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Never Is the Next New Thing

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Ninth Blogversary

July 23, 2016 by WendyB

In 2007, they all told me not to do it. Luxury-goods consultants. The former fashion director of a major department store. My own publicist. Random-ass acquaintances. “Don’t do a blog,” they said. “It will ruin your brand.” “You’re too accessible,” they said. “Luxury is about exclusivity.”

Clearly, I didn’t heed their warnings because today this blog turns nine years old. It’s my ninth blogversary!

via GIPHY

In that time, I’ve published over 3,200 posts and have an alarming 300+ unpublished drafts (it might be time to clear some of those out). WordPress claims I’ve approved about 60,000 comments, which seems crazy to me, but I’m not going to attempt to double-check that. And I have no regrets! Thanks to everyone who has purchased jewelry because of this blog; commented on or shared posts; or just read it on the down-low.

In last year’s post about my eighth blogversary, I included links to all the other blogversary content. Re-reading that reminded me that I celebrated my fifth blogversary by changing the motto of my blog from “Wear What You Want” to “Never Is the Next New Thing™.” I started my blog in the heyday of fashion blogs and even though I was promoting my jewelry, all my blog friends were fashion bloggers. I was kind of a fashion blogger by association and “Wear What You Want” was (and is still) my only consistent fashion rule, so a fashion-related motto suited me.

People who wear what they want occasionally wear something so fashion-forward that observers exclaim, “Never! Never will I wear that!” I realized that kind of extreme reaction against any new style can be an indicator that a major trend is about to develop. In fashion, I saw it everywhere from boyfriend jeans (yes, they were controversial) to “mullet” hemlines to my jewelry designs. An example of the latter: In 2008, I couldn’t interest retailers in my swear rings because they were deemed too risque. Four years later, knockoffs that imitated the font I created started popping up in retailers. A new blog motto came out of that: “Never Is the Next New Thing™.” It doesn’t apply to fashion only. Go ahead: Test it out on technology, sports, whatever! I’m sure you’ll find examples.

The blog motto was handled, but I was still searching for a four- or five-word tagline for my eclectic jewelry designs. I tried a lot of different phrases but I wasn’t happy with any of them. If I focused on the pieces inspired by powerful women, I left out my funny social media designs. If I emphasized the social media aspect, I left out the queens and other royal ladies who are near and dear to my heart. When I tried combining the themes in one sentence, it was too long and complicated. Finally, this spring, it hit me that all of my work — whether elaborate or simple, inspired by history or pop culture — is meant for people who appreciate a little humor in their jewelry. Voilà! (Or “wallah!” as people on Twitter sometimes write.) I had my new company tagline: Fine Jewelry for Witty People.

I recently made that the motto for my blog as well. As I wrote earlier this month:

“This blog was started because of a business and it still primarily serves a business purpose, but, at the same time, that business is me and I am that business.”

At the time, I was explaining why I would continue to write about current events, or any non-jewelry-related topic, as much as I felt like doing so. Now I feel like the new motto manages to encompass the jewelry business and hint that there’s more going on here than just jewelry. As a bonus, I’m still amused at the reaction I got from a couple of people when I tested out the new motto on them before plastering it on business cards and pens and teh Interwebz. “But what about the people who aren’t witty? Won’t they feel left out?” worried MrB. I was like, “Dude! What kind of person is going to raise his or her hand and say, ‘I’m not witty’?!?”

Anyway, not only are my readers and customers witty, they’re all fucking gorgeous too. Thanks for sticking with me all these years — or joining me more recently — you clever and attractive people!

You might also like
I've Got Heart
My Sixth Blogversary and a New Huffington Post Story
My 11th Blogversary!

Filed Under: blogversary

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stacy says

    July 23, 2016 at 6:43 am

    Yay, congratulations! Wear what you want and DO what you want! You go girl. It’s highly impressive that one person — who happens to be brilliant and forward-thinking — can build up a following and a business the way you have. I can’t think of anyone else who has done this without the help of an extensive team. Keep writing and stay witty! Lol re. the peeps who aren’t witty ?

    • WendyB says

      July 23, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      xoxo

  2. Marla says

    July 23, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Happy Blogversary Wendy! Many many more! ?I\’m not witty!

    • WendyB says

      July 23, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      You are soooooooo witty.

  3. Cameron says

    July 23, 2016 at 8:00 am

    Happy Blogversary! I’m happy we found each other when we did way back when! *big hugs*

    • WendyB says

      July 23, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      Seriously! Thanks for being a great publicist!

      • Cameron says

        July 23, 2016 at 11:18 pm

        You are welcome! Can’t wait for the next nine years of WendyB!

  4. Lynette Hanson says

    July 23, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Congratulations, WendyB! I’ve been intrigued, been informed, been inspired, and been so glad that I found your blog, you, and your family.

    • WendyB says

      July 23, 2016 at 2:17 pm

      I’m glad I found you too! <3

  5. K-Line says

    July 23, 2016 at 9:44 am

    Here’s to 9 more!

    • WendyB says

      July 23, 2016 at 2:16 pm

      Thank you!

  6. Imogen says

    July 24, 2016 at 4:38 am

    Congrats Wendy, keep on truckin

    • WendyB says

      July 24, 2016 at 10:26 pm

      Thanks, Imogen!

  7. Sheila (of Ephemera) says

    July 24, 2016 at 2:43 pm

    Congratulations, kudos, and sloppy hugs from one of your witty customers! I just passed my 8th year of blogging so right there with ya, Wendy! Rock on with your badass (and I mean that in the best way) self!

    • WendyB says

      July 24, 2016 at 10:26 pm

      We’re the OGs of blogging! 🙂

  8. Anna says

    July 24, 2016 at 4:42 pm

    Wow nine years! I think I’ve been following for almost eight years. I love that you cover a huge variety of topics, and your jewelry is awesome too.

    • WendyB says

      July 24, 2016 at 10:26 pm

      Thank you for sticking around!

  9. HelOnWheels says

    July 25, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    “Anyway, not only are my readers and customers witty, they’re all fucking gorgeous too.”

    I know you are, but what am I!

    Congratulations! This blog, IMHOP, is one of the most interesting and rare jewels of the interwebs. Like your jewelry. Both of which I love and recommend to everyone. Looking forward to many more years of both!

    • WendyB says

      July 25, 2016 at 4:35 pm

      Thank you so much! xoxoxoxo

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MEET WENDY BRANDES

Award-winning designer of fine jewelry inspired by women's history and pop culture. A former journalist who writes about jewelry, fashion, medieval history, news, feminism, dogs, cats and whatever else is on her mind. Blogging since 2007.
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Original jewelry designs, photos and text are © Wendy Brandes 2007-2016. All rights reserved.

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