Random Questions

So Ashley from Ashley Getting Dressed had a giveaway that consisted of people posting questions and then she'd answer them in later posts. I didn't think of anything at the time, then I read her blog and liked the questions. I decided to answer some here. (PS I love her blog. You should check it out.  She takes her pictures outside and it makes me jealous.)

So here are a few questions that I thought I'd answer.

What made you want to start blogging?

I started a livejournal in April 2003. That was just a journal about my day or how I felt.  I tried really hard to post daily. Some of my posts were one line long so my husband told me to get a twitter. I did that after awhile. In February of this year, I started to detail my days a lot more and discovered that I could easily put in pictures that I took that day since I got a new memory card that automatically uploads to my computer and to picasa. That meant the pictures were right there ready when I was talking about them.  I started using a lot of pictures and it just evolved from there.  I think the pictures make posts a lot better.  Now I really hate to make a post without a picture of some sort. Early in this summer, LiveJournal became blocked at work. I didn't post at work but if anyone commented, I liked to reply while at work.  Then my husband convinced me to switch to blogger.  I said I only would if he could get my archive over. He did and so I made the switch. This summer was when I first discovered that there were "fashion" blogs and I was already putting my daily picture on my blog so why not write where I got the stuff.  I  tend to remember dates and prices too so I thought I'd put it there.  Then I started seeing everyone else's and now I spend a ton of time reading blogs. I used to only read blogs/journals for the few people I knew that had journals/blogs.

How do you transition your clothes from summer into fall? What are some of your tips?

My closet is big enough that I don't have to do much. Sometimes if I'm short on drawer space I move my sweaters out in the Summer.  I notice I actually wear more camis in the winter under all shirts than I do in the summer.  I have some tank tops I keep in my spare room in the winter but then I have to remember to get them and I did not do that this year.
My tip is to use a portion of your close for the summer and a portion for the winter stuff. Keep it all there.  Use hangers that hook off one another so you can get a lot more clothes in your closet. I started buying these hangers in 9th grade. They used to be found at the Dollar Tree 6 for $1, Walmart, or Target. Now Walmart and Target still have them. They are approximately $2 for 6 now. You can have your clothes go down 6 hangers worth. One trick I used was the bottom hanger didn't need to be this fancy kind so then I could go a lot further with the hangers that I already had.

The turquoise shirt is on the Dollar Tree/Walmart style and the green shirt is the Target style. The target ones are a little thicker and can even hold my pants with ease.  They also have the hangers for skirts. The target skirt hangers have the hook on the wrong side and I hate it. It would be OK if the skirts were on the left side of my closet but they aren't.
(Looking at my pictures I realized the Loft tag is upside down. ha)

What is on the top of your wishlist right now?

New running shoes, a few colorful cardigans, replacement black heels.
I always want a lot but I'm fairly picky. In the fall and winter, I have a lot harder time finding things that fit. My arms and legs are too long for most stores' clothes.
I also have difficulty finding shoes that work for me. I have plantar fasciitis and am flat footed.  Many flats are painful. I have orthotics but they don't usually fit in dress shoes. They do not fit in the ballet flats w/o my shoes popping out. I have slim fit ones that would work in dress shoes but it's hard to find ones that do.  I have orthotics for my running shoes and still it is hard to find shoes that the orthotic can fit on top of the insole and doesn't make my heel feel like it will come out of the shoe.
I know I'm just full of complaints.  I make due and still find lots of things that work for me. I just have to try on a few more things before something works.

What is your favorite color and why?

Purple. I have no idea. I don't even wear purple a lot. I don't know how to match it as well as I do other colors.

What is your go-to store and why?

It all depends on for what I'm looking for.  Overall I would guess Express. 

For Pants it would be Express. If I could figure out what the material is for pants and washing instructions at VS, then that would be my favorite but it seems I only love 1 out of 2 pairs of pants I order through them.  Their fit is the best.
Skirts: Ann Taylor Loft (or Express)
Short Sleeve Shirts (Ann Taylor Loft (or express)
Dresses: Kohl's (or VS even though I only have 1 dress from VS)
Long Sleeve shirts: Express or VS

Who is your fashion inspiration(s)?

I almost didn't pick this one but then I thought I would share that it is nobody. I don't follow celebrities. I don't follow designers to see what they are wearing. Heck most of the time I don't even know what a designer brand is.  In May I bought an AE (Armani Exchange) at the mall near DC. I didn't even know what the place was. I show it to my husband and he asks why I'm shopping there. He even heard of it before. He looked it up on his iPhone to tell me about it. I am not a brand whore at all.  I probably buy "copy cat" type stuff and I don't even know it because I don't pay attention to the real thing. I don't read ads.