grechen

Nordstrom’s half-yearly sale is one I always have to shop in person, but already, I’m finding some great deals online – like the Splendid cardigan below for $39. No-brainer…I’ll take a few of those…

Splendid open cardigan – $39.90
Trouve linen sweater – $39.90
James Perse casual Tie-Dye tee – $44.90

And Shopbop…ah…Shopbop. I can never quite pass up a Shopbop code, but I can’t quite make up my mind if I need anything this time. Of course, I’d like to have a lot of things…

James Perse maxi skirt – $49 (final sale)
Lanston dress – $139 (similar to mine, but with a v-neck)
Edith A. Miller tee – $60
Splendid sleeveless top – $78

Have you bought anything at Shopbop or Nordstrom? Do tell!!!

WEARING:
TEXTILE Elizabeth & James skirt (from LastCall – 40% off online through tomorrow)
LnA Deep-v tee
Melissa Sin Sandals (no longer available)
Jas M.B. Bag (only black available online – ALL other styles on sale at Barney’s Co-Op)

I’m feeling like crap today. I think after all the rain we’ve had in Austin the trees & flowers thought it was Spring again so my allergies started acting up. But I went to my PureBarre class this morning, so I thought I could at least get dressed and snap an outfit picture

I got this skirt a while ago at LastCall for a steal, but then had to have it hemmed, so it ended up not being such a steal (hate that!). But I do still love the skirt, it’s so easy to wear, has great pockets, and is super-comfortable. I guess it’s a tad big, but I think it’s supposed to be; it WAS designed by Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen. And I pulled out my deep-v tee by LnA to see if I could find a bra already in my drawer to wear it with, and I think I’m okay with my Hanky Panky lace bralette. I love this tee, but haven’t worn it in years because the v-neck is SO low. And I want to pick up a couple more colors while LnA still has their Refinery29 Reserve deal, so I pulled it out of hiding.

Oh, and in case you hadn’t seen yet, I launched The Marketplace yesterday and there are already several great pieces for sale. I hope it is useful to you guys, both buyers & sellers! Let me know if you have any comments about it.

NWT INHABIT Dark Green Top, Size Medium.
$75 OBO Shipped in the US, paid via Paypal.
Please email with any questions or additional photos.
besabonita(at)gmail.com

(click for larger images)

NWT JOIE Masha Top in Elephant Print, 100% Silk.

(click for larger images)

Purchased at Neiman Marcus in Bellevue, WA. Retail price paid $198, I have missed the return deadline, so up for sale it goes!
Asking $120 OBO shipped in the US, paid via Paypal.
Please email with any questions or additional pictures!
besabonita(at)gmail.com

BNWT Clare Vivier Fold-Over Clutch in grey pebbled leather with neon yellow trim. It was purchased from Eaton Trading Co. and I am looking for $160 flat including shipping.

(click thumbnails above to see larger images)
Please contact me at ladygar(at)gmail.com

Use code PROMO20 for 20% off (sadly excludes boots, swimwear & new arrivals) at Rachel Comey this week only.

Speaking of Rachel Comey, I launched The Marketplace today, have a look!

Lululemon Wunder Under crops – $68
SoLow Eclon crops – $51
James Perse Yoga capris – $95

I have resisted Lululemon for the longest time, not so much because of the price (which is a consideration), but mostly because I am not really one to follow the herd when it comes to fashion. Even exercise gear. And Lululemon is a RELIGION here, among college students, yoga moms…nearly everyone actually. Not a day goes by when I don’t see so much Lululemon it makes my head spin (and not just in my PureBarre class…). So, even though I’ve tried to resist the temptation, I decided to hop into the store and try to find a pair of cropped leggings for my class. And now I’m hooked.

Let me say first though, that I don’t mind spending money on exercise clothing – and that’s always served me well. About 6 years ago I bought several pairs of Lucy running pants and knee shorts (which aren’t cheap either) and have worn them daily since then. Now, they’re a little worn, and a little big and since I’m going to a class every day, I wanted something much more form-fitting and a little “nicer” looking. Basically, I wanted something to suck me in and smooth out my bumps. And the Wunder Unders by Lululemon do that well.

I also have the SoLow crops pictured and linked above (got them via Refinery29 Reserve last week) and like those as well, not as much as the Lululemons though. The SoLow crops are higher-waisted, which I personally don’t like as much, but you might, and didn’t wick away the sweat as well as the Lululemons. They are comfortable though, and easy to move in, so I’ll keep them in rotation. They’re a good alternative for a little less money than the wunder unders, but I would recommend spending the extra $17 for Lululemon.

I do have a pair of the James Perse Yosemite yoga shorts (shorter than the capris pictured above, purchased via Gilt) and they’re great, but a little big, so they don’t suck me in as much as I’d like. They’re the most comfortable of all of them though, it’s like you’re not even wearing anything. I’d obviously recommend those also, but they’re much more than Lululemon.

Ultimately, I’m glad I tried Lululemon, but I won’t turn into a crazy person and purchase everything they make. I do highly recommend the wunder under crops, and I think I may purchase a pair of the regular wunder under pants and get them hemmed to my ankle to wear as actual leggings in the winter because they’re so comfortable (the astro pants are nice also, they’re more of a straight leg). Incidentally, because I’m short, the crops come to just a few inches above my ankle, which is good for exercise, but I wouldn’t wear them out in public like that.

