How I Got Started!

I don’t have any “new” pictures today, but thought it might be fun to post some of my very first outfit photos and tell the story of how I started fashion blogging.


I got my start on Chictopia.com. I actually first saw people posting photos of their outfits on Lookbook.nu sometime in 2009. I was shocked and amazed at how perfect everyone was, and how professional too. I gave up even considering taking my own photos after browsing through the site. 

I don’t know how I stumbled upon Chictopia. Perhaps through Beautylish.com, one of my favorite beauty sites (If you have a profile there, lets connect!). Chictopia is a wonderful fashion site. And it was also a lot less intimidating. So in September 2011 I started taking pictures. The top left one was my first. I had a few hits, but mostly misses. I was getting discouraged and so after about 2 months of that, I started my own blog here, on blogspot. Don’t ask me why being discouraged by Chictopia led me here!! I think I knew I’d feel more freedom, and I do.

Having my own blog led me to look into a better lens with better bokeh. I’ve also started to renovate my wardrobe. I’d never noticed the shoes I’d accumulated over the years were, on average, around 3 -5 years old! That is a lot in blogger years, haha. It’s pretty awesome too because taking photos has really gotten me out of the house a lot more and I’ve been spending a lot more time with my sister, Irene, who takes my photos. I always knew she was awesome, but now you can bet she is even cooler for helping me out so much!

Hope you enjoyed this mini post. I’d love to hear how everyone else got into fashion blogging πŸ™‚ The days are dark and rainy again. It was bound to happen I guess πŸ™ I’m not in Cape Town (you know, like Carlinn of Superficial Girls)!

84 Comments

  1. Eric des Cerisiers
    February 14, 2012 / 7:20 am

    The least I can say is that you were awesome from the start! And it's good to know that running a fashion blog like yours can lead to improve relationships with family.And what about the cutest couple contest ? Did you win, or Brangelina got you on the line ? (Sorry, I kinda missed some posts last weeks)

    • Jess
      February 14, 2012 / 7:28 am

      thanks! lol and no we did not win! i gave up after about 2 weeks anyways because they didn't show the # of votes and I figured it was rigged πŸ˜›

  2. Francesca Giusti
    February 14, 2012 / 7:42 am

    love this pics and also your blog! It's so nice!!! I follow you!Pass to my blog and if it likes you follow me too, I will be so glad :Dkisseshttp://francescagiusti.blogspot.com/

  3. Cliff
    February 14, 2012 / 7:57 am

    You have a great style and your sister is an ahhhhmazing photographer! Keep going! πŸ˜€

  4. Laura
    February 14, 2012 / 8:34 am

    BEAUTIFUL! HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!XOXO,FASHIONHYPNOTISED GIRL

  5. Anonymous
    February 14, 2012 / 9:12 am

    Nice story.I'm starting now on the blog. I hope I do well.In the photos you are beautiful.A kiss.Caba.R

  6. Miss Starshiny
    February 14, 2012 / 11:28 am

    It's nice sharing how you started.Would you like to make a post about blog tips, advice for taking pictures?That would be nice!xxxMiss Starshiny

  7. Lisa
    February 14, 2012 / 12:11 pm

    you're so gorgeous!! i wish i were hapa haha you have the most gorgeous skin tone.. i love your style super cute!

  8. Vanilla - Notes from my closet
    February 14, 2012 / 1:27 pm

    Love all these looks! πŸ™‚ You really shouldn't have been intimidated by the lookbooker's your photos (and you) are just as gorgeous as the other members! πŸ™‚ Fanned you on lookbook πŸ™‚ Hope you have a wonderful Valentines :)Love, Vanilla

  9. Tiana
    February 14, 2012 / 1:29 pm

    you have such lovely style πŸ™‚ and you are so gorgeous!happy valentines day :)xoxo,tiana of l'esthetique

  10. MAKE IT BLONDE
    February 14, 2012 / 2:03 pm

    You are sooo beautiful! Love your blog!…followingThanks for your lovely comment β™₯makeitblonde.blogspot.com

  11. Girl On The Roller Coaster
    February 14, 2012 / 2:07 pm

    You have a lovely style.I'm following you now ;)http://beautyrollercoaster.blogspot.com/

  12. Annika
    February 14, 2012 / 3:08 pm

    You have amazing style, such elegant and cute.

