fashion blog

A Look Back: 10 Years of Blogging

May 5, 2020 by Bethany Siggins

On March 26, 2010, I published my first blog post, aptly titled “Hello, World!” One could have never have imagined what the 10-year anniversary of my blog would be like on March 26, 2020.

C.S. Lewis wrote: “The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own,’ or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life.”

Thank you, Mr. Lewis, for this wisdom. Now that I’ve (somewhat) found my footing in this new, temporary reality, let’s take a journey through the last 10 years of the blog.

My First Post

When I published my first post, I knew very little about blogging, and blogging was still fairly new. What I did know was I enjoyed writing. With countless other blogs out there, I wanted my blog to stand out.

An excerpt: “I got into image consulting to help people and to make a positive impact in their lives. So, here’s what my blog is about: I want to educate you, empower you, and help you become more aware of yourself, your style and your imprint on this world. I want to give you REAL information that will raise your awareness about image, style and fashion, as well as increase your confidence in your own personal style.” Read the full post here.

Shoes are a Hot Topic

Several months into writing my blog, I published “Your Shoes – They Matter.” An excerpt: “Everyone owns shoes that are purposeful. We have gym shoes, work shoes, evening shoes, etcetera. However, do you own a pair that communicates who you are?” Read the full post here.

My First Year of Blogging

I was very active in the first nine months of my blog publishing a total of 30 posts! Apparently, I had a lot to say. Then, the blog posts abruptly stopped for a year. There was a good reason for that. I had twins at the end of 2010, two months early! The next 12-14 months were a blur of bottles, diapers and burp cloths.

I began writing my blog again in early 2012. One of those first posts is aptly named “Seeing Double.” The title of course was in reference to my twins, but the post also contains five tips to shop smarter and not get overwhelmed. Read the full post here.

Don’t Wait to Lose Weight

Later in 2012, I published a post titled “Shop Right Where You Are.” This post discusses shopping for nice things now rather than waiting until you are at your ideal weight. It is very common to hear a potential client say she would like to lose weight before she works with me. However, in this post I make the case for not waiting. There is a client success story within. Read the full post here.

Stand Out For Being Yourself

One of my favorite blog posts from 2013 was a short, sweet one called “Be a Red Tulip.” In short, I encourage you to be yourself and to embrace the things that make you stand out. Read the full post here.

2014, the Year of Education

I was doing a lot of public speaking in 2014. As a result, my blog posts reflect topics I was speaking about including career style, a balanced wardrobe and body language.

A Few Guest Bloggers

It’s hard to believe I’ve only had a few guest bloggers. My first guest blogger was Deborah King of Final Touch who discussed civility, something we all need in giant doses right now! This blog was posted about two months into the start of my blog. However, it is a great refresher for what is happening in our world right now. An excerpt: “Civility deals with how we view and treat others. It requires us to look beyond our own interests and look to the interests and well-being of others.” Read the full post here.

My second guest blogger, my dear friend Deborah Hill, wrote a blog post called “Pregnancy Chic” about five months into the start of my blog. An excerpt: “Dressing chic during pregnancy is very easy, actually. The key is to NOT dress like you’re pregnant. In other words, dress your normal style in an accommodating size.” Read the full post here.

Seven years later in August 2017, I welcomed my third guest blogger, my younger brother, Marsh Buice. He wrote “It’s Not You, It’s Your Metabolism.” An excerpt: “To metabolize our lives differently, we must transform from a life of emotional resistance to a life of emotional resilience.” Those are words to digest right now! Read the full post here.

Fashion, Fashion & More Fashion

I’ve seen several amazing exhibits featuring incredible fashion designers over the years. However, I have only featured a few on my blog. They are in order: Oscar de la Renta, Jeremy Scott and Christian Dior.

The Blog Goes to the Dark Side

After we moved to Seattle in early 2015, I began to write more serious pieces including a popular one titled “Why I Allowed My Daughter to Cut Her Hair.” An excerpt: “Vivien is free to express herself through her personal image. While I still play the role of her mother, protecting, guiding and teaching her, she can make image choices for herself.” Read the full post here.

I reflected on the forced pause the move created in a post titled “When Life Demands a Pause.” This is a great one to re-read as the world is in a forced pause of sorts. An excerpt: “How wonderful to enjoy more time with my beautiful, kind children during these sweet, young years. My business can always get a re-boot. Our kids are only young once.” Read the full post here.

My Most Popular Post

The blog post that remains the most read of all, “The Day I was Asked to Move,” recounts a painful, embarrassing day. However, a few great lessons came from it. Read the full post here.

Southern in Seattle is Born

As I was finding my footing in Seattle, I launched a new blog in February 2017 called Southern in Seattle. The purpose of this blog was to share things I loved of the South with my Seattle audience and to also highlight southern things I found in Seattle (mostly food!). We have been back in Dallas for almost two years, but I’ve held onto the blog name, as well as the Instagram profile. I’ve kept it because it is part of my story. I want to remember our time in Seattle in a fond way. This blog emerging from that time is a wonderful result. My favorite blog post I have ever written across both of my blogs is on Southern in Seattle. It is my love letter to New Orleans. Read it here.

A Recent Favorite

One of my favorite blog posts in the more recent past is “Whose Style is it Anyway?” An excerpt: “We won’t always understand or agree with the fashion choices around us. It isn’t our job to. Our job is to find our own style and to work it fearlessly.” Read the full post here.

Do You Believe in Miracles?

You don’t want to miss my miracle story in “Tales from the Tarmac – A Girl & Her Orange Suitcase.” Customer service is not dead. Read the full post here.

fullsizeoutput 9471 1024x856 - A Look Back: 10 Years of Blogging

Let’s Go for 10 More!

