I want to thank everyone who participated in my Reader Survey. I haven’t done one of these since 2017, so it was definitely time. There were almost 1500 responses this year, which kind of blows me away. Thank you so much for taking the time because it’s very helpful as I plan content for the rest of the year.
I always like to share the results of my reader surveys and address some of the comments that came up. I answered some of the tech questions/issues in last Sunday’s post, so you can check that out if you missed it.
2022 Reader Survey Results
For this post, I’ll share the multiple choice and checkbox answers, and then I’ll address some of the comments.
How long have you been reading my blog?
In March, I will have had this blog for 16 years! It has changed a lot over that time, so I’m always surprised when anyone says they’ve been around since the beginning, but about 50 people who participated in this survey consider themselves an OG. Then there are about 80 who are new readers, and 90% are somewhere in between.
How did you discover my blog?
Almost half of survey participants found my blog from another blog, and then Google and Pinterest are the other top referrers.
How do you usually get to my blog?
The vast majority comes to my blog through my email list. This is why I’m always working to grow that list, and I’ll discuss that annoying popup more below.
On what device do you read my blog?
Wow, over 70% of you are reading on a mobile device. That means I spend way too much time perfecting how my blog looks and operates on desktop. I should be a lot more concerned with how it works on mobile devices. I do look at my blog on my iPhone from time to time, but 95% of the time, I’m on my computer.
What is your age range?
I’ll be turning 50 this summer, so according to this answer, 75% of you are older than I am. I don’t know if this is because there are so few bloggers over 40, so you’re stuck with me, or if it’s because younger people don’t read blogs, or maybe I don’t really dress my age. Anyway! Whatever your age, I’m glad you’re here.
What is your stage in life?
I tried to cover the gamut of life stages with this one, but someone suggested that “significant other” and “widow” would be nice options to have, and I agree. I’ve made a note of that for the next time I do a reader survey.
Not much of this is surprising to me, but I noticed that 50% of you worked outside the home back in 2016 and 2017, and this year that was down to 40%. Also, less than 15% worked from home in 2016 and 2017, but now that’s up to 22%. I’m sure the pandemic has a lot to do with that.
What is your family’s annual household income?
I realize spending habits don’t always correlate directly to household income, but I think it’s helpful to know this information as I plan content, and also good for you all to see as well. I will continue to try to include a variety of price points and offer alternative suggestions.
Where do you live?
Not surprisingly, most of you live in the United States, and it looks like you’re pretty evenly spread throughout the various regions. A few suggestions to include next time were Southwestern US and Pacific Northwest. Then about 4% of you are from Canada and 1% from Europe. Other areas that were mentioned were Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Guatemala, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Pretty cool!
How often do you purchase things I feature?
About 5% of survey participants shop from my blog several times a month, 39% about once a month, 35% a few times a year, and 15% prefer to get ideas from me and shop elsewhere. The rest were individual responses.
I’m aware that not everyone is shopping all the time, so I really try to find a balance between showing you new items to consider and sharing informational posts and ways to rework your existing wardrobe.
Are there any stores/brands you would like me to feature?
Since this was an open-ended question, I don’t have a neat little graph or pie chart to share, but this is a snapshot of just a few of the answers.
There were a lot of the usual suspects in here. White House Black Market came up a lot, as did Anthro, J.Crew, J.Jill, Lululemon, Banana, Amazon, Boden, and Talbots. I also got some requests for more Old Navy, Kohl’s, Target, and Amazon. And in addition to the brands and stores that were suggested, several people said that they like the variety of high and low retailers, some said they would like to see more affordable options, and many said it was good just the way it is.
I realize I don’t feature a large variety of retailers, and I definitely get in a rut at times. It’s just so easy to shop at Nordstrom! Not only do they have all the departments, but they have the best site to navigate and also the best pictures of the items. I’m also loving Evereve lately, but I know some don’t like the shipping and return policy.
I used to shop more at Banana, J.Crew, and Madewell, but I haven’t found much at those stores lately, and I don’t know why WHBM fell off my radar. I’ll have to see what they have out for late winter/early spring. I tend to shop more at Old Navy and Gap during the spring/summer, so you will be seeing more of those in the next few months.
You don’t see much from Target, Walmart, Kohl’s, and Amazon because I don’t care for the quality of their clothing selections. I did try to incorporate them some in the past, but it never felt authentic, so I phased them out. I figure, there are lots of other fashion bloggers featuring those retailers for anyone who wants them.
All that to say, I will definitely try to source from a larger variety of retailers as I plan spring content. I need that little nudge every once in a while!
Which of my regular features do you enjoy the most?
Try-On Hauls were by far the most popular of my regular features, and the seasonal trend forecasts were next. I’m already working on the Spring Trends Forecast, so stay tuned for that! About 40% listed Coffee Talk and What I Wore Lately as favorite features, and everything else fell in line after that. I guess none of that is surprising.
Feedback on What I Wore Lately in the comments was mixed. Some love it, and some feel it’s boring and redundant. That’s fine, I get it. It is redundant. That’s kind of the point, though. That is how I dress. 😬 Enough people like it that I’ll continue doing them, but only every other week.
Are you on my email list?
This shows that the vast majority of my loyal followers (those who were willing to take the time to participate in this survey, anyway) are hooked into my daily emails! I spend a lot of time on those, so it’s good to see that it’s worth the time investment I put into them.
Do you have any feedback about my email newsletters?
About 500 people left feedback specific to my emails, but I think some people were confused and were giving feedback on the blog. I could usually tell what they meant, though.
The overarching theme was that people generally like my newsy intro and feel it makes the emails more personal, so that’s nice to hear. A lot of people wanted a larger font size, so I’ve made that adjustment. It seems that most of you like the format and additional features. Quite a few of you mentioned that you like the Q&A feature on Saturdays, so I’ll keep doing that. In general, the feedback on the emails was very positive.
Do you follow me on Instagram?
About 60% of survey participants follow me on Instagram, and 35% aren’t on Instagram at all, which didn’t really surprise me. I get comments from time to time from those not on Instagram when I refer you over there to see certain updates.
Do you watch Insta Stories?
Of those on Instagram, only half watch Instagram Stories. You guys are missing out! I enjoy watching stories more than scrolling my feed. If you don’t know how to find stories on Instagram, see this post where I showed you pictures of how to find it.
There were almost 250 comments with feedback for my Instagram and Instagram Stories, and it was definitely interesting to read through those. I got some good suggestions and ideas for content… Like more live try-on hauls, making sure to mention sizing when applicable, adding captions, sharing my outfit of the day, taking you along with me when I go shopping, etc.
A few people said they are glad I don’t do the reels with people jumping in and out of their clothes, which made me giggle. I think those are cute when other people do them, but I am just not that cute. It gives me anxiety to even think about doing those.
There was some constructive criticism about my Stories, but nothing hateful. Most of the critical comments are things I’m aware of and working on already. As much as I enjoy watching other people on Stories, I find being on my IG story to be awkward and a bit stressful. I much prefer to write, but I’m trying to be more consistent with it for those who enjoy it.
Are you part of my JLS Insiders Facebook Group?
Almost 50% of survey participants are in my Facebook Insiders Group, and I’m a little surprised that 30% aren’t on Facebook at all. I expected more of to be on Facebook than Instagram.
I like the suggestions to initiate more conversational topics and create more guided posts. Amy and I are working on that. And I also like the idea to offer more previews of things to come on the blog.
It really just comes down to time. I enjoy that space, and I want to be involved and see it active, but it does get time consuming. Still, it’s a great way to connect with you all, so I’ll continue to work on ways to make it valuable to our 3500 group members.
What is your biggest fashion challenge?
I got over 1,000 responses to this question, so this will be a great resource as I plan post topics for the next few months! This is just a snapshot of the fashion challenges you all are facing, and a lot of these issues were repeated in various ways.
It sounds like many of us are struggling with our aging bodies and trying to find that perfect balance of looking modern but not try-hard trendy. We’re tired of ultra casual wear but have nowhere to wear dressier outfits. Many are struggling with new denim styles and how to wear them with shoes. I will definitely refer to these comments as I plan spring/summer content.
Is there anything else you would like me to know?
Then there were 665 comments of general feedback to read through. I am not superstitious, but I was kind of glad it wasn’t 666, ha! I was humbled by the encouragement in this section, and I appreciate the constructive feedback as well.
