Monthly Archives: November 2019

Process Post 8: Analytical Adjustments

After looking through the results from Google Analytics, I’ve realized that the time spent on my website was rather short. So in an attempted to make things slightly more interesting, I made a consistent layout change.

Previously, blog post featured an image meanwhile everything else was left untouched. It made my blog seem unorganized and relatively uninviting. Seeing noting but words will make you either just close the tab, or make you go back to the page you were previously on.

To fix that problem, I have retroactively gone backwards and added in a small feature image of the in class “Pub101” activity we made as a header image informing viewers that these are course related content.

Visually looking at my website, it now looks much cleaner and organized. Although it does still have a lot of words, they are now compliments towards an image. Though not a big change, this difference has made even myself more content with looking at my blog.

Fashion Stylist: Ibrahim Kamara

Signed to the coveted Art + Commerce agency as a fashion stylist, Ibrahim Kamara has taken his creative integrity and pushed it forward into artistic works of art.

Photo by Kristin-Lee Moolman

Ibrahim Kamara’s creative choices in his styling is radically unique. In my opinion, Kamara is one of the most brilliant fashion stylists in the industry. There is a whimsy-apocalyptic-grunge about the way he dresses his subjects. From use of netting, oversized fixtures as headpieces and even as shoes, Kamara bridges the world of reality and fantasy.

An aspect of Kamara’s styling that I admire is his ability to become gender neutral in all his choices. His work is the definition of “clothing has no gender.” Plays on the idea of masculinity and the ability to push it further and over the hegemonic lines that restrict men, and specifically targets black masculinity. 

(Left to right): First and second image by Kristin-Lee Moolman, 2016 // Third image by Tim Walker, 2018 // Fourth image by Kristin-Lee Moolman, 2017 // Fifth image by Kristin-Lee Moolman, 2018

There are no boundaries in the perspective of Kamara’s work. His distinct perspective is audacious and inventive while marrying the borders of high fashion with peculiarity. By creating a symbiotic companionship between looks and incorporating striking artistic decisions, Kamara elevates his styling to pieces of art. To some people, Kamara’s styling may look random, but the articulate way the articles of clothing are folded, pinned, and tied are purposeful—nothing is an accident. 

(Left to right): First image by Kristin-Lee Moolman, 2019 // Second and third image by Kristin-Lee Moolman, 2017

Born in Sierra Leone, and being raised in Gambia, at age 16, Kamara moved to London. In 2018, Kamara was appointed Fashion Editor at Large for i-D Magazine. In addition, his work has been featured within the pages of Vogue Italia and Dazed. 

(Left to right): First and second images by Paolo Roversi, 2019 // Third and fourth images by Kristin-Lee Moolman, 2016

Kamara was also a consultant for brands which include Christian Dior and Nike, and has collaborated with artists like Madonna and Solange. 

Solange by Tim Walker
Madonna, styled by Ibrahim Kamara

Ibrahim Kamara defies boundaries: bridging the world between reality and fantasy.

Check out Kamara’s Instagram for more photos of his styling creations!

Peer review 3

For my third peer review, I am going to read Rain Mutlu’s blog small steps in a big world

This blog is about traveling and photo sharing, Rain has loved freezing moments to keep them forever and she would be more than happy to share those memories with her audiences, she mentioned that she decided to create this travel blog where she talks about what kind of feelings the places she went to trigger in her and what kind of feelings they might awake in you. I believed this is a romantic idea that will create a bond with readers and express the emotion together through reading blogs.

Speaking of website design, this blog holds simple aesthetic with white and black, author decorates some visual pictures in each post, because it is a travel blog, so I would recommend adding more travel photo to replace other types of pictures, otherwise the online identity is not clear and may leads this website looks like a business or personal blog without certain theme. The scroll bar on the homepage as one of the first things viewers see when they go to her website is a good design that Rain can utilized to capture audiences’ attention, it is an important part to create interest and convey the blog’s identity in a clearer way, thus beautiful travel image is needed. Besides, the menu and category widget, which are very helpful to help her viewers choose what they want to read. Generally, more vivid designs for travel blogs may help increase the participation between the author and audiences, as it would make the reader more interested in this blog.

