Recent Outfits and Why Instagram is Going to the Dogs

A quick round up of recent outfits, plus my thoughts on Instagram. Above, you've seen this pink skirt before but now I have added a pink jumper with an interesting animal print pattern and a few sequins, also from Marks and Spencer. 

This is what I wore to see Mark Knopfler at the O2.  An attempt at rock chick, with my sequin jacket and sunnies.

Mr Knopfler and Dire Straits somehow managed to elude me back in the day. I'm sure I categorised him as boring and too fond of the jangly guitar. But Mr Mutton is a fan, so in the interest of domestic harmony (and making sure Mr Mutton owes me one when I want to see a Harold Pinter), I bought the tickets.

I was a bit flabbergasted at how old Mr Knopfler looks at nearly 70, but I suppose I haven't seen him since the red bandana days (him, not me) of Sultans of Swing, whereas Elton has been ageing for years so it doesn't come as a shock to see him at 72.

Talking of Elton reminds me that the matte sequin jacket was bought for when we saw him in Belfast in 2016  (hitherto known as "the Elton John Jacket"). We're seeing him again in Liverpool in 2020 which gives me a new jacket opportunity. 

I was prepared to sit back and daydream, but in actual fact the music was very melodic, the band very virtuoso, and I quite enjoyed it. And it got a five star review in The Times. 

I've never really done camo or khaki cargo pants before but I was inspired by the likes of Jess from Elegantly Dressed and Stylish to buy this natty t-shirt from River Island and the trousers from Asos. With the trousers you should size down because they're a bit big. I'm attempting that half tuck again, but with no true conviction.

Beware of Scammers on Instagram

There's been a lot of outrage lately about bloggers with a fake (bought) following going on brand junkets. The younger bloggers in particular want to see them ostracized and named and shamed. 

Equally insidious to me is the number of scammer accounts who follow women like us.

Before Christmas, I was looking at the locations of my followers and was surprised to see so many from Nigeria.  I then started looking at the actual followers and realised a lot of them were dodgy accounts. Scammers. They have very few followers or posts, but usually they're following quite a few. Their posts typically show men in US military outfits, random flowers and sunsets, and they claim to be "God fearing men" or, strangely, orthopedic surgeons. Their game is contacting what they see as vulnerable, naive older women, and starting up an online relationship to gradually extort money.

Quite often they send me direct messages, usually referring to me as "dear", which is a red flag right away, and I block and report them.

Instagram is very slow to deal with these.  I spent hours over Christmas deleting all the ones that had followed me and I hadn't spotted them.  It reduced my following by a thousand. Yes, a thousand, and all fake bots or scammers. 

I now remove new ones every day.

Disclosure: no items were gifted.

Sharing this post with: Creative Mondays at Claire Justine, Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, Chic&Stylish at Mummabstylish, Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style; Fabulous Friday at A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Thursday Moda at Elegance and Mommyhood, Anna at The Glamadventure, Spread the Kindness at Shelbee On The Edge, #iwillworkwhatIlike at Not Dressed as Lamb,#BloggerClubUK at My Random Musings, #MuttonStyleMondays at Muttonstyle, #Stylewithasmile at Stylesplash, Color and Grace

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