Why We Have This Blog
Upon reading Tina's post at The English Muse, it got us thinking about why we started the Frou Frou Fashionista.
We started this blog a few years ago as a place to announce bits of news from Faire Frou Frou as well of images of things (any things) that inspired us. We would post sporadically, at times forgetting we had a blog at all, perhaps believing that we were not so much 'bloggers' as we were boutique owners that had news to share. After all, there were fabulous real lingerie blogs out there like Knickers or Petite Coquette (the pioneers of the lingerie blog that are still on top of their game) that shared the news of the lingerie world quite effectively. We never thought we would come close to the audience they had, and that was that.
It wasn't until one year ago that we officially decided to kick this site into high gear. We noticed that the concept of blogging was becoming a business for so many people, and realized that if we wanted to stay relevant we would have to step up our efforts. The good thing is that our efforts weren't much work because we naturally enjoy what we do. We really love finding beautiful lingerie editorials online, we love the amazing catalog images we receive from lingerie designers, we love visiting other sites that post inspiring photography, we think that if you like what's on our blog you will like what's in our boutique, and mainly we love sharing the images that inspire us so much. The blog is quite simply an outlet for the pretty things we wish to share! Now we do feel like official bloggers...or more like a bloggess.
We purposely placed a few restraints on our blog. One of them was that we did not want to show nudity out of respect for our customer base that reads this site (though we're sure a lot of you wouldn't mind!). Another was that we try and feature labels that are affiliated with Faire Frou Frou, therefore you don't see many posts about other stores or brands we don't carry such as Agent Provocateur, Kiki di Montparnasse, etc. (even though we shop with them and love their goodies!). And lastly, we cannot share all of our secrets (i.e. brands we have our eye on) because we realize that there are many other lingerie boutique owners who read this site...a girl needs to keep some sense of mystery! Nonetheless, these self-imposed restraints really do not place any material limitations on what we post, but they do affect our decision process from time to time.
These days blogging is becoming more competitive, which is something we do and do not like. It's great to see everyone showing their best efforts, but we're noticing it become too regimented and numbers-driven. We refuse to succumb to that route because it negates the entire purpose of why we started this site. If we have something inspiring to share, we will share it. If we don't like a brand, we don't talk about it. If it's been 3-days since we've posted, then we have nothing exciting to share on those days (no posts for the sake of posting). Ultimately all of this leads to blogger burn-out, which we wish to avoid. Don't get us wrong, we love that our site is growing, but we don't believe in guerrilla blogging! (Btw there's nothing wrong with being proud of your blog numbers, because we're proud of ours!).
We're sure that many of you, as bloggers, understand exactly what we're talking about. We're also certain that most bloggers start their blog for one simple reason: to share. That's what we enjoy and wish to continue doing!
Lucikily for us, the lingerie world is growing rapidly, so there's an abundance of inspiration to choose from. We truly do wish to make your experience on our site a positive one, and hope you feel the enthusiasm we feel with each post.
We love our boutique, we love our blog, we love the friendships we've made as a result of both. Thank you for going on this journey with us!
xoxo
(phew, after such a long post, we feel blogger post burnout!! Thanks for listening to our ramblings!)
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35 fabulous comments:
I JUST had this conversation with a friend-about numbers, and followers and forgetting why I started my lil blog in the first place. I'm remembering :)
I'm so glad you started yours! Keep sharing! XO
YES absolutely adding you to my blogroll as soon as I figure out how to do it ha! Wordpress is tricky for this blogger girl. (should be up in a day or so)
I know, right?! Blogging has become so hip! I started off my blog as a personal diversion and now there are people who actually read and look forward to it and there are followers and what not! But well, I love it all! Although,my blog is still personal and all, I love blogs like yours! :)
xoxo
I always enjoy reading your posts, because you have a very definite sense of taste and what you like! Everything you wrote about your writing and what you choose to write about definitely comes through in the way you curate your stories, and please keep it up! Where else would luxury lingerie lovers go for seriously sophisticated images and inspiration all in one spot?!
xo
thank you for your comments ladies!! xoxo alison
Alison, great post. Blogging is such a wonderful outlet and you've made me appreciate lingerie!
I've been in a bit of a creative funk so I don't want to just randomly post things either. But I try to make it fun or useful if I do post.
Looking forward to reading more. :)
Great post ! I agree !! I think blogging is not for everyone and I like your honest post :) Mon Mode Blog
Interesting.. I thought *you* were among the pioneers, too ; )
I don't know what I think about the numbers. Even though I'm on the net, and obviously, anyone can read it, I get numbers way beyond way I ever thought I would. I'm sure you and others are getting even more hits. I guess the more we all get, the better for all of us.