What do you think? Do you spend money on exercise clothing? What have you found that fits you the best? Are you a Lululemon convert?

(click on the image for a larger view, and to zoom)

It pains me to do this, but I don’t carry my Alexander Wang Donna bag very much anymore, and I really hate for it to just sit around (in it’s bag of course). The Donna was my first Alexander Wang bag, and it’s actually one of the very first bags he designed. I’ve had it for several years, and it’s been well used, but that’s only made it more soft and interesting. This bag has perforated leather trim/details, including underneath the front-to-back zipper. There is some denim staining on the back of the bag, but when it’s zipped up, it’s barely noticeable. Comes with a dustbag.

Outfits featuring Donna: 1 2 3 4 5

I’m asking $300 + shipping ($15 USPS priority mail) for it – US shipping only. It’ll be available until 5/24 and I’m happy to answer questions or send more pictures if you leave a comment. Please help me find Donna a good home

Contact me to buy – grechen(at)grechenmedia.com

There are so many great sales going on right now!! Revolve Clothing has marked some items down to 85% off, plus added new things to the sale, like this Lanston Dress for $85 (this is the same dress I have – and love). Also, Tory Burch has discounted a lot of Spring items by 30%, Beauty.com is offering 20% off through today with their Friends & Family discount, Otte NY marked tons of items down today, and finally, LastCall.com is offering an additional 30% off your order all weekend.

Here are my favorite pieces from each sale – Happy Shopping!!

Jas M.B. mint bag – $240 (I know, it looks strange, but trust me, this style of bag is my favorite; so easy to carry & get in and out of)
Tory Burch Espadrilles – $136.50 (I’ve seen these on and they’re WAY cuter than they look online. SO cute…)
Lanston Dress – $85 (last seen on me here)
Splendid dress – $38 after the discount
Deborah Lippman nail polish – $14 after discount (I am obsessed with this color. I even bought one I thought would be similar at Sephora yesterday because it was cheaper, but it’s not even close. and it wasn’t even that much cheaper…)

join my cohorts & I for a vintage pop-up shop at Madewell in the Domain tomorrow from 3-6. also enjoy 20% off everything at Madewell. you better not miss this!

Calypso’s friends & family ends tomorrow – you can get the 20% off in store (why not stop by when you’re at the Domain for our pop-up shop at Madewell? ) I’m actually wearing today a top I got at Calypso last year; they’re the perfect Summer/beach vacation outfitter…

This past weekend, my friend & one of my FAVORITE jewelry designers, Tina Tang, was in town for a trunk show. I’ve known Tina for many years through our work together at Grechen’s Closet, but I had never met her until I was in NYC the week of Labor Day. And if you’ve read Grechen’s Closet for a while, you will probably know that I am ALWAYS wearing my Tina Tang necklace. Literally. I never take it off, and I don’t think I have since she sent it to me, about four years ago.

Tina’s designs are so versatile, and really work for almost any style. She has simple, classic pieces, but also more bold & interesting designs, like some of her new ones, the Buddha head bracelet & Minotaur horn necklace.

Please visit her site when you have a chance – like I said, she designs something for everyone, and in all price ranges. And I’m working on getting her back here next year for an event TBA, so stay tuned for the next opportunity to meet Tina in person!

About the pictures:

1. Tina’s press
2. Tiny initial necklaces
3. Earrings…
4. Word necklaces
5. Sterling silver pieces
6. Me & Tina

kickpleat (an AFS favorite, profiled originally here) is offering 15% off non-sale items & orders over $150 this weekend in honor of ACL. It’s also valid online using code ACL15. Check out the Elissa sweater vest (for when it cools down!!) by Rogan, or the striped cardigan by Demy Lee.

That’s right!! Join us next Thursday, August 11 for Happy Hour at Athenian Bar & Grill, then we’ll head over to the Tess showroom in the Scarborough Building at 7 for more fun with Tess. Designer Theresa will be on hand to discuss her inspiration and designs plus you’ll get an opportunity to see her dresses & separates in person (touch & feel) AND even try them on if you’d like!! Bring your cameras and notepads ladies; this is a great opportunity to get exclusive access to Tess before she shows at Austin Fashion Week.

Please let us know if you can attend by leaving a comment below – EVERYONE is welcome; the more the merrier!! And tell your friends

See you August 11th.

Have you visited Schatzelein (shots.a.line – is how you pronounce it)? It’s a quaint, unassuming little house/boutique on S. 1st street in Austin, and it is AMAZING. Owner Christine Fail has stocked the shop with so many beautiful & accessible pieces of jewelry, it’s always hard to leave without buying something. Christine also designs her own line of simple, minimal jewelry, Fail, which are some of my favorite pieces in the shop.

It’s 100% worth the visit; once you go, I guarantee you’ll become obsessed. I know I am.

