Blogger Spotlight: A Little Bit Etc.

Please meet Maree from A Little Bit etc.

• Maree, tell us a little about yourself?

I lived in NYC for the past 15 years and recently made the big move out of the city! My husband and I (and dog Elmo!) built a home with my mom in the suburbs of Maryland, about 40 minutes outside of D.C. It’s been a bit of a transition from city living to suburban living, but I’m lucky to live so close to D.C. so I can visit frequently and NYC is just a few hours train ride away.

• So many bloggers have set goals to blog FT; how did you make the transition from a traditional 9-to-5 to blogging full-time?

I’ve been blogging for four years prior to making the transition to FT, but I treated it like a full-time job from day one. I kept myself to a schedule, committed to multiple posts a week, and treated all collaborations and partnerships with the same professionalism I extended my day job at the time. It was a bit of a frightening leap, but with the out-of-state move and new life we were beginning, it seemed like the right next step.

• How did the evolution of A Little Bit etc. come to be?

From day one, I wanted the blog to be about both fashion and beauty because I love both equally. Beauty was easier to create content for at the beginning while working a full-time day job because I could take pictures at home. Finding the time to shoot outfit posts was a challenge, but I still made sure to balance it as much as I could because it was something I enjoyed so much. Now that I have made the move to go full-time, I enjoy being able to expand my style posts, recently added in travel, and am looking forward to sharing my home decorating process as it evolves.

• How do you stay true to yourself while continuing to evolve and be relevant in the blogger community?

I keep myself in check all the time. If I cringe at something I have shot or written, I will simply not publish it. I have a very strong sense of self and I know what I like (and don’t like) so that really helps guide me in my decisions on what to cover. Reader engagement and interaction is the most important thing to me so I think about them when creating any content. Since the very beginning of starting my blog, I wanted my stories and posts to be useful rather than only inspiration or a pretty picture to look at. Whether that is talking about how I put an outfit together, how I work with my body type, or the products I am using to help treat and prevent breakouts, I want my readers to walk away with something they learned, a new perspective, or a bit of information that can help them. Yes, fashion and beauty can be quite frivolous topics, but connecting with readers is one of the most rewarding and deep experiences.

• How have your style and blog evolved since starting your blog journey?

My style has evolved slightly as I get older, but I’m happy to say that I still look and feel like I did when I began this journey. I think that comes from knowing who I am and what I like, and that has stayed consistent in my content over the years. I do like to experiment every once in a while with clothes or makeup to show my readers not to be afraid of change or trying something new. My blog’s “voice” has stayed the same since day one because I write exactly how I think and speak, but one thing I continuously challenge myself on is photography and the blog’s aesthetic. I want to improve and put out beautiful content, but not to the point where it becomes unrelatable. There is a fine line between beautiful imagery that people can still relate to and engage with and beautiful imagery that shuts you off from your readers and feels too unattainable.

• Do you have any fashion or lifestyle bloggers you admire and follow yourself?

So many! To name a few that I enjoy: Erica Choi from Egg Canvas because of her beautiful aesthetic, Marianna Hewitt because of her ability to still stay so connected to her readers (and answer tons of IG comments — that is still so important), and Julia Engel of Gal Meets Glam for her photography and knack for creating beautiful imagery that still feels relatable.

• Any advice for bloggers on networking or pitching themselves for a project who aren’t so comfortable with it?

I was given this advice years ago and it has stayed with me as the years go by:”What’s the worst thing they could say? No?” Initially “no” was an awful thing to hear, but over time, I have realized that it’s not as bad as I think. As long as your pitch and networking always remains professional, “no” is just one step closer to a “yes.”

• Do you have any tips for bloggers starting out or bloggers looking to focus on a vertical like lifestyle/fashion?

Make your content useful! Beautiful pictures are nice, but give people a reason behind the outfit. Do these jeans have a short inseam and they work better for shorter legs? Is the item you are wearing a dupe for a more expensive designer piece? How can you make a supertrendy piece more wearable for every day? And utilize the ShopStyle shopping widgets below your post! I work very hard to find items similar to what I am wearing in the post or more options at various price points.

• Photography is a big deal for a fashion/lifestyle blogger; what kind of camera and lens do you shoot with?

We shoot with a Canon 70D and a 50mm/f1.2 lens.  

• As a fashion blogger, you get to wear some incredible brands; which are some of your favorites?

Equipment for my blouses — I live for a great button-down blouse! Topshop is always a favorite for quick and fun pieces at a great price point. Club Monaco never fails to be my favorite place to go to for elevated basics, and their sales are always great!

And some favorite fall beauty brands are shoppable below!

• What is a go-to look you will be wearing this Fall?

I love a block heel. I don’t wear very high heels anymore but can always manage in a higher block heel. And velvet. Give me all the velvet!

• What is the one thing most people would be surprised to know about you?

I was a competitive figure skater growing up.

• Blogging is a very open journey; how do you toe the line of how much to share with your audience?

That’s still a work in progress for me. I share some things on my site, but nothing on the internet ever really goes away so I make sure what I speak about and put out there are things I am OK with people knowing and digging up 15 years from now. If I am not, then I don’t speak about it.

• Favorite social media outlet? Your social media handles?

I still love the ’gram! LOL I spend the most time on Instagram, though I am slowly warming up to Snapchat.

• Instagram: @alittlebitetc
• Twitter: @alittlebitetc
• Pinterest: @alittlebitetc
• Snapchat: alittlebitetc

What do you love about ShopStyle Collective?

The support — hands down! I receive so much insight into my analytics, support if there is an issue with links/dashboard, and help in strategizing ways to improve my business and increase my revenue.

Thanks so much, Maree! Are you an active Collective blogger? Want to be featured in the next Blogger Spotlight? Email help@shopstylecollective.com and let us know how long you’ve been using Collective and why you want to be featured.

xo,

Carlina