As I approach my first year of living in NYC (stay tuned for a post on my experiences here later this week), I am looking back on how my blogging journey has evolved and transformed over the past 365 days. Prior to my big move, I didn’t think my blog would amount to anything more than an outlet for me to express myself and all of my weird thoughts, without caring who else would bear witness to them. Once I discovered a growing community of women who took pleasure in sharing their looks and musings with others (via social media and websites), I started thinking about how I could leverage my residence in one of the world’s fashion capitals to stand out in this community, and, who knows, maybe learn some valuable lessons along the way.
The People
I can’t even begin to describe how many amazing people I’ve met throughout my blogging journey, whether at influencer events or small get-togethers. When I first moved to the city, I had very little friends here. Although I live with my sister, that feeling of being a little fish in a big pond still holds true in a place like New York. Finding a group of ladies with whom I share common ground has led to the development of some sincere and meaningful friendships that I know will last in the years to come. Furthermore, these gals have helped me along in my millennial identity crisis, which most of us have gone or still are going though.
The Writing
I launched my blog as a post-grad venture with the intent of continuing to do what I love most (with the added bonus of having no filter): writing. I started taking this outlet a little more seriously once I moved, and over time, the blog has shifted from a space to promote my personal style to a platform that fuses my love of writing and storytelling with fashion. Just as my style has evolved to become more of who I am over the course of this year, so has my self-expression, and I am excited to grow my writing skills and share more of my life with you all.
The Reality
Contrary to what the general populace might believe, blogging isn’t always as glamorous as it looks. A lot of time and energy goes into bringing a single blog post to life. From planning the optimal combination of clothing in one’s wardrobe, to capitalizing on angles and lighting while shooting the photos (with editing to follow) and then composing a story about it, the process can seem long and tedious. Moreover, I am not the first to admit that building a presence on Instagram comes with waves of self-doubt, comparing oneself to others and becoming blindsided by the numbers. Truth be told, it took me until recently to come to the conclusion that the content you put out should be the real indicator of your success, not your follower count or the number of likes you receive on your posts. Every blogger has his/her own unique “thing” carrying them forward. It’s easier said than done, but once you stop playing the comparison game and center your focus on publishing quality content that satisfies YOU, then you can start being proud of yourself and what you’ve achieved.
A dear friend and fellow blogger told me that doing what you love shouldn’t feel like a chore. If it begins to feel like work, maybe it wasn’t meant for you after all. After reflecting on all of the friends and connections I’ve made, the outfits I’ve styled and the visual magic I’ve been fortunate to create with my boyfriend this past year, I’ve realized that blogging is exactly what I should be doing, and New York is exactly where I should be doing it. With a stronger mindset, evolving creativity, and lessons learned from year one, I can’t wait to embark on new journeys and show you what’s in store this year on the blog!
*A special thank you to Two Feathers for gifting me with this top*
Shop the look:
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Outfit
Top (similar HERE and HERE): Two Feathers
Pants (similar HERE): Oak + Fort
Boots (similar HERE): Mango
Bag (similar HERE): The Frankie Shop
Earrings (similar HERE and HERE): Oak + Fort
Bracelet (similar HERE): Aldo Shoes
Photography: Jacob Goldberg
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