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The List Volume: Instagram

By |February 21st, 2014|The List|
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kirsten smith instagramI get scolded quite a bit for being on my phone during dinners and nights out with friends.  I quickly remind them that I’m “working.”  Which shouldn’t actually be in quotes because I really am.  Social Media is bascially a 24/7 job, especially when you work for yourself.  However, I’ve taken it down a notch and for those of you who aren’t actually running a business, it’s time to put down your phones.  I know that selfie and shot of your salmon seem super important, but your friends are about to disown you if you don’t rejoin them in a little place called reality.  So, here are some hard and fast rules for Instagram posting:

  1. Instagram is basically not real life.  Don’t let it consume yours.
  2. I think a lot of people need to learn the art of self editing.  We get that you are somewhere really beautiful or you’re having a REALLY good hair day, or there is a lot going on, but try and pic a COUPLE of the best pictures and spread them out throughout the day.  No one likes their feed being spammed by your event.  Either that or learn to make a collage.
  3. We do not need your doctors’ visits, weekly sonogram, bloody wounds, or hunting kills to be forever etched into our brains.  A post delivery baby hospital pic gets a pass though.
  4. I’m really not kidding when I say I don’t want to see your food pictures.  Unless what you are about to eat is a slain dragon, I’m just not interested.
  5. If you’re going to create a meme (good for you), please, dear God, check your spelling/grammar.  No matter how hilarious the punchline may be, I can’t get over the fact that you don’t know the difference between “your” and “you’re.”
  6. If you need to use a filter on top of a filter before posting that self indulgent selfie, you probably shouldn’t be posting it.  This is Instagram, not Vogue.  There’s no need to Photoshop.
  7. #Hashtagsareactuallyusefulifyouknowwhatyouredoing.  Not everything needs to be hashtagged, but don’t hate on others who actually know how to use them.
  8. Give credit where credit is due.  If you love something someone posted, spread the love, but credit the source.
  9. Please don’t post pictures only to delete them two minutes later.  This is Instagram not Snapchat (although there’s now that creepy direct message thing).  Don’t post unless you are sure you want to post.  Posting something and then removing it two minutes later doesn’t make you look mysterious, it makes you look insecure, and a little bit schizo.
  10. Clean your damn mirror, selfie queen.

And this one goes out to you… and you… and you…

Now, follow me on Instagram so you can see what I’m wearing.

xx,

WhyDid

Setting the Mood: Working Girl

By |September 3rd, 2013|Setting the Mood|
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Yesterday was Labor Day, which everyone seems to think means summer is over, but I have some news that may make your return to the cubicle slightly less depressing. The last day of summer actually isn’t until September 21st, so everyone, chill. You still have about three more weeks of summer to revel in even if your summer rental has expired. For some reason, September has a way of feeling like going back to school. Even though you’ve probably not had much more than a few Fridays off, returning to work today probably feels reminiscent of the first day of school. In that sense, it’s a good time to update your workday essentials with a tailored tote, classic pumps, chic spectacles, and the ultimate outfit topping blazer. Who’s the boss?

Mansur Gavriel Large Leather Tote, Elizabeth and James Chrystie Glasses, Jimmy Choo Anouk Patent Leather Pumps, Theory Lanai Leather Trimmed Blazer

xx,

WhyDid

Friday Frocks: In Full Bloom

By |March 15th, 2013|Friday Frocks, Why Did You Wear That?|
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The Soho House roof has reopened, restaurants have started seating outdoors, and I’ve started applying self tanner.  Spring has (almost) arrived.  Keeping in theme with getting into the springtime spirit, the best kind of frocks are those with flowers.  Don’t fret, Pollyanna, not all floral frocks have to be fussy.  Get a flower printed pattern cut in a sleek modern silhouette to look feminine, but not five years old.  Not only is this look totally on trend, it’s sure to get you through the onslaught of summer weddings you’ll be forced to attend.

