|

|

The Results Are In!

I want to say thanks again for taking the time to fill out my reader survey! I know it was a bit lengthy, but I really wanted to make sure it was thorough so I can better serve you while staying true to myself.

I always like to share the results of my reader surveys in case you’re interested and also to address some of the comments that came up.

This post has the potential to become quite lengthy (I know you’re shocked!) so I want to get right to it without too much intro. I’ll start by recapping the multiple choice and checkbox answers, and then I’ll address some of the comments. I have to admit, I was surprised by some of these!

blog survey results

Results of the Reader Survey

There were over 900 participants. I am BLOWN AWAY by that. When I’ve done these in years past, I had around 200. So again, thank you! Let’s break it down.

reader survey responses 1

I’ve been blogging for 10 years, and while my overall blog traffic increased dramatically last fall when I narrowed my focus to fashion, it was still pretty respectable before, so the fact that 60% of you have joined me in the last year was a little surprising to me.

Sometimes I forget that not everyone has been hanging on my every word for years (ha!) so I’ll try to keep that in mind. I probably assume too much when I’m writing posts!

Screen Shot 2016-07-09 at 3.35.17 PM

Nothing super surprising there, but I figured I’d share.

what device

Clearly we are a mobile generation! I know that the national stats always indicate that more people are reading blogs on mobile these days, but this proves it is true for my audience as well. I spend SO much time making sure my design is working well on the computer screen, but I guess I should pay more attention to what it looks like on mobile!!!

how do you read

Lots of email subscribers! Of course, it stands to reason that you are probably the most engaged if you’re willing to let me into your inbox every day, right?

There are currently about 8000 people getting my daily emails! Of course less than half open them, ahem…

I get it. We’re all busy. But if you don’t want to miss out on any of my posts, getting my emails is the best way to do that. It is super easy to sign up.

How to Get My Daily Emails

If you weren’t aware, I have three email subscription options — two types of daily emails and a weekly digest that comes every Friday with links to each post from the week.

Of the two daily ones, one is automated, and it contains my most recent blog post in its entirety, links and all. (Someone actually asked if they can get my entire post in their email, and the answer is YES!)

The most popular one, however, is the one that I write daily. I share a little bit about what is going on in my life and then link over to the most recent blog post. If you’re one of the ones who said you miss my daily banter, this is the email option for you!

If you prefer a different email to the one you currently receive, you can change your email preferences by clicking PREFERENCES at the top or bottom of any of my emails. Or just email me, and I will fix it for you.

Okay, moving on…

Reader Demographics

age range

This one was actually quite surprising to me. Almost 70% of my audience is over 45 years old. I guess I expected the 36-45 age group to be much larger since that’s where I fall in the breakdown, and because my style tends to be a bit on the more youthful side (or so I thought.)

Maybe moms my age are too busy to read blogs, I don’t know! At any rate, I can see I will be in good company as I get older. Ha!

stage of life

Another bit of information that surprised me is that almost 50% of you work outside the home. Since I share so much casual wear, I expected that to be lower. I definitely plan to incorporate more work wear options into my outfit posts this fall. I can return what I don’t need and still give you some work-appropriate style inspiration!

In the interest of time, I’m not going to share every graph from the survey, but it should come as no surprise that 99.9% of you are female. (Phew!)

Social Media Statistics

You also might like to know that Facebook is by far the most popular social media platform among my regular readers, and Pinterest is a close second.

social media

And less than 50% of you are on Instagram!!! I am horrified. HORRIFIED. I must convert you. It’s my absolute favorite. Instagram is so pretty, and there’s little to no drama. I enjoy the pretty lifestyle shots, getting a glimpse into people’s lives without too much information (hello, Facebook) and all of the great style inspiration.

Speaking of Instagram…
insta stats

I had several people ask me to share links to what I’m wearing on Instagram, and the ONLY way I can link you to the items I’m wearing is with LIKEtoKNOW.it. Instagram doesn’t allow me to share links any other way. And really, LIKEtoKNOW.it makes it SO easy. Once you get it set up the way you want it, it’s the most efficient way to know where to find the pieces to my outfits.

I’m also going to try to remember to tag the brands that I’m wearing, as I know that is helpful too, and a few requested that in the survey.

LTKit

I had a sneaking suspicion that one reason more of you don’t use LIKEtoKNOW.it is because you don’t understand it, and I can definitely help with that! In fact, I already have a post explaining LIKEtoKNOW.it linked in my upper nav bar.

