It was a fabulous blog story about New Deal bar manager and “fashionista” Amethyst Dwyer that led me to the fashion and style blog Wardrobe Oxygen.  That’s a topic I never, ever read about, which tells you a lot about my own “style”, which I give no thought to but probably should.

But this particular style and fashion blog appeals to even style-phobics like myself because of blogger Alison Gary’s philosophy – that regardless of age, figure, budget, or lifestyle, anyone can look fabulous.  Reading that made me want to find out more.

About the Blog

Created waaaay back in 2005, Wardrobe Oxygen is the vehicle for Alison’s sage advice about beauty, style and fashion but best of all, she models and describes her very own outfits, apparently every single day.  (Imagine!)  So we see her smiling adorably in outfits that display her “daily fashion choices and information on why she chose certain brands and how she got her look for less.”

So unlike the alienating experience of flipping through magazines like Vogue, Wardrobe Oxygen manages to draw me in and make style seem like something that even I could get better at.

Plus, the photo shoot locations are right down the street, in iconic Greenbelt spots.  (If you can call chain link fence iconic, and I’m afraid it kinda is.  Though not in a good way, like the Mother and Child statue).

Speaking of Greenbelt, nowhere on the blog does Alison mention it because her audience is a national one; nay, an international one!  Proof of that came home to her when she sold a high chair on Craigslist and the buyer, a recent immigrant from Ukraine, recognized her as “Ally the fashion blogger”.  See how much fun blogging can be?  You just never know who’ll find you online, often people you’d never cross paths with otherwise.  Alison’s bio simply identifies her as “a Washington DC – based blogger and freelance writer” who lives in a “suburb known for its “crunchy” vibe and unique residents.”

Oh, that’s us all right.

Whatever she’s doing is sure working because the blog’s traffic is great and her “mentions” are amazing.  She told me the key to the blog’s success is its focus on content.  Networking via the BlogHer group and DC’s fashion and beauty network has helped, too.

So what keeps Alison blogging after all these years?  She just loves to write.  And it shows.

Alison has many years experience working in the crazy word of fashion – as a visual merchandiser, trainer, and personal shopper.  She’s also a regular fashion and style columnist for The Savvy Life magazine, Washington Post’s The Buzz, and at the Savings.com blog.  Married to her high school sweetheart and the mother of a smart three-year-old, she grew up in nearby Seabrook and has lived in Old Greenbelt since ’99.

Fashion and Style for Greenbelt?

I sheeplishly asked if Alison had any tips for someone like me – a Boomer seen around town in mud-smeared gardening clothes.  She suggested I try the blog Une femme d’un certain age and for shopping, Nordstrom’s website.  Seriously.  Turns out, there’s a much larger selection online than in the stores, plus free shipping and returns.  And deep sales.  Who knew?   I loathe shopping for clothes but if shopping online makes it easy enough, I’ll give it a try.

So how about fashion in and about Greenbelt generally – what does she recommend?  Alison’s three wardrobe essentials for Greenbelters are shows she knows the town:  comfy shoes, clothes with pockets, and layers.