goodbye, for now

The Thrifty Poet is going on hiatus. It was so much fun writing about fashion this past year! so until my return, please feel free to look around and read posts of interest, such as:

1. Unethical Fashion Brands
2. The Relationship Between Personal Style and Confidence
3. Why Should I Be Ashamed of My Shape
4. How to Feel Beautiful
5. A Guide to Wardrobe Basics
6. A Guide to Cleaning Out Your Closet
7. On Consumerism and Personal Style

Thank You everyone who read, followed, commented and overall made blogging here so enjoyable!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Once upon a time, vampires did not glisten in the sun like diamonds. they burst into flames. and it was awesome. My hubby and I just finished watching every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. My take on the B's tough but sometimes soft style:

Buffy by

Ruffles Gone Wrong

Ruffles have been "in" for the past year or so, which I'm totallycool with, since feminine details are sort of romantic-poetic-ish, and nice to mix in with plainer items.

I think that sometimes people take the ruffles a bit too far though. One ruffled item per outfit, k? Even though these pieces are all beautiful separately, look at the hot-mess of them combined:

Ruffles by thriftypoet featuring Arden B tops

Items in this set:
Twist Ruffle Illusion Tank - Women's Clothing and Apparel - Chic..., $44
Ruffle Cropped Jacket, $80
Chiffon Ruffle Mini Skit - Teen Clothing by Wet Seal, 150 SEK
Adi Designs Ruffle Front Double Handle Handbag - QVC.com, $53
Ruffle flower front flat fair trade shoe, 51 GBP

Sort of pretty-pretty-princess, right?

But I do like them all separate. I guess the key in participating in any trend is Moderation.

Clutches

I keep a list of "wardrobe needs" so as not to get too distracted when window shopping (and not spend money I don't need to spend). My list is pretty short right now--primarily I need sexy date night stuff. First on that list is a clutch.

I've always been a big purse person--how else am I supposed to carry my writing journal and a book everywhere I go?--but I figure that I probably don't need those things on a date with the hubby, and my big work purses just don't look so cute with a little dress.

Here are a few of the clutches I've been looking at:

clutches by thriftypoet

I need it to be less than $50 (preferrably less than $20). Since clutches are such little accessories, I kind of think that it doesn't matter if they really "match" your outfit. I just want one that looks more sexy-woman and less high-school-prom.

Currently, I like the one on the bottom right side the best. Which one is your favorite?

size

Well I'm quite late on my Friend Friday from last week...seeing how its Thursday..oh well!

This week's discussion is all about size!

1. Should someone's size stop them from fashion blogging or having a voice in the community?
No, I don't think so. I think that fashion blogs are mostly interesting Because they are written by so many varied sizes and styles and types of girls. It'd be boring if they had a weight/height/size requirement for blogging!

2. In your opinion, can the term "curvy" and "plus-sized" be used interchangeably when it comes to fashion? Definitely not--many curvy girls aren't at all plus-sized and many plus-sized girls aren't curvy!


3. Many people make the argument that catering to plus sized women would promote being overweight as "okay". What do you think? Should more designers be catering to plus size women?Plus-sized women need clothes too! And from a business perspective, it'd be pretty dumb not to tap into that market.

4. Should the mainstream fashion industry be showcasing more plus size models? Not exactly "showcasing" ... if they were to make such a big deal about having a plus-sized model, like "we're using this model, Despite her size" then I think it'd be counter-productive. I think using a variety of sizes would be best, just choosing girls based on who is the best Model, not who is the size zero!

5. For you personally, how do you view your size, the struggle with it through the years, your ideal size, etc... Like a lot of women, I have my good days and my bad days. I don't vary much---maybe go up a size or down a size---but how I feel about my size does vary. If I'm feeling insecure or down about other things, my size just gets lumped into the overall feeling of sadness. But, on the most part, I'm happy with my body, especially when I know that I'm eating healthy and exercising, doing my best to stay healthy.

The Thoughtful Dresser by Linda Grant

I checked this book out through inter-library loan a few weeks ago. I've read a dozen or so fashion books this past year and this is possibly my favorite. It is Not your typical how-to fashion book--chock-full of glossy photos and tips on what to wear to cocktail parties. This book is more like a history of fashion, in the world and in Grant's personal life.

This book is more for the person not looking to be told How to dress but interested in learning more about fashion as a subject. The author delves into some of the social reasons certain styles were "in" or "out" during certain time periods, covers size issues, fashion as personal history, style as being part of womanhood. Essentially, she tells us why fashion is important and worthwhile, why it is not just shallow pridefulness that sparks women's interest in fashion, but the essential human need to feel beautiful.

Overall, I highly recommend this book!

Interview!

Bachman's Sparrow has an interview with me up on her blog -- check it out by clicking here!

Blogging & Privacy

With all the traveling and craziness of life lately, I've skipped a few friend friday posts. So I'll just jump in with this one on blogging and privacy.

1. Do you think privacy is something we should worry about as bloggers?
Certainly! I think that everyone should always be careful about what kind of information they reveal on the internet.


2. Do you use your real name or a pen name? What was behind that decision?
I never use my full name, sometimes use my first name, and lots of times just go as my blog title name. While I don't give out personal information on my blog, I do think its good to take that extra precaution, just in case some real information were to slip out.

3. How much personal information do you reveal about your life beyond the blog?
I try not to reveal anything besides clothes related things, but I know that I slip up on that from time to time, which is why I don't plan to keep this blog forever.

4. What will you never reveal?
Any information that would allow someone to find me--address, city I live in, phone number, etc.

5. As bloggers, we have to an extent made ourselves 'public' figures. But still there are things that are intimate to each of us that does not need to be known by anyone that stumbles across our blog. How do you determine what is appropriate for public consumption and what is private to you?
If its something that I wouldn't want a random stranger reading, then I don't post it. I don't post any sort of emotional things that might be going on that particular day, or really anything about whats going on in my actual life. I have a personal blog that I'll sometimes write about those things. On one hand, i feel like there is So much information on the internet, someone has to Want to find your blog to find it--there just aren't as many people randomly stumbling upon blogs as there might have been when they were new. But, on the other hand, its good to not make yourself an easy target. I try to limit what I have about myself on the internet--being a writer, that's sometimes hard to do.


How do y'all feel about privacy on the web?