Soul Party Baby

Talking shoes with @ShoeSmitten

@ShoeSmitten might be the hardest working woman in the Twitterverse so I am delighted that she took some time out for my interview questions.  If you can’t tell from her handle Anna Bassham is totally smitten for shoes.  She is also awesome and brings a wealth of journalism and fashion knowledge to Twitter conversations.

She was also my first customer via Twitter so she knows a thing or two about style.  You can check her out at http://www.shoesmitten.com/blog/.  Enjoy!

So I heard you might be moving to Boston…What clicks with you in this city?
I have visited Boston only two times, but the atmosphere is so great, and there is always something to do.  Plus, it’s close enough to NYC so I could go to many more fashion shows than I can currently, living in Kansas.

Whats your favorite word?
Well my favorite word is, of course, related to shoes…ESPADRILLE.  I just love how it rolls off the tongue, and it’s a gorgeous style of shoe!

Before we get to shoes….whats your favorite (excluding footwear) clothing item?
Oh that’s tough – I love all types of clothing.  My favorite would have to be the Little Black Dress – it’s always flattering and versatile, and I can wear funky, colorful shoes with it!

What has been the most difficult challenge you have faced in regards to being a young Entrepreneur?
My most difficult challenge comes from within myself – time management!  It is difficult to go straight from being in college to working full-time from home and maintaining my own Web site as well.  There are so many things I want to accomplish right now, and I often find myself overwhelmed with the options.  There really aren’t ever enough hours in the day.  But the rewards of my efforts far outweigh the difficulties I face.

I don’t think anyone works harder than you…Where does your drive and work ethic come from?
Well thank you, that is kind of you to say.  My drive really comes from my passion for fashion and for my readers!  Without my readers, I really am nothing.  Thinking about how each and every morning, my readers are looking at my site and expecting something new, exciting and useful pushes me to do the best work I can.

Could you go a week without Starbucks?
NO!  Wait, YES!  Well, yes without Starbucks…no without a latte for a week.  I have a few favorite coffee shops, Starbucks is usually the most convenient for me.

Heels, Flats or Boots…and you have to pick one?
Without hesitation, I choose heels!  There’s nothing sexier than a pair of high heels, and I have gotten so used to wearing them that I actually feel odd wearing flats for more than a few hours.  I workout all the time so sneakers are a must, but if I had to, I’d use the elliptical with my heels on. 

Im not going to lie…I judge people by the shoes they wear.  You know I cant stand Uggs as a fashion statement.  What things just piss you off(feel free to rant)?
I don’t think anyone can help judging people by the shoes they wear – it’s a good indicator of a person’s personality and style.  I can’t stand UGGs either!  Seriously, I see people wearing UGGs everywhere I go, even now that it’s spring.  What I don’t get is how people claim they buy them “because they’re so comfortable” and “easy to put on quickly”.  Seriously, how much longer does it take to slip on a pair of Naughty Monkey D-Ring boots, which are FAR more stylish, and just as comfortable? I will give UGG a bit of a break because they’re now creating some cuter styles, including ones with heels.  But the original slipper-like boots will never be stylish.  It’s like wearing your pajamas in public – they are cute for around the house, if they ever can be considered cute.  *steps off soapbox*

You know this one was coming…Whats your favorite pair of shoes…past, present and future?
My favorite pair of shoes from my past would have to be my very first pair of heels – black and brown Jessica Simpson peep-toe slingbacks.  They looked so pretty with dress pants and they were so comfortable that I could wear them all day and night.  I still own them.  My favorite pair right now is my new BCBGirls ‘Gita’ cork wedges.  They are on trend and perfect for Spring, and they look really sexy with this new sundress I bought.  My favorite pair of shoes that I don’t own yet but would like to: Giuseppe Zanotti’s strappy platform sandals
(it was tough to choose just one GZ shoe!)

You are the shoe expert but I have a couple things that you need to look out for in 2009
-Sergio Rossi (http://www.sergiorossi.com/)
-See by Chloe (http://www.chloe.com/version_en/)
-Surface to Air (http://www.surface2airparis.com/store/?pg=style&collection_id=16&style_id=18)
-Sigerson Morrison (http://www.sigersonmorrison.com)

How has Twitter impacted your life?
Twitter has helped me grow my readership as well as connect with all sorts of resources, from other shoe bloggers to shoe designers and companies to people needing help with finding certain shoes.  One main reason I love Twitter is because I can get a response almost immediately from people who really matter to my business.  I really enjoy hearing other people’s opinions and helping men and women find the shoes they’ve been trying to find.

What excites you most about the next 6 months?
Well in the next 6 months, I will have moved and started a life somewhere new (possibly Boston).  I hope to be more established online and helping www.ShoeHunting.com grow into a megasite.  I am also extremely excited to see what happens in the fashion world and the economy.  As far as shoes in particular, I am excited to try out some above-the-knee boots (which are going to be super-hot this fall/winter)!

What advise can you give young people who are thinking about jumping into Web 2.0?
My advice is to get in there, don’t let the more established folks intimidate you, and be authentic and interactive.  I truly believe that it’s far better to start off by observing others during your first month on Twitter.  See how people communicate – how they help each other, how they flirt and how they fight.  It is kind of like a constant cocktail party.  When you start interacting, make sure people know what you stand for, and start by trying to help others, not help yourself.  Once you’ve developed a bit of a presence online, you will find that people are very willing to help you, too.  Web 2.0 is all about interaction.