Moving to blog content, her blog posts are very interesting and I really enjoyed reading her travel experience. Compared to other travel blogs, this one is a little bit different, it focuses on emotional expression rather than traveling itself. In a recent blog, Rain said she wanted to focus on small and unpopular places in certain locations rather than traveling around the world and briefly talk about the must-seen-places, she shares many Vancouver spots, because this is a travel blog, it is better to write about other places rather than local, otherwise the blog theme needs to be more focused. Also, the featured image on the blog post needs more charming, which will attract more audiences to read the content and help her to increase the target audience, otherwise it makes them feel confused about the blog content. A few changes would make these posts even better, the typeface she will use also can be more unique in the future.

For marketability to their intended audience group, I think to create a specific theme and adding more attracting travel elements or design will help her to create a more unique and interesting blog, which become easier to market with a more specific group of readers. By the way, the automatic pop-up window is really disturbing for audiences so I do not suggest to install this. When I was reading a post intently, this window made me feel really annoyed and want to quit this website. Personally, showing Instagram photos on the homepage will help to increase awareness for this blog and bring traction. Some adjustment will attract more fans and prepare for Rain’s future blog marketing and digital monetization.

Overall speaking, Rain’s traveling blog is relatively different than other travel blogs, I will continue to read the website for new posts in the upcoming weeks and hope to see more interesting things!

–who can reject a dreamy trip to Italy?–

some of my photo collection, hope everyone likes it!

Process Post Prompt – Analytics and Digital Trails

I think I’m not the only one who notice the amount of “Our site uses cookies” that has been increasingly appearing online. It’s weird that I’ve sort of got used to clicking agree to all these tabs that appear on the sites, since I used to be frantic over the idea of someone tracking my data when I visit a site. Analytics now don’t just focus on a micro level where we can track a certain IP address of someone who left a hate comment online. Analytical tools for big data collection is now widely used in most online platforms. From the companies or content creators’ perspective, users’ data are essentially as precious as oil to their business. Understanding their users and how they behave allow them to market their content to the right audience thus boost sales profit. But for users, it could definitely be stressful knowing that our personal data are being tracked and used for algorithms and ads.

In this information age, it is inevitable that we leave digital footprints online nowadays, where the information of our behavior online are constantly tracked. We can use incognito windows and private browsing on our phone, but once we get out and use our credit cards, we are giving away our mode of consumption to banks and retailers. Basically, any of our behaviour that involves digital technology would be recorded and tracked. I think this is why we therefore all sort of all accepted the fact that this is how technology works and do little to protect our data.

Prompt 7: Analytics & Data Trails

Since this week’s process post prompt does not really offer a question to be answered, I will assume it is something about analytics and “data trails.”

Google Analytics Discoveries

Regarding analytics in context of my website, one of the most important discoveries for me was finding out that I have a greater presence on a desktop rather than a mobile phone. In a way, it was shocking to me, because arguably, people’s lives are revolved around our smartphones. The website’s accessibility of a smartphone however can be challenging. When I tested the website out on my iPhone, the structure wasn’t particularly the best. It is not my intention to make people scroll all the way down to see my posts, for that, I can only blame the template that I have chosen. Another discovery in my analytics was that people tend to stay quite a while on my posts—in terms of Internet time—approximately 30-seconds to 50-seconds. This surprised me, because I did not think my content would be intriguing. But I guess images help a lot, and possibly creating short paragraphs that are spread out within a post in coherence with images help make the posts more interesting.