About the pictures:

1. LOVED these friendship bracelets by Julie Rofman so much I almost left with one.
2. And I’m always a sucker for good skull jewelry…
3. Love the mixed metals & textures of these pieces by shop owner Christine Fail.
4. More pieces by Fail Jewelry – love the delicate bracelets & rings.
5. This is the second time I’ve tried on a pair of the “infinity” earrings (also by shop owner, Christine Fail). They’re stunning, and really easy to get on once you know the trick. I almost left with a pair of these as well, but didn’t. That’s okay, I need an excuse to go back
6. I’ve been obsessed with these Verabel & Fox lockets since I saw them online several months ago – they’re even prettier in person
7. I generally prefer “delicate” rings, but lately I’m starting to appreciate the larger, statement-making ring – like these by Bora. Sharon has one, and it’s perfect.
8. And speaking of Sharon…here she is modeling two of her purchases from Schatzalein that day: the vintage horn bracelet and hammered gold-fill cuff.

Tess is a new company, and this is Theresa’s first foray into designing, but it doesn’t feel like it when you look at her dresses. I was immediately impressed with the pieces’ interesting details, colors, patterns and attention to quality that it felt like I was looking at an established line. Theresa’s inspiration is vintage, but she designs for the modern woman; I kept imagining a woman who loves pretty frocks dressing up in some of the simpler shifts with a jacket for work, then changing into the Audrey or Marlene dresses after work or on the weekends for a bit of fun.

As I touched and played with the dresses, I really got a feel for their heirloom quality and the unique details – like 100% rayon linings and matching belts – that make them special. And even though those of you who know me know that ’50′s & ’60′s vintage-inspired frocks aren’t necessarily my style, I always appreciate good design and interesting details when I see them. You probably also know that I’m a sucker for a good story, local design & local manufacturing, which Tess has too.

If you’re interested in seeing for yourself what goes into Tess’ designs and have a chance to touch, feel and try on some of the pieces, save the date for our Happy Hour/Showroom visit with Tess on August 11th!! More details to follow…

**and just today Theresa announced her new line of Summer separates!

About the images:

1. Detailing at the shoulder – I loved all the details Theresa inserts into her designs; they are so thoughtful and unique.
2. Some of Theresa’s sketches for next season. My favorite is the second dress from the left on top – such a pretty silhouette!
3. The rack of dresses and some fabric for inspiration
4. Fabric swatches!!
5. This was my favorite fabric. Can you imagine a dress or skirt made out of this with the design blooming from the bottom hem? I can, and it would be GORGEOUS!!!
6. I loved the style and print of this dress. It’s kind of perfect for super-hot Texas summers: wear it belted for more structure (or for work), then for the weekend, wear it as-is! Incidentally, most of Theresa’s dresses come with matching covered belts she has made especially for her.
7. This was another of my favorite dresses. The print caught me immediately (I love poppies), but I also love the square neck and then plunging back! Notice the button detailing and zipper down the back…
8. Speaking of details…Theresa explained to me how the flat pannel at the front of this dress (in between the pleats) helps to hide a tummy! I also loved the color of this print.

Which dress is your favorite? Can you choose??

Oh look, it’s another lunch! Join us next Wednesday, July 20 at 12:00 at 34th Street Cafe. I’ll have an exciting event to tell you about!!

Please leave a comment on this post if you can attend – we have some relatively new ladies, this way, everyone can get to know each other.

Oh, and in case you haven’t seen yet:

My new project with Sharon & Sydney is having our first pop-up shop this Saturday, July 16th from 1-5 at Touch of Sass. Visit hunt.gather.style for more details and some sneak peeks of items that will be on sale!! I hope you can come to this AND the lunch

You remember the Ladies who Lunch, right? I know…it’s been a while, but I’m looking forward to getting back to a regular lunch schedule (every two weeks instead of every week…) and organizing other events for fashion blogger/fashion-minded ladies (and men) in Austin. Starting NOW. Well, next Thursday to be exact.

Let’s have lunch next Thursday, June 23rd at NoRTH (in the Domain so we can do some shopping afterwards…) at 12:30. ANYONE and everyone is welcome, all I ask is that you leave a comment on this post with your name if you can come and be sure to link your name to your website so everyone can get to know who’s coming before; we’ll have a couple of Austin newbies joining us!!

Can’t wait to see everyone!!

(remember this?? it was more than a year ago at Mandola’s! whoa, my bangs were a disaster…)

Oh, and sign-up for the email newsletter to be notified of lunches & other events via email. Don’t miss a thing!!

Another one of my FAVORITE boutiques in Austin is Spartan (which shares space with bows+arrows – another one of my favorite places!). I hesitated even going in there just to take photos yesterday because I’m always tempted to buy something; they have such a fabulous selection of independent jewelry designers at very reasonable prices. And as far as I know, they’re the only place in town that carries a good selection of Clare Vivier bags, a designer I have been OBSESSED with for years…

I did manage to leave without buying anything, but am going back today to buy the small, delicate gold bracelet you see in the last picture. It’s just what I was looking for, funnily enough, after seeing a picture of Clare Vivier wearing a similar style on my friend’s blog, Style Bite!

