Friday, November 23, 2012

Topaz Fashion: Joke's on me!

Vince calls these photos the anti-fashion blog photos because he says I don't look like I tried to look fashionable. Tee hee. Well, he has a point. These are my usual "wala lang!" outfits. To be fair to me, never naman ako nagsabi na this will be a fashion blog. Mothers, hindi ko kaya so don't expect!
Zara knit top, Zara mini skirt, Zara ballet flats. Kate Spade tote.

I'll also add some of my observations about Topaz Fashion in this post. I think you'll find them more interesting than the shabby outfits haha.

I tried FF because many readers were curious about what I usually wear. It's usually very boring, ladies.  Comfy dressing all the way! Stylish comfy dressing—I want to reiterate that!—but not the kind that'll knock your socks off or get me a fashion endorsement deal, as some young fashion bloggers are currently fighting about.

Wrong angle. Yaya was sitting on floor. You can almost look up my Uniqlo dress!
Others: Lacoste ballet flats and Rags 2 Riches bag by Aranaz

So FF was an experiment, nothing serious, nothing I planned to continue. My findings are:
1. It is very hard work.
2. It made me overly concerned about what I'll wear.
3. It made me overly concerned about repeating clothes haha.
4. I'm starting to figure out my best angle! Face camera. Left foot forward. Bend left knee. Stand up straight. Turn away right shoulder. Slightly keep arms away from body. (But in these photos, you can see I'm still trying out different poses.)
5. It works.

Wha?? Topaz Fashion works, bloggers. Want to make your blog popular? Do fashion posts! In October, my page views jumped from 40,000 to 60,000. That's huge.

Ojay raw silk blouse, Frou Frou embroidered shorts, Lacoste flats, Longchamp clutch

I was scratching my head wondering why I suddenly had so many new readers and when I studied the stats, it's the Topaz Fashion posts that always spike the stats meter. Like, there's a big jump. 

So this November, I skipped several FFs just to check if the stats will remain at 60K. Well, it didn't. It went down and now it's hovering at 55K. Still much higher than the 40K but I see now that FF had a significant effect. And so now I have a dilemma!

Muji scarf, Forever 21 tank, Levi's jeans, Anthropolgy flats, Charles & Keith sunglasses

Obviously, I have to continue with FFs, right? It's okay actually. I think it can be good for me to care more for my appearance (although I hope I don't become vain and shallow in the process!). My problem with it now is this:
  • I don't have a lot of clothes. Well, I actually do but they're all pre-pregnancy and so I don't fit into them anymore/yet. I fit into maybe 12 outfits. I think you'll get very bored once you've seen me recycle 12 outfits! Plus, I may have lots of shoes but I seem to wear only 3 pairs!
  • Some of my friends say that posting photos of stuff you own is nagyayabang and I don't want to appear mayabang. 
  • But if I post outfit shots only of my affordable fashion or second-hand finds courtesy of eBay, baka naman you'll think I'm poor! Haha.
Sexy White Shirt tee, Colours shorts, Lacoste flats, Rags 2 Riches bag by Aranaz

Grabe, napakabigat na problema ito! Is Topaz Fashion worth it??? Muni-muni muna me.

29 comments:

  1. Ok lang yun Ms. Frances if you don't have lots of clothes to wear. We're just happy to see what your wearing at work and if your going out with your boys. It inspires us to dress better even though we are mom na. Happy weekends!

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    1. Nakaka-pressure siya grabe =D Ayoko ng pressure!

      But thanks!

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  2. It's cool to see what people actually wear without deliberately trying to dress up.

    Yes it's almost an anti-fashion post, but it's more than that. It's sharing a part of your life, just as you've been doing for the past years :)

    Be it a fashion or anti-fashion post, when I see Fashion Friday post, I'm inclined to click it.

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    1. Ya, I also enjoy blogs that have outfit posts going to somewhere REAL, ya know? I seriously can't fathom how people can wear see-through tops with brightly-colored bras underneath with skintight mini skirts and skyscraper heels to work or even to the mall. Don't get me wrong. I believe in wear-whatever-you-want. But I want to believe that this is how they really dress up, every single day and every single place, ya know? I don't want to see outfits for the camera.

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  3. Replies
    1. Yes, that last look was taken as I was rushing out the door! And when I asked Vince to take my picture, that was when he said, "Are you doing an anti-fashion blog thing? You're in t-shirt and shorts!" LOL

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  4. One thing is for sure - you look soooo pretty regardless of what you wear! Face pa lang Ms. Frances, face pa lang! Hehehe....

    Actually Ms. Frances, mas "cool" for me yang ganyan. In the sense that you're showing us na di kailangan bonggacious palagi. Pero may time na you need to dress up din. Eh? Parang ang gulo ko. Haha! Basta po comfortable ka, eto gusto ko outfit today, feel ko simple today, bukas fashionista naman ako. Ganun, natural lang. Yun nga siguro. Hindi vain. Tama lang.