If you don’t use LIKEtoKNOW.it because you don’t want more email, you can actually set it up so it does not email you. You can still get the product links by clicking on the link in my Instagram profile OR you can always click on the Shop The Feed widget on my blog’s sidebar, so don’t let the email issue stop you from signing up.

If it is Instagram that you don’t understand, I’m planning on writing a post explaining Instagram for those who are interested. If you have specific questions you want answered, leave them in the comments below.

snapchat

No surprise here. Snapchat tends to appeal to the younger generation, but I know that some of you enjoy connecting with your kids on there so you use it.

I really love Snapchat. I should use it more than I do. I’m kind of all or nothing over there, but it’s totally relaxed and laid back. There’s no pressure to make things pretty, so I feel like I can totally be myself. I like to share a little bit of what is going on in my life and behind the blog. I will sometimes show you what I am getting in the mail, or I’ll just talk about what I’m up to. I try to give you a heads-up when I list new things on @shopjolynnescloset or what’s coming up on the blog or if there’s a great sale you should know about, but it’s not highly promotional or anything. It’s more for fun.

I will say that it is not intuitive to use, so if you’re interested, have one of your kids show you how! LOL!!! Seriously, I had to have a friend explain it to me, and the I had to practice a while before I got the hang of it, but now I love it.

Shopping Habits

This part is super helpful as I source outfits and also as I field pitches from brands who want to work with me.

where do you shop

LOFT won this one, hands down! That did not surprise me in the least. I cannot see what you are buying (that would be creepy!) but I can see which links generate purchases from my website, and LOFT is always super popular.

The suggestions for other retailers to feature was great info as well.

prices

This is about what I expected. I am glad that the majority of you think the range of prices I feature is about right, but I know that many of you would like to see more lower priced items. This sentiment was expressed quite a few times in the comments, and I hear you!

You will definitely find me incorporating more lower priced pieces in future outfits, but I will still encourage you to consider investing in some higher end pieces because I do believe it’s better to have fewer quality pieces that you love than a bunch of clothes that aren’t as flattering and don’t feel as good on… but it must always be within the confines of your budget. I would never encourage you to spend outside of your means. This is one reason why I try to share the sales as much as I do, but if those are still too much, don’t rule out local consignment and thrift stores and online consignment stores like Tradesy and ThredUp.

If you sign up with my referral links, you will get a $20 coupon to spend on a $50 purchase at Tradesy, and $10 off your first order with ThredUp.

Also, speaking of living within our means, please know that I do not keep anywhere NEAR all of the things I feature on the blog.

Many of the things I feature get returned or sold or donated. It’s become part of my job to feature a variety of clothing and accessories, and while I do purchase 95% of what I show (as opposed to brands giving them to me) it is not like I actually keep it all. Yikes!!!

My closet is actually quite minimal compared to some I’ve seen. (I showed a peek of it on Snapchat the other day, and people were surprised!) All that to say, please don’t look at all of my outfit posts and think that I buy and keep everything you see. That would be crazy! It doesn’t mean that I don’t have a hard time parting with certain things, but I know my budget, and I know what I can realistically use, and I try to be practical about it.

Open Ended Questions/Comments

I absolutely loved reading through your comments. In past surveys, there have always been a few that were pretty nasty, but I am so happy to report that everyone was so very kind and respectful this time.

I appreciate the constructive advice and suggestions, and I do take every bit of the advice to heart, but of course, with over 900 responses, some are going to be contradictory.

For example . . .

Sometimes your outfits seem the same from one week to another…

I wish you wouldn’t show so many new clothes…

Maybe dress it up a little. Sometimes you’re too casual…

I want to see more daily outfits, not just to going out, but the kind of clothes you wear at home…

I like the price range of items you show…

I’d love to see more budget-friendly items…

I like that you show more casual outfits…

More work wear would be nice…

I like the simple layout of your blog. It loads quickly on my iPad and adjusts to both screen directions…

I use my laptop and find that the pages take a long time to load…

I share those because a) they make me giggle and b) you can see that I simply can’t please everyone, but I will do my best while staying true to my personal style.

I do want to share some of your comments/questions/suggestions, and provide answers. I will group them by category.

Specific Questions of Interest

This is very specific, but since I don’t know who wrote it, I will answer here.