flower printed dresses1. Jack by BB Dakota Cherry Chiffon Dress, $59, 2. MINKPINK Bittersweet Cross Back Dress, $80, 3. Rachel Roy Floral Dress, $428, 4. Christopher Kane Floral Print Jersey Mini Dress, $595, 5. Thayer Crisscross Ruffle Dress, $325, 6. GUESS by Marciano Lilac Floral Dress, $194.99, 7.Clover Canyon Turquoise Valley Neoprene Dress, $246, 8. Torn by Ronny Kobo Lili Pleated Floral Dress, $258, 9. Alice + Olivia Corwin Rose Print Silk Dress, $396, 10. LUSH Cutout Front Floral Shift Dress, $59

xx,

WhyDid

Would You Wednesday: Photoshop Foolery

By |February 15th, 2012|Why Did or Why Don't?|
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adele vogue cover photoshopWhat a year it’s been for Adele.  This 23 year old British songbird has taken home six Grammy’s and scored her first American Vogue cover… and it’s only February.  I’m not sure what is going to have to happen for her year to get much better.  A pony perhaps?

I’m an avid Vogue reader and I have so much respect for Anna Wintour and the team at Vogue, but I would be downright insulted to see my face morphed into what is considered “acceptable” rather than the beautiful creation it already is.  There’s no denying this is a beautiful woman.  Those eyes!  Those lips!  She didn’t really need any high tech help to look gorgeous.  That’s why I would be pretty bummed out to see what was once my face staring back at me in the supermarket checkout line.

Finally young girls have a female role model who receives praise strictly from talent and hard work rather than flashing crotch to paparazzi and partying all night.  Yet, here she is being “shaped” into a size that’s more palatable for the fashion elite.  What are we trying to tell people?  Especially women?

adele vogue spreadTo act like Adele is the first and only celebrity to be Photoshopped to within an inch of her life on the cover of Vogue or any other glossy would be totally naive (Remember the Ralph Lauren scandal?).  90% of what we see in magazines or in ads is not real.  It frustrates me to hear my friends and other females get so down on themselves about how they look and how they wish they were a little thinner or a little taller or a little bit more perfect because they’re comparing themselves to unrealistic standards.

I once received a photo of myself that had been Photoshopped.  After I got over the initial, “Wow!” moment, I immediately felt depressed.  My lips were fuller, my nose was straighter, my blue eyes more blue.  I realized that this was how I’m supposed to look… if I was perfect, of course.  But I’m not.  And no one (not even Adriana Lima) is.  We all have flaws and those flaws are what make us unique.  It’s time to start embracing those instead of letting them alienate us.

Cindy Crawford was once quoted as saying, “Even I don’t wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.”  I think that’s such a wonderful and honest thing to say.  Maybe if more celebrities, magazines, and brands eased up on the “healing tool” and stopped “transforming” everything, we might alleviate a lot of low self esteem and bad body images.

So what do you think?  Have magazines, advertisements, and fashion houses gotten out of hand with creating perfect specimens?  Would you like women to start looking more like… themselves?

xx,

WhyDid

Smart is the New Pretty: Let’s Socialize

By |October 19th, 2011|Smart Is the New Pretty|
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As women, we are known to be very social creatures.  So, when the buzz word  “social media” started popping up everywhere (and is even now considered a “career”), we thought to ourselves, “Psssh!  We’ve been doing this for years.”  While there are plenty of folks out there who consider themselves to be gurus, experts and mavens in the venue of Marketing/PR 2.0, most of them haven’t a clue as to what they’re talking about.  So, if you’re looking to increase your social presence, it’s probably best not to leave it to the “experts” and start learning yourself!  Social Media is constantly changing so you better keep up!

Now go fire up your Tumblr, Twitter, and Flickr.  It’s time to get social… and while you’re at it, be sure to Tweet, FB, and YouTube with WhyDid.

WhyDid
 

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