This blog has given me great joy over these last 10 years. It has allowed me to share encouraging words with you, my readers. It has helped me process my thoughts during difficulties, and it has kept me in touch with the good in others. While I started the blog for you, it has been a great help to me! I can’t imagine my life without it. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support. There is more to come!

Faux Fur is the Current Direction

November 4, 2017 by Bethany Siggins

If you’re concerned about faux fur as a dying trend, don’t be. Faux fur is one of the biggest trends of Fall 2017, as I mentioned in my previous post. In fact, faux fur, with the advancements in fabrication technology, is getting better each year, almost indiscernible from the real thing.

You could argue faux fur is hotter now than the real thing. Many designers are shunning real fur from their lines completely, Gucci being the most recent design house to announce a fur ban. Gucci chief executive and president Marco Bizzarri told Business of Fashion, “Do you think using furs today is still modern? I don’t think it’s still modern and that’s the reason why we decided not to do that. It’s a little bit out-dated.” I agree. For the record, I own furs. I have always purchased vintage pieces, which is marginally better than buying from the current fur market, but I know some may find my ownership of any real furs to be offensive.

It is, perhaps, with the new direction of the industry in mind (and the ethical treatment of animals) that I have recently purchased two pieces of faux fur: a black jacket (photo above) from H&M and an off-white vest (photo below) from Top Shop, both of which have already seen airplay during this chilly fall in Seattle.

My readers have asked me to start linking pieces similar to those I wear in Instagram and Facebook posts. With that, here is a run-down of similar faux fur pieces.

My black faux fur is sold out, but I am totally digging the dramatic flair of this oversized black and white fur, also from H&M.

And this one from Forever 21 is giving me all the feels! It’s chic, sophisticated and looks luxurious, and it comes in three color choices.

If you love my vest above, I am linking the same one here.

And I love this one in the color of the season, also from Top Shop.

I have been on the hunt for years for a leopard faux fur jacket like the one Kate Moss has been known to wear. While I cannot justify yet another purchase of outerwear with my jacket and coat closet beyond full, I have found a few to entice you. Allow the photos to scroll through to see them all.

leopardfur 150x150 - Faux Fur is the Current Direction

leopardfur2 150x150 - Faux Fur is the Current Direction

leopardfur3 150x150 - Faux Fur is the Current Direction

The short hooded one is Ann Taylor, a great length for not too cold days. The longer, classic style (like Kate Moss’s) is by Vince Camuto, a line known for on-trend, good quality fashion. Lastly, the thigh-length car coat style by Forever 21 is my favorite and the best value!

I have given you much to consider. If you did not see a faux fur here that you love, let me know, and we will hunt together for one that is just right!

Enjoy your weekend, and I hope you have snuggle, faux fur weather soon wherever you are!

Best,

Bethany

Fall 2017 Must Haves

October 13, 2017 by Bethany Siggins

Some might say this blog post is late. We’ve been talking fall trends since late summer. However, the way that I like to shop, which means waiting for sales, this blog post is just in time. Make your list and, if you are a particularly patient kind, wait for the bigger mark downs in November and December, my favorite time to shop for fall fashion.

Now that you are aware of the vibe of the season from my previous blog post, let’s get down to specifics.

There are always a lot of themes floating down the fashion runways, but the one that stood out as the most ubiquitous for Fall 2017 was the 1980’s, the decade where more was more. Fall 2017 gives us metallic fabric; sharp, exaggerated shoulders; oversized, menswear-inspired blazers; slouchy boots; bomber jackets; studs on everything and colored fur. The list continues with pointy toe ankle boots, berets, stirrup pants and slash pumps.

I sometimes wonder if we have collectively stepped into a time machine back to the 80’s. However, before you go digging through your trunk of old treasures, remember when a trend returns, it is usually much different than the original. In fashion, things are rarely the same way twice.

Beyond the 1980’s theme, here are the big hits for Fall:

Dark floral – This can be anything from a pair of pants to a blouse or a dress or a pair of boots. You decide. Dark floral means the background color is dark, either black or navy, generally. I love this Joie shell, which is on sale and would be gorgeous under a blazer. My pants are Zara. They are sold out; however, I adore this Zara pair, and for a similar color scheme and look, this pair works.

Red – Again, this is one where you pick. Red is everywhere from garments to accessories. I found it difficult to decide since red is my favorite color. For now, I’ve invested in a dark red tote similar to this one, a pair of bright red rain boots similar to this style, and this pair of wine-colored suede booties. I should stop right there.

Velvet – It is the fabric that refuses to go away. It is everywhere this season, especially on bags, boots and heels. Aren’t the Prada sandals here super dreamy? I’ve linked it in case you must have them. ; ) I would love a long velvet skirt to take from day to night, or a dark blue velvet blazer would be dreamy. You could combine two trends into one by investing in a dark red velvet blazer!

Faux fur – If you happen to live in a climate that is warm, maybe you go for a faux fur vest, a denim jacket with a faux fur collar or a bootie with a peek of faux fur. But if you live in a place where winter is truly winter, go for it with a cool, faux fur jacket or coat.

For those who like a feminine style, there is so much for you to love about Fall 2017, including lace, sequins, crystals and lots of glitter, along with sheer stockings, bows and knife pleat skirts. This Ted Baker pleated skirt is especially eye-catching!

For those with an edgier, modern style, you’ll find white boots, leather everything, high-waist denim and lots of words and messages to communicate your causes. Prabal Gurung put out quite a few graphic t-shirts if you like that sort of thing. As far as white boots go, a friend of mine said they look like what the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders wear. Well, she has a point. But how about this gorgeous pair of off white booties?

Every season, there is something for everyone. If you need help navigating the sea of trends, I would be happy to sit down with you to pinpoint your best ones. Send me a message! Happy shopping!