Some were quite blunt, but there wasn’t a single comment I would consider rule or nasty, and that isn’t always the case in these surveys. I have a pretty thick skin after all these years, and I’m rarely offended, but it’s still kind of startling to come across a hateful comment. Happily, there were none of those.
But just to prove that I will never make everyone happy… and this is totally meant to be humorous. It doesn’t frustrate me or upset me in the least.
- Many of the outfits you show are the same. I know you feature what you wear, but much of the time it’s very homogeneous and doesn’t help me see anything new.
- I love that most of your posts are everyday things to wear.
- Show clothes other than jeans, every day is jeans.
- I do enjoy your what I wore lately. I think it is the most honest/true of your style.
- Your outfits are great for casual time but at work I need to dress up a little. It would be nice to see work wear every once in while.
- Maybe don’t bother with work outfit posts – they are usually not appropriate or practical – its not really and your strong suit.
- I would appreciate once in a while having some posts highlighting clothes that have tall sizes too.
- Link some petite options when possible.
- Your higher price points are nice.
- I like that you feature more quality items vs. cheap/sweatshop items.
- I would love to see some more affordable options in jeans and shoes.
- Appreciate higher end information.
- Less Nordstrom.
- I like how much you feature Nordstrom items.
- Too much high end merchandise.
- Thank you for avoiding Old Navy, Target and Amazon.
- I would love to see more budget-friendly items, like Amazon or Old Navy or Loft.
You get the point! Clearly there is a mix of budgets and preferences represented here, and I’m always trying to find the right balance of being a personal style blogger and wanting to be a resource to the variety of women who read along. I don’t think I will ever find a perfect balance, but I feel more authentic when I stay in my lane and feature items that I actually wear.
What came through more than anything is that you all like my attention to detail and how I explain the hows and the whys behind my outfits, so I will strive to keep doing that.
A Word About Ads
A few people mentioned the ads… the bane of my blogger existence!
- While reading the blog on mobile, the ads break up the photo and text of the items in your posts. Sometimes it is confusing and I have to back scroll often to remember the photo, especially when the post is a try on haul.
- I don’t enjoy reading your blog because there are so many ads and videos that pop up. It is hard to scroll though.
- The flashing constant ads are really distracting and have gotten much worse this year. Everything else is great.
- The ads continuously popping up are annoying.
Believe me, I would love to have a beautiful, clean, ad-free site. Sometimes I consider ditching my ad network altogether, but that would make no sense at all from a business perspective. It is very costly to run this site, and I provide all of my content for free. The ads help to offset those costs so I can focus on creating new posts and interacting with you on my various platforms.
That said, I’m mindful of how ads detract from the user experience, so I’m always tweaking them as I try to keep a good balance. For example, I opt out of ads that intentionally cover my content and force you to close them, and I also declined the option to remove the close button from the footer ad. Those are compromises do affect my ad revenue, but I want to be considerate of my loyal readers.
Like everything else in this digital age, ads are always evolving and getting more sophisticated, and users become immune to them, so ad creators keep coming up with new and annoying ways to make you pay attention, lol!
Last fall, some new ad options were released, one being that tiny video player that was popping up on the bottom right. I spend most of my time on a huge desktop, and it was very unobtrusive for me, but I had some complaints, so I looked at it on mobile and on a small laptop. I could see how it interfered with the user experience, so I had that removed.
I also can play around with how many ads show in a post and how far apart they appear, so I’ve asked to have them spaced out more because I agree that they were starting to overtake my content that I work so hard on. I hope those changes are helpful.
The point is, the ads can be tweaked, and I’m open to constructive feedback. Always feel free to send me a screenshot if you see an ad you feel is way too obtrusive. It might be something I don’t notice on my end or a new feature I don’t know about.
A Word About the Pop-Up Email Subscription Prompt
- I wonder if there’s a way to avoid the email subscription question screen popping up daily when I’m already subscribed.
- The add to email request when I already am is bothersome.
- Not crazy about the pop up you get now each time you log in to subscribe even when you already are a subscriber.