Where in Southwest Virginia, did you grow up? I live in Roanoke, VA.

I grew up in Salem, right next door! Small world, right!?!

Blog Design/Functionality Questions

I’d love to see a good search engine for the blog so I can search by key pieces…

I actually do have this function. If you’re on a computer, there is a SEARCH bar at the top, right over my picture. There is also one on the sidebar under the first ad. I added that so it is available on mobile. If you’re on a mobile device, the sidebar widgets appear underneath the blog post.

Could you move the “pin it” circle to the corner of the photo so we could still see the picture?

Yes! I agree, it is annoying, and I actually already have a request in to my developer to fix this.

I don’t care for the pop-up question that comes up about subscribing by email, etc., when I already subscribe.

I get that. I hate those too. I felt like it wasn’t too invasive on the computer, but I realize on mobile it covers the whole screen, so it is gone. You are welcome!

On my laptop, sometimes the photos are too tall to show the full picture on the screen.

Hmmm… I don’t know how to avoid/fix that. They are regular 4×6 size.

Regarding Ads

I try sooo hard to keep my ads as non-invasive as possible. There are many types of ads that I simply won’t run because I find them obnoxious. I lose quite a bit of money by blocking certain types of ads, but I’m okay with that b/c the reader experience is my top priority. That said, I do have to have some ads because they help offset the cost of running this website.

I do my best to walk that fine line between not annoying you all and supporting the website, but sometimes ads get through that shouldn’t.

One thing that is irritating, the video that plays…

Whoa, wait a minute! If you ever hear a video ad playing on my site, PLEASE email me and let me know. I have asked my ad network to block them, and if some are coming through, I need to know about it so I can report it to them. If you can take a screenshot of the ad, even better to help us get them blocked.

Somehow I see a lot of pop up ads when I read it off my phone….

There should be no pop-up ads. PLEASE screenshot and email me if you see them so I can get them removed.

Maybe you could rotate ads so different ads pop up each time you open the blog?

Unfortunately I can’t control which ads pop up. And I know on mobile, they are a little more in-your-face than they are on the computer, but I have avoided having any that cover the content, so I hope you can overlook the ones within the post. They really do help me keep all of the content that I offer free.

Content Related Questions

I know you say you do fashion for women over 40, but as you can tell from my demographic information, I’m well under 40 and still read your blog regularly. I wouldn’t restrict yourself to marketing your blog that way.

I had actually been wondering lately if marketing my blog as fashion over 40 was restricting my audience and perhaps alienating younger women who might otherwise click over and read. As I mentioned above, I was actually quite surprised to discover how many of you are over 45. I don’t know if that is because I HAVE marketed my blog that way, or that is just the demographic that relates to me best.

Even though I am 44 and I do think that a lot of people have found me by searching “fashion for women over 40” on Pinterest, I realize that my style is fairly youthful, and I am probably going to lay off marketing my site that way for a while. I completely agree that fashion is more about personal style aesthetic than age, so anyway, thanks for that comment.

I miss the older blog posts now that you focus only on fashion…

I did have a few people say they miss the variety I had before, especially the recipes and meal plans, etc. Those aren’t coming back, I’m sorry to tell you. I am so much happier and less stressed since letting go of those topics. It was all getting to be too much to juggle, however, all of my recipes are still available under RECIPES tab at the top of my site.

I also pin a lot of healthy and gluten-free recipes as well as cocktails to my Pinterest if you want to follow me there. And perhaps I should include some of what we’re eating on Instagram, but it’s usually not pretty enough, so sometimes I Snapchat it.

As far as those who said they miss hearing about my life, I found that ironic because I feel like I share so much MORE of my life since moving to fashion. I feel like sharing my outfits allows me to talk about where I went and what I did. But I also realize that I give a lot of personal information in my daily emails, so maybe I feel like I share more than it seems like I do if you’re only reading from the blog.

Honestly, I don’t feel like I have much of a life to talk about these days! I mean, I run, I style outfits, I work on the blog, I schlep to doctor appointments…wash, rinse, repeat! Doesn’t your life feel that way most days? No? Just me?

Anyway…

In all seriousness, I will keep that in mind. Maybe I can work in a link to a new recipe I tried or something on occasion. I am flattered that you guys want to know more about what’s going on in my life, and I’m a sharer, so I can definitely make that happen!

I would love to see layout of complete outfits in addition to your pics. Maybe at the end of each blog.

