Blogging under the influence

I've never participated in Modly Chic's Fashion Beauty Friend Friday questions before, but this weeks set, about the strangeness of fashion, and the influence that style blogging has on one's style, really resonated with me.

Especially since this weekend resulted in my spending my entire budget for July, on things that are a direct result of my reading blogs.

{One}

Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?

First it was a pair of Red Jeans. I'd been wanting a pair since the fall, and more and more of my blogger friends were getting them, I was getting jealous and desperate, so I tried my last ditch shopping effort - typing into googles shopping search engine. A listing at eCrater came up, and I'd never even heard of eCrater, but evidently it's just a place where anyone can set up an online shop.
There was a pair, in my size, for $22, they just seemed like they would be perfect.

Red jeans on This Free Bird

Next, the Striped H&M Blazer. I first saw this blazer on Denji and wanted it that instant. At that point I was too late to find it at H&M, and to make matters worse, suddenly it seemed every other blogger out there was wearing it. So I got a little obsessed, started looking at every blogger who had it to see if they were going to sell it. Finally I found one, but she's in Europe and the cost of shipping + the conversion of the weak-ass dollar was killing me. I'd told the girls about the blazer at last weeks blogger meet up, and on Friday Megan (Thank You!!!) sent me a message saying that she'd found another blogger (in the states) with the blazer in her blog shop!
I freaked out, and sent an email to secure the blazer as my own that instant.
If not for blogging, that blazer would not be on it's way to me right now.
If not for blogging, I would never have known that blazer existed in the first place.

Striped blazer on Denji

Finally, the Starfish Cuff Bracelet. A few weeks ago Diana posted about this gorgeous starfish cuff she'd gotten from a Spanish store called Bimba and Lola, but she store doesn't ship to the USA. If you don't live in the states, you can go buy the cuff. Even if I could get it, the cuff which is on sale for 22 € would end up costing somewhere in the ballpark of $55 after tax and shipping.
For those of us in the USA, the only starfish cuff I could find was one at Anthropologie, for a super Anthro-like price tag of $198.
But I went to TJMaxx this weekend, and what is sitting there under that glass jewelry counter? A starfish cuff. The brand is St. Thomas, the cost was $40 (the best deal yet) and it was exactly what I wanted.
But I can't help but wonder, had I not seen the cuff on Diana, would it have caught my eye? Would I have thought $40 was a good deal?

Starfish Cuff on Diana

My Starfish Cuff

So my answer to question one is a big fat yes. 

{Two}

Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?

Yes. I think the best example that I have is my little sister accusing me of dressing in a deliberately non-conformist way, when in fact I am conforming, just to a different standard - the style blogger standard.
For the most part, my family, friends and coworkers all know about the blog and the outfit photos and no longer toss out the ever annoying "What are you all dressed up for?" comment.

 {Three}

What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?

Ohhh, I never keep my fashion obsessions a secret.

{Four}

Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?

Printed pants. I've seen some gals doing them well, but I'm worried about them making me look really short/wide/juvenile ect. ect.

{Five}

Toot someone’s horn – which fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices?

Recently I've been digging Late Afternoon's posts, but it might just be a case of camera envy - she's got the same lens that I do, the 50mm 1.4, but the bokeh is just so much prettier. Sure, a full frame camera is only $2,500 - I can swing that, and then I'll pick up this gorgeous ONA Camera bag for $309 while I'm at it...

Late Afternoon

And just so we are clear about how much of an influence blogging has on my fashion choices, Thursday I read about the Marc by Marc Jacobs resort collection, Friday, I wear it.