For years, I didn’t use one of those popup email subscriber forms because they make me crazy when I’m on other sites. But when Sydney was helping me move my email list from Mailchimp to Flodesk, she urged me to give it a try, and it really is effective. My email list has grown exponentially since adding that feature. It’s simply the best way to get new readers to stick around and become part of the community.
That said, we set it up so you aren’t supposed to get prompted once you’re already signed up, and we recently tweaked the settings so if you close the pop up without signing up, it shouldn’t prompt you again for 60 days (that is the longest duration we could set.) Like everything else tech-related, it can be glitchy sometimes, but it’s easy to click out of so I’m going to leave it for now.
A few more comments I want to address…
I would like to read more variety of topics other than just fashion. It’s starting to get redundant for me.
Well, it is a fashion blog, lol! But this time of year, I start to get burned out on the fashion as well. I’ve been trying to do a little more beauty and home (will share the powder room soon) and the Amazon roundup (with a lot of non-clothing items, which is what I mostly buy there).
Girl, personally I think you work waaay too hard! Sometimes your blogs could be divided into 2!
This made me laugh. Yes, this is something Sydney has been trying to tell me. She helps me with content planning and strategy, and she is always trying to get me to divide up some of my posts. The thing is, I have so many ideas for posts, it’s hard to fit them all in, but I’m trying to be more strategic with how I flesh out those ideas.
Have you ever considered creating an app? Not everyone wants to be on Facebook.
I love the idea because I really don’t like Facebook either, but I just don’t see that happening — at least not without a bigger team. I know there are bloggers who do have full-time team members, but making more of a formal community would be a huge time commitment, and I’m already spread too thin.
Do you have text message sign-up?
I don’t. Is that something you all would like? It would basically alert you of new posts, sale alerts, and probably all sorts of other things I haven’t thought about.
I wish your content was easier to locate when I am searching for something in particular. It just brings up the blog posts. Then I have to scroll through each post until I find what I was looking for or not. I want it to bring up the pictures of said item.
There isn’t a way (that I know of) to search pictures with the blog’s search function. It can only search for words. You could try Google though. Sometimes I use the search bar on my blog and can’t find what I need, so I Google my name with the topic, item, or recipe, and it often comes up easier that way. Also, if you see an outfit you know you will want to refer back to, you can always save it to a Pinterest fashion board. That would make it easier to find in the future.
I return to your site day after day because you do not comment on current events or politics. I do not want to know your political party or feelings towards current events. I come to your site because of your neutrality. You are Switzerland. Please remain this way!
This made me laugh. And I did get several similar comments. I definitely have opinions, and I keep myself well-informed on matters of politics and current events, but that is not what you are here for.
You will never know the value of the connection you have created with this random group of gals. Your blog has been one of the few points of stability we have had since March of 2020. No pressure intended — just very thankful for all you do, and that your family tolerates us!
I just wanted to include this one because it represents a lot of the comments on the survey. I am so thankful for this community as well. 😘
I’m tired of all the gray/black outfits. Hope to see more color for spring.
I get you! I am tired of it too. I’m already looking for some color to integrate into my personal wardrobe, and I’m sure there will be a lot more color this spring.
I know you have a very casual lifestyle, but I do get tired of hearing about sweaters and denim all of the time. I am not looking for dresses but just switching up tops and bottoms to include others besides jeans, sweaters and sneakers.
I got a few comments with this type of feedback, and I’m certainly not going to deny that I live in jeans, sweaters and sneakers! I will always think I’m such an unlikely fashion blogger because my personal style is very plain, and I’m more than happy to wear basically the same thing every day.
But I would say this gets better in spring/summer. Especially spring, when there are all sorts of layering opportunities. In the winter, especially after Christmas when we aren’t really going anywhere, I definitely regress into that comfortable uniform. It’s cold, and I’m tired and a little burned out from the pre-holiday hustle and bustle.
That got me to thinking… I tend to do my reader surveys at this time of year when we’re all feeling a little bored and restless. I guess it seems like a good time, beginning of the new year and all, but I would be interested to see if the feedback is any different if I did the next one during spring or early summer.
I think you should sometimes focus on accessories/finishing an outfit more. Sometimes it looks like a lot of plain sweaters and jeans — which I know is not really the case, but it can look that way.