Soul Party Part 2

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

LOL

LOL and some cool

This one goes out to Mr. Cupcakes

Ms. Cupcakes

The Creative Process and Gulden Draak

Gulden Draak

The other day I was asked about my creative process.  That’s the first time anyone had ever asked me that.  So of course it got me thinking about my creative process.  The best I can do is chaos.  Sometimes its random and sometimes its planned.  Most of the time music is involved.  I like to be comfortable.  If I’m not comfortable I can’t create.

When I have customers over for consultations I want them to be comfortable so we can get down to creating something unique to your personal style.  Style is really about being yourself….having the confidence to wear what you want.

I can tell you that tonight is a Friday night.  I had a long week…So its the best time for me to  do what I want to do.  So I had to find some tunes.  Im going to go on a tangent…So brace yourself.

My Buddy @PDXBlazersFTW is a MAVEN.  He is a music Maven.  So as always I went to a mix tape that he sent.  And as always it was exactly what I needed.  This guy knows his tunes.  Tangent over.

I needed something to drink so I went with Gulden Draak.  I dont know if you guys have ever had this beer but is it heroic.  It is the official beer of Happy Hour Clothing.

Friday Night + Mix Tape + Gulden Draak = Creative Process

Good Night Ladies and Gentleman…I will catch up with you next Friday.

*Drink Gulden Draak Responsibly.  It carries a punch.  To find out more contact @CraftBeerNYC

A Moment with @Cmajor

Christine A. Major is becoming quite the local Celebrity on Twitter.  A couple months ago I got a chance to meet up with this jack of all trades.  Christine is truly a delight…she just seems to light up the room.  If you get a chance ask her to show you some of her break dancing moves.

@CMajor Has been in Technology PR for the last decade but her her most impressive accomplishment is her stand up comedy (http://www.youtube.com/user/kevinneales).  I had a great time interviewing Christine and I look forward to her new blog that just launched (http://web.me.com/christinemajor/CMajor/Blog/Blog.html).

Enjoy

Do you have any comments about winter in New England?

Yes, I do have a comment about winter in New England – It sucks and I am so over it. Bring on the summer!

I heard you got jokes…where do you get your powers?

I derive most of my material from real-life situations and they usually all involve my husband.

My best material usually comes to me right before I fall asleep which can be a problem since I really want to sleep, but the joke is running in my head and I can either choose to get out of bed and write it down or go to sleep and hope I remember it in the morning. Unfortunately I rarely like to get out of bed once I am tucked in and I always forget what the joke was once morning comes so I am pretty much out of luck and new material most of the time.

So its time to talk about style…How has your style evolved….and what item do you wish you could bring back?

I actually need some help with my style. I am what some would call “style challenged.” Really – ask some of my friends. Sure, they won’t tell me to my face that I haven’t the slightest clue about style, but I know they are thinking that…..I just know it.

I actually would prefer to wear jeans and a t-shirt most of the time.

If I could bring a style back it would be the clothes from the early 60’s – Mad Men style. I love the classic look.

What makes a man sexy?

One that showers and is clean 

Actually, besides the clean part (which is really, really important), what I find sexy in a man is a great sense of humor, confidence and someone that is motivated and gets things done (like the laundry, dishes and vacuuming).

Oh, and if he can play the guitar and sing, that will usually do it for me.

What is your favorite word?

Yes

What excited you most about the next 6 months?

I will be heading to South by Southwest – SXSW for the first time in March and looking forward to meeting many new people and learning as much as I can. I also heard there were a few parties going on – it should be a swell time.

While it may not seem like it now, summer is coming. I can’t wait for the longer days so I can get outside more and enjoy the warm weather and hanging out with my family and friends.

What turns you on about technology?

Being a part of “the next big thing” is really what turns me on about technology.

I have been working in high-technology public relations for 11 years and have had the opportunity to represent and work with all types of companies from boot-strapped start-ups to large public corporations. Working in tech, there is never a dull moment as things are constantly changing and evolving.

So you have become a local Twitter Celebrity…How important is Twitter to you?

I am? Well, if you say so then it is so 

Twitter has been a big part of my life. It’s been my source of information, my watercooler and, most importantly, it has broken down the barriers to relationship building by making it so easy to communicate with people on a more personal level.

Where else can you chat with thousands of people at once and get instant answers and responses? Where else can you have personal conversations with industry influencers like Chris Brogan, Gary Vaynerchuk and even MC Hammer? You can’t!

This is why Twitter is so important to me. By combining the traditional means of networking (conferences, events, etc) with social networking tools like Twitter, building those strong relationships is so much easier and less threatening.

Can you tell me how Social Media has changed the way you do business?

For my job in public relations, social media has changed everything. I am very fortunate to be a part of an agency that is way ahead of the curve when it comes to social media adoption. Social media has been a part of our service offering for quite some time along with the traditional forms of public relations.

We are also all social media junkies ourselves. We don’t just talk the talk – we live it too. This personal experience is what helps us help our clients successfully adopt and use social media for their business. It has been extremely exciting to be a part of this evolution.

One Question for me

When did you first come to realize you had the power to make it snow with your dancing?

I have been wishing for snow for years…it hasnt been until receltly that I have been able to communicate with the snow gods through dance…its really something else.