Data Trails

As for data trails, I have not thought about it…until now. Though now that I come across the term, “data trails,” I do beckon the thought of how long mine might be. To begin with, almost everything nowadays is or will be digitalized. Artificial intelligence (AI) has made it efficient for some people to multitask in a busy contemporary setting. Like Suzanne Norman (2015) says in her article, “[AI] is used to enhance the customer experience; to making shopping easier.” It makes it easier, because systems can collect data through our motions, voices, and even eyesight through recognition software to identify different qualities of our beings and then tailor our likings or desires into a compact system. I am no stranger in using AIs. For anyone using Apple products, Siri is a significant feature in Apple products and I have utilized the function a few times while multitasking. Siri has definitely made working easier and more efficient, because I don’t have to worry about getting smaller things done that may slow my actions. As I have mentioned before, I do not even think about my digital trail. Which suggests that I don’t attempt to minimize my digital trail.

However, I am ambivalent on the idea of data trails. I can contest that everything around us are becoming digital which can cause some issues. For example, by deliberately offering information of my locations, information about my contactless cards and banking information: I have given my security essentially to digitized programs in my smartphone to make my life simpler and more readily accessible. The security issue that is questioned by the article, “Digital breadcrumbs: The data trial we leave behind,” is about the information that I knowingly give up and if the information “can be used against us?” My answer is yes. As a communication major, I have learned over the semesters that information technology can easily be hacked and spied on by the people around us and even by the government.

Despite the pros and cons of data trails, it is essential to comprehend that information is becoming digitalized for convenience. Our knowledge and lives will be infused with computerized systems and that is something—I don’t think—anyone can avoid.

Featured image photographed by Helmut Newton for Vogue US (1995). Outfit: Thierry Mugler.

half milk and sugar

Peer Review #3

Half milk and sugar invites its readers to “come take a sip” at their “online virtual cafe” and provides a one stop access to readers giving them a insiders scoop on local Vancouver Cafes.

Design: The simplicity of half milk and sugar pairs well with the blogs content. Each post is held in a square on the home page making it easy to navigate and select the post that you are most interested in. The squares also keep all the blogs content neatly organized and presentable on the home page. The minimalist design on half milk and sugar makes it appealing to all audiences and is comparable to many other food blogs.

Content: half milk and sugar’s café reviews give the reader a front row seat to cafes in the Vancouver area. Not only is the bubble tea in review but the post also discusses the interior of the café, the way it is described the reader knows exactly what to expect the moment they walk in the door, the image of the interior helps with the visual as well.

Then for the item review there is a lot of detail and attention placed into the review. I am an occasional bubble tea consumer but from the reviews on half milk and sugar I can tell that the writer really knows what they are talking about, discussing texture, flavour and the look of the item they are reviewing. I also appreciate that the price is mentioned in each review. Eating out and trying new places can be expensive, by mentioning the price of the item the audience shifts from those who are able to spend a lot of money to include those who are maybe on a budget but still want to explore.

Overall half milk and sugar appeals to like minded individuals who are eager to try new cafes, desserts and experiences. The clean design makes it easy for anyone within that demographic to access and find content, making half milk and sugar a perfect site to visit when planning your next cafe adventure.

Navigating the November Blues

I think we can all agree November is the worst. All the fun fall festivities have ended, the pretty leaves have fallen and coated the side walk with some sort of mush. The cold weather is setting in, it’s dark, it’s foggy. It’s still too early to go full on Christmas mode so we are all stuck waiting. But we aren’t really waiting because the stress of school, or work, or life has set in and all of a sudden you have a million things on your to-do list this month. I’m honestly just trying to make it winter break… and this is how I’m gonna do it:

Spend time outside: I know I just complained about the weather but its not always awful, my advice is check the weather and plan outdoor activities when its sunny. My favourite outdoor November activity is hiking, but even if you don’t want to hike just make sure to get out and get some fresh air everyday or else its going to be a very long month trapped inside

Friends!: It’s pretty easy to become a recluse in November, everyone is busy, swamped with a million and one things. But it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. Make sure to schedule time to recharge with loved ones, invite them to hike! or to study or to even run errands with you. Everyones is feeling the same pressure this month so make sure to spread the love

Christmas?: So the beginning of November is too early for Christmas in my opinion but the end of November… well thats another story. If the only thing that is gonna get you through this month is the Christmas lights at the end of the tunnel who am I to stop you. I know that at that half-way mark of November my Christmas tree will be going up, I really need that extra joy to make it to finals not to mention the extra sugar of starting in on the Christmas treats. I highly recommend starting your celebration a little early, just don’t go overboard, you still have alot of work to do this November.

Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen (Food)

Background
Vietnamese cuisine has emerged as a local classic here in Vancouver. Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen opened its doors up in 2012 and have not only weathered the strom but has risen above as one of the most popular locations. In addition to their food, a large factor contributing to their tenured success is their connection with the local community and greets regular customers with a truly genuine smile. As for their menu, they offer classical options like beef noodle soups and grilled meats on rice, alongside two specialty items known as #23 and #24.

#23: Bún Riêu: Special Crab Soup with Vermicelli
The bowl of vermicelli noodle is topped with tofu, Vietnamese pork ham, pork leg, and shrimp. But the secret sauce really is their homemade crab broth which provides an alternative delicious flavor. Being the only one of its kind, the rarity alone makes this a must try. But rest assured that its taste will make you come back for more.

#24: Bún Chå Cá Dac Biêt Special Fish Cake & Vermicelli in Soup
Using their beef broth as a base, this bowl of vermicelli noodle is topped with daily house-made fried fisk cakes. They use different types of fish paste to give off different flavors but they are both consistently delicious.

Verdict
Vietnamese cuisines are easy favorites here in Raincouver, I mean Vancouver. The constant cold, wet and gloomy days often make people crave hot soup and there is no better compliment than some good noodles to soak up the broth. I do need to note that the restaurant is very small, crowded, and old. But it is not that the owner does not care about the condition of the restaurant itself; it is done intentionally to replicate the authentic dining experience that found in Vietnam.

Peer Review #3: Food With Anita

This week, I got to review the marketability of Anita’s blog Food With Anita. It seems like her target audience are people who are unfamiliar or are interested in what to eat in Vancouver and Richmond.

Anita wanted the layout of the blog to be “[simple] so each post could be easily noticed,” I think she did that well with clear page naming in the navigation, and on every page. The blog is further simplified with the use of a mainly black and white palette, with a secondary colour of light blue. However, the overly simplistic layout doesn’t reflect the colourful and enthusiastic attitude Anita has towards food. The simple layout provides an opportunity for Anita to use her vibrant food images to entice readers. I noticed only the first few blogs have feature images of the food she reviews, that would be very helpful for readers in determining whether they would want to read further about the restaurant. Especially if they are new to the area, it would be easier for them to scan through the images to first find what type of food they are interested in, instead of having to read each post.

Home page of the blog.

Anita also has very beautiful food images, and should use them more often! I especially like the grid layout on the ‘Home’ page, I can easily see what type of food she blogs about. From there, I already want to click to read further about them. Unfortunately, they are not linked to their respectful posts. If it’s possible, linking readers directly from the home page can generate more engagement and ease of use.




Anita’s food posts are succinct, with clear headings to break up each section of text. She describes the location of the restaurant and even tips on how to get there and parking. Her personal review of the quality of the food could help long-term readers determine Anita’s tastes in comparison to theirs; thus building a strong relationship of trust. The menus are also included so readers can figure out if the place is within their budget, without having to search elsewhere.

Anita ends her posts linking her Instagram account that’s under the same name. This is a great way to drive traffic towards that platform, since that’s been active for more than a year prior to her blog. Anita could also link her blog on her Instagram account to drive her more long-term readers to her blog, where there are more detailed content than on Instagram.

The placement of her social media icon is odd at the top left corner of the navigation bar, because that’s where people would usually find the site’s logo. The clickable area is also very small. Since Instagram plays a big role with Anita’s online food presence, it should be placed somewhere more prominent. I would suggest having a sticky Instagram widget on the side bar. So readers can get a glimpse into the content of her Instagram, and be enticed into engaging with that platform. Furthermore, Anita can increase the shareability of the posts for readers who are exploring the city with other people, by including share buttons. By having content accessible outside of the website, it increases visibility and can increase website traffic.

