(more Dagny…You asked for it!!)
Wow. Reading your responses to the reader survey really sustained me over the weekend, thank you! I didn’t feel well at all (more mouth/tooth issues, ugh) most of the weekend, but I was so inspired by your suggestions, comments, and feedback that I worked hard to start making the site into something that is more reflective of my vision and goals. I’m going to notify the winner of the $50 Everlane gift card via email today, and 5 of you will also get “consolation” prizes since so many of you filled out the survey (more than 250!). Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Just for fun I wanted to share some of the results, suggestions and what I’m working on going forward. Enjoy!
Why you read
Overwhelmingly, you guys come here for “honest reviews.” Which makes me so proud and happy because that’s always been my primary goal here; to provide an honest, realistic look at what I wear.
You also find me relatable, even if you don’t always share my style aesthetic, budget, or lifestyle.
You appreciate my focus on quality pieces, sustainability and newer, independent designers, as well as Everlane, let’s be honest. You guys LOVE the Everlane reviews!!
What you read most
The most popular types of posts are first, outfits, second Everlane reviews, third, Minimal Closet posts and then sustainable style posts.
What you want more of
MORE outfits, MORE Everlane (although there were a few of you who want less Everlane…). More Dagny. But mostly, more outfits. Point taken.
It’s so funny reading through all the responses (there were more than 250!!!) that I would read one that specifically mentions more exercise/Pure Barre posts and then the next one would want fewer, or none at all. Or another that wants fewer sale posts/shopping roundups, and the next wants more.
That’s the way it goes, of course, you can’t please all the people all the time! That would be weird. And I’m not trying to make everyone happy; I appreciate that everyone has a different reason for coming here, and may or may not read all my posts.
But it’s been so interesting reading your input/feedback/suggestions, and I’ve already got tons of ideas for content based on them. I’m still going to write about what inspires me at any given moment, but I’m also going to aim to be a little more organized, with a more consistent posting schedule.
Some of your suggestions
More Buy This Instead of That posts featuring sustainable/made in the US alternatives to “trendy” items. I really want to do this, but need ideas for specific products to feature! I seem to have run out…
More “affordable” minimalist/sustainable style.
More health/wellness posts.
Occasional office style + date night outfit ideas.
Sustainable home goods/linens posts.
More beauty/skincare posts, ideas for non-toxic products.
Suggestions for “how to find your style” and interviews/features of other women. (I LOVE this idea, and have thought about it many times over the years, but always run into issues implementing it…)
More outfits!!! More posts on styling one piece several different ways
What I’m Working on
You probably noticed the site looks a little different today – hopefully it’s easier to read, navigate and a bit “cleaner” than before. I’m still tweaking things here and there, so if you have any suggestions, I’d appreciate them! The homepage displays the latest posts in order, like a blog, but I decided to keep the format so that you’ll have to click through to read more. I did this for a couple of reasons, mostly because I find it a little more aesthetically pleasing to see more images than text on the home page, and also because I think it allows you to quickly see what you want to read or skip if you don’t visit everyday. You can easily view the entire post by clicking on the title of the post, or the “keep reading” link at the bottom of each post.
I also added categories and tags to the bottom of each post to make it easier to keep browsing a specific type of post if you like it.
The challenge with my site, since it’s about 12 years old and FULL of content (and different types of content) is organizing it in such a way that you can find easily what you’re looking for. I still haven’t figured out the best way to do that, but I did move the search bar up in the sidebar a bit, and created more category links in the navigation bars.
For example, Everlane Reviews : If you click on the Everlane link at the very top of each page, you’ll get the Everlane category, and there’s a link at the top to the post with reader reviews in the comments. I’m exploring ideas on how to make this even more effective, perhaps I’ll add a forum, or some simple way to organize reader input based on the item, etc.
Sales & Coupon codes : With the exception of big sales that I shop and write about, like James Perse, and the Nordstrom sales, I’m going to keep all sales and coupon posts at Grechen’s Codes. Lately, I haven’t updated there very often, but I will be doing so daily from now on, and featuring more independent & sustainable designers and boutiques. Please visit Grechen’s Codes and/or sign up for blog updates via bloglovin or email if you’re interested.
Review follow-ups, Years-later reviews : I will absolutely be doing more of these, going forward, to give you an idea of how things hold up to wear, over months, or even years.