I agree with this one as well. Accessory choices really can make or break an outfit, and they shouldn’t be an afterthought, but they often are for me. Sometimes my minimal accessories are intentional, but when I’m doing a dedicated outfit post or 5 ways to wear an item or basically anything where I’m styling an outfit and not just sharing pieces, I would like to be more intentional with adding accessories and talking about those choices. That will be a fun challenge!
On that note, I made a list of suggestions to keep in mind as I plan future content, and these are some of the ones I included.
- I think you should sometimes focus on accessories/finishing an outfit more.
- I would enjoy seeing more variety (skirts, dresses, purses, shoes, jewelry, etc) with try-on hauls.
- More content on dress your closet, organizational tips, and tips on spend verses splurge. What are great investment pieces such as handbags, jewelry and shoes.
- I think people could benefit from you sharing how color contrast fits into your looks. Similar to how you explained the rule of thirds.
- I would love to know what socks, if any, you wear with the various shoes. And if there are ANY that actually are no show, no slip. Thank you!
- I like posts on what to wear to different types of outings.
- I would like to see more accessories and how they can be used to change an outfit or update the outfit.
- Could you feature slacks/pants outfits for more formal events?
- Would love to see posts on resort wear (struggling to find vacation dresses), bathing suits.
These are all very helpful, and I will definitely refer back to this list!
In Closing
Okay, let’s wrap this up! I really tried to cut this down but I’m still at almost 4000 words. It’s so tempting to respond to every little thing, but I think I hit on the most recurring themes. I really appreciate the ideas, suggestions, constructive feedback, and of course the encouraging words.
I’ve already implemented some of the suggestions, and I will be keeping it all in mind going forward. Thanks for being here and for being such a fun and supportive group of women!
Thanks for all you do!!!
You’re a brave woman to have read through all those comments– especially since it seems as if many are on opposing sides, lol. On the positive side, that means you’re providing something for everyone! Thank you for all your hard work Jo-Lynne and for most mornings “joining me” for coffee.
I love your blog – you do occasionally add things that aren’t fashion related, but like you said – it is a fashion blog. I feel before the pandemic you styled more church, wedding attire, and date night outfits. I miss those. Thank you for not styling Old Navy, Target, and Amazon. (There’s enough of those in Cindy Spivey’s blog.) I love when you style Loft and I also love Ann Taylor. I never get tired of Nordstrom because it is a large retailer with lots of choices.
I think I did, and it’s not like I’m not doing those things now, but I guess even those events seem more casual these days? And there just isn’t a lot of the dressy casual stuff out in stores. I do look for it. I hope that changes as we come out of this pandemic.
I love your style and that you show clothing options that are true to your style! You share very authentic content and I think if you showed ‘lower end’ or ‘lower quality’ items that would not be authentic!! I’m sure there are many ‘lower end’ or fast fashion bloggers out there. Keep being you and thank you for keeping us fashionable!!😍
Wow, that was neat to see how the survey came out with the graphs etc. 🙂 Interesting and I’m sure helpful to you. I did fill out the survey and I just LOVE your blog. You provide so much and yes you work hard. 🙂 I know you can’t please everyone and why should you try. There are many blogs out there and if people want more of this or that, they can find it there. I think you need to stay true to yourself and how you dress etc……I love jeans and sweaters and Nordstrom. LOL 🙂 It was interesting the comment you made about time of year to do the survey. You are right, its a blah time of year and it may have affected how some commented. If people are tired of wearing the same ol’ things in their closet, they might comment how tired they are of jeans and sweaters, but we all know Spring is around the corner and we will be changing out our wardrobes. I’m just sooooo glad you don’t post Amazon clothes. I too am not happy with the quality and I think many bloggers have gone to posting from there because it easy to order, they come fast and easy return etc. But, a lot of clothes from China are throw aways and made from cheap material. I ordered one sweater recommended by Cyndi Spivey, but its the most scratchy one I’ve ever worn. I should have returned it but didn’t. So, waste of money for me. I missed your Coffee Talk today and wondered if you were okay when it didn’t come through. Hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday and thank you for being you and shining Jesus through in your post too.
Hahaha! Thanks for sharing. Seems like some want you to be the all for them. Maybe direct them to other influencers that can fill some of the holes. Keep being you! That’s who we love.