Jesus is King

Released on the 25th of last month, Jesus is King is Kanye West’s new latest album. Previously known as being an atheist with a belief in the only the truth, this album’s gospel theme is Kanye West’s interpretation regarding God and his conversion to the Christian faith. Full of passion, it is a beautiful expression of his experiences.

Image result for jesus is king kanye
  1. Every Hour
  2. Selah
  3. Follow God
  4. Closed on Sunday
  5. On God
  6. Everything We Need
  7. Water
  8. God Is
  9. Hands On
  10. Use This Gospel
  11. Jesus is Lord

Without a doubt, this is an artistically chilling album, but without a doubt, the Sunday Service version elevates the lyrics behind the entire album.

To be honest, the album has me lost for words. There is just something speechless about the delivery and how Kanye chooses to articulate himself. As a non-Christian and someone who has very little experience with gospel music, I am astonished by how quickly the album grew on me. Give it a listen, even if you’re not a Kanye fan or a Christian. Appreciate good art.

Chun Yang Tea

When in Richmond, you’ll often be seeing tons of bubble tea openings quite often so it isn’t a surprise that I’m doing yet another, bubble tea review. Chun Yang Tea is best known for their Brown Sugar Pearl with Fresh Milk as advertised, like many other bubble tea chains who are also on the Brown Sugar hype. Chun Yang Tea originates from Taiwan, like most bubble tea chains, and is known for its use of fresh milk and its authentic flavours.

Location

Address: 7971 Alderbridge Way #130, Richmond, BC V6X 2A4

It is located right next to Gyu-Kaku in Richmond so you can get your Japanese BBQ fix and bubble tea fix all in one place! This plaza is very near Lansdowne Mall so getting there isn’t too difficult by transit since there’s a skytrain stop at Lansdowne and you would only have to walk a bit from there. It’s also in central Richmond so it’s close by shopping malls, restaurants, and other bubble tea and dessert locations.

Interior

The inside of Chun Yang is on the smaller side with only a few tables but they often open their (what seems like a) garage door so the space does feel pretty open and less cramped. The space is decorated with wooden tables and small plants so it gives a bit of a lively ambiance. They have a wall with white subway tiles and a neon sign with the Chinese character of “Chun” which translates to spring which I found to be such an aesthetically pleasing piece of decor that set the vibe of the place.

Taste

We go the Oolong Milk Tea and Honey Oolong Tea and both were super light and refreshing! For the Oolong Milk Tea, the Oolong flavour was quite strong and the amount of sweetness definitely compliments the flavours of the Oolong Tea well. The pearls were great too and had a good texture since it was chewy but soft. The Honey Oolong Tea was light, not overly sweet and had a hint of bitterness from the Oolong Tea flavour which I enjoyed.

Price

The drinks here at Chun Yang Tea ranges from $5 to $7 after tax which is quite standard for most bubble tea places. There are size options between the regular and the large and a few at a set size, but that is common for bubble tea places.

Conclusion

Overall, I had quite a pleasant experience at Chun Yang Tea and I will be coming back, especially if I’m craving bubble tea after eating at Gyu-Kaku right next door, which I go to often. Their prices are standard and not too pricey but their drinks are high quality which I find to justify the prices. Their flavours are definitely unique and really refreshing so if you’re looking to try a new bubble tea place that are not one of the larger chain bubble tea locations (Chatime, Sharetea, Coco, Gong Cha), I would suggest coming here!

Check out the post I did over on my Instagram!

