Ever wonder how your favorite fashionistas do it? Now there’s an app that connects users to top designers, bloggers, photographers, stylists, and makeup artists near you – giving people the ability to buy whatever the pros are sporting, while enabling bloggers to make bank whenever someone buys what they’re wearing. It’s called FashionTap, and I had the privilege of interviewing the CEO (and blogger for A Fashion Nerd) Amy Roiland exclusively for ArticleCats.

Amy Roiland

When did you first start blogging? What kind of camera do you usually use and do you hire professional photographers to shoot the clothes?

Amy Roiland: I started blogging a little over 2 years ago. I started with a NIKON 5100, 50mm lens, tripod, and clicker. I would shoot all of my own stuff and edit all of it. I have since shot over 700 blog posts in a matter of 2 years. I didn’t want to rely on anyone else but myself. I now have a SonyA7 and I use my phone as a clicker to take mainly studio shots in my apartment with my box lights. Lately, my friends have been taking my photos with my SonyA7, I edit and get them up as soon as I can. I barely work with photographers because I love the process of editing and working on my own shots!

As someone who has modeled, designed, and worked in PR, you have quite an impressive resume. What experiences did you accumulate to prepare you for being a sartorial entrepreneur?

AR: Every single experience has come down to FashionTap. I seriously put my heart and soul into this app and really thought about what every single user would want. Our user interface is incredible. The app is absolutely beautiful and slick, very high fashion-looking. I wanted a black and white app kinda like Chanel, and I wanted it to be the easiest app ever to use. Working in PR was the one thing that really pushed me to create FashionTap. I couldn’t locate bloggers in Austin Texas for SXSW for my boss – not anywhere. I even had a hard time finding photographers that knew where the bloggers were. Locating people in the fashion industry was my main issue and I knew I needed to fix it.

What was your process of getting the app made and distributed? What challenges did you face?

AR: I met a tech guy who then became my very close friend and I joked with him about creating an app. One year later, he asked me if I wanted to make that app and I said yes, because at that point I had worked in PR and knew there was a HUGE hold for fashion social networking apps. You cannot locate bloggers ranked on any platform out there and it was driving me crazy. He hooked me up with a site called Hyperion360.com, which hooked me up with one of the best developers ever. I worked very closely with my developer, designing and creating a fashion social networking app that would benefit every single person in the fashion industry. I’ve worked in every part of the fashion realm so I knew what I needed to add into the app to make it the best. I am also madly in love with the fashion world and you can see that love when you go through the app. I haven’t hit many challenges yet – I am just starting.

Can you give us some tips on how to make money using FashionTap?

AR: I would suggest screen-grabbing your FashionTap profile, posting it on all your social medias, talking everyone into downloading the app and for them to follow you. When they follow you they see what you post and will (hopefully) click and buy from the link within the app – you, the user, will make a percentage of that sale. We just recently integrated ShopStyle and ShopSense into the app so you can go on their site to track your clicks and revenue!

FashionTap

Who are some notable bloggers that use FashionTap?

AR: We have some really rad bloggers on the App. @Erika of A Style Pixie, @Jenny of SheLovesDresses, Nicolette Michelle @Nicomichelle, Jocelyn Jacobson @thefoxandfern…I’m also really in love with makeup artist @khassel, Hayley blows my mind on the app, she tags every single makeup product ever on her face. LOVE.

FashionTap

What/who are some of your biggest fashion inspirations?

AR: The 1960s inspires me and Wes Anderson films, I love his color pallet and style. Of course I also love Alexa Chung, who doesn’t?

Name five staples you have in your closet.

AR: My vintage eyeglasses, knee high socks, high-waisted denim, snakeskin boots, and my button-up collared crop-top.

What are some fall fashion trends we should know about? 

AR: Colorful knee high boots and colorful eye shadows for sure!

If you could style any celebrity, who would it be and why?

AR: Jennifer Love Hewitt 100%, she kinda started my obsession with clothes and fashion, so that would just be INSANE!

FashionTap / Amy Roiland

It’s ten years later – how do you envision your life?

AR: FashionTap always comes first, but running my own shoe line on the side is ideal too. I am already designing a shoe for a big company, so my dream is already becoming partially real. I want to be working at FashionTap still, traveling the world and designing for sure. Designing has always been my biggest dream by far. I have an obsession with sunglasses, eyeglasses, and shoes.

Do you have any words of wisdom for people who want to enter the fashion industry? 

AR: WORK WORK WORK WORK. Even if you feel tired or sick, get up and go for it. There are a TON of go-getters out there and you will be left in the dark, so hurry up and work your hardest. Remember I posted over 700 blog posts in a matter of 2 years – you do the math. Every blog post means me going out somewhere and shooting an entire blog. Persistence is key to success.

A Fashion Nerd

You can download FashionTap through iTunes store. An Android version is coming soon, but for now, you can use the online interface.

So, who else is obsessed with this app? Had you heard of A Fashion Nerd before? Are you ready to make money off the app?

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