About the photos:

1. One of Clare Vivier’s amazing bags
2. AMAZING perfumed locket by Erica Weiner – the locket is beautiful itself, but it also comes with fabric swatches and perfumed oils. I’m going to be saving my pennies for this one.
3. Erin Consadine & manimal necklaces. The Erin Consadine necklaces are so beautiful – they’re made with organic/eco-friendly dyes, threads & findings. And Manimal uses leftover leather from Moccasins to make her necklaces.
4. More Clare Vivier bags – such a great size for Summer
5. Manimal vegan moccs – and baby sizes!! So cute!!!!
6. Triangle print pouch – love the colors and simplicity of this, also that the company aims to create relationships with artisans in developing countries.
7. Small enameled lockets, and delicate ring/bracelet by Trois Petits Points

Have you been to Spartan? What do you love there?

Use code SPF15 for an extra 15% off sale items (new pieces were just marked down today!) at Les Nouvelles through 5/28. How’s this for a chic Summer outfit?

Tucker skirt – $180 after the code
3.1 Philip Lim bag – $532
Equipment blouse – $118

extra 15% off sale at les nouvelles is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Today’s the last day to save up to 25% at Shopbop with coupon code BIGEVENT. Don’t know what to buy? Here’s what I posted over at Grechen’s Closet:

James Perse maxi skirt – $49 (final sale)
Lanston dress – $139 (similar to mine, but with a v-neck)
Edith A. Miller tee – $60
Splendid sleeveless top – $78

*last day* up to 25% off at shopbop is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Use code TAN60 through 5/31 for an extra 60% off all sale items at Batyana.

Rachel Pally Nora dress – $48 after the code

60% off sale items at Batyana is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Use code SALE for 30% off all sale items at Cakewalk through 5/24.

Amanda Uprichard dress – $61 after the code
Textile Elizabeth & James cami – $68
Textile Boyfriend Jeans – $107
Nation Ltd. Maxi Skirt – $78
Blue Life maxi skirt – $46

extra 30% off sale items at cakewalk is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Use code BIGEVENT for up to $400 off your order of $1500 or more at Shopbop through 5/23. (Although spending $250 and getting $50 off is more my speed…) There aren’t ANY brand restrictions and the code is valid on sale items. Get shopping!!

up to 25% off at shopbop is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Use code GRADSTYLE20 for an extra 20% off all sale styles at StefaniBags.com through 5/20.

Botkier Carlyle bag – $204 after the code
Gypsy05 dress – $36
Elizabeth & James sunglasses – $136

extra 20% off sale at StefaniBags.com is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

This weekend, use code 20MORE for an extra 20% off sale items at Singer22. I have these J Brand twill skinny pants/jeans in Aubergine (the ones that Frida Pinto has on) and I love them; so comfortable, and easy to wear…they’d be less than $100 with the code:

extra 20% off sale at singer22 is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Use code FRIENDS2 for 20% off orders over $100 at Endless.com through midnight tonight. Here are my picks of what to buy:
Rebecca MinkofF MAC – $236 with code
Kenneth Cole earrings – $26
See by Chloe bigfoot keyring – $92 with code
Birkenstock sandal – $79
Swedish Hasbeens clogs – $143 with code

*last day* 20% off $100 at endless is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Via Refinery29 Reserve, get $60 off at LnA Clothing (spend $70 and get $135, or spend $140 and get $200). LnA tees are some of my favorites; I love the longer length and layering-appropriate materials. They also have great dresses & sweaters…

$60 off LnA Tees & dresses is a post from: grechenscodes.com. Looking for more coupon codes for more stores? Visit the Coupon Codes page!

Enter to win an OASAP pleated leopard print skirt!!! Visit Wear Abouts for complete details on how to enter to win. Contest ends May 25. US readers only.

Enter to win Melvita’s new Rose Nectar Skincare Line (the number one selling skincare brand in France)!! Visit Aspiring New Moms for complete details on how to enter to win. Contest ends on May 25th. US readers only.

Please join my mailing list to earn your chance at a FREE Gigi Hill business card case in Lulu.
Visit Annette’s stylish bags for complete details and how to win.
Contest ends May 31st. US readers only.

Enter to win a Minerals Mate Mixing Tray! Visit My Beauty Bunny for complete details on how to enter to win. Contest ends 5/24/12. Open internationally.

Enter to win a basic piece of Vedette Shapewear! Visit Fashionplate Cheapskate for complete details on how to enter to win. Contest ends May 23, 2012. Open Internationally, excluding the Philippines

Enter to win $75 worth of Mark products!! Visit Peace Love Sequins for complete details on how to enter to win. Contest ends May 26th, 2012. Open internationally.

Enter to win an embellished headband from The Jem Boutique! Visit The Brunette One for complete details on how to enter to win! Contest ends on Monday, May 28, 2012! US readers only.

Enter to win a $50 gift card to Shabby Apple! Visit BeautifulGiveaways.com for complete details on how to enter to win! Contest ends on 5/28. Open to readers in the US & Canada.

Enter to win $30 credit to La Posh Style!! Visit Sandy a la Mode for complete details on how to enter to win. Contest ends May 29, 2012. Open to readers in the US & Canada.

