Behind the Lens: Alison!

From Al: Second in my “Behind the Lens” series is (the other) Alison, my photographer friend who took those photos that so many of you loved. Alison works down the hall from me, shares my love of margaritas and photography, and blogs ever so beautifully at left in front of right… Please welcome her by leaving lots of sweet comments! 😉

ruffle shirt: jcpenney
cardigan: gap outlet
pants: gap
shoes: famous footwear eons ago
belt: that french boutique, target

I’ll start with this – I never, repeat that, never thought I would be writing a guest post for a style blog. I’m a long-time lurker around sites like Selective Potential, Calvintage, What Would a Nerd Wear, Lulu Letty, The Daybook, and on and on and on. Style has been something I’ve been fascinated by, but something other people did. They were those blogger girls who pouted and looked down at their in-turned toes while their doting boyfriends/husbands/friends snapped shot after shot of their perfectly thrifted, stunningly paired, imaginatively styled outfits. It wasn’t something I could do, and to be honest, it wasn’t something I wanted to do. Did I want to gawk from the safety of my web connection? You betcha.

And then that all changed. Someone I knew and admired was starting a style blog. A style blog, kids! And to top that, she was making it all about cinching. Enter the paradigm shift. All of a sudden style and fashion weren’t just something in magazines and on the web, they were written, being created and being lived right in front of me. How could I not be effected?

Because of Alison’s cinching, I paid attention this fall to the color trends that were happening. I looked at the skinny little belts that were circling the middles of every mannequin, every magazine ad, every lady I passed on the street. And then, to top it all off, I went shopping. I went shopping and I bought things that were in style. I bought a freaking belt. A little cinchy one. My world has changed. Now, I’m not cinching every day, and I certainly do the jeans and t-shirt the moment I get home from work (if I’m not going out that evening), but I’m not afraid to put yellow and teal together and tie it up with a little bow. I can wear big ruffles without fear! Alison’s style blogging just down the hall gave me the push to step out of the shadows of internet lurk-dom, and in front of the camera for a change.

Many humble and cinched thanks, friend!
Alison from left in front of right…