I’ve been meaning to write about this forever. Thankfully I am finally doing it! This is my second post in my “Clever blogger ideas” category.

www.societystylist.com

Who is the blogger?

If you’re a fashion blogger – or you frequent fashion blogs – there’s a fair chance you’ve heard about The Little Black Dress Experiment by Valerie Elizabeth who holds an impressive number of titles from blogger to stylist to ambassador to spokesperson. You can read her full bio here.

What is the clever idea?

In 2009 Valerie wore the same dress for 31 days, styling it differently each day, blogging about how she styled it and the pieces she used. In 2010, she took the same experiment to the next level, reaching out to 31 other bloggers across America, inviting them to photograph themselves wearing an Ann Taylor black dress, holding a custom-made sign (map of the USA) to show where they were from. For the month of August, these 31 bloggers styled the dress in their own special way, and each day the images were uploaded to the Society Stylist blog, and their own blogs too. Combined, these images made up The Little Black Dress Experiment Tours America series.

(One of the 31 bloggers involved – as I have just discovered – was Jenn from Chasing Louboutin who kindly left a comment on my blog the other day. Thanks Jenn!)

Why is this a good idea?

For so many reasons! It involves a lot of people, it gives readers the opportunity to (potentially) discover one new blog per day and learn how to get creative with their fashion styling. All 31 participants received recognition (and likely traffic). Valerie’s readers were given a reason to regularly return to Society Stylist to follow the results, thus driving her number of site visits and time spent online. The idea also received mainstream press coverage. It’s a win-win-win-win situation.

Anything else worth noting?

Valerie and the bloggers weren’t paid to do this, though there were sponsors on board (Ann Taylor for the dresses, and other brands who gave gifts to the bloggers). Readers (i.e.: bloggers other than those involved) were also invited to participate by taking photos of their own styled LBD, with one reader receiving a prize from the sponsors.

I think this concept could be re-created in so many ways. Obviously, The Little Black Dress Experiment has been done (and fabulously at that). So be original and think of your own idea! With some clever brainstorming, I could see a group project for beauty bloggers taking off (e.g.: 30 bloggers create 30 summer eye make-up looks) or perhaps for decorating bloggers who want to show off their skills (e.g.: a room-styling challenge). The possibilities are endless.

So, who’s got a great group-blogging project (blog carnival, if you will) they want to kick-start? Or, have you been involved in something like this already? I’m looking for more clever blogger ideas to write about! Tell me below!