Today we’d like to introduce you to Spencer Wong.
Spencer, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My mom was the ultimate bargain hunter. Imagine stacking coupons with credit card rewards and bonuses at Macy’s: those were my weekends as a kid. Fast forward many, many years and I am still living with those same deal-seeking tendencies. I’m a budget men’s fashion blogger who only buys items of firsthand clothing that are under $15. Not only is this financially responsible, but I am also a graduate student, which means I literally can’t afford the newest designer brand clothes. I started this blog because I wanted to show people that it is possible to dress well without spending too much money. You just need some solid basics that you can pair with other items!
Has it been a smooth road?
Creating your own brand always has its challenges. I struggled along the way both in terms of creative and technical direction and also in growth on the Instagram platform. My main obstacle in the beginning was learning how to take pictures. I never actually learned photography, so I had to pick it up on the fly. YouTube tutorials are a godsend though! I was able to learn a solid amount of photography both from those videos and also from Boston-based photographers, especially through Boston Portrait Meet! I also had to learn how to model. I never did anything similar to that before, so it was understandably very awkward. But I quickly learned how to get comfortable in front of the camera. In the early days, it was all just me shooting myself with a tripod, which helped me build my confidence. The second challenge of growth on Instagram stems mostly from the algorithm that everyone so kindly despises. It is hard to get big when you are just starting out. Instagram has now made it even harder because it prioritizes posts that are getting a lot of attention. In other words, it favors the more well-established brands out there with large followings. However, my approach to content creation is to produce media that people can relate to. I include personal stories, goofy outtakes, and helpful tips for buying clothes. I want people to come away from my posts feeling like they know who I am.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Spence. Spends story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m a casual men’s fashion and lifestyle blogger who specializes in getting the best bang for your buck. All of my clothes in my pictures are $15 or less. With all that saved money, I love to travel. I’ve been fortunate enough throughout graduate school to be able to go to India, Thailand, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan. I am even finishing up this interview from Barcelona, Spain, right now!
I’m most proud of the fact that I am able to put together over 400 posts with different outfits that are so budget-friendly. Not many content creators out there pride themselves on spending very little on clothes. In fact, it is quite the opposite. There are many people boasting how they just copped the new Yeezys or how these new Gucci slides feel. I believe in wearing something that makes you look good and also feel good. You don’t need to agonize over the large price tag to be fashionable. Many of my posts are actually just outfit flat lays, so you can focus on the clothes themselves. I want my viewers to see themselves in my outfits, so I find that these outfit grids are the best way to imagine just that.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
It’s always hard to forecast an industry. But I would say that the men’s fashion industry is currently shifting towards a more 90s and vintage / retro look. So who knows what will be next. Maybe we will all be rocking some good 70s gear in the next 5 years. 70s but make it fashion, of course! And skinny jeans are slowly coming out of style, which is disappointing because I love a good pair of skinny jeans!
Contact Info:
- Email: spence.spends@gmail.com
- Instagram: spence.spends
Image Credit:
Shell Hofstadter, Tina Liu, Taylor Robinson, Lindsey Williams, Christina Wong, Priscilla Yip
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