have you ever bought anything after seeing it recommended on a blog?

[foxysocks]

and does it change your opinion/'rating' of that blogger if it's a dud?

I was thinking about this the other day. I wonder if these blogs that do lots of lots of links to things they haven't seen or bought themselves are shooting themselves in the foot. or do readers not mind if they buy an item and think it's rubbish quality?

the first fashion blog I ever read was DMBL40, and I bought a cotton striped jumper from H&M after her recommendation. it was AWFUL. misshapen after one wash, I had to throw it away.

that was over a year ago now. more recently I have bought a pair of sunglasses and some sandals, both of which I saw on What I Bought Today. I love them both LOADS so probably take more notice of the blog and her recommendations.

I was stalking a whistles dress for months and just after I had bought it saw the same one on Liberty London Girl. although maybe that doesn't count as it wasn't her recommendation that led me to buy it.

i think that's it for me. what about you? I wonder how much we are influenced by the blogs we read to part with cold hard cash?

obv the fashion industry think we are, as they seem to give freebies and build relationships with those who put lots of time and effort into their blogs. which I think is great btw, if that's the way fashion/advertising is going. I do like honest reviews of items though rather than lots of sales chat!

Yes I have. I bought a couple of things DMBL40 recommended but sent them all back. She is a very different shape to me and style and so although I still look at her blog, I don't buy stuff she buys.

Could you link the blog you mentioned Foxy please? As I tend to like the stuff you like

I tend to check reviews of makeup and skincare on blogs before buying. There are a few bloggers I trust to do decent reviews. If the reviews are good, I'll usually buy the product.

Right now, I can't think of anything I've bought in that way that's disappointed me.

Same, I also bought a couple of things DMBL40 blogged, but they didn't work for me, so now I just read her blog. Sometimes a blog does remind me of a brand that I haven't look at for a while, too.

It's this one Mrs CB www.whatiboughttoday.com/

Good idea to check re:skin care. I am not very into skincare or makeup so had never thought of checking reviews online.

I've bought a couple of great things off of DMBL40, something off of Twentymumthing, and a few things off Applied Style. I'm just a huge copycat.

No duds yet - thought I dyed the twentymumthing top!

I bought a Phase Eight Janice dress after a rec, but I think it was on here rather than a blog. It was rubbish - shrank after one wash, and got a hole in after a couple of wears.

Then again, I bought a Whistles tube skirt after seeing it on Amber's blog and it is absolutely brilliant, so I suppose you win some and you lose some.

Tbh I read and use MN for recs far more than blogs, and am struggling to find any blogs that I like enough to keep following.

I read DMBL40 but don't buy the clothes as her shape is completely different. But I think she's great at accessories so take more notice of those.

I've checked out or bought things recommended by the Worn Out women and Susie So So. I think blogs influence me mostly re brands or shops rather than specific items. The S&B boards are the biggest influence on me as there tends to be more than one person commenting on things.

Ah yes I've bought a few things on Amber's recommendation but from MNV rather than her blog. Love them all, she has great taste.

YY re brands too, that's a really good point.

I seem to covet more stuff on pinterest really. Although do love WIT. In fact ordered j crew crystal necklace last week that she recommended.

I used to like WIT but her grammar makes me wince sometimes, and she has very expensive tastes.

I follow DMBL40 on Twitter and happily read her blog from time to time. She's about a foot taller than me and has a greater budget. However I did buy a H&M scarf she recommended last winter - I wore it to death and it will come out again this winter.
I also follow the AllWornOut blog. Never bought anything on there but like that it has different posters.
I follow schoolGateStyle on Twitter too. That has alerted me to different retailers rather than specific items.
I am a big WIT fan. Lots of things out of my price range but I like it for style ideas. I have just bought a parka similar to one she was wearing last year and I like her love of stripes and jewellery. She also appears to have a body shape closer to have mine.

