Answers To Your Questions...

Each day I am both pleased and amazed to see that someone has taken the time to leave a comment on my blog.  The gesture never goes unnoticed or unappreciated.  I know that it takes some effort and I thank you SO much.

A few days ago I offered to answer some questions… assuming that anyone out in the Blogosphere cared enough to even ask.

Surprisingly, many of you did.

Many thanks to Amy from Dreaming In Cashmere, Laura from Laura Wears, Heather from Pearls & Paws, Alison from Styling My Life and Erin from Truffles & Ruffles.

I personally "follow" each of these wonderful ladies and encourage you to do the same if you do not already.

Some questions were essentially the same but many were quite different.  I will do the best that I can.

Rachel from Rachel's Lookbook asked...

"Obviously you love leather skirts and I love adoring your leather skirt, but tell us more maybe about how you started to love leather skirts and what is your favorite style of leather skirt?"

I have actually started writing a far more detailed account that answers this question.  I have not posted it as I did not think anyone else would care.

The short answer…

I started wearing skirts and heels almost daily early in my high school days.  I liked feeling “grown up.”  This continued even as I entered college even though most of my friends were far more “casual” in their appearance.

My first leather skirt was purchased basically for dancing but it was not long before I was wearing it on a regular basis.  Obviously, I still enjoy wearing them today. 

Favorite cut... definitely "pencil" but these new pleated styles are catching my eye recently.

So... Are you interested in the “longer version" at all?

Heather from Pearls & Paws asked…

“What inspired you to start a blog and what are some of your favorite daily blog reads?”

--AND--

Amy from Dreaming In Cashmere had a similar question…

“I would love to know...what is your favorite thing about blogging and what are your daily reads?”

Inspiration… that one is easy.  I really, really, really LOVE fashion.  I started reading fashion blogs off and on about 2-3 years ago.  Some of my early favorites were This Time Tomorrow, Late Afternoon and the Brooklyn Blonde.  Of course each of these ladies now have incredible followings.  I still "follow" each of them.  Still amazed by their style.

One day just over a year ago I decided to “take the plunge.”  I honestly figured that I would grow bored with it in just a few weeks.  I have tried hobbies of all sorts over the years but none have really managed to hold my attention for very long. 

The bowling league was probably the most comical.  Ever try bowling in high heels and a pencil skirt?  Kidding, of course… or am I?

My favorite thing about blogging… easy… reading the comments that you ladies leave on my blog.  Honestly.  LOVE reading them… always!

My favorite daily blogs... this one is far more difficult.  I could easily name 20 but I am going to purposefully limit myself to these five. 

These ladies are not only very stylish (and they are) but they are also talented writers.  Each is heartfelt and sincere.  All make me smile, some even make me with a loud laugh.  Just a joy to read their respective blogs and some inspirational style to boot.  What more could a girl ask for?

Fashion and life should be fun.

In no particular order…

Crazy Style Love

Jenny is amazing.  She has such a "classic" sense of style.

Whenever I comment on her blog it is almost always using adjectives like...

"Flawless." 

"Timeless." 

"Perfect." 

All well deserved.  I want her closet.

For All Things Lovely

Megan is a charming southern belle from South Carolina.

She is a blogger that always manages to exude such grace and class... all the time.  LOVE her style, too!

Her text is always brief but always so witty, too.  Talented writers can say so much with so few words.  

And then there are writers like me.  Hee Hee

Love Your Clothes, Love Yourself

I first discovered this little wonder when it was still called CK Staying Warm.  I like the new title but the old one is still my favorite as it gives such insight into just how funny Ck really is.  She is a hoot!  Her blog always makes me laugh... sometimes out loud.  I try not read her's at work.

Oh... and her style is pretty great, too!

Perhaps her style is a little more "casual" than mine but as you can see from the picture, she knows how to do "dressed up," too!

Dreaming In Cashmere

Doesn't the title of Amy's blog make you want to drop by all by itself?

It should not be surprising that this blog is one of the cutest that I follow as Amy is an absolute doll.

Look at the picture... isn't she just as cute as a button?

Like CK above, Amy's style is more "casual" than mine but she is always "pulled together."

I cannot imagine that you would ever catch her looking like she just rolled out of bed.

Besides... she might just love a great pair of heels even more than me.

Hee Hee

Fashion & Beauty Finds

Another Amy that I love. 

This Louisiana girl is a dream in my eyes.

I simply adore her style and she is a talented writer, too. 

I would describe her style as a bit "trendy" but always with a nod to "classic" pieces.  Timeless elegance.

She just oozes class. 

Fleurani



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Ani is a recent discovery of mine.  She is the sweetest thing.  You should read her blog if for no other reason than that.

However, she is very elegant.  So stylish.

I mean... look at this picture... how chic is this look?

And... I always enjoy her cute stories.  She describes herself as witty... she absolutely is that and then some!