View this post on Instagram

There’s a new bbt spot in Richmond so of course I had to check it out. ☺ It’s located right next to Gyu-Kaku so y’all can get your Japanese bbq and bbt fix in one area. Their drinks are super refreshing and light for bbt drinks and their decor and cups are super cute & ig worthy! – Side note: I also run another ig where I only post pics of neon signs like the one in this pic so check it out if y’all are interested @litsign ! – 🥡 We got the Oolong Milk Tea (left) and the Honey Lemon Oolong Tea(right). – 🥢 Rating: 9/10 – 📍 Chun Yang Tea – • • • • • #vancouver #yvr #vancity #vancouvereats #vancouverfood #vancouverfoodie #vancityeats #yvrfoodie #foodcouver #604eats #foodie #igfood #food #bubbletea #bbt #boba #bobatea #bobalove #milktea #oolong #oolongtea #lemontea #honey #tea #pearls #neonsign #richmondmoments #richmond #chunyangtea

A post shared by Anita | Vancouver Foodie (@foodwithanita) on

Play when…the nights are cold

The temperatures are dropping, and you know what that means. 

I can see it now—walking down the street with your shoulders scrunched up to your ears, hands shoved all the way into the depths of your pockets (because you’re too cool or forgetful for gloves even though that sounds like such a good idea right about now), while the wind slides into your coat and goosebumps start to envelop your entire warmth-ridden body.

Geez, I had to slip on another sweater just while writing that. 

So here are some tracks to warm you up and give you that cosy feeling, no matter how cold it is outside. *Cue movie montage of you walking along a city street on a chilly evening, playlist on in the background.* 

Sound on & bundle up. 

A minimalist’s winter wishlist – Bags

Halloween is finally over, and it’s once-again appropriate to blast Christmas music! As we head into the season of carols and gift-giving, I couldn’t help but browse through webpages for my own personal wish list. You know, the one that you save on a folder in your browser and occasionally open to take a peek at? Only to close the tabs again because your wallet is empty and you’ve spent an unreasonable amount of dollars on Starbucks.

To offset the sad thoughts as I look at all the items on my wishlist, I thought that it would be a great idea to share the things that I have been eyeing. I hope is to make this a series, where I can share one category of items per week. Due to the sheer absurdity of some of the prices, I won’t be sharing the exact retail value. But I will still link the items in the pictures, just in case anyone is looking for a worthy splurge. If you couldn’t already tell, this week we will explore my bags wishlist. Starting from most unattainable to least 😀

#1 Chanel Wallet on Chain ($$$)

https://www.chanel.com/en_CA/fashion/p/slg/ap0250y01480/ap0250y01480c3906/classic-wallet-on-chain-lambskin-silvertone-metal-black.html

This is one of those bags that I don’t quite like enough to drop the $$$, but I would consider for a graduation gift of some sort. As in, I wouldn’t pay for this out of my own pockets but if a family member purchasing it for me on a very special occasion, I would be more than grateful to receive it. This bag has an estimated retail value of C$3,000. It’s composed of lambskin and silver-tone metal. I wouldn’t suggest taking out all your savings for any bag (or any material item, really), but a great way to look at it is by setting the item as a reward after completing a goal. For me, I would consider purchasing this bag for myself once I complete my CPA. Which would be years down the road, but it serves as a form of healthy motivation.

#2 Saint Laurent Monogram Chain Wallet ($$$)

https://www.ysl.com/ca/shop-product/women/mini-bags-mini-bags-matelasse-monogram-chain-wallet-in-grain-de-poudre-embossed-leather_cod45249620qc.html#dept=women_mini_bags_view_all

This is a classic YSL bag that I can imagine myself using upon graduation. Realistically, I would probably choose a YSL over a Chanel bag as a graduation present. Simply because it’s a less prestige brand with a price tag that I can justify for a once-per-3-years purchase. This bag with made with “grain de poudre embossed leather”, whatever that means. It comes with the classic YSL monogram with a removable silver chain. Unlike the Chanel, this YSL bag comes with a variety of colors, finishes, and sizes. You can also choose to purchase the double-flap version of this bag , although I personally find it to be a little excessive. This bag is priced at C$2,200 before tax, which is again, an EXTREMELY hefty price tag. But for those who can justify purchasing luxury, it’s a worthy investment among other similar-priced bags.