I’ve noticed a trend lately among bloggers where they’ll make a big announcement of a coming change or a proclamation that they’re going to do something “different” and “BIG” and “profound.” Sometimes the “BIG” thing fizzles out, and sometimes the announcement backfires. And I think: if a blogger makes a change on her blog and doesn’t make a big post about it, does anyone actually notice? Like if a tree falls in the woods and no one’s there to hear it…

What’s wrong with just shutting up and working? Not every change or new initiative requires an announcement – just do it. Start or stop taking advertising on your blog if you want, re-design your site, cut down on blogging, stop buying crap if that’s a decision you’ve made – just do it instead of writing about it. Your readers will notice the change over time, good or bad, and will adjust accordingly. You don’t need to prepare them for it, or ask them to please click on the ads. You DO need to respect your readers and only do things on your blog that will benefit THEM (because if it benefits them, it’ll benefit you…), but you don’t need to ask for input at every turn, or look for compliments & reassurance that you’re doing the right thing.

But this is just my philosophy; perhaps it doesn’t work for everyone. In the 6 years I’ve been a full-time blogger, I spend most of my time with my head down, just working. I don’t make a lot of noise about what I do, and while this may be why most bloggers or media have no idea who I am, it IS how I have built up the best & most loyal readers, a strong base of advertisers, and an effective affiliate marketing mechanism. And it’s how I can continue to make a good living doing what I do. Which is good enough for me – I know I’m doing it right.

What do you think? How do you work?

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How often do you backup your blog’s database? Files? If you blog everyday you should be backing up your database at least once a day, or more often if you blog several times during the day. And generally, whenever you edit theme files or other files on your site, you should back them up immediately.

There’s really no excuse for NOT backing up your site’s database; with plugins it’s easy to automatically backup your database however often you choose, and it’s also easy to restore your database. For years, I used the WP-DB-Backup plugin on all of my sites, and it always worked fine, except for on grechenscodes.com (I wrote about my experience in this article). Periodically I would go to grechenscodes.com and find all the content GONE. DISAPPEARED. All I needed to do to fix it was use the “Repair database” function in the plugin, but that never “solved” the problem. Sometimes the content was gone for hours and it caused disruptions in my RSS email newsletter going out. It was a mess. And it turns out, it was the plugin itself. Maybe it was conflicting with other plugins I was using; honestly, I didn’t take the time to disable and go through all the plugins to see which other one was causing the problem, I just signed up for Vaultpress.

When I started using Vaultpress for grechenscodes.com it was invite-only and they did not have an “easy” way to restore your database. Now, anyone can sign-up for $15/month and they’ve added a quick & easy database restore function, which I have had to use once, again on grechenscodes.com, and it went smoothly; so painless & easy. Now they also backup files and can restore them with “one-click” (although I still use FTP to backup all my theme files to my hard drive. just in case). I will never go back to another database backup plugin (Vaultpress IS a plugin) again and although right now I only use it on two sites, I may start using it on more.

For $30/month (I’m using it on two sites), I am more than happy with what I get from Vaultpress and highly recommend it to anyone who has had problems with other database backup plugins, or if you want something that also backs up theme files, etc. And no, they’re not paying me to say that

What do you use to backup your wordpress database? files? Do you have any other tips for bloggers?

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Personally, I don’t get recognized a lot, but when I do, I’m always so honored that a reader took the time to speak to me that I will always spend time talking to them. I actually find it very humbling, and the most important reminder of why I blog. I mean, I’m not curing cancer or anything, but if I can inspire someone to try something they might not have otherwise, step out of their comfort zone with regard to their wardrobe, or save money, I’ve accomplished a little of what I set out to do. I hope this is the way most bloggers feel about meeting their readers; after all, without our readers, who are we, really?

This is especially true if you make any money at all off your blog – your readers represent your income, and they should always be treated with respect. In my opinion, among other things, this means interacting with readers on your blog via comments, on twitter, or facebook and offline as much as possible. And always be gracious.

All of the bloggers I know are always thrilled to meet and talk to readers offline, and not intimidating at all. So then why are readers, and even other bloggers, often afraid to talk to bloggers they meet in person? I’ve heard this so many times, myself or indirectly: “will {insert “famous” blogger’s name} want to talk to ME?” or “I was so nervous to say something to you!” Which always makes me cringe. Why? Why would anyone be afraid to approach and talk to a blogger?

Sadly I think it’s because so many popular bloggers are treated as celebrities now; they’re getting paid for appearances, they have agents. But ultimately they’re just women doing a job. They do it well, and they have influence, but that certainly doesn’t warrant putting them on pedestals and mobbing around them just to get a picture. They’re the same as you – with a lot of the same insecurities. That “famous” blogger probably spent just as much time in front of the mirror figuring out what to wear as you did; she has piles of kicked-off-in-frustration shoes & clothes all over the closet floor, just like you do. You think she just threw that outfit on, achieved “perfection” the first try, stepped outside to a beautiful day, and perfect lighting to start her photo shoot? Nope.

In some ways, this is why i like to look at fashion blogs that are NOT professionally photographed, and you can see that the person actually WORE what she was wearing. I can relate to that, not to an overly-staged, perfectly posed outfit picture. I think readers appreciate that too.