I read everything on my iPad – the annoying ads seems to be a Safari issue. I can’t even select reader view on your blog and several others that have the same problem. After I downloaded the Chrome app for iPad I haven’t had any problems. The blog looks the same on my iPad as it does on my laptop. It’s an extra step since Safari is my default browser (with all my bookmarks) but using Chrome makes it so much easier to read. Love your blog and context!
That is very interesting. I use Chrome, but I just opened Safari on my Macbook and there are definitely some weird glitches with the design. I don’t have an iPad to look at so I don’t see the issue with ads, but I see other design flaws. That should not happen; a good designer is supposed to make it work for all major browsers. I will reach out to Smash and see what they can do.
I have a macbook I view your blog from and use Safari. I have all kinds of ads pop up but figured it was what happens these days. Did realized it could be a Safari issue.
Thank you for all of that work…and for taking all of the suggestions to heart. I find your blog to be one of the easiest to navigate and make purchases from. I was one of the ones who never looked at Insta “stories” and I’ve started to try to…and, maybe it’s just me – but I remembered why I often don’t – since I read from my mobile device – I’m often somewhere that it would be inappropriate to have the sound on…hence the hesitation to open stories, lol!
Thank you, Jo-Lynne for sifting through and sharing your survey results. All the contrast of opinions and needs. Wow!
I had to laugh at your maybe not dressing your age comment. I believe you do dress your age, very well and you do it with class. I’m 62 but refuse to dress like a frumpy grandma. I try to dress fashionably appropriate & classy. I listen to your wise guidance. I cannot wear everything you wear and not look try-hard. I can pick & choose and/or shop for an alternative item that has same general fashion feel. Keep doing your thing. Love Nordstrom and their ever convenient curbside pick-up & returns. Can’t beat it!
Well said, Kathy. I am about to turn 60, my hair is still in a ponytail and I wear jeans every day because I have always worked from an office in my home. I want to be comfortable, but never frumpy! I shop online almost exclusively at Nordstrom and Banana Republic but am loving EverEve these days.
Thanks for all that you do for us! And please, stay true to who you are!
Thank you for all that you do! I can appreciate that it’s more work than I as a reader realize. I enjoy all your posts, and if some don’t pertain as much to me, that’s ok! The next one usually does, Blessings.
I enjoyed seeing all the different graphs and charts. I may be working as an office manager now, but I definitely have a science background and always enjoy seeing data well presented. Good luck sorting through everything! And thank God there were no rude comments!
Fascinating post! LOL, I read all 4000 words. 🙂 It’s good to know that I am not alone in my fashion frustration at age 50+. We are all so unique in our fashion personalities, lifestyles, body types, etc. I think you do a GREAT job with this blog. I absolutely love it! Your input is definitely helpful to me, and as I change out my wardrobe for spring, I’m planning on shopping some with you.
I think you dress accordingly to your age, which you should do. I don’t always choose exactly how you style an outfit because I am older, but get good ideas and just tweak for my age.
I’ve enjoyed reading all of your survey results. Thanks for sharing. Good idea to try a survey at a different time.
Thanks so much for all your hard work and for providing all this content for free! A constructive observation: I produce pie chart graphs regularly for my job as an accountant and I noticed some of the smaller slices of pie in a few of the graphs were missing percentages, you can fix this by selecting the option to display the percentages on the outside of the pie graph vs on the inside 👍 I am in my early 40s and appreciate having you as reference if I wonder if something is ‘too trendy’ for my age 😊
Big WOW for a Big undertaking!
Question- is the email same as the blog? I thought the blog came to me in an email so I’m confused. I don’t want to miss any info.
Thx
No, the email is the newsletter that comes to your email inbox. The blog is my website, so when you click the link in your email to read the post, the post opens on the blog. Make sense?
I’m only 2 or 3 years older than you are but I think the reason many over 50 women follow you is specifically because you don’t dress frumpy or “old”! I think you do a terrific job of finding ways to adapt trends and more youthful items that make it tasteful and appropriate for women of all ages.