I love WIT but have never bought anything she has recommended

oh just remembered another - I bought a parka in the NaP sales after seeing it linked on Cookies and Candies. it's fab, i like how C&C goes for fewer items of really good quality.

I think Tiffany Wendel is my biggest blog crush ever. I LOVE her. I actually want to be her.

Oh so do I Foxy - she is just so cool.

I reckon WIT is v v v rich - I follow her on twitter and do rather love her, but her life is very very very far removed from mine.

As to her writing, well her English is way better than my Italian

I didn't know she was Italian. Okay, I forgive her!

I bought harem trousers after seeing them on AllWornOut blog, also nail varnish that one of the posters recommended.

Love WIT but her budget is a lot bigger than mine so I take inspiration rather than buy what she has!

I wonder whether some of the influence of blogs (and other sources) is both delayed and indirect. For example, WIT has a red Smythson bag. I love it, but lack the Smythson budget / lifestyle. However, the next handbag I bought was a more affordable, similar looking bag. I think I was probably influenced by WIT in that purchase. She also has some Louboutin studded slippers. I wasn't a fan. I'm still now. However, yesterday I bought a pair of more conservative looking leopard print studded slippers from R&B. I think I was also probably influenced by WIT (and others) in that purchase, too.

Have tried many a beauty products, make up, foot files etc after seeing them recommended on here!

MrsRS - have literally just footfiled my feet. That was defitely one of the best S&B recommendations ever.

Have sought out and tried on many many things seen on blogs. I can't think of anything I've bought, they've never suited me. The one item I'm sorry I didn't buy was the Zara studded sleeve coat in navy, from last year, as raved about by the allwornoutblog crew. Tried it on, loved it, lovely on, never bought. Why? I have no idea. Must've been hormonal.

Agree WIT is fab. Oh to have her taste and budget.

Remus I'm now all self-concious about my grammar!!!

What is the WIT blog? I like looking at the more high end fashion bloggers, more for inspiration on putting stuff together, and then looking for similar in my price range, occasionally making some investment buys. I bought Ash high tops after seeing them on dmbl40. I follow a few very fashionable ladies on Instagram who share daily outfits and have bought things after seei them on there. I am very confident in what suits me and have my own individual style, I find most of the fashion blogs a wee bit dull, all following a particular trend and afraid to mix things up a bit. But I can see how readers who are unsure about fashion can find them very useful to help guide them.

Lurking - no, don't be. On here is different - like talking - but blogs are, 'published' so it does annoy me a bit when they are incorrectly written. Then again, I've seen three officially produced signs this week which had 'it's' used as a possessive, so I'm feeling particularly sensitive.

Hi Foxy

Have yet to be influenced directly by a blog on fashion although I am sure they have impacted upon how my tastes evolve. I have pinned street style photos which then inspire me to put existing items together in a fresh way or maybe look out for something that I have seen when next shopping.

I do listen to what the MNVogue thread posters write though and enjoy my exposure to items I may not have encountered otherwise. I have bought items recommended/pinned by these MNers and benefit from discussion as to where to find the best value/most resilient T shirts for example and codes/details of sales.

I have bought beauty items and also a supplement called Femergy which Sarah Vine mentioned online.

I don't like blogs that are littered with adverts but accept that they have to generate revenue just as Vogue magazine has 50 pages of adverts before you get to the editorial!

Ah! I get you, Remus. Yes it is like a chat here. And sometimes those poorly grammered (excuse the English ) signs give me a twitchy eye too.

This is www.wearingittoday.co.uk/. I like her taste.

And I agree with mignonette. I get very irritated with blogs littered with adverts. I also find sponsored blog posts make me doubt the blogger's judgement, tends to put me off.

I was going to say no but I was just looking at the worn out blog and I have the same Whistles petal top as MrsCB!! She is wicked cool though
I never really believe the bloggers who are reviewing something they are given by a company as they always like it and never say that it is crap!