#3 Coach Riley Top Handle 18 ($$)

https://ca.coach.com/en_CA/coach-riley-top-handle-18/74615.html?cgid=women-handbags&dwvar_color=B4%2FPC

Moving forward from my obsession with black wallet-on-chains, this is a more-affordable option that I can see myself purchasing in the next few months. I had the opportunity to see this model in-store yesterday at the Richmond CF center, and I was unfortunately met with the news that this color has already sold out both online AND instore. Oh well, more incentive to save my money haha. It comes with three compartments inside, with a zipper on the middle divider:

This could be good or bad news, depending on whether you enjoy organizing all your items. This could be a great design for someone who has smaller, sleek items that they carry around. It could also be a nightmare for those who want the option to stuff a whole burrito in their bag (no shame!). This bag retails for $550, and I suggest that you wait a few months before making the purchase. Coach usually drops more color options after the initial launch, and most of the more-established models have upwards 10 pattern/design options. Happy shopping, and don’t forget to treat yourself in this cold season!

Peer Review: Raincity Closet

Another week, another peer review! This time around we’re teaming up with Adriana of Raincity Closet, a Vancouver-based fashion blog serving you everything sweet and cozy. I know. We love. It’s the perfect timing too because sweater weather is finally upon us! I’ll stop myself here so I don’t get too ahead of myself. 

Alrighty, let’s get into it!  

CLOSET ENVY

Upon loading the site, the photo of a gorgeous walk-in closet (yes, still dreaming about it) on the homepage tells me everything I need to know—we’re about to talk fashion. The image perfectly captures the aesthetic of the blog with its sleek, clean lines and a colour scheme that Fall/Winter fashion capitalizes on. This stylish concept extends to the structure of the site itself. Raincity Closet makes effective use of whitespace while the combination of the grey and ashy blue font pops off the page.

FROM STREET TO SITE

Consequently, Raincity Closet caters to an audience who is keen on fashion and all things trendy. This plays on the idea that Danah Boyd’s novel, “It’s Complicated”, touches on, that “what [we] do online cannot be separated from [our] broader desires and interests”. In this case, Raincity Closet reels in people’s interest in fashion from the real world to the online realm. So if you’re on the hunt for fashion inspiration, no need to web search any farther!

GET THE LOOK

One element of the blog which I find to be attractive to the audience is the diversity of posts. For instance, while some posts are real-life OOTDs, others are lists of favourite/go-to items, and some are shoutouts to where Adriana herself gets her fashion inspo. The latter is probably one of my most favourite posts on the site as there’s just something so fascinating about learning what kind of content other people gravitate towards. (I gotta say, Jenn Im/clothesencounters is one of my top YouTubers, too!)

Raincity also serves its audience well as it allows them to shop the look too, not just dress up vicariously, as each item (or one similar to it) mentioned in a blog post is linked at the bottom. In doing so, the content not only addresses the interests of the audience but their needs as well. Okay, maybe I don’t necessarily need that new sweater, but I definitely want one.

LINK IN BIO

Within Process Post #2, Adriana discusses her dilemma of whether or not she should attach her Instagram account to the site. The trouble comes in because while Instagram does make sense for this sort of content, the issue of lacking professionalism and privacy arises. Although, the discussion comes to an end when mentioning that “a separate Instagram that is exclusively for [her] blog [where she] could post pictures of outfit ideas, or even ootd’s (outfit of the day)” is also an option. 

To me, I think that it would be a great idea to create an Instagram account to accompany the blog. I for one spend quite some time on the app, some of which is allotted to looking for fashion inspiration and styling tips, and I’m sure many other people do the same. Thus, since Raincity Closet’s intended audience extends to another platform, hopefully, this could be a way to draw new visitors onto the site!

Besides marketability, linking a social media account would also be a nice way to add a personal touch and for readers to learn more about the creative mind behind it all. 

I mean, I know I do!

PLAY DRESS UP

So, the next time you’re staring into the abyss of your closet thinking that you’ve got nothing to wear (it really be like that sometimes), be sure to check out Raincity Closet!

And that brings us to the end of our third peer review!