The one comment you mentioned that I want to give a big thumbs up is including more pants outfits in dressy occasion posts. I have several dressy/cocktail attire events to attend each year and I pretty much ditched wearing dresses to them ten years back. I love getting dressed up but I just feel more like myself when I’m wearing pants. One of my children is getting married in the fall (my first one to walk down the aisle!) and I’m trying to figure out if I can convince myself that it’s appropriate for the mother of the groom to wear a very dressy pants outfit or jumpsuit. LOL I’ll probably end up in a dress but I resent it!
I wouldn’t mind wearing dressy pants, myself. My problem is, most “dressy event pants” are wide legged, and I look terrible in those. But I will see what I can come up with.
I saw a gorgeous silk fuschia pantsuit the other day that I thought would be perfect for a wedding! I vote go for it! You want to be comfortable enough in whatever you wear so you can enjoy the day! (I think accessories like elegant jewelry and fancy heels would go a long way).
Sounds gorgeous. Where did you find it?
TJ Maxx!! I didn’t buy it since I don’t have any formal events coming up but just checked and it’s still in stock online. It’s by a brand called Marina and is on sale for $49. It’s actually crepe not silk (my mistake!) but has a jeweled neckline that makes it feel more formal. Plus a side tie sash detail I liked— I’m short so jumpsuits usually make me look dumpy but somehow that broke it up well.
Thanks for everything that you do. Really enjoy it and am a new follower. For a different kind of a post, I would love to see something solely about how to best online order. Are there rules of thumb? What should you avoid? What to look for? Also, an entire post all about who are the best retailers with a return policy. Am sure you know the answers to this off of the top of your head. In our area, the pandemic has closed Nordstrom, Old Navy, WHBM, and many other brick and mortar retailers. We are now forced to order online and return. I used to love trying on clothes in a store, but that is no longer an option in our area. Any advice on this would be wonderful and well appreciated.
That is a really good idea! You’re right, I know this stuff without thinking twice, and often assume other people do too.
Thanks for everything that you do. Really enjoy it and am a new follower. For a different kind of a post, I would love to see something solely about how to best online order. Are there rules of thumb? What should you avoid? What to look for? Also, an entire post all about who are the best retailers with a return policy. Am sure you know the answers to this off of the top of your head. In our area, the pandemic has closed Nordstrom, Old Navy, WHBM, and many other brick and mortar retailers. We are now forced to order online and return. Not everyone has a great return policy and now stores are shortening their return window. I used to love trying on clothes in a store, but that is no longer an option in our area. Any advice on this would be wonderful and well appreciated.
Thank you for asking our input and then sharing it! Not all bloggers are as transparent. I love following you and appreciate all the time and energy you put into your work.
You are correct in saying you can’t please everyone, so continue to be authentic to yourself. I appreciate all the casual daily fashion, but also feel that you do include other options such as church/workwear. Also I am very thankful that you don’t show fast fashion such as Amazon. I appreciate you taste for quality even if a particular item might be out of my personal budget.
Thank you for your service to us!
Thank you so much for your work.
I love your blog just the way it is.
I love the Nordstrom segments and have bought
many items based on your recommendations.
I especially appreciate that you show what
doesn’t work- it’s amazing how the right fitting clothing can make a person look so pulled together.
Thank you for featuring quality items!
Thank you for all you do! Much appreciated!😀
How did I miss this? Ugh I’m sad, would have loved to participate! Anyway loved reading the results and feel like I fell in the average answer category on most things , so there you go🤪
Thank you, I love your blog!!
You are brave! I may have even said this in the survey, but……what I appreciate the most is your honesty and transparency.
THANK YOU
I’m late to responding to this Reader’s Survey post (8pm)!!, but wanted to add my voice to those who appreciate all your hard work and dedication to your blog which is my favorite even thought I regularly read at least five others. I like how you share your family and house with us as well, making you so real! I really like your location posts since I’m a little familiar with your area, and I try to guess where you and Alison are! 🙂 I love Instagram stories the most and enjoy the Facebook group as well. A great community of women, all trying to encourage and lift each other up. You have found your calling, and you do it well!
Thank you for all you do…including NOT doing those jumping in and out of clothes reels. They make me feel dizzy. Yuck.
Wow, I didn’t realize we’d get to see the results; seriously fun to see. The “not able to please everyone” part had me laughing. We are all over the place, some I could relate to and others had me shaking my head. So many interesting comments that never once crossed my mind.
