fashion blogging lessons | break the rules

on May 1, 2013, discountthief.com celebrated its one year blogging anniversary. if you're new around these parts, here's the background on why this blog was started.

over the course of this first year, i've been observing and making notes as to what's going on in the style blogging space. to be quite frank: i don't see many bloggers keeping up with the ever-changing landscape. 

blogs haven't been redesigned to accommodate mobile viewing, many bloggers are still relying on intrusive pop-up ads as a means of making money without regard to their readers' overall experience, and last but not least - veteran bloggers, who've been repeatedly shoved in our faces as the authorities on this subject, are offering the same blogging best practices they've been touting since 2008. 

this video is the first in an installment where i share my perspective and advice. if your interest in blogging doesn't go beyond a hobby and/or receiving free products - click away now. this wasn't meant for you. 

if you can't see the video CLICK HERE.

to clarify: when i stated sometimes i question why i even started a style blog, i say that from the point of view of me not being the typical glammed up style blogger you see on a daily basis. my core focus for this blog was and always will be about saving money. an "outfit of the day" and accompanying Instagram selfie aren't required. 

now i want to know what YOU think. did you break any blogging rules or wish you had? how do you really feel about fashion blogging or blogging in general?

keep the change | $20 budget - April

April purchases from Kohl's.

if you can't see the video CLICK HERE.

yes. the flip-flops are a need. my one pair of black ones are about five years old from New York & Co.... subject to break at any given moment. and i'm sure there are parasites growing in the leather. i'm not throwing them away though. 

all of my bras are black with the exception of one leopard print and another light blue one i bought in Las Vegas as a souvenir. i'm not sure why, but it made sense at the time. 

if you only had $20 to spend on clothes, shoes, and accessories next month - what would you buy?! 

personal style | the maxi dress

i've been on twitter since 2008 and as a result, i've made some pretty meaningful online connections. one of my early followers was April Gregory of AG Marketing & Consulting Group. when i announced i was starting this blog, she was right there cheering me on. 

April shared an outfit set on Facebook showcasing three different maxi dresses. she tagged me in the post and wanted my advice because she felt like the shoes that were chosen didn't seem to "go" with the dresses. i agreed. they were way too chunky and heavy for the lightweight pieces they accompanied. you could literally see the shoes weighing the dresses down. 

when i wear maxis, it's all about easy, chic comfort. 

sidenote: i know you're tired of seeing the word chic plastered on every fashion blog, but until i can come up with a suitable replacement - that's all i got. 

maxis are long and my mild-to-moderate OCD will not allow for them to drape the ground. i need a shoe with a little bit of lift. i have at least one that's short enough for me to wear with flip-flops, however, the others need a heel like the red Tory Burch sandal in the middle. 

i'm not a fan of wedges with dresses, although there are women who swear by them. the flatform brown sandal above is a great alternative. it's not too bulky and the tie softens the appearance. 

and by no means should you limit this wardrobe essential to casual brunches and errands. go all out and get glammed up! black and white is everywhere these days and you'll stand out with the added touches of color. did you notice how the design on the strappy heels emulate the neckline on the dress?! 

how would you describe your maxi style?

keep the change | $20 budget - march

March purchases from JCPenney and Body Central.

if you can't see the video CLICK HERE.

when you shoot a video without a script, there's a good chance you'll say something (or not) that needs a little more clarification.

Natasha told me about RetailMeNot.com. i hadn't checked out the site yet, but when i plugged "Body Central Shipping Code" into google - that's where i found the free shipping promo code.

since i'm completely overwhelmed with the duties that come along with blogging, please feel free to share any other info you have about this site down below in the comments.

are you feeling the floral/print pants trend as much as i am?

personal style | blogger influence

when i made my January and February Keep the Change purchases, i mentioned that i'd be sharing how one of those purchases came about. 

it wasn't the result of a brand campaign promoted by a popular blogger or an influx of posts from a group of bloggers in a network. it happened the way the majority of my buying decisions come about. by good ol' word of mouth. 

photo credit: emmammme

as a blogger in the fashion/personal style space, i'd be lying if i said one of my goals didn't involve working with companies to promote products i use and trust. the truth of the matter is this: as more and more bloggers become brand ambassadors, it gets harder and harder to discern who genuinely stands behind the long list of c/o items featured in their posts. 

i observed one retailer who targeted a particular demographic of bloggers and unleashed $500 gift cards on them to shop until their hearts were content. the problem with that campaign? the majority of the bloggers who were chosen to participate blogged about high-end designer stuff. and while the retailer does carry a few name brand pieces, they're best known for being a discount shopping chain. not for one minute did i believe these bloggers would convert to loyal customers or persuade their readers to do the same. 

these bloggers had reach. the numbers needed to quantify their perceived influence. pageviews, unique visitors, comments, and past clients to boot. 

i hate to be the one to break it to the PR reps and brands, but those factors mean absolutely nothing to me. 

when i bought my shoes from Target, it was because Nikki at Cheapalicious.net tweeted a blog post showing another blogger who had recently bought a pair. i wanted colorful flats and needed to get them at a rock bottom price. 

i've been wanting to try BB cream and because Natasha bought and reviewed some, my questions were answered and i can now buy Maybelline's brand with confidence. 

in both of these instances, the messages reached me at the right times. more importantly - the messages were delivered by people i trust. it had nothing to do with being caught up in the herds who follow and cling to the advice of highly paid bloggers.

there's another demographic of consumers in the blogosphere. people like you and me. folks who rely on a small, yet equally influential network of women that shape our buying behavior. we're accessible - both online and offline - and value the relationships we enter into as a result of blogging. you won't find us front and center at Fashion Week or jet-setting across the country for red carpet appearances and photo ops. 

we're stars in our own worlds. writing the scripts ordinary people want to read. spending money on the things that matter to us as individuals. giving value and expecting nothing in return.

BREAKING NEWS: i survived my first year in the style blogging world! in true blogger fashion, here are the blogging lessons i've learned.