I’m not sure what you mean. Feel fee to elaborate in the comments.

Fashion and Shopping Related Questions

Don’t show so many items that are no longer available…

This one came up a lot. Everyone went out of their way to say they understand that I have minimal control over this situation, but I do feel your frustration, and it frustrates me too. I have no way of knowing which things are going to sell out fast and which ones are going to be around for a while. I decide how to prioritize my posts based on my best guess, but it’s always a gamble.

And also, for those who asked me to shop my closet more and not show so many new things, keep in mind that that means I won’t always have exact links.

I’d love for you to feature things for different body types.

This is where I have to cry uncle. Since I am not a personal stylist or an authority on how to fit different body types, I really only know how to dress my own. As much as I want to be a resource for you, at the end of the day, this is a personal style blog, I can only dress my body type.

This is one reason I love partnering with Cyndi on the style challenges. She’s more of a pear shape, and I’m more of a curvy, so I feel like we compliment each other nicely in that we tend to style our clothing differently to suit our individual body types and personal styles.

I do enjoy the larger style collabs with other bloggers, and I’d like to do more of those. It is some work to coordinate, though, so I admit, I’ve gotten lazy with that.

You could try Trunk Club or Stitch Fix unboxings…

Another good idea. I have done a few, but not tons. I hate video, so I usually do those on Snapchat, but I realize most of you are not on Snapchat.

I’d love to see more dresses.

Argh. LOL!!! You know I hate dresses. (Although I actually have a dress post coming up this week!)

One of my challenges with dresses is that I don’t look good in many different dress styles, so I feel that every dress I show looks the same after a while. I think that’s okay for real life. When you know what works best, it’s fine to stick with it, but for a fashion blog, it can get repetitive. Not that jeans and tops aren’t repetitive… Ha!

It is even harder going into winter. I detest tights so I rarely wear dresses in the colder months, but I will try!

A few more affordable ideas…

More office-appropriate styles…

More work wear and more affordable options were HUGE themes, and I get it. I do. I think you will definitely see a shift in the future, as I am going to do my best to incorporate both of those requests into future content.

Visit other age groups…

I am honestly not sure how to do this. I have no idea what it will be like to dress when I’m 60. I do see that a lot of women following are in their 50s and 60s … more than I realized, to be honest. The best I know to do is to do collabs with other bloggers who are older and can lend some insight into dressing for other age groups, and I will definitely make it a point to do more of those.

Someone else suggested guest posters with different body types and ages, and that is a great idea too.

I would like to know sizes.

I will definitely try to remember to do that more!

Maybe show one item, like a top or jacket, a few different ways in same post…

LOVE this idea. A lot of work, lol, but a great idea!

Maybe have a super budget-friendly day once or twice a month where everything you wear is under $50.00. It might be fun to see what you find and be helpful for those on a tight budget.

I love that idea!

When you feature an outfit with heels or wedges, could you please include a possible low heel or flat option?

Great idea. Yes, I will try to remember to do that!

I want to see more daily outfits, not just to go out, but the kind of clothes you wear at home.

I am happy to incorporate more of those. In the summer it is hard, because it really is jean shorts and t-shirts most days. I think you’ll find my fall and winter posts have more variety. That said, I always post what I’m wearing on Instagram (unless it is totally schlumpy, ha!) so definitely follow me there.

If you don’t like or use Instagram, my Instagram roundups always include those daily outfits.

Maybe explain why is this top too long with these shorts? Explain why certain items go together well.

Great idea! I will try to do more of that.

Clothing remixes would be fun…

Yes, I think you will see I do more of that in fall and winter when layering is an option. It is hard in the summer — it will end up being too repetitive to style the same top with blue jeans and then white jeans… ya know? Of course, if I was super ambitious, I could show both of those looks in one post… and that is something I will consider trying to do. When we are shooting on location, it is not easy, but here at home, I can easily throw on a different pair of pants and shoes and try to show options. I like that idea a lot — especially when showcasing a single product.

Sometimes your fashion can be somewhat repetitive…

First, let me say that this comment was not left with any mean intent at all, and it is true. I have actually been trying to get out of my box a bit more and try new things now that I am focusing 95% on fashion, but at the end of the day, my style is very simple, and that’s just me.