Her blog has me laugh out loud from time to time, too.  I try not to read it at work either.  Hee Hee

Whew... who's idea was it to limit me to only five?  Boy that was far HARDER than I ever imagined.  I missed so many that I LOVE.  Alas... this post is already too long so we move on.

A couple of fairly new blogs.  A couple well established blogs but not quite as much "success" as say... The Blonde Salad.  I have always liked being a bit of a “maverick” so it only seems natural to gravitate towards some of the blogs that have been around a little less time and/or have a smaller group of “followers” than others.

Laura from Laura Wears asked...

“I am always interested in what other bloggers do in their free time?”

--AND--

Alison from Styling My Life had the same question along with some others…

“ I would love to know what you do in your spare time, what your full-time career is, if you have any pets, what your biggest splurge was, how long you see yourself blogging for and what you hope to accomplish with your blog?”

www.stylingmylife.com

Spare time… Honestly, I do not have a great deal of that but when I do get a chance to relax I mostly enjoy one of four things. 

First… I spend too much time blogging.  Hee Hee

Second… time with friends.  I am quite fortunate to have a good group of girlfriends (mostly from college, work and church) to do things with.  Mostly we meet for dinner and/or a drink.  Gossip time.  Hee Hee  We do occasionally meet to do some shopping (I do not shop much but I really do enjoy shopping with friends) or even to take in a movie or concert.

Third… movies.  I enjoy movies.  I am not a big TV watcher but I have been known to get up on a Saturday morning, run my errands by lunch and then return to my apartment for a DVD marathon more than once.

Lastly… Sis and her kids.  Although I am spending less time with them than I did the first several months after they moved here, I still find myself driving out for dinner, soccer games or sometimes to simply hang out.

My career… I work for a consulting firm that deals mostly in land acquisitions for large entities that prefer to keep acquisitions very quiet.  My title… VP of Market Research.  The simplest explanation, I am a corporate spy.  No James Bond kind of stuff.  Not nearly that exciting.  Honestly, most of the information that I gather, analyze and present is available right on my laptop but I do spend time “in the field” doing research as well.  Because our clients value their anonymity so greatly most of our staff is actually contractually bound to not maintain social networking accounts such as Facebook, My Space and Twitter.  I suspect that Instagram will be listed when our contracts are renewed at the end of the year? Blogging is not specifically banned but for this reason I choose not to publish pictures of myself when I blog.  I simply prefer not to take any unnecessary chances.

No pets… I love animals but as little time as I actually spend at home, it just would not seem fair.

How long will I blog and … I will blog as long as I continue to enjoy it.  The day that it stops being fun and starts feeling like work will be my last post. 

--AND--

What do I wish to accomplish… Honestly, nothing.  I never expected anyone to read it when I hit “publish” the first time.  I amazes me that so many do.  I am incredibly honored by that fact.

With that said, I guess I would like to see more and more ladies wearing leather skirts, not just to parties and concerts but everywhere.  I know that this is largely driven by fashion trends, television and movies but if my little corner of the internet convinces just one fashionable lady to wear one somewhere out of their “comfort zone” just once, then I would consider the blog a success.  I suppose that is the one message that I would like to share?

Erin from Truffles & Ruffles asks…

“What are your top 5 wardrobe essentials?”

This was a harder answer than I expected it to be.  Seemed simple enough when I read it.  The best list I can come up with…

Erin @ http://www.truffles-ruffles.com/

1)   A great skirt.  I almost always start with the skirt I intend to wear when putting together my daily wardrobe.

2)  Black.  I truly LOVE black.  Versatile.  Classic and always chic.  It is not very often that I end up with an outfit that doesn’t have something that is black.

3)  Heels.  Aside from working out, swimming and a VERY rare appearance of a pair of sandals I ALWAYS wear heels.  Lately I have been VERY infatuated with higher heels.  LOVE how a great pair of heels “finishes” an ensemble.

4)  Lipstick.  I know that you never see me in my photos but I NEVER leave the house without lipstick, not even to run.  Hee Hee  In case you care, my favorite brand is Mary Kay.

5)  Basics or Classics.  I am really fond of some trendy things.  For example, right now I am quite infatuated with polka dots and houndstooth.  But… I never lose interested in “classic” pieces.  Some might look at my closet and describe it as “dull” or “boring” but I prefer “classic”, “timeless” and “versatile.”  I have a lot of black, white, beige, pink, red and blue in my closet.  There is not  much vibrant color or trendy patterns.  When I am shopping I like to find items that can easily be paired with multiple things so that they get lots of wear.  I rarely buy things that I do not LOVE and if I like them that much, shouldn’t I wear them?

Whew… that was both harder and more fun than I expected.

Thank you so very much for your interest.  I hope I answered your questions satisfactorily?  Feel free to leave another if you wish.

As always…

I look forward to your comments.  They truly make my day.

Have A Fantastic Day!

-- The Leather Skirt --