BEHIND THE BLOG: Ian Michael Crumm

March 10, 2015 in Interview

My website started first as an online portfolio of these projects I was working on and then it quickly became more targeted towards personal style. Now, it is transitioning to be more about travel and lifestyle with all these different verticals like home and art.

FP: Why did you begin blogging?

IMC: In high school, I started dabbling in it. My friend Jordan and I would do some photo shoots together and then that fizzled out coming to college. At the same time when I was in high school, I started my school’s fashion show. When I was a junior, my friend Julie and I were co-presidents of the National Art Honors Society and expressed that we wanted to do a fashion show. I pretty much produced it, from getting people to model and making clothes and hair and the makeup. I sort of took it by the horns because it was my friend Julie’s senior year. I then did it again my senior year and it doubled in size. We did these promo videos on our school’s news system that year. We went from 40 looks the first year to 120 the second year. It was a long show. I mixed the music myself and it was really cool.

I then came to Philly and Drexel and I had an urge to do some sort of fashion project. I started helping with a fashion show in Old City. And then I started getting involved with all these different fashion projects in Philadelphia.

I then started to miss doing the site with my friend Jordan in high school so I started blogging again. My website started first as an online portfolio of these projects I was working on and then it quickly became more targeted towards personal style. Now, it is transitioning to be more about travel and lifestyle with all these different verticals like home and art.

FP: As a child, where did your interest in fashion stem from?

IMC: Definitely my mom and grandmom. They are very fashionable. I use to go shopping with my grandmom all the time. She would take me with her. When we would go shopping, I was her little stylist. She use to wear a lot of black and I would tell her, “You need to wear color!” I styled her and it was fun. Same with my mom but she was always into eclectic clothes and interesting things since I was little. I grew up with her being interested in and wearing a lot of different fashions.

Greatest gift you have ever been given? A fantastic and supportive family.

FP: What are you more interested in, menswear or womenswear? How has that changed over the years?

IMC: Before it was womenswear focused when I was doing the fashion shows in high school and Philly. It was mostly all about that. But because my site transitioned into personal style I started focusing on both. I have been diving more into the menswear world and exploring different designers there but I still love womenswear. Women have more clothing choices than what is stereotypically accepted for men. There is more you can do with women's clothing in editorial and I’m just really interested in womenswear as an industry overall.

I’m also really interested in men’s accessories, which is the fastest growing industry in fashion.

FP: What are some trends in accessories you are really into right now?

IMC: During winter, I loved fingerless gloves. I have seen a lot more brands doing fingerless gloves. Tech gloves are ok. But it’s so much easier with fingerless gloves. I go in spurts. Every season there is one thing I keep buying. One season it was ties. One season it was beanie hats and then it was scarves. Lately, I have been buying men’s folios. That is my latest obsession. Like I said, a lot more brands are doing an array of men’s accessories. On the runways, you are seeing more creative men’s bags and folios cases with colors.

FP: When you think of fashion in Philadelphia, what do you immediately think of?

IMC: Immediately I think of some of my friends who sell out of Old City. Like Nicole Hadded or Lele. When I was doing the first fashion show in Old City I met all of them. And then I started doing shoots with them. So if someone asks me about designers in Philadelphia, those are normally the ones I say are my people. Then you think of the Philadelphia Incubator. The Philadelphia fashion scene is growing. There are a lot of efforts for it to be better here.

FP: What are you looking forward to this spring in menswear?

IMC: I follow the shows and look at new stuff that is coming out but for me personally from a style standpoint, I never focus on trends. I wear whatever I want whenever I want. A trend that is growing and has been a continual theme that I love are drop crotch pants. I love pants with a slightly relaxed crotch and the tapered leg with a lighter fabric. I will be wearing that this spring. You may have heard of the term "althleisure" which is athletic wear as leisure/luxury. Away from just the gym. You’ve seen the sporty blazers that are gym inspired. I will be working on a couple posts on that style of clothing for spring. Those are the two main ones. For now.