But I digress Bloggers are people too. They don’t belong on pedestals. They are not celebrities (even the ones who think they are). And you should never be afraid to introduce yourself or talk to a blogger you read and appreciate; they are no “better” than you are.

So if you’re attending one of the blogging conferences coming up soon, keep this in mind. It’s hard enough being in a large group of people, and having to introduce yourself to strangers, don’t make it any worse by falling prey to blogger celebrity worship. I can’t guarantee that every blogger will be kind and generous with her time, but I know most will.

What has been your experience with this? Have you been afraid to introduce yourself to a favorite blogger? What happened when you did it? If you’re a blogger and are approached by a reader, how do you handle it?

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I was lucky enough to attend & moderate the Balancing Business & Blogging panel at the Independent Fashion Blogger’s conference last week. Since the video’s not up, I can’t link to what was actually SAID, but I do want to try and recap a couple of the most important points while they’re still (relatively) fresh in my mind.

If you watched the live stream of the conference, or followed it on twitter, of course you know that Ari Goldberg (StyleCaster) was the star of the panel; I knew the second I started talking to him backstage that I could count on him to pull out the big guns and tell it like it is, and he did NOT disappoint!! But I was also very impressed by all the panelists, including Coco Rocha, Kristina, Natalie, Aimee & Annie from bellaSugar.

Two points that I thought were particularly Important:

1. You MUST be able to talk about yourself. Period. This came up in response to a question from the audience – she didn’t feel comfortable talking about herself & coming up with a mission statement for her blog. Ari suggested she crowd source her mission statement by asking friends/readers to help her craft it, which isn’t a bad idea, but at the end of the day, you WILL HAVE to talk about yourself and your blog. Which was a point I tried to make before moving on to the next question. There’s no way around it, if you want your blog to be your business, or if you want any sort of recognition at all, you have to have an elevator pitch for your blog (a quick statement that you tells someone about your blog in the time it would take to ride an elevator a floor or two), and you have to craft a mission statement, about page, and a media kit.

   As bloggers, we forget that we are also entrepreneurs. You may not realize it yet, and you may not want to turn your blog into your career, but when you start a blog and put effort into it, you are putting YOURSELF out there and taking a risk that you might fail, something that entrepreneurs do everyday. And as an entrepreneur, you have to be prepared to get out there, to put it on the line, to succeed, and the only way you’re going to do that is by marketing yourself.

   Ultimately, it shouldn’t be that difficult to talk about yourself – as a blogger, you’re probably already doing it. Why did you start your blog? What do you write about everyday? who is your reader? All these things should go in your mission statement. And as for getting up the nerve to talk about & sell yourself in person, sorry, but you’re going to have to just suck it up and do it.

   (and I thought all bloggers were narcissists )

2. Annie from bellaSugar made so many amazing points during the panel, I can’t recall all of them, but one that really struck a chord with me, and that we discussed afterwards is that we, as women, often undervalue ourselves. We don’t ask for raises, we do too much for free…basically, we don’t ask for what we want. Here’s the thing: if you ask for what you want, you may not get it. But if you DON’T ask for what you want, you will definitely NOT get it. Makes sense, but we always hesitate to ask – I know I used to. We think we don’t deserve that much money, or we’re just generally unsure of ourselves, so we don’t ask for what WE want, we settle for what we’re given, or what we’re offered.

   Of course, if you ask for too much, you probably won’t get it; you have to be reasonable, given how much time you put into the project and how much your readers are “worth.” And here again Annie made a great point on how to determine how much to ask for: think about how much you need to make per hour and use that as a guideline. For simple advertisements on your blog, this may not be appropriate, but for ongoing projects or giveaways, it can be very helpful to think in terms of an hourly wage.

   There’s no science to figuring out how much to charge for ads or projects related to your blog, it’s more of an art. For me, it involved a bit of trial and error; if you’re asking for too much, no one’s going to bite, but if you’re asking for too little, your supply will never keep up with demand, for example, if all your ad space is sold out and you have a waiting list, you’re not charging enough for your ad space.

Again, whether or not you want your blog to make money, or become your career or use it as a launching point for something else, it is a reflection of YOU and you should treat it as such. The design should be clean, it should look professional and be easy to navigate, have an about page, a mission statement or editorial policy, a media kit…you get the point. Only when YOU start to treat your blog like a business will other people start to SEE it as one. And even if you don’t want to turn it into a business, what’s the harm in others believing it already IS?

I will post more about my thoughts on the conference and the Balancing Business and Blogging panel this week, but in the mean time, here are some posts/pictures by other bloggers:

Citizen Rosebud
Dress with Courage
Grit & Glamour

If you were there, what did you think of the Balancing Business & Blogging panel? What were your favorite points?

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I’m 38 (almost 39) and have run my network of sites (they weren’t always blogs!) since 2004, so I’ve always been a bit older than other bloggers in my niche. It’s never stopped me from doing my job, nor is it stopping me now, but lately I’ve been LONGING to interact with more bloggers my age. I attended an event recently and couldn’t get over the feeling that I was so DIFFERENT (yes, old) from the other bloggers. And as much as we don’t want age to define or separate us, 10-15 year differences definitely have an impact; I tend to always feel like the “teacher” (which is not always a bad thing – I really enjoy teaching and mentoring) when I’m around younger bloggers, but sometimes, I just want to feel like me. Without the pressure. You know?

