Blog: Fresher Than Chris
Niche: Men’s Fashion/Style
Founder: Christian Law
Twitter: @FreshChrisLaw
On the runway of fashion blogging there is a plethora of coverage for the ladies, but few sites dedicated strictly to men’s style. Helping to fill that void is Chris Law, who runs Fresher Than Chris. From his base of operations in Brooklyn, NY, the 29 year-old offers fashion coverage and education for plus-sized men, those on a budget and those seeking a medium ground between jeggings-tight pants and overly-urban Timberlands. Thus far Law’s sartorial advice has won him recognition as a finalist for Best Style and Fashion Blog by the 2009 Black Weblog Awards and a feature in the February 2012 issue of Ebony magazine. Now, Law, who’s looking to add interactive elements to his site and launch a clothing line in 2013, shares his style, blogging and business insights as part of BlackEnterprise.com‘s Black Blogger Month.
I started blogging because…
I love men’s fashion and wanted a platform to discuss menswear for all. I wanted to teach men how to dress better and present fashion and style to them in a way that didn’t make them feel uncomfortable.
My biggest influences are…
Tom Ford and June Ambrose. Although they are not bloggers, I respect their talent, their drive and their consistency. They’ve also perfected the art of using one lane to get them to many other lanes; be it Tom Ford, who started in design and that has expanded to writer and director. Those qualities help you to be a better blogger and are the reasons I’ve done well to date. Â For blogging, while I respect and am a fan of a lot of blogs, my influence in terms of blogging is the general public.
Fresher Than Chris stands out because…
I’m not just taking pictures of myself in cool clothes in SoHo streets. I’m providing true education through fashion editorials, with designer spotlights and so forth.
The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…
Taking a job I wasn’t passionate about. It was styling an up-and-coming hip-hop group.
What I learned from that was…
I can’t fake the fresh. I didn’t believe in the project and thus my styling wasn’t the best. The financial payout wasn’t worth it. I do my best work for things I believe in. Align yourself with projects that you can be proud of, not projects that pay a certain amount.
I define “fresh†as…
A strong sense of style that catches your eye and is worth talking about in a good way. Fresh is about putting your best foot forward and always presenting yourself in the best light.
I realized blogging was a business when…
I read in Black Enterprise that The YBF.com creator [Natasha Eubanks] was making at least $1 million a year.
Networking is important in the digital space because…
It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. Networking is important because business is all about relationships.
Click here to continue reading…
The biggest lesson I learned about branding in the digital space is…
Be the best you can be. You never know whose paying attention. I’m always tweeting little comments about fashion, about ways to dress better or why [something] didn’t work. Someone from Ebony contacted me based on the response received on my timeline and wanted to know more about me. That led to the Ebony feature. Also, I’ve booked recent gigs and features on other blogs from people who weren’t following me, but were paying attention.
I measure success based off…
Recognition and the ability to do more work.
The secret to making a heavyset man fashionable is…
The secret is not approaching it differently from any other sized man. Size should be used as your guidelines, not a limitation.
The best way to stand out among a sea of men’s fashion blogs is to…
Find your voice and why readers will connect with you. Present that in the most authentic and creative way possible.
The best piece of business advice I ever got was…
“You clearly have the vision, now it’s time to do the work.†Tim Gunn gave me that advice during a chance meeting at fashion week my first year in New York City.
In business, you should you never be afraid to…
Ask for help. While I don’t believe in handouts, I do believe in using your network. A lot of times the answer you are searching for is literally at the fingertips of a colleague or peer. I’ve never been afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s an intern I need to hire, whether it’s a PR company who has a client I really want, or if it’s other bloggers, I have no problem asking for help.
My advice for anyone who wants to follow in my footsteps is…
Be genuine and be who you are. No one likes a phony, no matter how well dressed they are. Be focused. Don’t let what you’ve heard deter you from what you want. I don’t fit any of the stereotypes a man in fashion is supposed to be; yet I’m here, building a career in the industry I’ve always wanted.
Also, build a team. No one can reach their dreams without one. Even if it’s some friends, get a team that can help you make it. You can’t be good at everything and that’s why you need some other people to help.
If I weren’t blogging, today I…
Wouldn’t be relevant. So I’d be doing my best to get there.
Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.