How The Fancy Pants Report Became an Instagram Sensation

I first met Kate Ogata of The Fancy Pants Report during an event we were both hosting at DSW, and I knew we'd be fast friends because we were stalking the same Stella McCartney handbag. Either that or our mutual handbag love would come to blows. Happily the former turned out to be true, and she's now a face at San Francisco Bay Area fashion events I'm happy to see—always with a perfect cat eye and red lip.

Kate, a Sacramento native with a degree in communications from San Francisco State, has grown an impressive following with nearly 47,000 Instagram followers and more than 6,000 Pinterest followers and counting. She also recently took on a new role as social media coordinator at Stitch Fix, so her cup runneth over with fashion industry success.

Check out our interview with Kate below to find out her social media tips and tricks, her early blogging mistake, her favorite OG blogger and more.

When and why did you start your blog?
“I started my blog in January 2012 as an online portfolio to showcase my aesthetic, personality and vision.”

How did you come up with the name of your blog?
“I knew I wanted it to be something fun, cheeky and unique. Friends would occasionally call me ‘fancy pants' and it just stuck.”

Do you blog full time or do you also have a day job?
“I work full time in social media for a fashion startup.”

What was the biggest mistake you made in your early days of blogging?
“I didn't have a game plan when I started my blog which led to inconsistencies in my branding and messaging.”

What was a turning point when you realized you were onto something? Can you describe one or two instances when you noticed a bump in your numbers?
“I realized I was doing something right when larger brands approached me about collaborations. Getting featured on various fashion publications was (and still is) exciting — this is where I started to see an increase in traffic.”

Which social media platform drives the most traffic back to your blog? What's your #1 tip for nailing social media?
“I see the most traffic from Pinterest. By publishing quality images, your content has a greater chance of being pinned and repinned by others in the community.”

Is your blog still your #1 effort, or is a social media channel becoming more important?
“My blog is still a focus, however Instagram is where I can share more content on a daily basis.”

Where do you find most of your revenue is coming from? Sponsored posts, advertising, or something else? Has that changed since you launched?
“Sponsored posts are where most of my blog/social revenue comes from. When I first started, affiliate links weren't doing much for me, but as I've grown I've seen a steady increase in sales.”

How much do you think the design of your blog influences reader engagement?
“I think blog design is very important. It hasn't changed since it was first launched, but I'm currently undergoing a redesign now (stay tuned!). I think it's important for blogs and websites alike to be user friendly, not flooded with ads or distracting features.”

If you could describe the look and feel of your blog in one word, what would it be?
“Clean. Well, this is how I imagine to be after the redesign. I hope you'll get that feeling too!”

What fashion blogger would you most like to have a drink with?
“Julie Sarinana of Sincerely Jules. She's my favorite OG fashion blogger because she's consistent, down-to-earth and inspirational.”