I also believe there’s a place for us to carve out a powerful niche, even in this current crazy fashion blogging world full of pre-teens and 20-something models. Who’s with me?

For a long time I’ve wanted to try and organize a community of over-30 bloggers, if not for anything else but to know that there are others of us out there! And since I’m going to be in NYC for the IFB conference on September 7th, I thought what better time than now to try and meet up with some other over-30 fashion bloggers.

Elissa Stern (from Dress with Courage) and I are working on organizing something (coffee?) for September 8th in NYC. And then, I hope, we’ll see where to go from there. Maybe a message board? periodic meet-ups around the country? whatever we want

But we need your help – if you WILL or WILL NOT be in NYC in September & your’e an over-30 fashion blogger, please fill out the form below. I’ll only use your email address to contact you with any information about the NYC meet-up or anything else in the works.

*edited: I just created a Facebook page for announcements, discussions, etc. – please join if you’re interested!!

Thank you!!!

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Wow. I’m still amazed by the response to my “Why I stopped reading fashion blogs” post a few months ago – thank you to everyone who participated in the conversation! I have wanted to do a follow-up though, since I did start reading some fashion blogs again after a few weeks off, but only a small FRACTION of the blogs I was reading before. I started adding back to my daily blog reads blogs that I actually looked forward to reading everyday, blogs that always inspire me, make me laugh, or make me think. And I don’t miss any of the super-bloggers or the blogs I read only because I felt like I HAD to.

What I also decided to do as I started adding blogs back, was to read my blogs the old-fashioned way: in my browser. Crazy, I know; there are much more efficient ways to read blogs, and I loved Google reader for that, but honestly, I missed READING BLOGS. Reading an RSS feed isn’t the same. And as I thought about it, I want readers to actually come to my site every once in a while and look at the blog design, sidebars, etc. the way I mean for it to be seen, so why shouldn’t I try and read other blogs that way? I’ve also started commenting more because I’m already on the post – I don’t have to click through.

Purging all of my fashion blogs was the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time. I love EVERY single blog I have bookmarked now, and absolutely don’t miss any of the super-bloggers, or industry darlings. I don’t feel out of touch at all, and I have more time to focus on my own work.

And speaking of blogs I love, here are a few (this is not an exhaustive list by any means, just selected blogs I love to read and you might too) I missed and added back after the big purge:

The Coveted – Jennine is a truly remarkable and inspiring person; I have learned SO MUCH from her over the years.
IFB – duh
Dramatis Personae – what can I say about Ashe that you don’t already know? She is gorgeous, and I always love her perspective on fashion, style & blogging
Into the Gloss – I’m kind of obsessed with this beauty blog, I wish they’d update 5 times a day
The Man Repeller – she kills me
Out of the Bag – I love her style, and her thoughtful posts on wardrobe-building
Les Anti-Modernes – I’ve been reading Miss Sophie’s posts forever; she’s my internet style twin. We always love the same things
Little Tin Soldier – Linda is super-sweet in person, and so are her outfit drawings…
Already Pretty – Sally’s posts always create amazing conversations
Basic Cravings – Sydney is a real-life friend, and a wardrobe stylist. She always has thoughtful tips on what to wear
If Grandma wore J Crew – Sharon is also my real-life friend, but she has impecable taste and THE BEST VINTAGE EVER

Have you purged your reader? How many blogs did you add back?
Do you read blogs online anymore? or just via RSS or email?

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I’ve heard style bloggers refer to themselves as narcissistic, full-of-themselves, egomaniacs, etc., just for posting outfit pictures everyday. Or they’re embarrassed to admit to friends/family that they have a personal style blog because they think it’s silly (or at least will be perceived as such) to maintain a blog full of pictures of themselves.

So, I wonder, what makes us (those of us who consider ourselves to be fashion bloggers/personal style bloggers) WANT to post outfit pictures everyday? What’s the drive behind it? I can only speak for myself, but here’s why I do it:

• When I started posting pictures of myself (with my head cut off) in 2004 there weren’t many other people doing it. And the ones who WERE doing it then were generally one size: small. I wanted to show women of my size & shape (12-14 & CURVY!!!) that they could wear contemporary designer pieces too, and how to style them. I didn’t have any delusions of grandeur or fame, I just perceived that there was a gap in personal style photos at the time and tried to fill it.
• Readers love them. I’ve struggled many times over the years with posting outfit pictures – especially during the cycles when I gained 10-15 pounds – but outfit pictures are consistently the most commented on posts on Grechen’s Closet. If I’m feeling particularly unmotivated or schlumpy, I won’t post an outfit picture, but I do try and give a glimpse into what I’m wearing most days.
• It’s all about me. Yes, I do think you have to be somewhat narcissistic to post pictures of yourself online! Some style bloggers definitely tend more that way than others, but we all love attention. And we love showing off our latest finds & styling abilities – it’s all part of who we are. We are not attention-whores, our love of attention is not what defines us, but it does enable us to do what we do. I do it because I want to be an example for the women who find me online, or see me on the street, to be creative, and look outside the mall or magazine dos and don’ts for inspiration; I try to always wear one thing that will get a reaction. And my blog(s) are very personal – I’ve always written about what I love, and have been lucky enough to have an audience of women who love the same. It feels only natural to post pictures of myself in that context – how can you really “know” a person without seeing pictures?
• I use outfit pictures to enhance my shopping blog – as a means of showing that I do buy what I talk about; that I practice what I preach!

