can you recommend five tips for new bloggers on creating and maintaining a blog?
- Be yourself. Write in your own voice from your own unique perspective. People will always respond better to that than to some contrived persona.
- Blog about what you know and love.
- Reach out and develop meaningful relationships with your community and other bloggers.
- Don’t simply churn out content. Be aware of the quality of what you’re producing. It shows that you truly care about what you’re doing.
- While it helps to gather ideas and inspiration from other blogs and bloggers, don’t drive yourself crazy comparing yourself to them.
-What do you do when you’re not blogging?
Besides being a blogger, I’m also a second-year law student, a legal intern, and a copy-editing intern—so that keeps me pretty busy. For fun, I love to cook, travel around New England, read and write, and do yoga and Pilates. Oh, and I’m also a wife and mother to two cats, Sherlock and Watson.
-We have a game at the office: “Would you TAP that?” If you had to choose the best burger to TAP, what restaurant would it be from?
Well, the best veggie burger I’ve ever had is from The Warren Tavern in Charlestown.
-What destination vacation would you TAP and why?
A vacation somewhere on the Italian seaside—maybe Tuscany or Puglia. It’s always been a dream of mine!
-Which designer would you TAP?
I don’t really follow “high fashion,” but I do consistently love everything that Diane von Fürstenberg designs.
-What website or blog would you TAP?
Besides mine? Just kidding. My current obsession is Ca$h Cats.
-What shop would you TAP?
Two Girls Shop and Re-find in Salem, MA are my favorite boutiques, so I choose both of them. Sorry, I’m cheating.
-Which trend would you TAP?
Quirky animal prints.
-If you could TAP one eatery, which would it be?
Oh, this is SO hard. Maddie’s Sail Loft in Marblehead, MA has some of the best seafood I’ve ever had and really great drinks, so I’m going with that.
