21 Comments
User's avatar
Sabine's avatar

I love all your content but, coming from a very different world in terms of budget, just can't relate to much of your personal supplements, clothes and lifestyle items you post. They are waay out of my reality. I am here for your knowledge of vintage, design and style-on-a-budget. Please keep that coming! I love it.

Virginia Chamlee's avatar

Appreciate this! As someone with more than a decade in magazines, I understand the value of both subscription and ad revenue and I view affiliate linking as my ad revenue. I love sharing products I use and even better if I get a slice of the sale, as it supports the work I do! So I hope to offer a mix of both so I can continue writing. That being said, still curious to know if readers like the more personal stuff versus purely educational (I’ve written some very personal essays about my life for instance that have not much to do with thrifting but have been well received).

Sabine's avatar

Hi Virginia, personally, I like both your personal stuff AND your educational/fun/thrifting content. I am super happy subscribing to your substack and also very much appreciate you sharing the products you use, even though I can't afford them. If I could, I would! I respect that they are clean, minimal and healthy beauty and food products and also (hopefully) support your hard work. Please continue writing!

Francesca McCaffery's avatar

Would LOVE to see your travel diary! ( and amazing dress omg!! 🤩)

Virginia Chamlee's avatar

Still can’t get over the dress!!

Leah's avatar

I would so use that sofa indoors! Love it. I always appreciate seeing your vintage finds and your eye for editing!

Jessica Sawyer's avatar

I love the extra stuff.

Virginia Chamlee's avatar

Thank you! A mikx of both seems to be be where I'm heading!

Kim Moran's avatar

I love the extra stuff too!

Dragoness's avatar

I normally adore your content but please do not use models that look like they exist on Crack and shattered dreams. While i have reached an age where advertising is no longer targeting me, you do have a much younger audience that will try to emulate you, right along with whatever content you post. Sending my love and continued support, Diana

Virginia Chamlee's avatar

Thanks for reading, Diana, and for sharing your perspective. I included the image because I loved the outfit itself, not as an endorsement of any particular body type or beauty standard. I also think it's worth remembering that we don't know anything about the model's health or circumstances, so I'd be hesitant to make assumptions based on her appearance. And while I always appreciate feedback, my audience does tend to be around my age (41) and older.

Coop's avatar

I enjoy your personal narratives and LOVE your knowledge of vintage and design. I like the pieces that are investments or splurges. Your sense of whimsy is refreshing.

Swire's avatar

Love everything you write and post. I enjoy thrifting and finding great vintage pieces because of you. I love your book and would love to see your personal extra too!!

Arlene Guerra's avatar

I enjoy the personal mixed with the educational. I find it makes it more inspiring. I was a fashion stylist for years and everything including my personal life influenced and informed what I was currently creating. I also find when you do this it makes it less AI feeling. All the other articles come across very sterile. It’s nice to have a person behind the educational.

April Sopkin's avatar

Love the personal & the vintage narratives ✨✨✨

Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

Ooh, nothing like spotting that vintage Cardin curl logo/tag, eh? That scarab necklace is amazing, and I would TOTALLY wear it. I have a few bug/beetle/moth brooches and a scarab ring, plus other assorted odds and ends of insect (and spider, love my spiders) accessories, most of them secondhand.

Not interested in the things to buy, but I love seeing the furnishings, housewares and clothes you find. That dress is spectacular! I also love hearing about personal stuff - I first found you when you were writing about your grandmother in 2024.

Virginia Chamlee's avatar

Funny enough, my favorite piece of jewelry is a scarab ring that belonged to my grandmother!

Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

Oh, that’s so lovely! No wonder you are a fan of scarabs!

Christene Barberich's avatar

Such a good one today...that PC necklace was INSANE!!!

Virginia Chamlee's avatar

Someone bought it before I could 🫠