(one of my favorite recent outfit pictures

Personal style/fashion bloggers are much loved and hated precisely because we aren’t afraid to post pictures of ourselves online – we actually like it. Most of us consider ourselves to be the tastemakers and stylists, not sticking only to what we see in magazines, and that draws ire from all corners (how dare we?). You can’t win with everyone, and you have to be able to stand up to criticism and hate bloggers, but we do it because we love it. Even if no one is looking…

Why do you do it? How long have you been posting outfit pictures? how often do you post them? If you don’t post outfit pictures of yourself, why not?

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so excited to be included in the links this week!! Of course, every one of them is worth a click-through, especially if you’re trying to add fashion blogs back into your google reader

More than Meets the Eye

Edited by Fajr Muhammad at Stylish Thought

When you visit a fashion blog you often see a stylish blogger posing in a perfectly, put together outfit with gorgeous scenery. What you don’t see is the work that goes into curating and maintaining a fashion blog. This week the theme across IFB was outfit posts: what deems an outfit worthy, what goes into creating a stunning visual post and ultimately the comments (some not so nice) that we receive as style bloggers. Ultimately, blogging is a way to express our love for fashion and personal style but as this week’s links can attest to, there is much more to fashion blogging than meets the eye.

Links à la Mode: April 28th

• Best Of Bklyn: Wardrobe Emergency Kit
• Beyond Fabric: A Pinch of Ethnicity
• Consider Me Lovely: Blush + Gold
• Dress with Courage: Dealing with Negative Comments
• Elle Enchanted: On Fashion Blogging
• Fashioned By Love: This Strange World of Fashion
• Fashion in Films: Safe vs. Sexy
• Fashion Limbo: The Rant- Skinny No More
• Forever Amber: Adventures in the Magic Garden Centre
• Grechen Blogs: Why I Stopped Reading Fashion Blogs
• Grit & Glamour: On the Unexpected Beauty of Social Media
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Blogging Against Adversity
• Lady in Lycra: Address Your Style
• Over 50 Feeling 40: Pondering Much More than an OOTD
• Sample Twenty Nine: Comment Courtesy
• Stay in the Lines: Breezy Blocking
• Stylish Thought: What I Wore- Fallen Robots
• The Fashion Grove: There are Ghosts Towns in the Ocean
• The House in the Clouds: Tattoos. Expression or Accessory
• The Quirky Martini: The Buzz about Fashion Bloggers
• Un-Stitched: Creating Amazing Outfit Posts

SPONSOR:

New Sunglasses at Shopbop: Stella McCartney, Tom Ford, Ray Ban, YSL, Marc Jacobs, Carrera, DITA, Gucci, Phillip Lim & Super Sunglasses

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For years I’ve been hearing about the death of banner advertising as a way to make money on blogs. Sure, it’s not as lucrative as it used to be and it’s always better to have multiple revenue streams, but “traditional” online marketing in the form of banner ads is NOT DEAD. I’ve always said this and always believed that banners will ONLY work for the blogger who has a relationship with the brand/boutique and who will evangelize for them via blog posts (not paid posts) and social media.

I am not an expert, but I have been making money from my blog(s) with a combination of banner advertising and contextual affiliate marketing since 2006. Over the years, the proportion of what I make from affiliate marketing has become greater than my advertising revenue, but it is still significant, and not going anywhere. The key is making sure the ads are relevant, interesting, fresh, and offer something to the reader. Most of my banner ads offer exclusive discount codes for online shopping, which never fail to entice a reader, but they could not ever work alone.

My relationship with advertisers is deep; I work only with companies I trust, respect, and WANT to work with, and in turn, I am a natural “salesperson” for the brand. Banner ads will never work if they are just “there” on your site and the reader can tell there’s no relationship there. And indeed they’ll backfire on you if your reader feels they are forced.

All this talk about the death of banner advertising has been so pervasive lately that imagine my surprise to read this in a Mashable article today:

What does seem to work is more traditional online marketing, including email and search advertising. Most consumers in the study were exposed to some form of marketing by the retailers before they made their purchase.

Really?

But I disagree with the main premise of the article, which is that

A new study says social media has almost no influence on online purchasing behavior.

I did speculate on this last year in my article about Isabel Marant & Social Media and wondered about the effectiveness of certain industry tweeters, but have always held that social media cannot be separated from traditional marketing; they work better together. Perhaps a brands Facebook page or twitter account doesn’t directly lead to a purchase, but over time, being & staying in a person’s head via social media has an impact. And imagine the greater impact for the brand if they’re already in their customer’s head then she sees a banner ad on her favorite blog?

Social media efforts are not “a waste” if the brand is truly engaging it’s audience, but as a means to simply increase sales, it can’t work alone.

What are your thoughts? how do you work with advertisers and engage them via Social Media?

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