20 LAST QUESTIONS FOR IAN MICHAEL CRUMM

On a scale from 1 – 10, how excited are you about life right now? 10!

Favorite pizza topping? Depends on my mood but I love pepperoni, buffalo chicken, barbeque chicken or just cheese. Pizza and ice cream are my weakness.

What’s your favorite thing about Philly? The art museums.

What’s your favorite comedic film? A tie between A Night at the Roxbury and Superstar.

A book that powerfully impacted your life? Tuesdays With Morrie.

Best restaurant in Philly? Little Nonna’s

Favorite song? I Wanna Dance With Someone

Name one historic figure you would love to have coffee with? Princess Diana. How do you like your coffee? Normally with a lot of cream and sugar. Sometimes black.

Favorite travel destination? Somewhere quiet and warm. Last place you visited? China. Next place you are visiting? Toronto.

Favorite thing to do on Sundays? Brunch. Bloody Marys and eggs benedict. Favorite brunch place in Philly? I usually go to London Grill in Fairmount because it is near my place.

What blogs you read? Details, Refinery 29, and Man Repeller.

What did you wear to your prom? I went to four proms. To my senior prom, I wore a black tuxedo with a red and black print bow tie.

All photography of Ian Michael Crumm by George Evan. Follow George Evan on Instagram and Twitter.

BEHIND THE BLOG: EMILY THARP

February 25, 2015 in Interview

Emily Tharp began her blog, Her Philly, in November of 2013.

Why did you begin blogging?

I have always really loved writing. I moved to the city and I was in a long term relationship with a guy. I was always very involved in high school and college, I came here and I didn't know anyone. I was looking for a way to get out and do stuff after work. I wanted a resource for young women like me who weren't into going to expensive things but also wanted to try new restaurants or go to new stores. I basically created the resource that I was looking for myself and it really exploded for me. I was able to dedicate more time to it when I ended that relationship. My independence came out through getting to explore new things with my blog.

Even though a lot of people do a really good job blogging about those things, I have nothing to add to that conversation.

What is your blog and who is it for?

My target age that I think about when writing is young women who are just out of college not yet with kids. I have learned that it is a lot more than that. People are interested from all ages who are looking to do fun things in Philadelphia. I only write about things that I myself think are interesting. I don't write about fashion shows or things like that because that isn't what I find interesting myself. Even though a lot of people do a really good job blogging about those things, I have nothing to add to that conversation. I have had to just think about what is unique that I can present about this topic.

How do you balance work life and blogging?

It can be really tough. I think in the beginning I tried to keep myself to a schedule and that was really hard for me. It made me resent it for a little bit. I never want the blog to turn into something that I feel is a second job. I like how I have freedom. It's tough because there are events during the day I miss in Philly. Both of my employers since I have had the blog think it's really cool. So they do give me support and some flexibility. I am always working on balancing but I learned not to feel bad if I don't get a post up.

What are you favorite things about Philly?

Eating, mostly. I always like going to new restaurants. I am not a really big fan of driving at all. So, I love being able to walk everywhere. Learning to take public transportation has been great. Exploring new neighborhoods. I love Diner En Blanc. I love Restaurant Week. A lot of things that people love to hate but things that get people out and excited about Philly. Right now, I am really close with all my friends from college. We all live in similar neighborhoods so it's been fun to explore new things with them.

What are some of your favorite restaurants right now in Philly?

So Zahav is always and forever my all time favorite. I love it so much. I really like the tapas places. I also really love Amada.

What else is a current obsession?

I'm obsessed with Flywheel. I started never having taken spin before. Everyone there was so nice and welcoming. I love how all the instructors are on social media. I think its all the tech stuff that really gets me. I love being able to look at my score after and see how far I have biked and see how many calories I burned. That makes me continue to go back.

20 LAST QUESTIONS FOR EMILY THARP

What’s your favorite movie? A Bronx Tale.

Favorite TV show currently on? Game of Thrones

Favorite food? Pizza. It’s my cell phone case. Least favorite food? Pate.

Name one historic figure you would love to have coffee with? Marilyn Monroe How do you like your coffee? Soy milk and two pumps of white mocha.

Favorite travel destination? Disney World Last place you visited? Disney World Next place you are visiting? Silicon Valley and San Francisco

Favorite song right now? Sugar by Maroon 5

Drink of choice at the bar? Vodka club with lime.

Something people would be surprised to know about you? I don’t know if it’s surprising but I’m crazy organized. I have to write everything down in my planner.

BEHIND THE BLOG: Jordyn Nicole Shaffer

February 24, 2015 in Interview

In this nine day series, we interview the bloggers behind some of the most influential blogs in Philadelphia. Today, we meet Jordyn Nicole Shaffer of Jordyn's Fashion Formula.

FP: Why did you begin your blog?

JNS: I began Jordyn's Fashion Formula a year ago this month. So last February. I started it because I felt like I wanted to really show my knowledge of pop culture, music and film through the lens of street style. How we absorb all this information, entertainment and media and how it ultimately materializes through the material things that we wear.

I also started my blog because it is an amazing way to connect and network with people. That is why we are here together right now, right?

FP: So it is mostly a fashion blog.

JNS: It started out as a street style blog. But my goal was and continues to be to ask other people about their formulas. Street style blogs can be just me, me, me, me. At the end of the day, I am a journalist so I care about what your outfit and what your outfit says about you. Even how your formula manifests itself in your apartment or home. How your design aesthetic may be different from your outfit to what your bedroom looks like. You formula may be different. I have started to go into people's personal spaces to really get a personal touch on their fashion formula.

FP: When did you become interested in fashion?

JNS: It started in middle school when everyone was trying to figure out who they are and what their identity is. What do I stand for and what do I represent? I always felt like I was too mature for my own well being. My peers were off caring about other things and I was very bookish. And than that bookish-ness made me interested in fashion. I started to absorb fashion in Teen Vogue. I use to collect them and stack them in periodical order. To get back to the Formula, I became obsessed about fashion through film. My Dad's girlfriend told me to watch Breakfast at Tiffany's. I know it's so cliche. But the 60's and Audrey and her aesthetic made me realize how nostalgic I am.

FP: What films lately have you been into?

JNS: I love everything with Wes Anderson. So Moonrise Kingdom. I was Margot Tenenbaum for Halloween. It's beyond just the outfits. It is the whole aesthetic. Other films? I really liked Midnight in Paris. That showcased another time period. Any kind of Italian film. I studied abroad in Rome so just to see like La Dolce Vita, to see the Italian aristocrats and how they dressed. I love to see how their fashion was so effortless and sophisticated.

FP: What is your favorite thing about Philly?

JNS: That it is a underdog but it really isn't an underdog. That everyone wants to connect with each other.

FP: How do you connect with people?

JNS: At first it's really awkward to put yourself out there. You may have all these fears of, "Maybe they will think I'm weird." But, the more I kept on doing that, the more natural it felt and the more friends I meet. Now when I go to places to meet new people, I see familiar faces. It took those three or four times to go to an event and tap someone on the shoulder and say, "Hi. Lets talk." Put yourself out there and it's a domino effect from there.

FP: How often do you blog?

JNS: I try to do once a week because I believe in quality over quantity. Because I am a writer in my real life, I don't want to half ass anything. So I want to make sure I go home and have clear a mind. I don't want to do it just to do it.

What’s your favorite thing about Philly in one word?
Community.

FP: Do you think there is an entrepreneur in you with this blog and that is why you started?

JNS: I think that Philly has so many taste-makers and we always read about them in highly popular local publications But how often do we get to go into their personal space or their home.? The entrepreneur in me would want to see if there opportunity where business and those taste-makers overlap.