More than anything I appreciate your authenticity and dedication. You have a top notch blog without being full of clickbait. There’s a reason your business has sustained for this long. You are great at what you do.
You were surprised that many of your readers are over 50/60 but many fashion blogs are very young, or older and frumpy. You hit the in between! We are thankful you keep us in the know.
The only thing I don’t like is the torn hem jeans. They seem try too hard, even for a 40 something year old. My daughters are that age and would not wear tattered jean but my granddaughters age (26) wear them. You’re “what I wore” seem boring so I pass on them. They seem very similar. I know it is what you wear on a daily basis but…
I know that appears as criticism but I tap on your blog first thing every morning so I hope you take that as construction criticism.
I forgot to mention that I am so happy you don’t have try on hauls with cheaper clothes from Amazon, Target, etc.
PS In the market for a spring bag, white or off white, leather, crossbody, outside pocket, stylish, not over $300.
Coach does a really nice white leather bag. These may be smaller than what you want though. I like this https://shopstyle.it/l/bDNLr and this https://shopstyle.it/l/bDNLr
I got a laugh out of the “can’t please everybody section”! While I’m sure we all appreciate you trying to find a balance between all those opposites, I’d go crazy trying if I was in your shoes! Food for thought… just feature what you like, and you’ll attract readers with similar tastes. Readers looking for something different shouldn’t have a hard time finding other bloggers that match their taste. Hope that doesn’t sound blunt, and I do hope you continue to seek feedback. But I wouldn’t worry too much about it!
Here’s another thought… what about having a list of bloggers you follow somewhere on your website? For each one list age range, price range, type fashion, etc. Anyone looking for something different to supplement what they read here would know where to go! Also thanks for taking time to make (and read!) this survey! Most bloggers I read don’t seek out input from readers, it’s refreshing that you do.
Yeah, I pretty much do just feature what I like. But I also enjoy the challenge of stepping outside of my comfort zone and trying new things. Sometimes they work, and that’s part of the fun – sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think it’s good to get a gauge on what people want, and then I can siphon through it and take what I like and leave the rest. 🙂
I loved reading all this info and feedback from your survey. You have a lot of devoted followers. 🙂 thank you for all of your help with fashion. And also sharing parts of your life with us. It’s a lot of fun!
Very newsy post. I feel the same way about Amazon quality snd sizing. If you do find anything shop worthy, let us sl know. If not, stick to those brands you know we’ll like. Thank you for making us look pretty and classy!.
This was an interesting read! I am one of your older followers and I feel like some of the others. We want to dress fashionably and age appropriate, but not frumpy. If some of your outfits feel a bit young for me personally, I can tweak them to make them more age appropriate, but still feel in style. You have given me so many good ideas and I appreciate that!
Hi Jolynne. I really appreciate your blog. It was so helpful to me when I was trying to figure out my personal style after loosing weight. I also wanted to say that it really bothers me when consumers of content complain about ads or sponsored posts. I know bloggers and content creators work hard, and you deserve to be paid for your work. So, my vote is that you do whatever you want to get paid the income you have earned!
Thanks, Elizabeth. I appreciate that. It is a bit of a dance, to find the right balance. I definitely want to know when things look out of whack or if ads over-power the content I work so hard to create, but they are a necessary evil. 🙂
I really enjoyed ready the results of the survey! I think reading the opposite views that you get here from everyone helps us appreciate even more how hard your position is. It’s hard to keep everyone happy! You do an amazing job and you’re so authentic. We love you and appreciate you! ❤️
I missed the survey. I don’t get any ads when I read your blog My browser is DuckDuckGo. I’m surprised more people don’t use it.
I enjoy your blog. I don’t wear many of the jeans you style but I still get ideas. It’s your blog so style what you like.
Unfortunately, I did not participate in the reader survey but if I had, my primary comment would be how much I appreciate your focus on fit and sizing of clothing items. It is not something that most bloggers cover.
Please don’t discount Target and Kohl’s. I have a degree in textiles, so I understand fibers and fabric. Lends nSome of my most basic pieces from Target have given me years of wear without changing shape or pilling or falling apart. I can’t say the same about Old Navy though.