I’m hoping to broaden my horizons a bit as I start to treat the blog more as a fashion resource than just a representation of my personal style, but I can only do so much since certain styles just don’t work for me. There is definitely some room for variety, though, and I appreciate the challenge. I’m excited for fall fashion because I feel like there is so much more potential for creativity.

Future Blog Topic Ideas

I’d love to hear how you plan for your day, how much time you allow for activities, etc.

That’s a fun post topic idea! I’ll try to do that, although to be honest, I’m pretty fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants! I don’t really have a schedule, but I expect my days tend to look more alike than different if I really think about it. Thanks for the idea!

Any ideas on a way to get rid of gently used clothing. I’ve tried the sites online like Tradesy, etc.

Yeah, I’ve always donated to a local thrift store that I trust and know does good work, and now I’m selling on Instagram. thredUp is another option.

I would love to hear your story, how did you get into this, why, what is your background, I think many of us are extroverts & enjoy hearing about each other’s lives.

Again, I forget that most people who follow me now haven’t been around for the long haul and don’t know this already. This would make for a fun post sometime.

Maybe provide a lower price point option, but not if it interferes with what seems to be your positive nature. In other words, not if it makes enough extra work for you that makes you cranky. lol

Whomever wrote this made me laugh so hard. You must know me!

But in all seriousness, I will try to do that more often. And while I do prefer to share my own personal style, and that is primarily what this blog is about, I am going to be seek out more budget-friendly products to style for you guys.

In Conclusion

Tap. Tap. Is this thing on?

Is anyone still here?

I mean, really. You deserve a cupcake . . . gluten-free, of course!

Honestly, I cannot thank you enough for sticking with me to the end . . . all three of you! Ha!

This was fun for me, and hopefully interesting to you too.

I am ALWAYS open to questions and ideas constructive comments, so email me anytime or drop a comment on a blog post or Instagram. Those are the two platforms I check most often.

xo

Jo-Lynne

Join The Conversation

53 Responses

  1. I’m glad you were blown away by the number of people that took your survey. You should take the huge response as a compliment 🙂 I’ve never taken a survey for a blog before but I figured that I enjoy reading your blog so much that if you would like me to do one little thing, surely I can do that since you put so much time into making this space enjoyable for us to come to each day!

  2. Ditto what Julie said! I only follow a few blogs faithfully but yours is my fav. And although I am usually in need of work wear ideas (business casual environment), our styles feel similar so I can usually make an idea work just by switching the jeans to an ankle pant or something. The comment about the tights….????????……..I’m right there with ya! I like the idea of being polished, put together, and feminine, without being too froo-froo (ha! Is that a word?) I know the boutique style is quite popular right now but that’s just not my style. I love just the simple classics that you accessorize with a few trendy pieces! Enjoy your Sunday!

    1. Yes, that is EXACTLY what I always say. I like to look polished and feminine but never fussy (or froo-froo, ha! I haven’t used that word in years.) And yeah, a lot of times I do say that you can swap out the jeans for pants. My problem with pants is, I always feel like they make me look frumpy. I’m going to challenge myself to find a pair or two for fall to change up my looks a bit.

  3. I found the results of your survey very interesting! And I just want to say that, although there are some very good suggestions, there are a LOT of fashion bloggers out there, and all of us are following YOU, so we must like what you’re doing. At the end of the day, keep being you! ????

  4. I follow you on most of the social media websites. I would love to follow you on Snapchat. What is our username?

  5. Ok, I was going to suggest a pinterest board of recipes you’ve actually made, but then I thought I should make sure you don’t already have one. But…. I can’t figure out how to look at a specific person’s boards when I’m mobile. So if you feel like teaching us how to do that too feel free lol.

      1. I have one. It’s how I manage to make recipes again instead of finding a similar one and being disappointed when it’s not the same lol.

  6. I read the whole thing so I’m waiting for my doorbell to ring at the delivery of my cupcake-ha! You’re too funny…and I actually enjoyed reading other’s questions and your responses! Have a fun family Sunday!

  7. That was a fun read.

    I love the idea of swapping the heels/ wedges for a casual flat/ sandal.
    Funny a big one here is “too casual”. I need more casual!
    Pleasing us all is no small task I’m sure!!

  8. Beth, on my IPad I just searched for “Jolynne Shane Recipes.” When they came up, I clicked on her name under one of the recipes and got an option to “follow.” Hope that helps!

