Local Blogger Inspires Others To Look And Feel Good By Stretching A Penny
By Kristina Dougherty
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Blogger, fashionista, and traffic reporter. It seems Northeast Philadelphia native Vittoria Woodill can do it all.
Growing up, Vittoria shared a one and a half bedroom home with six people, but the tight living situation never slowed her down. In fact, it made her learn how to "stretch a penny" while maintaining a positive attitude...and an enviable wardrobe.
"I've always been obsessed with style since a very young age. I even remember picking a Philadelphia Style Magazine out of a dumpster, at age 13, while on break working at a catering company because the cover was so magical. I just had to have it my hands and look through it. Then I hand sanitized, but I've always been drawn to fashion as art and the idea that style is just as expressive as art," Vittoria says.
So, she began her blog, Polished For Pennies.
"I wanted my blog to celebrate the fact that style has no price, it's how it makes you feel and how you express yourself," Vittoria explains.
That it does. Polished For Pennies is not just a fashion blog, it also offers beauty tips, confidence boosters and everyday advice, from how to host an elegant party to finding the perfect Mother's Day present, all on a budget.
And perhaps the most impressive section on her blog is Polished TV, which features videos covering a plethora of topics, from behind-the-scenes fashion shoots, instructional videos on how to properly apply makeup and even a DIY baby photo shoot, all hosted by Vittoria.
But at its core, Polished For Pennies is about looking and feeling your best, while not breaking the piggy bank. Vittoria says her most impressive "P4P" purchase is "a vintage Chanel suit that I got for $10 at a thrift store. It's been authenticated, and it's been my most unforgettable purchase."
Yes, a ten dollar Chanel suit -- this woman is the real deal.
When not working on her blog, Vittoria shows off her fiercely unique style five days a week as a traffic reporter on CBS3 and the CW Philly. She says she derives fashion inspiration from a lot of people, but right now Blake Lively has caught her eye. "She always has the perfect mix of my P4P principles: Pop, luxury and zip factor, wrapped into one look that's always memorable."
A couple of years and thousands of followers later, Vittoria offers this advice to potential bloggers:
"Write when you are inspired. Quality not quantity. You can feel when your writing is good, and you can feel when your writing is not up to par, so write with a purpose so your readers can feel your message. Also, stay true to your brand. It's so important to have an identity in a blog-o-sphere where there are so many of us trying to reach the same goals. Stick to your message and keep building YOUR brand. What do you want your blog to be known for? What is your voice? What's your brand message? Stay true to your identity and always remember your intent for starting your blog."
Great advice from the triple threat herself.
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