A couple of weeks ago, I asked in my Instagram stories if people would be interested in a post about the joys and challenges of blogging. The response was a resounding yes. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, so I’m happy to share my thoughts. I would love to hear yours in the comments!
I started this blog in 2012 when I didn’t love my day job and felt like I needed a creative outlet (check out that throwback pic!). The fashion industry, and the blogging space, have changed a lot since then. There are a lot more blogs, and so many people blog full-time. Partnerships with brands and PR agencies have grown exponentially. There are departments, and whole companies that exist solely for the purpose of “influencer marketing.” Influencers are sitting front row at Fashion Week and creating clothing lines with major retailers.
So, where do I stand? Blogging takes a lot of time and effort. I spend hours each week shooting outfits, putting together content, editing photos and writing posts. There’s a lot of pressure to be creating content and documenting at all times, and many bloggers definitely don’t have any work-life balance. I promised myself when I started that I would keep blogging until I no longer enjoyed it, and that point hasn’t come yet. I truly enjoy sharing shopping guides, favorite books, travel diaries, and of course my personal style. I’ve always loved shopping and putting outfits together, and although I definitely shop a bit more than I otherwise would, I’m still just as much of a deal-seeker. It’s fun for me to research trends and find affordable options to style them.
It has also been incredibly meaningful to focus more on body positivity and body image. Until recently, there hasn’t been enough diversity in the images we see on websites, in magazines or on runways. I finally feel like the fashion industry is catching up, but we need more. My hope is to represent the “in between” women who aren’t plus-size, but still have curves. I want to show these women (and all women) how to embrace their bodies and love what they’re wearing. I want to make shopping and getting dressed less scary for as many women as possible. It’s very important to me to be authentic. I never retouch my images and I almost always take outfit pictures when I’m actually wearing the outfit. I’m grateful to my husband and friends who patiently help me capture content to make this happen.
In the last year, I’ve been sharing more about my mental health struggles. I’m so glad this conversation has become more open and we’re working to combat stigma. But, if I’m being honest, one of the greatest challenges of blogging and social media is how it affects my anxiety. From taking outfit pictures in public, to recording candid videos for Instagram stories, to reaching out to PR companies and brands and going to events…it’s tough to be an introvert with anxiety in this industry!
Seriously though, I’m not always put-together, bubbly and outgoing like so many bloggers, and I think that has held me back. I’m often awkward, sweating, with my hair in a frizz ball, and frankly sometimes I feel like I’m not cool enough. I know that there are plenty of other women like me and I try to be an example to them. But, the strong, quiet types definitely get overlooked too often. That’s part of why I applied to Fohr’s Freshman Class. (If you follow me on Facebook and/or Instagram, you probably saw posts about this. It’s a special program for influencers to get some “extra help” with mentorship and networking. It would be such an amazing opportunity, and I’m crossing all of my fingers and toes that they take a chance on me. Thanks to all who submitted a testimonial on my behalf!)
So yes, blogging is challenging and competitive. It’s A LOT to share your life with the world, but it’s also really rewarding. It doesn’t look like influencers are going anywhere, but hopefully there will be a little more equality of opportunities in the future. My hope is to create more of a community here and connect more with other bloggers who have similar perspectives. I would love to hear your thoughts and if there are any topics or trends you want me to cover more. Thank you so much for following along on my journey!