  9. A Flat lay. Or a flat layout of the outfit on a table or need where you’re not wearing the clothes is what I think the person on the survey was referring to when asking to show a layout of complete outfits at the end of the blog.

      1. I’ve seen some “how to” posts from other bloggers about shooting good flat lays. You might be able to find some tips to make it a bit easier. 🙂 While I do like a good flat lay (especially on Insta), I think I prefer to see you wearing the outfits so that I get a good idea of the fit, etc.

        1. Yeah, I know how to do it. I just find it very time consuming and frustrating to get it the way I want it. 🙂 I’ve been wanting to do more on Instagram, to give some variety to those posts, but they wouldn’t replace my outfit photos on the blog. 🙂

  10. Interesting reading. My takeaway is you can’t please everybody. Many of the things people suggested would tend to drive me away. I like your focus just the way it is now. If I want something cheaper or more expensive, more or less casual, more trendy or less, etc…..I just hop over to a different blog. Keep being yourself. ????

    1. Thank you, Paula. I appreciate that. And at the end of the day, I can only be myself. I don’t intend to change much, but I hope to offer some more options along the way. We’ll see!

  11. I, too, had fun reading other responses. Never taken a survey before and besides Cyndie, you are the only blogger I follow daily. Maybe you should try marketing to all ages. I am the 66 year old grandma and I have incorporated lots of your ideas into my wardrobe. Believe me, if they were inappropriate, I have three adult daughters who would not be subtle in letting me know. Thanks again for making me feel welcome in your community. Sharon

    1. So interesting, the thoughts regarding marketing. On the one hand, looking at the age demographics from the survey, I guess I did a darn good job marketing to the over 40 crowd! Ha! On the other hand, I certainly don’t want to alienate anyone and I do think my style (and style in general) is pretty versatile across all ages groups. I’ll probably downplay the Fashion Over 40 for a while and see what happens. How about style for real life? LOL!

  12. Reading the survey results was very interesting Jo-Lynne, so thank you for sharing them. Like Julie and some others, this was the first time I have participated in a survey blog. You & Cyndi are the only two I follow! As an almost 60 year old retiree, I have learned & continue to learn so much from you. Even if I can’t wear a particular outfit for whatever reason, I’m still learning what’s on trend, so “thank you!”

    Have a blessed day!

  13. Morning Jo Lynne,

    I’m one of your over 60 readers (just turned 60), and I still feel 50 something. The only thing that you style that I wouldn’t wear are ripped jeans and off the shoulder tops. Other than that, I dress fairly “young”, albeit it on the modest side, and that’s why most people think I’m much younger: yahoo!

    I look forward to your blog every morning with my coffee. You could style a garbage bag and I’d still look forward to reading your comments laced with witty and funny anecdotes. Ya just brighten my day with your positive attitude!

  14. I had to laugh at your comment – I don’t know how I will dress when I am 60! I’m 62 and with the exception of shorts, I wear what you wear!

    1. Carylee, I thought of you when Jo Lynne was mentioning how hard it is for her to do flat layout outfits because you do them sooo well! Maybe you could pass on your expertise to Jo Lynne! 🙂

      1. Carylee actually DID give me tips when I started doing them! 🙂 I just find them annoying and frustrating, It’s not my forte, so I have to work at them, and I just find myself putting them off. 🙂

  15. I had no idea that you don’t own all of the items you show us. Who knew?? I agree with Dianne’s comment that your readers like you and your style, that’s why we keep coming back! Thanks for sharing the results.

    1. I used to, but then as I got into fashion blogging fulltime, I realized that it’s impossible to show the amount of variety people want and keep it all. I keep the stuff I LOVE and know I’ll wear, but a lot of it goes back or gets donated. It’s been a huge learning process this past year! 🙂

  16. Thanks for sharing the survey results — I did think of one more thing I forgot to add to the survey — show more outfits with lower heeled shoes lol !! I know you love your heels but some of us cannot wear them (or only a very low 2 inch heel). That’ s all ???? Happy Sunday

  17. Jo Lynne I just think you are awesome!!! And agree with the above comments who say just keep being yourself! I am so impressed that you took the time to do a survey and compile all of those results!!!

