If you read a number of my CultureMap articles, you will notice several common threads: one of which is my firm belief in the power of social media and blogging. I practice what I preach, and I dedicate a significant amount of my time to reading blogs about my various interests.

Want to know more about fashion and style? These are 10 of my favorite blogs:

Street Etiquette

There is a difference between fashion and style. Fashion is what’s trendy; style is taking what’s fashionable and making it your own.

Few people understand this better than Josh and Travis at Street Etiquette. They search far and wide for their clothes, blending top shelf shelf pieces from Mister Freedom and Coach, mall brands like Uniqlo and J. Crew, and items found on eBay and in vintage stores. Nonetheless, they put together cohesive outfits that look absolutely spectacular, and they capture them in fantastic photographs. This has earned them recognition from GQ, NPR, The New York Times and countless other publications.

The guys at Street Etiquette are true artists, and their blog is nothing short of inspirational.

You Have Broken The Internet

Ryan Plett is a pretty cool dude: he’s a young marketing professional in Chicago who loves photography, rap music, his Audi, and really cool clothes. Basically, he buys cool stuff and blogs about it. He puts together some fantastic looks that feature brands like Alden, Gant Rugger, Gitman Vintage, J. Crew, Rugby, and Rogue Territory.

His blog has caused me to rethink my style. He rotates several of the same shirts but creates new outfits with cool jackets, different shoes, and accessories. He understands the importance of purchasing clothes for quality over quantity. In addition, he is a fantastic photographer – he posts amazing pictures from his travels and adventures around Chicago on a regular basis.

Denim Debate

Collaborations are all the rage in the fashion industry right now, and it appears that this trend is beginning to influence menswear bloggers. Ryan Plett teamed up with Matt Baldwin of Baldwin Denim and a number of other bloggers, designers, industry and professionals to create Denim Debate.

The concept is simple: they buy raw denim, and post updates every few months as their particular pair of jeans evolves. Thinking of buying a pair of jeans from Left Field, Rogue Territory, Kicking Mule Workshop, 3Sixteen, Momaroto, or Baldwin? Head over to Denim Debate to get sneak preview of how your jeans will look after a few months of wear.

Valet

I like to think of Valet as the CultureMap of menswear. Updated daily, the site features interviews with various designers, updates on new collections, and fantastic editorial features. I am a big fan of their recent “31 Days” series, in which they featured a new piece of advice related to style and grooming each day for a month.

A Continuous Lean

You won’t see Michael Williams driving a Honda or shopping at H&M. He’s all about Americana, and lucky for him, so was the menswear scene this year. He blogs about everything from Japanese designers to Red Wing Boots to his home state of Ohio.

When Michael isn’t blogging, he’s representing brands like Red Wing and Fjallraven at his bi-coastal marketing firm, Paul + Williams. ACL also includes an online shop that features limited edition bags, Houston's own Hamilton 1883 shirts, and other American made products. Want to know why designer Mark McNairy was recently denied entry to The Ritz in Paris? Follow ACL on Twitter.

Sartorially Inclined

The subtitle on Sartorially Inclined (aka Sart. Inc.) sums up the blog pretty well: “Observation and appreciation of the classic and understated.” Like many of the other blogs I have highlighted, Sart Inc. is dedicated to classic American style. He does a fantastic job of keeping up with the fashion industry – I first found out about Woorich Woolen Mills’s Fall/Winter 2011 lookbook from his Twitter. Sartorially Inclined is definitely worth a read.

Selectism

As a part of the Titel Media Network (HighSnobiety, Curated, Rad Collection), Selectism’s resources are slightly greater than some of the aforementioned independent fashion blogs. Their slightly larger staff and expanded resources allow them to publish more regularly while maintaining an independent feel. Selectism covers men’s fashion, footwear, lifestyle, and culture.

The Sartorialist

The New York Times wrote that Scott Schuman’s site “turned photo blogging into an art form.” His concept is simple: he traverses the globe and takes pictures of well-dressed people in New York, Milan, Paris, Beijing, and other cities. His photos are stunning, and he captures looks that are one of a kind. Like the guys at Street Etiquette, Schuman understands the value and artistry of style. In 2009, he compiled some of his favorite photos into a book that is a must-have for any fashionista.

T Magazine by The New York TImes

Fashion, design, art, and architecture are all intrinsically linked, and it’s important to understand these connections. For example, one cannot analyze the collections of German designer Jil Sander without understanding minimalist movements in art and architecture. The New York Times’s T Magazine Blog is my go-to source for understanding what’s going on in all aspects of art, design, and fashion.

Backyard Bill

William Gentle is a fantastic photographer, and he uses his blog Backyard Bill to showcase his work. Like The Sartorialist, Backyard Bill is essentially a street style blog, although the aesthetic is slightly more focused. The looks that William captures are inspirational.