I was wounder about the same few days ago when I asked the same question on my blog :)
How I started Blogging :
http://katawagnerberg.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-are-you-blogging.html
I put your Blog on the side on my Blog because I love it! Have a great Saturday night!
frankufotos -
ha ha, i'm a semi-pioneer in the world of lingerie blogs!
i agree with you, the more we band together and support one another, the better we are. i truly believe that the stronger the lingerie industry becomes the more relevant *we* become! it's a win-win!
xoxo alison
Love that you post because you want to share, not because of numbers and stats! That's how I wish every blog was! I've been experiencing blogger burnout lately, and haven't been posting as often as I used to just because I have nothing to say... it's tough to keep a blog going for long. But I love yours, and I love how it works with your site. Keep doing what you're doing!
-Ashley
http://breakfastatsaks.blogspot.com
those girls are too gorgeous.
love your blog.xoxoxxo
Ashley - i keep thinking i will get blog burnout, and some days i do or i think i will find nothing to post on in the days/weeks ahead. but luckily something always pops up.
xoxo alison
You guys have a great blog and I always have a fabulous time coming here and checking out your lovely finds! I agree that blogging is definitely a business- one that after I graduate, I will not be surprised if it becomes my full-time job! If you guys ever want a post-grad to assist with site updates or Twitter tweets, just let me know and I'll be there in two shakes of a lamb's tail :)
Keep at it! Your blog is wonderful!
true true. been blogging since 2002 (though my entries are scattered all over the net since i keep on changing blog hosts :/) and it's really come a long way!
i hope you get through your blogger post burnout though. enjoy the weekend!
♥ joei
http://i.am/joei
These pictures are beautiful :)
Nice !!
please visit
http://intrendnow.blogspot.com/
oh my lord natalie portman is just so stunning....
I love your blog, I'm glad it's here :)
ladies, I really love your blog as you know...thanks for sharing your blog starting story... ;-)
P.S.: ♥Please don't forget to join the Gemmerson giveaway!♥
Good luck!
♥
Thanks so much for the mention! We love all things F3... but then you know that! Still inspired by your boudoir makeover simply gorgeousness thanks for sharing. xoxo
Beautiful pictures! Your blog is very inspiring and I love all the pretty and sexy images on here.
Hi Alison,
I love your blog and it's very inspiring for me! I live in Argentina and sometimes i have no information of certain international magazines, lingerie labels, editorials....so you help me to be updated, to learn and to try to improve in my own work.
Love from Argentina ♥ ♥
i like paolo roversi...the first photo is so magic...
Love the blog and will continue to look forward to all of your lovely inspirational posts!!
Lingerie is my biggest passion, my big dream is to open the first real lingerie butiq here in Stockholm, I always buy my lingerie while I'm traveling. But we do have Agent Provocateur which I'm very happy about. I started my blog Los Mutandes (www.losmutandes.se) to open the swedish peoples minds towards lingerie, and make them see whats beyond H&M panties. It works for me like psycological help also, because instead of buying every pretty bra I see I wright about it. Now I also started translating my blog post because I felt the need of a lingerie blog like yours, full of pretty pictures and only the best lingerie, but as you sad, you don't wright about the brands that you don't sell witch I totally understand. I don't want to compete to other lingerie blogs, I just want to fill out holes and make the interest for lingerie even bigger!
Sorry for my english.
Best wishes
Los Mutandes
So inspiring!
Congrats on the blog and the always beautiful posts.
Love these photos! Anything Natalie Portman related is awesome.
When I started blogging, I had no idea about the numbers...I still do not know in fact.I just enjoy sharing and reading...
I started reading this blog a few months ago. Truly fantastic writing, photos, point of view. Keep up the good work! (and will definitely visit your store soon when it reopens)
totally agree. although I am so happy about my followers and every comment I get, I never forget that this place is for me, it's like my playground, so I post about whatever I LIKE, not caring about numbers.
have a sweet day, xoxo
love that first picture!
xo
bravegrrl.blogspot.com
So true -- I think every blog should have (and deserve) a chance to look back and write a reminder of why we do what we do, and why we love what we love. Blogging is ultimately about love, even if sometimes we have to balance the business side, but I think people understand that. Keep up the amazing work. I feel so lucky that my friend pointed your site out to me; she's a garden and interior design blogger, so how's that for blog-networking?! I love the Natalie Portman pic -- I both love and hate her. I love her talent and hate how amazingly beautiful and fabulous she is! I'd still give her a kidney if she needed it. Ah, girl-hate/love; so complicated.
haha, I just posted the world's longest post about why i blog, what's difficult about it (time constraints), and why i started it 5 years ago. It seems to be in the air, I've just come across several of my fav blogs talking about the SAME thing this morning! I'm glad you're doing what you do--you're by far my favorite lingerie site--the queen of the go-to for the latest on all that is girly/lingerie and of course when I get around to buying new lingerie (very soon I promise, I am so in need of some lovely new things!!!) I plan to buy from you!
xoxo Mary Jo
Excellent entry, beautifully written and you guys are every bit as much of a 'real' lingerie blog as the 'independents' like Knickers. I always use you guys as the example of the best retailer blog out there, hands-down, and not just for lingerie. It's great to see your personality and passion for your work come through!
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