  18. Jo-Lynne: Like many of the readers above, I have never participated in a blog survey before nor have I commented on any. I enjoy your fresh approach and ideas to styling. I’m 64 and find your outfits appropriate for me – except the shorter shorts. I echo the comments – you can’t please everybody, especially reading the results of the survey. Thanks for being you! Julie

  19. I haven’t done the survey yet (I was out of town without internet access) but another suggestion to add is that occasional “try on” posts are fun. I have enjoyed the ones you’ve done where you tried on all your items from Stitch Fix or Trunk Club. A couple of other bloggers I follow also do try ons or dressing room posts where they snap photos of things they’ve tried on at Nordstrom, Loft, etc. It’s fun to see all the items they tried on and their comments about what they liked or didn’t like and why. The outfits aren’t styled or perfect but it gives a great view of how they narrow down their purchases and cute suggestions even though it might not be something they ended up taking home for keeps. 🙂

  20. I just joined Instagram! I’m not sure why I never have. Also wanted to elaborate on your suggestion to shop Thredup, etc. I’ve found some good things there. I’ve also gotten some good deals on Letote items they were removing from circulation-marked down about 60%. They were still in great condition. I will still go in a thrift on occasion. Yesterday I picked up three like new denim skirts from Banana Republic, Izod, and Gap. I got a black Ann Taylor skirt with tags still on for work and a like new cute plaid shirt for Fall, all for about $20. I love Nordstrom and Loft, but I’ve been trying to find just the denim skirt I want and couldn’t. Everytime you style yours, I want one all over again! I will need to deconstruct the hem on one of them, but I’m thrilled with my finds. I don’t really shop second-hand out of necessity, but so I can find unique items.

  21. Just want to take this moment to say “Thanks!” Jo-Lynne for helping me be more fashion conscious! I have learned some skills from you I really needed and eagerly await your emails each day!! Hug to you!

  22. What great analysis of the data and you really do care what your readers had to say. I’ll keep reading :)!

  23. Interesting results! Thanks for sharing and answering a lot of those questions. I really like your blog the way it is. I think my style is different but similar to yours so I find new things and ways of wearing things… I wear way less skinny pants and mostly flats but the tops are great for my style.

    Regarding Instagram…I like it a lot but hate the new way it’s organized. I liked the chronological order. I know you have absolutely nothing to do with that, just my comment about Instagram.

  24. I realize this is waaayyyy late — buuuttt: I think the way you run your blog is one of the few, woman-empowered places of normalcy and heartfelt genuine-ness that is out there on the web (now, anyway) for women to just converse about daily life; as if we’re either all sitting around having coffee or leaving a cardio class together(!) and, feel like being among “virtual” friends in a respectful environment (and, also, one which acknowledges those of us wanting to still look and feel our best BEYOND being a 22 y.o.!). Most of the Internet really has become such a disgusting cesspit for women that you just want to turn the whole thing off. I am sooooo glad I did NOT come of age in an era of social media; however, it wasn’t even at this level-bad back (say) in 2005 until (maybe?) 2015-or-so.

    (Sorry for the rant🤯)

    I “found” you by having originally followed on Pinterest. I gave-up on Pinterest, though, when they (for some stupid reason?) suddenly changed the photo upload quality of posting one’s organic content to resolution you can barely even see (and, also: I just got sick and tired of seeing photoshopped soft-core models wearing ridiculous clothes ripped-up-the-wahzoo!). I’m not a fan of Facebook’s (which I guess now is called “Meta”?) business practices either. So, I figure(?): being here at the source is all that matters (lol!).

    I’m a 47-y.o. born-and-raised Jersey Girl, an only child, my sign is Scorpio, and I’ve been living together in a long-term relationship (with the greatest guy in the world — no offense to anyone else’s significant other: but he’s mine, aha!) in a dingey 1950s split-level house we’re renting (because property taxes in NJ are INSANE). I’ve been a white-collar, office accounts manager for a small construction company a relative on my mother’s side of the family started in 2003 (boy, could I tell you about the types I come across in THAT environment! — no matter if these men are 25 or 65: they feel they have license to believe it may as well be no different than 1975 to them). I would say I’m very conscious of the value of money (but NOT FRUGAL to settle for lesser quality, lol!). Most of my shopping is done at: Target, T.J.’s, or JCP (but your blog is educating me about broadening my options!). My tablet is a no-frills TCL-brand I bought at Walmart (and is my connected lifeline to what’s going on).

    Yessss: please do MORE (mid-price-point: $150-under) professional office attire that is age-appropriate without looking frumpy. Everything else is PERFECT and continued best wishes. Thank you!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *