Friday, January 7, 2011

January 7, 2010: Unintentional Deception

I have something to confess: all those fab pictures of my outfits this week were taken last Sunday, I know shocker! I'm sorry for deceiving you. I tried something different and planned my outfits for the week partly to save time in the morning and also to save my photographer from having to get up after he's come home from work to traipse downstairs and take my picture. I think he preferred it this way and I was able to be more calm in the morning so it worked out for everyone. Perhaps this will become a permanent thing at 260 Days, No Repeats but, I digress... kind of.

The reason that I am mentioning this now is because it is snowing and there is no way Target ballet flats are the shoe choice I am going to make to brave the snow. Granted it is only going to be 2-5 inches but, still! I opted for my new riding boots and am hoping that all the weather pre-treating that I did serves me well. Sadly, there will probably be no picture to communicate the new finished outfit to you since I am (hopefully) headed to the gym after work. Check back this weekend, I might have a surprise for you!
  • Top: blue crochet neck blouse, LOFT (same shirt different color here); yellow tank top underneath (for the modesty), Proenza Schouler for Target; gray flyaway cardigan, New York & Company (not pictured)
  • Bottom: double waistband denim trouser tailored by me, LOFT Christmas Gift
  • Shoes & Accessories: black Madison Heights Tall Boots, Timberland via Zappos (not originally pictured);  tiger's eye earrings, Citygirl Accessories; purple tote bag, Coach

Items from this outfit are previously seen here:

FBFF: Weighed, Measured, and Found Lacking? Blog Envy.

1. Have you ever looked at someone's blog and thought yours will never measure up?

I think the better question is, "Have I ever looked at someone's blog and not negatively judged my blog" and if I am brutally honest with myself the answer is generally, "No." I'm not sure why that is per say, maybe it's the culture we live it where we seem to be conditioned to compare ourselves and our things to other peers and their things. I suppose it's only natural...

2. Do you (did you) feel pressure to meet some kind of undefined standard for fashion bloggers?

In terms of my personal style I really don't feel much pressure at all. I think I have a decent sense of fashion, what looks good on me, and what doesn't. If anything I am honestly inspired by, all of the people whose blogs I come across to try new things with what I already have!

There might have been more pressure in terms of what you see when you first arrive at any blog, that "home page" per say... people make quick judgements and I'm not sure 260 Days, No Repeats will always make the cut. I think my blog has experienced somewhat of a genesis since it's inception and that is continuing to improve the but, the layout and graphics are where I get the most critical and compare-crazy. I am not a graphic designer and I am not super savvy with HTML and such. If I had more money I could pay someone to create a header for me, design some buttons, change the font... In terms of layout I could probably manage that myself. We'll see what happens.

3. Many established fashion bloggers are also extraordinary DIYers, bakers, and crafty people. Do you think you need to combine all of these things to be successful at blogging?

It definitely doesn't hurt to share your creativity with everyone else, I think the reason that increases your level of success is because not everyone is going to be able to do what you do! It might be negative for me that I can "do it myself" bake, and be crafty but, that's not necessarily what I want to write about.

4. The most successful blogs are the ones that have their own personal voice - how are you developing your voice or how did you find yours?

I think I'm coming into the voice I want to share with people; It's the more loquacious version of my everyday self. I am sarcastic and silly but, generally more reserved. What? I work in HR. I find that it is similar to some other fashion bloggers and think we all must have been destined to be friends from the start!

5. Toot your own horn... what's one thing you do that is unique to you and your blog? What gives your blog an edge?

This is a hard question to answer! I thought one year of not repeating outfits to work would set me apart. That was what my intention was from the start but, there are people who have done this for a full year. Maybe I should have done that from the get go or maybe I should not wear the same outfit to work for 2 years or 5 years! Now, I'm getting ahead of myself... but, with so many other creative blogger out there how does one set themselves apart? The short of it is: I'm not sure but, I'll go with that no repeats thing. O, and maybe the handful of challenges that I have tried to get of the ground.

Check out everyone else's answers at ModlyChic!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Update: I Complete You Product Challenge

Lorena asked me the other day if I had recieved any products for Christmas. I had but, I was waiting to exchange gifts with Alex to see if she had anything to throw in the mix... she didn't and that is OK! I do like the things I did get from everyone (including myself apparently) but, my favorite has to be the courtesy goodies from LUSH.
     

If you don't know LUSH, you should meet them, one sec... this is my friend LUSH, they invent their own beauty products and fragrances. They make them fresh by hand using little or no preservatives or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients, and tell you when and by whom they were made. Lovely Alex introduced me to them after a visit to London and I have loved them since before they were found in the USA. Thank goodness they hopped the pond, the long distance thing wasn't going to work forever!

When we asked BF's Mom what she wanted for Christmas she said she wanted peace on earth, good will twoards men, and some sweaters.We got the sweaters and thanks to LUSH we got her World Peace as well. I had originally ordered it through Amazon (if only it was that easy) and I guess in the hubbub of the holidays my order got passed over. I emailed them a few days before Christmas to check on the status and LUSH called me back that day to apologize profusely for the oversight, ship me the desired product overnight express and send me a few goodies for any trouble the oversight might have caused. Yup, it was the easy! 

Check out my updated list here!

January 6, 2011: Sparkle and Fade

Whoever said you shouldn't wear sequins in the office obviously never saw this shirt! I think it just screams "office appropriate amount of sparkle." In fact that's what it did when I was getting ready, it threw a little tantrum so I had to wear it! If only that went as well for me in real life but, I digress... It worked out for both of us (the shirt and I) since I have a belated Christmas dinner/gift exchange with my friend Alex immediately after work. What? We (Alex and I) made it just in time for the Epiphany, it's still the Christmas season. We (you and I) already know this top is an excellent choice for evening! It should have been a no brainer from the start. What do you wear when you need to hear from work to dinner/drinks/show?
  • Top: green t-shirt with sequins embellishment, Ellen Tracy via TJ Maxx/gift from Dad
  • Bottom: brown and orange tweed pencil skirt, LOFT
  • Shoes & Accessories: brown/black snake embossed ballet flats, Xhiliration for Target; purple tights, Duane Reade; mixed metal earrings, gift from my co-worker Natalia/ModCloth; brown Loeffler Randall bag, Target (same bag different color here)

Items from this outfit are previously seen here:


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

January 5, 2011: Dance To The Music Of The Sun

I won't let these Wenesdays get me down! I am determined to fight the doldrums with so fun florals and bright colors. Hopefully that will trick me into a more positive state of mind; the glass is half full, the week is half over... Sounds good to me. We already know that I was (apparently) destined to be a dancer, so why not? How do you dance dress to put a smile on your face?
  • Top: yellow scoopneck sweater, LOFT; floral print t-shirt, Vera Wang for Kohl's
  • Bottom: black and white tweed pencil skirt, Isaac Mizrahi for Target via The Unique Thrift Store/birthday gift from Mom 
  • Shoes & Accessories:  black pumps, Candies via Kohl's; black tights, Just My Size via CVS; gray swarovski crystal earrings, Pennyweights; purple tote bag, Coach 

Items from this outfit are previously seen here: