Hi Everyone!
First, I learned earlier today that my amazing online VPS has taken another position with J. Crew. I am SO happy for her, but I hope that my new online VPS is half as amazing. I’m really going to miss her. Sigh.
In other news: lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about why I blog.
I started this blog because, as you know, I LOVE J. Crew. I don’t think that most of my friends/acquaintances have ever stepped foot in a J. Crew. When I blog, I feel like I’m shopping with my best friend. I also blog for the following reasons:
1. Blogging helps me to create a visual catalog of my outfits.
2. Blogging gives me the opportunity to build e-friendships with other amazing women who blog.
And, finally, one of the most important reasons why I blog: reciprocity. For me, blogging is about community. I love interacting with the followers who read my blog and with other bloggers. I know that I’ve been a bit behind in responding to comments (I apologize, but I’m finishing my book) but I think that the interaction between readers and bloggers is SO important. With that said, I want to thank each and every person who reads my blog. Thanks SO much for being here!
Why do you blog? Why do you follow blogs? Do tell!
Thanks for stopping by!
I blog for the same reasons as you – it's a fun place where I can freely "talk fashion." It let's me be more creative on how I dress. It's a great community of like-minded individuals.
Lisa: I love what you say about your blog being a "fun place where [you] can freely 'talk fashion.'" It's so refreshing to have a space where you/I don't feel judged for liking fashion. And, you're right, this is a great community!Thanks SO much for being here!
Rynetta – I love to visit you here because you are such a wonderful, positive person! ANd I love seeing how you style the things you love!!!!
WMM: Believe me, sister, the feeling is mutual!!!! I genuinely appreciate you being here!!!!Thanks SO much for being here!
Very well said!!!I agree with Lisa,its a wonderful community and i learned so much.
Ina: I agree!!! I've really stepped out of my comfort zone when it comes to styling, and blogs are a huge part of the reason why!Thanks SO much for being here!
Rynetta you are probably one of the sweetest bloggers which is why I love your blog… and of course your amazing pencil skirt collection 🙂
juliefromchicago: Awwww, thanks SO much!!! I really love your blog too. I am so glad that we've been able to connect. And, LOL about my pencil skirt collection!!!Thanks SO much for being here!
I started my blog one weekend when I was totally bored and was looking for something new to do. That was 2 and a half years ago. I will stop once it will be no more fun for me.
Rose: I sure hope that blogging will continue to be fun for you because I SO enjoy your blog!Thanks SO much for being here!
I don't blog, but I love following blogs (like yours!) to get styling ideas, especially for ideas that work in a professional setting (and most importantly, can translate into my every day, real life!).
injanuity: Oh boy, I hear you about getting wearable styling ideas from blogs. I can't count the number of times I've recreated an outfit I saw on a blog I follow. Clothing blogs offer great fashion inspiration!Thanks SO much for being here!
I really look forward to reading your reviews and take on various J. Crew items! Keep up the great posts. 🙂 I am trying to blog a little bit myself, and find that it has been helping me re-organize my wardrobe. Happy Friday!
JCREWGAL: Awwww, thanks SO much!!! I hope that you'll keep blogging!Thanks SO much for being here!
i blog too because it's a chance to talk fashion with like-minded fashionistas. i visit yours because you're fun, kind and have the best j. crew pieces. xox P
P: You're super sweet, thanks SO much! I visit your blog for the very same reasons. And, I LOVE your style!!!Thanks SO much for being here!
I've been so bad about keeping up with blogging but it is definitely one of my most fun hobbies. I love the community and seeing what others are up to and what fun finds they have to show 🙂
Maria: No–you're GREAT!!! It's been so fun to read about your recent baby purchases. You're right, your adorable bundle of joy is going to be spoiled–I love it!!!! Like you, I really enjoy reading about what is happening to the bloggers I'm following. I love staying connected!Thanks SO much for being here!
i blog because i think its a great way to interact with others from around the world. and outfit inspiration is always a fantastic thing, too!
Laura Isaacs: I love it, and I totally agree with you that it's a great way to interact with other people from around the world! Outfit inspiration is a plus, too!Thanks SO much for being here!
At first, I blogged as an escape (I had alot going on). Now I blog for sheer enjoyment. I love the fact that I have met people here who are now my friends. This blogosphere is an awesome place. Wouldn't you agree ?
Angie's Closet: I totally agree that the community is really outstanding. It's nice that we share a common bond over our love for fashion and J. Crew!Thanks SO much for being here!
I started blogging to hold myself accountable – so easy to fall into the new mom fashion slump – but then I discovered the camaraderie of the blogger world! 🙂
Carolines Day: You always look SO great!!!! What a great idea about holding yourself accountable. I totally agree that the camaraderie among bloggers is great!!!!!
Thanks for blogging! I love jcrew as much as you do! You seem to pick up a lot of their accessories. Do you ever sell older pieces?
emmyann!1: Thanks!!! I typically don't sell older pieces because I still wear them often.Thanks SO much for being here!
Thanks for blogging! I love jcrew as much as you do! You seem to pick up a lot of accessories/jewelry. Do you ever sell older pieces?
Sorry to hear your VPS is moving on…I love your blog, Rynetta. I'm very new to blogging, but it was your blog (and some of the other fab blog I found via the JCA blog) that inspired me to start.I work in academia and most of my friends don't share my passion for clothes, so finding this lovely community has been so wonderful.Thanks for blogging!
ruth: Awwww, thanks SO much! I really appreciate the compliment, and I genuinely appreciate you being here!!! Like you, I work in academia, and it's easy to turn into that frumpy or poorly dressed professor if you're not careful. Oh boy do I hear you about your friends not sharing the same passion for clothing as you do!Thanks SO much for being here!
Hi Rynetta, I also heard from my online VPS that she is moving to a new position – so sad, she was great to work with. I really enjoy your blog. Your warm personality really shines through and it's so much fun to see your finds. I started blogging as a creative outlet and because my husband encouraged me. It has been a wonderful experience and a great way to meet people who share the same passions.
Louise: I wonder if we had the same VPS!!!! I really enjoy your blog too, and I genuinely appreciate the compliment–you're super sweet. My husband encouraged me to start a blog too! It's a really great place and I am SO glad that you're part of this community.Thanks SO much for being here!
I enjoy your blog so much. As you said, most friends don't have the same love for Jcrew as your jca blog friends do. They would look at me as if I had three heads if I mentioned that I got up early for pop backs this morning. My jca friends would just cheer for me if I scored a bargain or commiserate with me if one got jerked from my cart when I pushed the send button. I love to see what others do with their favorite pieces to get new outfit ideas and get opinions about what everyone likes best. You always make everyone feel welcome with your positive focus.
Shopping Celle: I genuinely appreciate the compliment!!! You nailed it when you said your friends (and mine) would look at you/me crazy if we ever said we set our alarm clock to stalk a pop back. And, they totally wouldn't understand the excitement of seeing new arrivals on the J. Crew website or in the retail stores. You're super sweet–I try to stay positive in every aspect of my life. I'm totally convinced that we reap what we sow, and my goal is to sow and reap all the positive stuff I can!Thanks SO much for being here!
As a fellow academic and in a world in which publishing can take an excess of 2 years, I the immediacy of the publish button on Blogger. In addition, and given a certain snobbery in our profession, clothes and shopping appear vapid, so this is my non-academic slice of the world.I love your blog, and following along with your adventures with the 'Crew!
Anthro Blogger: Oh my, sister, I totally understand what you're saying about the instant gratification of publishing a post on Blogger. Like you, I know how articles can sit in the pipeline for 2 years or so before they ever appear in print. I'm not sure there is a greater feeling than seeing your proofs and knowing that your work is about to appear in print. Thanks SO much for your kind words–I love your blog too!!!!Thanks SO much for being here!
I blog so I can connect w/my peeps! My JCA peeps, to be specific. I have never seen someone w/the J Crew bubble necklace — except retail J Crew employees – until today. Luckily I was in the car so she couldn't see my mouth agape. So glad we have 'met' via this format. You're awesome, Rynetta.Good luck w/the book! Ewekindewit! 🙂
Gigi: Awwww, you're super sweet!!! I'm so glad that we've met too, you're equally as awesome. LOL about seeing someone other than a J. Crew retail employee wearing a bubble necklace!!! I have to watch it when I spot someone wearing J. Crew in public. I'm always tempted to walk up to them and say, "wow, you look great wearing X, Y, and Z from J. Crew!" Thanks SO much for the well wishes on my book–I need them!Thanks SO much for being here!
You are such a breath of fresh air!I struggle with blogging. I start and stop. Part of the issue is I think I have trouble sticking to just one topic. I am opinionated about a lot of things and sometimes I just don't want to keep it to fashion, other times I'm not sure I want my opinions recorded in a public forum for all time. I also struggle with photos. I just don't have a great place at home or work to take them. Seeing all of these positive responses really inspires me to get going. One reason I even thought about blogging in the first place is that I felt I had something to offer: I'm in my mid 40s, I'm not tiny and I don't have an unlimited budget. I'm a professional and confident in my skin. There is a place for that voice.Rynetta, my DH is a academic and I have been through two books with him. I know that the book is only part of the equation and that the politics in academia can be ten times harder. Bon courage and i hope you're on your way to tenure/full professordom very soon!
Generation Kvetch: OMG, you are super, super sweet!!! Thanks SO much! Don't give yourself a hard time. Blog when you can, and don't feel bad about it when you can't! (I'm headed to find your blog as soon as I finish typing this comment!). You definitely have something to offer, so please share it with us!!!!About academia: oh boy, truer words have never been spoken. I'm really grateful that I have a very supportive and encouraging department, but I know a lot of colleagues who don't. I'm writing my tenure book now, so I pray daily that I will get tenured and promoted without any issues!!!Thanks SO much for being here!
Hi, Rynetta! I am very glad to have found your blog and check in almost everyday. I'm glad you brought up your VPS, because I have been wondering if the VPS service is right for me. On one hand, I wear almost entirely JCrew, but on the other hand, I am a sale shopper and buy almost nothing full price if I can help it. Almost missing out on the beaded rose necklace made me wonder if I should get in touch with a VPS, if only to have someone let me know that something is going to sell out. Any thoughts? TIA!
kiwigem: Thanks for your kind words about my blog, I really appreciate it! I think that the VPS service is really great. I've had great experience with the service via the online VPS and the retail VPS. I'm not sure, however, if the VPS can always gauge if something will sell out. They can tell you if it's selling well, but I think that determining if it will sell out can be hit or miss. Consider, for example, the Tartine Satchel. My former, really amazing online VPS thought that it (particularly the Casablanca Blue color) would be sold out in weeks based on how quickly the Tillary Tote in that same color sold. That purse is still available in great quantity online. So, I think that the VPS can tell you how quickly an item is selling, but I think it's just hard to tell what will fly off of the shelves/website and what won't–catch what I mean? I highly recommend the service though. HTH!Thanks SO much for being here!