This week Behind the Blog is Maria from Dainty & Decadent. Maria is a lawyer, a fab dresser, and a soon(ish) to be mom. She also has an amazing handbag collection that I would like to make my own...unfortunately I haven't had any success convincing her that her Chanel bag would look perfect in my closet! Even though she won't share her luxury goods with me, I'm thrilled to have her there this week!
Tell us what motivate you to start blogging. Were you
following a lot of personal style/fashion blogs before you started blogging?
I stumbled upon a personal style/fashion blog in 2009 when I was
planning my wedding and it was love.
I’ve always been interested in fashion so I immediately was sucked into
the world of fashion blogs. My husband
tried to convince me to start a blog immediately but I had just graduated from
law school, started working at a firm, and still planning my wedding so my time
was limited.
I started blogging April 2012 and it was all my husband’s fault J He had asked me if I
were to have a blog what would I name it.
I said ‘Dainty and Decadent’ and that night, he bought the domain and
away I started to blog.
Which blogs do you read every day?
I read all the blogs on my blog list but it definitely needs
some editing as I’ve added a lot more to my reading list. I’m drawn to people who either have a similar
style to me, working women, and now working mommas. These are just a few of the lovely ladies as
well as those on my blog list that are some of my favorites: Sam
Ipsa Loquitur, Tweed
and Toile, Franish, Beach
Chic Style, J
Crew is My Fav Store, and Respect the Shoes.
Who takes your pictures? What camera and lens do you use?
Have you ever been caught in the act of taking these?
My husband patiently and sometimes not so patiently takes all my
photos J He uses a Canon XTi with
a 50mm lens. I’m always caught taking
photos it never is not awkward…
Do people in real life know about your blog? What were
their reactions when they found out about your blog?
I’ve only told a handful of people about my blog. My family had no idea what blogs even were so
they have the ‘whatever’ attitude but one of my sisters is really interested in
blogs and she’s even did a guest post for me.
My husband reads my blog every once in a while so I always think it’s
hilarious when I write about him in a post and he’ll find out a week later then
ask if anyone thinks he’s a jerk now.
You are a lawyer and currently pregnant with your first
child. How has your wardrobe changed since you started working as a lawyer
(besides the obvious), how do you keep your wardrobe interesting, and how do
you foresee your wardrobe changing in the coming months?
When I first started practicing, I ONLY wore black skirts and
white button downs because I thought that’s what all lawyers wear and that I’d
be taken more seriously. That mindset
ended quickly when I walked into a courtroom and saw another lawyer wearing
crocs… Since then, I’ve added color and
basically just dressed for me which then made me more comfortable at my job
rather than trying to be someone else.
Now that I’m pregnant, the challenge is fighting to urge to want to wear
yoga pants to work J In the
next coming months, I’m thinking dresses and accessories will be my
staples. I don’t plan on spending a lot
of money on maternity clothes so I will probably buy staple items and
accessorize to change things up.
Many fashion bloggers hop from one trend to the next. How
do you manage to stay on trend without breaking the bank and just blindly
following each trend?
I recognize when something is on trend
but if it doesn’t work for me then I’m not going to push it and look
ridiculous. For example, peplum was huge
in 2012 but looked horrible on me. I
already have wide hips, I definitely did not need extra flared fabric on my
waist to extenuate my hips! In regards
to other trends, I follow the same rule as I do with all my shopping-SALE! In addition to shopping sales, I ask myself
if it is something I will use more than three times. If I can only think of one way to wear
something, it’s not coming home with me.
I honestly hate spending a lot of
money on clothes and stick to a strict monthly budget. Now, handbags…they are my weakness. However, when it comes to my bags, 99% of
them were gifted and after many years of lusting after them.
Putting yourself on the internet comes with the
expectation that not everyone will always love what you are wearing and
writing. Have you encountered any of these criticisms, and if so, how do
you handle it?
Oh you anonymous commenters…Actually, I haven’t received any
“mean” comments but more constructive criticisms which I really
appreciate. If someone says, “the length
is too long” or “I would have worn a neutral top” it makes me think of other
ways to wear my outfit which expands my closet-win win!
What has been the best thing to come out of
blogging?
No doubt about it-connecting with other bloggers! I remember the first time a blogger that I
had been following for two years commented on my blog and it felt like I was meeting
a celebrity! I’ve “met” many other
bloggers I started reading after I started blogging and most have become some
of my favorite blogs.
When it comes to promotion of your blog, what methods do
you use? Do you spend a lot of time commenting on other blogs, pinning your
looks, doing link ups?
The only “promoting” I do is Pinterest but I’ve been slacking in
that area lately. At first, I would
comment a lot on blogs but now I sparingly comment so that it is more
meaningful and not just to get readers.
What tips or suggestions do you have for your fellow
bloggers?
I appreciate comments that are meaningful or
constructive. But please, PLEASE, know
how much I hate the “follow me and I’ll follow you” because I can promise you
that I won’t even click on your blog link…sorry. I almost always will try to reply or visit
someone’s blog if they have taken the time to visit my blog. Being pushy will only annoy people. I think that as long as you are genuine,
people will recognize that. Just be
yourself, cheesy but true.
Thank you for all of your insight Maria! Next week we have Jessica from Here & Now!