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    1. That's the hard thing about FF! I had to stop THINKING about my clothes, ya know! Kadiri na sya, eh. Parang, "OMG what will I wear today kahit pupunta lang ako sa grocery/pipila sa bank/maglalaro sa playground???" LOL

      Style should be effortless. Whatever you wear and wherever you go, you should look like you're wearing clothes, not your clothes wearing you!

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  5. We like your posts because...well, they're real...as in real na hindi na huma-high skyscraper ang peg heels, comfort fashion kung baga. We're just also looking where to look for comfort clothes, and well personally, I'm a nursing mom too, so I'm looking forward on your FF kasi its so hard to think on what cool clothes na pwede rin for nursing... we love you Miss Frances :3

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    1. Uh oh, do I look too comfortable na? Hee hee! I get your point, though. I do think moms have to do fashion posts. Two reasons:

      (1) We'll care more about our appearance. Our kids come first, of course, but we should set a good example to them. For boys, we say, "This is how a beautiful woman looks!" and for girls, "This is how you should look!"
      (2) Other mommies can see that we don't need to SUFFER for style, that it's completely possible to be happy and at ease in what we wear without looking like we rolled out of bed!

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    2. Oh no!I'm guilty on no.2, the rolled out of bed look is somewhat a weekend staple. Thanks for inspiring moms like us to dress well. =)

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    3. Liz, on weekends, I look like I rolled out of bed, too!

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    4. Me, I look like I rolled out of bed, everyday!!! Dapat magbago na 'ko! Thanks for inspiring us Ms. Frances!

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  6. I love your fashion post. Kahit just shirt and tees iba ang dating. As I have said before, oo ako na ang makulit, you're one of the mommy bloggers I really look up to. I love your fashion sense, especially, if you're not wearing make up, kasi parang you're one of us, mommies despite you being an editor in chief of one of the best mags in town.. Don't be pressured.... We, I for one, always looks forward to your fashion post... Parang kulang pag wala. Hehehe!

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    1. But I AM one of you. I'm a wife and mom and a woman. I'm normal. What makes me special is what makes you special—our unconditional love for our families!

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  7. I always find you effortlessly fabulous in whatever you wear, Frances. Even with the "super pambahay look" of you and Iñigo, your beauty is glowing from within talaga. :)

    Keep your FF coming, coz we are all looking forward to that. Although mas na-curious ako ngayon what you wear as "pambahay". I haven't had any fashion post on my blog, napaisip tuloy ako. I'll start with my pamabahay look kaya? lol!

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    1. Ya! Pambahay Style! =D

      Thanks for the kind words =)

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  8. Your post is so funny! I was actually thinking about starting some sort of Fashion Friday thing on my blog too, just to motivate me to look presentable whenever I leave the house. I think I'm stuck in some frumpy mom phase where I've been caught in public looking pretty grungy more than once. Thing is, I'm no fashionista, so it feels a little awkward just thinking about blogging my outfits, and fixing myself up and getting photographed and all that. But the prospective increase in site traffic sounds like a good trade-off. Hmm... Now I wonder if I should actually do it?

    Patty
    http://mrspcuyugan.blogspot.com

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    1. It works. I hate to admit it but now I understand why fashion blogs are so popular. I'm not a fan of fashion blogs but I see now why they are the most popular kind of blog.

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    2. I suppose it's like online people watching? People are just so fascinated with what others are wearing. I think I'll give it a shot this December and see how it works for me. :)

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  9. Hi Ms. F. I like the 3rd look :) I saw you on Blogolis last Sunday. I wanted to have photo with you sana, kaya lang nahiya ako lumapit.

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  10. I love the Zara & Uniqlo outfit :) Very neat & cute. I don't think you should discontinue, FF is really nice. Your fashion sense is not over the top, wearable, comfty yet stylish. Everyone is looking forward to FF. And I think your Ebay fashion finds would be a great post also (and i hope you can share the seller where you usually get those stuff) :)

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    1. My eBay finds were before I got pregnant. I don't fit into them anymore =(

      But yes, that's a great idea! =)

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  11. I love Fashion Friday! Please continue these posts :)

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  12. The beauty of these FFs is that they are so relatable, and fun! It's almost like having a girlfriend tell you what she wore to where and what her secret shopping stash are. And for awhile there you tend to forget all the mommy duties, work problems, task lists...if only for a few moments.

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  13. Read Myrza's November ed's letter! It's about how she's making more of an effort now (and loving it) ever since she started Instagramming her outfits.

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  14. I love your FF posts, because I'm a nursing mom too!

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  15. I love your stylish yet comfy look! I think I'll aim for that this year (even on ordinary mall or grocery days) coz I've long since perfected the "basura" look. Hihi.

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