Tweet! Tweet!

While taking a recent hiatus from the online world- my closest friends would disagree on my wordchoice, (as I really am constantly connected to my e-mail and Facebook pages) I made a conscious decision to keep up with my micro-blogging or, my Tweeting. Twitter has become the ultimate social media tool not only for the everyday "Joe-on-his-laptop-in-a-coffee-shop-down-the-road" but for tight-deadlined and breaking news writers, fashion editors and sports reporters. I have tried to steer clear of following individual "Joe" Tweeters, as I can not be bothered with knowing that he has eaten a slice of pizza for dinner that evening or that he is currently petting his disabled and cross-eyed cat named Tiger. (zzzzzzzzz...)
Rather, I have consciously chosen to follow big-name media outlets, respected fashion editors and publications as well as my favourite athletes from the tennis circuit. My follow list Twitter members emit an eclectic mix of tweets regarding the latest shows from New York to Paris to Toronto Fashion Weeks, who is training with whom on the practice courts at the Australian Open on any given day, to how much Canada specifically has raised for the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.
What I have accomplished in following certain Tweeters and Twitter groups is the shaping of a comprehensive esoteric list, as a group that reflects my own personal tastes, knowledge and understanding. I use Twitter to "Re-Tweet" intriguing headlines from these sources as well as to pass on valuable URLs to specific followers- ones that I know they will appreciate. Okay; perhaps I have Tweeted the occasional "My what lovely weather today!" but the majority of my 140 character sentences are things of substance.
It is my follow list on Twitter that I believe, along with my Facebook account, my LinkedIn page and what I call my "Google identity", has enhanced the online representation of who I am and it truly speaks to my online footprint.
Click HERE to follow me on Twitter!

Here is a list of great Tweeters worth checking out!

Lisa Tant: Editor-in-Chief of Flare Magazine: Tweets about fashion experiences with a witty Canadian perspective. Often tweets about goings-on in the Flare offices (where I used to work!)
Ben Barry: This guy wears many hats- he is the business partner to Project Runway designer Sunny Fong of VAWK, CEO of his own modeling agency which focuses on promoting real woman as model material, is one of the chairs of the Toronto Fashion Incubator and a PHD student at Cambridge University, focusing on perceptions of beauty around the world. He tweets about positive body image and the changing fashion modelling industry. (He has been on Oprah. 'Nuff said).
WGSN: The leading online research, trend analysis and news to the fashion, design and style industries.
Scott Schuman: Of course THE Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist. For arrestingly beautiful images captured on the streets of the most fashionable capitals worldwide, check out his Tweets.
Jessica Stam: International Model of the moment and discovered in a Tim Horton's. Her Tweets are often personal but nice to get the odd glimpse from behind the scenes of photoshoots and shows.

Honourable mentions: The Fake Karl Lagerfeld for a dose of fashion comedy, Derek Blasberg for social commentary mixed with an over-kill of snotty shout-outs to celeb, model and designer BFFs and The Moment (a division of The New York Times Newspaper) which hails fashion and cultural epiphanies in the industry using factual "New York Times" journalism jargon. W Magazine for gritty fashion spreads and interviews with Hollywood's finest.
The Refinery, Sweetspot.ca and SheDoesTheCity are all go-to guides for what is hot and new in the life of the urbanita, (fashion, culture, food, design, networking and event listings) with Sweetspot.ca and SheDoesTheCity being focused on the chic downtown Canuck.

Other Subjects of Interest:

Pete Cashmore: (Mashable) CEO of the website Mashable.com. Very helpful for the social media newbie and he often posts headlines that have to do with the latest technological advances and Google acquisitions.
Marketing Magazine: Canada's source on major marketing campaigns, company mergers and the future of marketing and advertising which is most definitely in an online environment.
The Globe and Mail on Twitter: Canada's National Newspaper- frequent up-to-date headlines from every section.
The National Geographic Magazine: Stunning photography from around the world and beyond with links to their website for exposés on critical environmental issues plaguing our world right now.
Arjun Basu: No time to read a novel? How about a 140-character thriller, romance or tragedy? This Canadian Twitter author is a riot and many of his tweets which he calls "Twisters" make me re-read twice or three times over as I often fall in love with his characters!
Andy Roddick: Avid Tweeter, tennis player and foul-mouth. Love his entertaining tweets and play-by-plays of the tournaments. Wish more players Tweeted. Constantly linking to articles about his wife, Sports Illustrated Model Brooklyn Decker. Potential to rub it in...

WITTY FRIENDS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW!

Jworthy: Canadian Tweeting from Slovakia based on his opinions and perspectives on the many trials, tribulations and nights hopped up on absinth in post-grad life. If you require stock tips, check him out.
Heather Christie: the fabbest journo in the making. Studying at the City University in London, she is already impressively connected and inspires with questions about where journalism is headed in the future.
Jordan Morra and Luc Luxton: iPhone enthusiasts- I constantly ask myself why they do not work directly for Steve Jobs.
Amalia Ramirez and Beth Daniher: Two lovelier than lovlier Toronto PR students with wisdom and knowledge beyond their years, about to embark on what I know are to be unparalled successful careers in the industry. And they are true beauties.
Adam Wray: Jays fans rejoice. Adam's wit can be likened to the sharpest tongues in the broadcasting biz as his unforgiving commentary could make any major-leaguer dive into the dug-out. Currently living and teaching in South Korea, this frequent Tweeter also posts worthwhile articles that stimulate any one of his and possibly your listed interests: "music/cities/film/tech/sports/lit/sneakers.
sltcartwright: Young, bright filmmaker with an essence of cool that just can not be duplicated. He will provide insight with regards to local arts and culture, his graphic design endeavours and will often update his blog which can be found at www.seanltcartwright.blogspot.com
zljsays: An all-round funny girl with something to say about cupcakes, Middle Eastern politics and everything in between!

Image: free for all, released by Luc Latulippe Design and Illustration. Not meant for commercial use.