Again, I can’t thank you guys enough for taking the time to thoughtfully respond to my survey. I feel a renewed sense of purpose and passion this morning (even though I’m still a little sick…) and am so excited for the year(s) ahead.
I do want to say to those of you who mentioned that you are too shy to leave a comment that you needn’t be. No one bites here (haha!) and one of my favorite things is interacting with you guys personally in the comments section. Honestly, I feel like I learn more from you than you probably do from me sometimes. So, please, leave a comment every once in a while, it will only make Grechen’s Closet better.
And, if you ever have any questions at all, or need help finding something, or just want to say hello, please please please do not hesitate to contact me.
Of course, if you have any other suggestions or input, leave a comment here!
How was your weekend??
Hi Grechen – I’m so glad that you got a lot of responses and that that made you so happy despite the fact you aren’t feeling well. I’m also glad you changed the border at the top – somehow the old black border made it harder for me to read the page (or it just annoyed me!). :0)
Get well soon!
thanks patricia! a couple of people wrote about the black band at the top being annoying and getting in the way of content – it never did so for me, so i had no idea!! Was happy to change it though 😉
LOVE the new style, very clean and nice, easy navigation! Works well on mobile too which I really appreciate. Nice job!
Visually your blog is among the best. Great job. In terms of writing and content, you have the ability to really connect with your readers – I feel as if I know you. You are also differentiated from so many other bloggers doing somewhat of the same thing (e.g. showing their outfits) but somehow you manage to be unique, to really reflect a simple, beautiful, tasteful aesthetic that is your “signature.” Appreciate the sale alerts and the pointing to specific items. Although your aesthetic runs to above average costs in line with the designers you favor, I never have the feeling of anything being beyond my reach and, therefore, the blog is highly relevant.
Keep doing what you are doing!! Glad I took a moment to finally share my highest regard for what you are doing, THANKS, Gretchen!!!
thank you! it’s very easy to do nowadays with all the nice themes out there, not like when i was doing it all by hand 😉
i’m very happy with it!!
wow, thank you so much christina – i appreciate your comment!!
I love the idea of occasional forums to discuss certain clothing related issues so I don’t feel like I hijacked your posts! ( but not too often!)
And the interviews with “stylish women/designers” would be cool! The blog looks great, and I find the comments easier to read, but my font is miniature in the comment box…ideas?
I think I fixed it 😉
let me know if you can tell a difference!!
and thank you 🙂
Hmmm…Nope, it’s still teeny when I type. I’ll screen shot it and send it to you. Is anyone else having this problem? (And this is with my new glasses! I swear!!!)
what browser are you using?
you can also over-ride the font styles/sizes i’m using with your own via your browser preferences. if you’re on your ipad, i’m not sure how to fix it…
ok. my bad 😉 i updated the font in a test site, not in the live one. should be a little larger now. but you can still use the browser trick if you want it even larger…just go to your preferences and choose content to over-ride font size
Thanks, Grechen! I never know if it’s my iPad or the site (wouldn’t you think Apple would have figured that out?!?). 🙂
I really enjoy the “Buy this instead of that” series. I can only find about 5 posts on this? Are there more? If not, I do think just covering “basics” like tees, and cotton pieces, as well as just profiling brands you know are either practicing smaller manufacturing (aka paying their laborers/artisans fair wage)…for me it doesn’t neccesarily have to be made in the USA (for example, Freda Salvador) but knowing that the people crafting my fashion is getting compensated and treated well. That being said, more bags and shoes would be something I would love to see in “Buy this instead of that” and even more cosmetics (more in the not tested on animals, free of chemicals sort of way).
hi lisa! thanks for your feedback – i’ve done a TON of posts with more sustainable, ethical designers (like freda salvador), and you can find some in the sustainable style category and the organic category. the original idea for the “buy this” posts was to find items that were similar in price to the one I was trying to find an alternative for – like the madewell transport tote – and that became really difficult, so i kept my posts about made in the US, sustainable, ethical, vegan alternatives out of that category…
my struggle here is organizing all the posts and different types of posts I do – i did a series on white organic cotton t-shirts (in the organic category), but didn’t organize them well, i suppose, so they’re not as easy to find. something i’m working on!!