Ask the Editor: Sweet Sixteen, Pt. 2

Last week, I asked readers to submit questions for a post to celebrate the sixteenth birthday of Capitol Hill Style. I think I was feeling a bit nostalgic, but I loved so many of the questions I received that I decided to turn it into a series. Here is part two.

Is there any advice you look back on and think, “Ohhh, That was not good.”

Sometimes I come across an older post, and I wince at how certain I was that there were right and wrong ways to dress or act.  As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that everyone is just doing their best to solve their unique challenges with the tools that they have.  Even when the advice was right, the tone could have been a bit gentler.

What’s the best skincare product you’ve ever bought and recommended?

I started this blog when I was 26, so my skincare needs have changed a bit over the years.  That makes choosing a single product a bit of a challenge.

At present, my absolute must own is the Prequel Gleanser.  It’s such an amazing face wash; it has absolutely changed my skin.  

In my 30s, my favorite skincare product was the Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel.  May it rest in peace, in the graveyard of abandoned beauty products.  But a close second was this TonyMoly Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack, which always makes me look like I got a full night sleep for <$20.

Your blog was size inclusive before it was cool. Thank you for that. Why did you decide to expand the size ranges?

There is actually a funny story behind the inclusion of plus-size styles. In 2009 (2010?), I posted a sleeveless shell that came in misses and plus, and I accidentally linked to the plus-size item. The response to that “accident” was several readers thanking me for featuring something in their size.

Until that moment, it never dawned on me that there was an entire section of the readership that wasn’t being served. So ever since, I’ve tried to include inclusive sizes when possible.

Did you ever figure out how to survive life with a toddler, aka a cute illness incubator?

A few weeks ago, I asked for reader advice for avoiding spending my entire winter sick. Ever since we have Sloane, the diseases come fast and furious.

The general consensus was that the parade of illnesses continues until age 8. In the meantime, I am using Zicam swabs and drinking Emergen-C (I like the crystals) every day. I’m also washing my hands all the time, which means I need to keep my favorite hand lotion in every room.

Do you miss D.C.? I think I’m ready to leave but I’m not sure.

I miss my friends terribly. I also miss the vibrance of living in the city, but mostly I miss the Hill.

I often wonder if I could work in the Capitol now. Things in politics have changed so much. My life has changed so much. But sometimes, I remember what it was like to walk through the Rotunda after hours, when the Capitol was quiet, and I just wish I could go back.

My former Boss recently ran for Congress again, and for a brief while, I got to live in a dream world where going back to the Hill to be his Chief of Staff was possible. Sadly, he didn’t win the primary, but it was a nice dream while it lasted.

Are there any “basic pieces” you wore in 2008 that you still wear now?

One of the first pieces I recommend was a sleek trench coat. I still love a great trench, and this Banana Republic option is a favorite. If you want one that has something a bit extra, this cream BR trench has a cool funnel collar. To find the look for less, Mango has you covered.

Beyond that, I still love a black and white stripe tee. I wear one every week. This Spanx top is my current favorite (also in plus). The material is thick and cozy. For a more casual look, I just bought this Land’s End waffle knit (also in petite and plus).

What do you miss about the height of the blogging era?

Ah, the heady days of the early 2010s, when Google Reader still existed, Twitter wasn’t a cesspool, and OOTD ruled us all. It was a glorious time before social media videos, LTK widgets, and monetization took over. The thing I miss most about the old days was having the power to decide what content you consumed. Now, I only see what the Almighty Algorithm chooses for me.

Success on social media is governed by the algorithm. Everyone is just trying to figure out the formula to beat the “algo” in order to get views and make money. As a result, you see the same themes and memes over and over again. You might never have a single worthwhile suggestion on your Explore page. And you have to scroll Instagram on silent, because you never know when Benson Boone or Sabrina Carpenter might cry out from your screen.

Recently, I noticed that my Instagram posts and Stories are being viewed by 80% fewer people today than ten months ago. Maybe it’s because I occasionally post political content. Maybe it’s because I don’t post Reels. Maybe it’s because I like the written word and write too much text. Who knows what I’ve done to offend the Great and Powerful Oz.

I never embraced monetization on Instagram because I knew I wasn’t in control of who viewed my content and I didn’t want to be beholden to a bunch of tech barons who are accountable to no one. Before the tyranny of the algorithm, you chose to follow certain bloggers and (shockingly) you actually got to see their content, on the day it posted. Frankly, I just miss having any semblance of control over whose content I choose to consume and having that content be geared toward an audience, a community, not an algorithm.

Did you miss Part 1? Click here to read that post.

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