How to Wear a Fur Vest + Why I Don't Read Fashion Blogs

I’ve got a fun fur vest collaboration for you today. But first, I want to share a BIG secret with you. When anyone asks what my favorite fashion blogs are, they are usually surprised to hear this answer.

I don’t follow fashion blogs.

Nope, not one.

It’s not that I don’t support my fellow bloggers. Honestly, they are some of the nicest people I know and I used to follow scuds of their blogs.

But about a year ago, I stopped reading fashion blogs cold turkey – and the main reasons why might surprise you.

I was falling victim to comparison-itis and The O.P.C. Effect.

Never heard of them? Read on.

1. Comparison-itis – Especially in my early blogging days, I would kill myself with comparisons. My inner dialogue went something like this “her writing is so much better than mine, she has more followers than me, her outfits look so much more interesting, WHY am I doing this?, I should just quit!” Comparison-itis is a crippling disease. At some point, I realized that the best thing for me to do was unsubscribe and focus only on what I was doing. Lesson? Comparison kills creativity. Avoid it at all costs.

2. The O.P.C. Effect – You down with O.P.C.? Yeah, you know me. That’s right, I’m easily influenced by Other People’s Content. Here’s how The O.P.C. Effect works – no matter how much I try to forget what I read, it still subconsciously influences and enters my writing and content. Solution? It’s better for me not to follow anyone in my genre so I can trust my instincts and march to my own beat.

My decision to not read other blogs has nothing to do with them and everything to do with me. It’s about protecting my creativity and staying in my own lane. And while other bloggers may not struggle with these issues, I do. I have to do what works best for me.

Having said that, there are two bloggers in particular that I LOVE. These women are the real deal and I highly respect both of them because they are who they say they are.

Those bloggers are Cyndi Spivey and Jo-Lynne Shane.

I’ve known Cyndi and Jo-Lynne since my early days of blogging. They both have a collaborative and generous nature. I love them as people and I adore their “over 40” style. I can’t think of two women I’d rather collaborate with.

Today we’re showing you our different takes on styling a fur vest. If the thought of wearing one conjures up images of a yeti, then check out the ways we styled it and think again. It’s a chic staple that you’re going to want to add to your winter wardrobe. I like to keep it simple with a denim shirt and black jeans with riding boots. Be sure to pop by to see how Cyndi and Jo-Lynne styled their fur vests too.