  13. Sandra Leiva
    February 14, 2012 / 3:29 pm

    Great pictures and outfits, dear! <3

  14. Smolder Me
    February 14, 2012 / 4:17 pm

    thanks for your comment on my blog…by the way the fake bangs i got from a night market at Hong Kong in one of our vacation trips with hubby πŸ™‚ Stay gorgeous! Happy Valentines day too! πŸ™‚

  15. Christyi
    February 14, 2012 / 5:05 pm

    Oh, thanks for your lovely comment! I Love all these outfits! You have great style!btw: Happy V-day πŸ˜‰ :*

  16. Nari-Elle
    February 14, 2012 / 5:21 pm

    Great style!Happy valentine's day πŸ™‚

  17. Jenna
    February 14, 2012 / 5:48 pm

    I love hearing stories about how people got into blogging! You have some awesome pictures! Beauty Crush was my main inspiration that made me want to start blogging about fashion. She has a tumblr, blog, and two youtube channels that just drew me in.

  18. Mary
    February 14, 2012 / 5:50 pm

    Hi I'm Mary from France.I love your blog, you are a so beautiful girl :)Love your hair and your eyesBisous bisousMary

  19. Roos.
    February 14, 2012 / 7:12 pm

    So this proves you've always looked gorgeous! x

  20. anurbanexplorer
    February 14, 2012 / 7:25 pm

    Youre so gorgeous jess! lovely looks <3Happy v-day!XOXOJOANNIEANURBAN-EXLORER.BLOGSPOT.COM

  21. anurbanexplorer
    February 14, 2012 / 7:29 pm

    youre gorgeous jess! lovelylooks!!!!XOXOJOANNIEANURBAN-EXPLORER.BLOGSPOT.COM

  22. secretfashionlove
    February 14, 2012 / 7:53 pm

    Wow you are such a pretty person. You have a great style and I think you will have really much success with your blog. Keep it on.xx J.

  23. Laura Go
    February 14, 2012 / 7:57 pm

    Jessica, it was a pleasure reading through your journey into fashion blogging! It's surprising how blogging changes your life, huh? Glad to hear you enjoy spending time with your sissie and I absolutely love all these looks!β™₯ laurathe blog of worldly delights

  24. Anetteβ™«
    February 14, 2012 / 8:25 pm

    Thanks so much for your nice comment:) You are so beautifull and amazing is your blog! I am following youxoxo

  25. Andrea Garland
    February 14, 2012 / 8:53 pm

    In love with the #1,4 and 5 pics… It's great to read how you began to blog πŸ™‚

  26. Kristen Lam
    February 14, 2012 / 9:56 pm

    I know you get this a lot but honestly girl, you're gorgeous! You're so ethnically ambiguous and I love it! Not to mention your sense of style? You're the whole package! http://www.kristenglam.blogspot.com

  27. Connie
    February 14, 2012 / 10:32 pm

    Hey Jess, yes I know I need to update my blog! Been busy & lazy lately LOL ;pI really love your sense of style. The way you pose is so natural & spontaneous! Don't get discouraged by just a few misses as they don't know what they're missing! πŸ˜‰ & not to mention your sis is amazing in taking those photos for you!

  28. Callie Lee
    February 14, 2012 / 10:48 pm

    You have some of the best style I have seen in the blogging world Jessica! <3

  29. Penny D.
    February 14, 2012 / 10:58 pm

    Great photos and lovely blogThanks so much for visiting my blog and for your lovely comment.I;m following you now…hope u follow back!!!http://strassandcookie.blogspot.com

  30. Tina
    February 14, 2012 / 11:01 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing. I'm a new blogger and what you wrote was really inspiring ;PWWW.TINACIOUS.MEWWW.TINACIOUS.ME

  31. Kat
    February 14, 2012 / 11:59 pm

    i love your style!! i found lookbook intimidating at first too…actually still do at times :Pkatslovefashion.blogspot.com

  32. Juneli
    February 15, 2012 / 1:57 am

    Thanks a ton for stopping by and commenting!! You have an amazing blog, girl and I'm following for sure!!LoveJuneli from Fashionably Yourshttp://fashionablyyours-juneli.blogspot.com/

  33. Hope Adela Pasztor
    February 15, 2012 / 4:02 am

    Nice outfits! =)http://pinkchampagnefashion.blogspot.com/

  34. Violetta
    February 15, 2012 / 5:17 am

    Fantastic looks, soooo beautiful!!!<333 !!

  35. Vina Yabut
    February 15, 2012 / 5:52 am

    You have a great style even before! :)vinayabut.blogspot.com*Join two of my on-going giveaways if you have time! πŸ™‚

  36. Mars Gemilga
    February 15, 2012 / 7:00 am

    Hello, Jess! Thank you for commenting on my blog. Meant a lot.You are really fashionable. Gonna be a fan of your lookbook, for sure.Followed your blog. Let's connect!marsynthesis.blogspot.com

  37. Brandi
    February 15, 2012 / 7:10 am

    Fun to see where you started! run-style-run.blogspot.com

  38. casper+pearl
    February 15, 2012 / 7:24 am

    so beautiful!casperandpearl.blogspot.comxx

  39. Josie
    February 15, 2012 / 7:49 am

    awww! I love timeless/flash back posts like this!! πŸ™‚ I actually LOVE your first outfit and funny enough I put together a photo collage of a similar outfit like that as an idea for the summer/spring.You truly are inspiring!! When I tell people I have a blog and how I follow other blogs they think I'm crazy or wasting my time. I always show them yours and say how you're my inspiration! After they see your posts they kinda just shut up! hahahaIs photography your sister's hobby? Or is it her hobby now? hehe. She takes great photos! I am wondering if she has a photography portfolio/site?Can't wait for most posts πŸ˜‰

  40. missdanbee
    February 15, 2012 / 8:10 am

    i'm glad you started blogging <3 hehe, you're amazing. missdanbee.blogspot.com

  41. Alba
    February 15, 2012 / 1:15 pm

    Love the first outfit :)http://voguesweetvogue.blogspot.com/

  42. Admirably Pretty
    February 15, 2012 / 1:20 pm

    This is an amazing post, interesting to read as well! :)I love your style, and you look very pretty in all those photos! β™₯Xo, Imke

  43. Alice McGenniss-Destro
    February 15, 2012 / 2:50 pm

    my favorite is the second one! you have great style!now following your blog xx

  44. Andrea Garland
    February 15, 2012 / 4:05 pm

    In love with the #1,4 and 5 pics… It's great to read how you began to blog πŸ™‚

  45. lizchewy
    February 15, 2012 / 4:58 pm

    You have great style and nice story too!! It's so nice to hear about how other bloggers started blogging ^__^xoxoLizzo

  46. Miriam
    February 15, 2012 / 6:05 pm

    your outfits were good, now they are awesome!!!but… you still look great! and you have amazing style!! and smile <3I'm your follower… maybe you will follow back? I'm waiting for you <3 πŸ™‚ :*

  47. bubbles and windmills
    February 15, 2012 / 7:48 pm

    love all your looks, the first too much!bubblesandwindmills.blogspot.com

  48. Lucie SrbovΓ‘
    February 15, 2012 / 10:55 pm

    All your looks are fab!!! I actually started on Chictopia as well and I went on that page by mistake:)http://stylewithoutlimits.blogspot.com/

  49. Secret Admirer
    February 15, 2012 / 10:55 pm

    You look amazing as always Jess. Never realized your sis is the one taking the photos. She is very talented and with some as exquisite as you to shoot, you make her job much easier. Keep sharing, love 'em all.Doug

  50. GingerGirl
    February 15, 2012 / 10:59 pm

    Hi Jess! In my case, I got into the blogging world after following a few blogs for a while. At first I only wanted to show my style through my outfits and my clothes, not to expose myself… In fact my first post shows the clothes of one of my outfits but I'm not wearing them… but then I decided that I needed to show the clothes weared on me to show how they really fit together, so that's when I decided to draw a simple picture of my face to show my outfits in a different way but whithout exposing myself… πŸ™‚ . After starting with my blog I also joined several fashion channels. The first one was Fashionlista and then I joined Lookbook.nu, but I felt in a similar way as you here because all pictures are too "fashionable" and don't really math the street style you can see everyday, so I also tried joining Chicisimo, Trendtation and Chictopia. If you have a Chictopia profile too, we can follow eachtoher there as you suggest in your post! πŸ˜‰ You can find me on all this fashion channels following the links placed on the top of my blog! If you want to connect eachtoher, I'll be waiting for you… :)http://gingercollage.blogspot.com

  51. Nieszka
    February 16, 2012 / 1:28 am

    That's a great story! Your sis is awesome for helping you out so much. She's takes gorgeous photos. It helps to have such a pretty model too πŸ™‚ PS> I did it! I started a blog! eek. Still much under construction and figuring it out, but made my first 2 posts- Yay! I hope I keep it up. http://memoriesoftimespast.blogspot.com

  52. Fashion to Go
    February 16, 2012 / 2:10 am

    Love all your past looks πŸ™‚ fashion blogging has definitely changed the way I look at my wardrobe too haha now a days I buy more investment pieces

  53. Fashion Blends
    February 16, 2012 / 2:45 am

    I just found your blog so it was good to see all your looks :)http://fashionblends.blogspot.com

  54. Head to Toe Chic
    February 16, 2012 / 2:47 am

    Beautiful pictures! I love the polka dot skirt. xo,Angelaheadtotoechic.blogspot.com

  55. TheGirlAtFirstAvenue
    February 17, 2012 / 2:21 am

    Your sister does a brilliant job with photography! πŸ™‚ And you do a brilliant job with styling the outfits! Nice team work I say ;)It was nice to hear how you started blogging!Enter boticca.com giveaway, win $100β™₯ http://www.thegirlatfirstavenue.com

  56. Stephanie Hadrath
    February 17, 2012 / 11:02 am

    Just lovely!!!stephaniehadrath.blogspot.comshbyhadrath.blogspot.com

  57. Marianne M.
    February 17, 2012 / 6:24 pm

    this is a very interesting post to read for new readers, as we get to know more of your style and your blogging experience.thanks for sharing it with us.mariannehttp://lureofthedarkside.blogspot.com/

  58. tejal
    February 20, 2012 / 8:44 am

    Your blog is simply amazing..you look beautifulI am following your bloghope you do the same for mine.:)

  59. simplysuzu
    February 28, 2012 / 3:13 am

    Even a hot girl like you got discouraged, I can't imagine myself doing that. Lol.

  60. mima tan
    April 9, 2012 / 7:18 am

    hi jess!! i feel totally the same as you did! πŸ™‚ finally someone i can relate to πŸ™‚ hope you check out mine as i am also a new blogger. haha.. would love to have you as a friend! btw, love all your outfits! good to have your sister around to take em.http://stellarlioness.blogspot.com

  61. Evey
    April 12, 2012 / 5:57 am

    I think you're pretty and have a great sense of style

  62. Alyssa Hartwick
    February 24, 2013 / 5:51 am

    Thank you for sharing that Jessica! Approximately how long did it take for your blog to really start picking up the pace with popularity? I barely started mine and I was wondering. Here is my link :)http://diarylamode.blogspot.com/

  63. Maja inwithdnew
    March 28, 2013 / 11:29 am

    Hey, Jess!Just found you through tumblr..so glad I did! Love your look and your style.. I blog too, so hopefully you stay in touch! :))inwithdnew.blogspot.com

  64. Brandy Saldana
    April 19, 2013 / 7:40 pm

    Hey Jessica!I met you briefly at the Chictopia Event at the Milna gallery months ago and it is really refreshing to see how you got started and how all your hard work has paid off. I was starting to get frustrated blogging, with time constraints, bad hair days, and being clueless with HTML, but how you got started inspired me. we all feel insecure but in the end we are our own obstacle. thank you for inspiring me to keep going.Anyways, I hope we can be good friends as we both try to make our way through the fashion world.From one bay area blogger to another, keep in touch!Brandywillbakeforshoes.com

  65. Bruno HoΓ’ng
    April 20, 2013 / 2:45 pm

    I found your blog on instagram, i'm not an expert in fashion but the only thing i can say is that your photos are soooo nice ! you said you are 5'4 ? Woww … you seem to be taller on the pix ! Anyway, fyi make sure you have hapa french fans following you and I'm now one of them ! I'm mixed too but I've to say that your mix is really … perfect ! you're really gorgeous. keep going like this Hapa Queen with amazing photos ! Bruno

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  68. Bryony FB
    August 14, 2013 / 9:29 pm

    Hey Jessica im just wondering what camera do you use? as your pics are actually amazing and the quality is unreal x

  69. Nadene Engwell
    October 3, 2013 / 4:00 pm

    That's so cool that your sister takes your pictures! I'm trying to get my sis to do the same for me (have to wait till she recovers from her cold tho!). You were stylish and trendy from the start! I'm def goin to start my own blog too! It can be a new hobby for now and who knows where I will end up in a years time?? Fabulous! πŸ™‚

  70. Aleksa Costa
    October 30, 2013 / 8:34 am

    I just found your blog and I really liked it so thought I'd comment. I think it's always hard starting a blog, specially a fashion one because it's so intimidating to post pictures of yourself and open up to judgement. But you look great =)I also use a 50mm lense, it's the best for fashion photography!xx

  71. armenjhoanna
    November 17, 2013 / 7:55 am

    Love your blog jessica! You inspire girls in dressing up! Ive first seen you in Instagram on the ootdmagazine account and you are so pretty. I also have a blog and i hope it will turned out to be just like your blog. :)armenjhoanna.blogspot.com

  72. Sarah M
    December 19, 2013 / 2:02 am

    LEGALLY BRUNETTE <<< Please follow my style blog πŸ™‚

  73. Eranda Rizaj
    November 13, 2014 / 6:25 pm

    hii…. erasweestyleblogspot.com

  74. Lisa Tran
    January 7, 2015 / 8:23 am

    Hi Jessica!! Thanks for sharing this post! It's amazing how far you've come, and how your photographs have changed over the years! I definitely agree, I just started "fashion blogging" to inspire me to renovate my wardrobe, and also to get outside more. It's good motivation to dress up and look nice on a daily basis. So far, I'm happy with this little blogging project πŸ™‚

  75. Anonymous
    November 9, 2015 / 7:55 am

    Hey Jessica. I just wanna say thanks for sharing this story! Gives me more inspiration to develop on my blog.xx, Mirel

  76. Nadia
    February 21, 2017 / 8:28 am

    Ahhh your old photos totally look like mine do right now haha! What camera do you use now to get such amazing photos? http://www.nadslania.com

    • Jess
      April 11, 2017 / 5:39 am

      haha well for my blog photos I use a Nikon d810 with a 50 mm 1.4d lens! And for instagram I use my iphone 6s plus!

  77. Katey Blaire
    August 17, 2017 / 4:52 am

    I love reading your posts! I myself am just starting to focus more energy and time on my fashion & lifestyle blog and I love to read how others got their start. Looking forward to reading more of your future posts πŸ™‚

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