Thursday, February 23, 2012

OOTD & The Good & Bad of Fashion Blogging

First, the good part of blogging. I would like to say thank you to Wendy Brandes for featuring several over 40 bloggers (including over 60 me) in her feature, Fashion Bloggers Flaunt Blue-Collar Pride, in the Stylelist on HuffPost. Wendy is such a wonderful person. She supports those of us who are not 'famous bloggers.' She doesn't have to, but she comments on our blog posts which means a lot to me. The first time she commented on my blog I thought "Oh, wow, now I feel like I am a real blogger!" It reminded me of the movie "The Jerk" where Steve Martin's character gets the phone book and says:
"Nothing? Are you kidding? Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now."
It was a big thrill for me to have my picture in her article. I know that I am not beautiful or thin and I sure don't have the money to spend on clothing and accessories that some of the more well known bloggers have, but she made me feel like a million dollars. Thank you Wendy, you are the best!

Also good is a group of over 40 bloggers that I feel that I am a part of and those women make blogging so much better. It is so nice to read their comments on every post and know that they are standing behind me supporting me with their care. Thank you all (and you know who you are.) That I have younger women who also take time to read and comment on my blog makes an over 60 blogger so happy. Thank you all too! 

Now for the outfit.


Jacket: Target
Blouse: Old Navy
Cami: Chico's
Jeans: French Dressing Jeans Silk Touch Denim Jeggings
Boots: Aerosoles
Necklace: Chico's
Nail polish: Sinful colors Tapping Nails

I love, love, love this blouse. I got it at Old Navy on sale. I really needed a size larger, but they did not have it and online it is not on sale. What's up with that? I did order a couple of tops from Old Navy online. This top fulfills my desire for a "bird top." I have seen so many bloggers wearing bird prints and I wanted one so much. Which brings me to the bad part of fashion blogging. I see so many things worn by other bloggers that I would love to have. I can't afford a lot of the things I see like Balenciaga or Chanel handbags, or Louboutin shoes, or designer clothes. I can try to emulate it less expensively, but it still costs money and time to hunt for the prize. I have got to stop wanting and start being satisfied with what I already have. I am just not sure how to do that other than never look at another blog. I sure don't want to have to do that. How do you control yourself? My willpower has been sorely lacking lately. 

On a related note, my credit card company contacted me today to ask about some charges on my account. My card has been compromised somehow. So, now my only credit card account is closed and I will have to wait 10 to 14 business days for a new card to be issued which means no online purchases for me. What a hassle, but I am so thankful that my card company is so vigilant!

26 comments:

  1. Your bird blouse is *adorable!!!* What a great find!

    Isn't the blogging community amazing?? The support and camaraderie is unparalleled. Wendy is the BEST, isn't she?

    We've had our credit cards compromised a couple of times in recent years, and fortunately both times the company was ON it immediately.

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  2. My credit card company has also caught some "suspicious activity" twice in the last two years, and called us right away. So we had to wait for new cards, but yay for a vigilant company.

    I do know what you mean about blogging increasing one's desire for fabulous things. I try to mix in some DIY blogs and frugal fashion blogs, along with the more aspirational ones.

    Love, love the bird shirt and the gorgeous red necklace!

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  3. Hear, hear girls...blogging does increase the desire, but that inspires me to find ways to have fun with fashion on a budget. Since fashion is part of my creative expression, I love making it work on the little that I have. Think of it as a game....how much mileage can you get out of what you currently own and how can you occasionally supplement with thrift items. I have accepted that I most likely will never have the money to shop at the really high end stores, so I find ways to make myself feel good on my budget. You do a great job...just keep up the good work...the Credit shut down for awhile is probably a blessing in disguise.

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  4. Yes you are beautiful! Don't be too modest. Thanks for participating in my story.

    Try Pinterest for decreasing shopping desire. Well, some people say it increases it, but I feel like when I've pinned something it's "bought." I can go back to it if I really care about it but most of the time it's enough to say "I like it, take a look!"

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  5. I think you look great!!! I am really loving that top! I hope everything works out with the credit card.

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  6. Hi My Love!!!!!!!!!
    My will-power has been bonkers! Isn't Wendy the best! Thanx for your support! Love u! Reva

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  7. Awww, Debbi, you're a gorgeous lady, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I agree with Wendy, Pinterest helps with my shopping addiction. "pinning" feels like it's "bought", same thing with etsy +favs. Unless it's something I can't live without, which has been drastically reduced since favoriting or pinning.

    I love your bird shirt. I think bird motifs are so cute. I don't own any but I do tend to love them!

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  8. First of all - don't you dare say you are not beautiful!! You are gorgeous and last time I checked YOU WERE ON HUFFINGTON POST!!:-) I love the way you wrote this post! I love finding new blogs where I can go READ awesome posts..Just Pictures and outfits are dozen a dime, but a beautiful blog with fun content is rare! Yours is one of those rare gems!
    BTW, I also had my credit card compromised few months ago and luckily the company contacted us and canceled it without us paying for the fraudulent purchases. I agree with Wendy - online window shopping curbs my shopping craving too.
    Hope you are having a wonderful day!
    -Jyoti
    Style-Delights Blog
    Let's Twitter Together
    Friend and Fan on Facebook

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  9. Congrats on being in Wendy's article! I know what you mean about "bigger" bloggers making us feel special. I also know what you mean about chasing items we've seen on line. For me, that lasted about a year...and although I will still add an article to a list of items I'm looking for, it has finally died down somewhat.

    Much as it is a hassle to have your card compromised, it is a good thing that they caught it as soon as they did.

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  10. Good that your credit card company caught on quickly. That happened to us when we were on holidays, somehow they knew it wasn't us charging stuff in Vegas while we were walking around enjoying the sights of SF.
    I know what you mean about high end designer loot...
    often I find myself yearning for more!

    Congratulations on the article!

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  11. Congratulations on your new-found fame! You ARE beautiful, please don't forget. As for your question, I would echo Pam's comments -- yes, I want everything I see on the blogs, but they are also teaching me how to get more mileage out of what I have. It IS kind of like a game, and it's so much fun.

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  12. First--congrats on the mention in huffington!! Way to go!!
    2nd--ugh on the credit card--we've had that happen twice in the past. Thank God for viligante CC companies!!
    love your outfit--you are such an inspiration. And now I NEED that bird blouse (I LOVE birds)

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  13. Your bird blouse is lovely. The combination of the blouse, necklace and nail polish is so pretty.
    I see things all the time on blogs that I like, so I'll just jot down ideas of things I'd like to have and then just keep an eye out for similar items I can thrift to create a low cost version. And if I don't find the item...I just keep looking each trip and sometimes the feeling of "need" for it goes away if I don't find it for a while.
    Congrats on being featured in the article! Your style, personality and heart are very deserving.

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  14. The ins and outs of what's on sale in stores and what's on sale online is tricky.

    I've been know to shop at The Gap/Old Navy to try things on, then go home and look on-line to see if they've got a better size for me, or a different color available, and then end up back at the bricks-mortar store.

    My guess is that it's not random when things are marked off one place or another. All the big retailers are running analytics on their sales data and have set themselves up to maximize sales by size and method of sale.

    I have had experiences with Old Navy where pants that fit one way fit differently when purchased on-line (same style, same size) so I'm leary of ordering pants on-line. I haven't had that with tops.

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  15. Very creative and chic. Your style is great.

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  16. The bird shirt caught my eye right away. I am envious!

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  17. Congrats on your feature! I'm glad that bloggers like you are being brought to the attention of the media to raise awareness that as women get older they don't want to drop off the fashion radar and still want to look as good and fashionable as they can. Love the necklace and that bird print is fantastic!

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  18. Debbie, I did not think that old navy sold prints like this. Adorable and the colors are great! Dawn Suitcase Vignettes

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  19. I read the story but forgot to say congrats to you Debbie. I was so taken by your tweet little bird shirt. Dawn xo

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  20. Hi Ms. Debbi,

    I always hassling my Mom to get more dressed up, but she never relented! I love dressing up, so maybe it's from my Dad. Maybe....
    I read blogs of teen bloggers, 20-something, 30,40,50-something, and now 60-something blogger, you. I should ask my Mom to read your posts, that way, she cannot say again "Why should I dress up, I'm a grandma..." Haha!

    Thank you for your kind comment, and please stop by again soon!

    Visit me:
    LeeAnne, Style N Season
    http://stylenseason.blogspot.com

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  21. Congrats on your feature. Wendy sounds like a gem. I swear I have found some of the best blog friends ever! I can't believe that you said you are not beautiful...well...you are. You were created in God's image and so you are PERFECT! Loved your "JERK" reference. I love that movie. haha Super cute blouse. I just purchased a bird blouse too. I haven't really seen any other bloggers (well that I follow) wearing them. I just saw it online and fell in love with it. lol I do know exactly what you mean about finding contentment in the things that you have and trying not to be jealous of what others have...so to speak. Freaky, the same thing happened with my card. Someone got $100 worth of gas with my card number...EEK!! I am sorry that I have been such a bad blogger friend (not leaving comments). I follow over 500 blogs and it is just so hard to keep up sometimes. I am going to add you to my sidebar blogroll to better keep up with your posts! Love you girl! Keep it up. I am so happy that you are sticking with blogging because I know how unsure you were about it at first! By the way, bloggers over 40 inspire me to keep going! I hope I'm still able to blog when I'm over 40!! Kiah

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  22. This trendy stuff is looking very nice and bird print shirt is looking fabulous and give fashionable look.
    Apparels For Women

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