A Year Of Fashion Blogging: What It's Taught Me

This week marks a whole year of me posing, pouting and documenting my favourite outfits on the internet. To say I was hesitant to start this journey was an understatement, having experienced a spectrum of online hate about my appearance over the years, but as I stepped into my seventh year of blogging it was time to try something different. With a little help from my friends (namely Kirsty and Kaye taking my photos) I've brought you 30 different looks that have documented my love of a designer bag, a great pair of shoes and a flush of colour. Rather surprisingly, my fashion posts have been some of my favourite to pull together over the last year - not only because it's given me a new challenge, but because of the reception they've received from you guys. I'm not a skinny, blonde, aspirational 20-something who can make anything look good (believe me, I have to try!) but you've been so supportive, encouraging and complimentary that it's filled me with excitement to keep on showing you can embrace fashion whatever your age or size. As I step into the second year of me having the ultimate excuse to go shopping, I wanted to reflect back on what the last twelve months of sharing my wardrobe with you have taught me. 

We all have a signature style, whether that's a certain shape or simply 'jeans and a tee', but the way to turn an okay outfit into a cracking look is by trying new things. For such a long time I'd bought the same kind of pieces (basically because I was a bit lazy and couldn't be bothered with having to pick myself up after the realisation that XYZ looked horrendous on me,) but having to pick out a new outfit to document has encouraged me to change it up a bit. It's also encouraged me to think about outfits as a whole, rather than just picking up pieces because they stood out - so I now mentally pull a look together while in the shop, rather than wondering what they hell I'm going to do with that embellished top when I get home. My wardrobe is now an exciting and refreshing place to be, rather being full of three outfits replicated twenty times over.

The best outfits in my opinion always contain a pop of colour, or a spectrum of complementary tones that work to create an overall feeling of 'oooh that's pretty.' Documenting my looks has definitely encouraged me step out of usual muted colour palette and towards shades that I know will look a lot better on camera. (Yellow is one of those shades I've fallen in love with this year.) I've started to add in a touch of colour or a sprinkling of pattern where I would've previously felt overdone, as well as experimenting with textures and clashing tones too. (Hello leather, velvet and satin!) Sometimes leopard print or a bold floral pattern is the only thing will do.

I'm well known within my friendship circle for having a mild shopping problem when it comes to shoes and bags, but in my opinion they can absolutely make or break an outfit. What's the point in curating a fabulous look, only to ruin it with a pair of boring boots? Since documenting my fashion choices online, I've noticed that the accessories are just as important (and sometimes can be even more so) as the basics; if you invest wisely or treat yourself to some statement tassel earrings, then the rest just kind of all falls into place. Although I've never been one to be matchy-matchy, it's been refreshing to reaffirm my knowledge that clashing accesories are just as cool as complementary ones.

Six months ago if you'd asked me about layers, the response would have been something along the lines of 'warm, fluffy and with the sole purpose of keeping me cosy'. Skip forward a little and I've realised that layers can be an incredibly effective way of showcasing a look and the contrast between material (leather and cotton, gingham and and a trench) can really give your outfit something special. Historically I used to use layers purely for keeping me toasty and most were meant to be invisible, but I've started using them for more than that - whether it's a jumper underneath a dress or a big fur stole over a leather jacket, it not only gives me something to take photos of but makes the whole thing a touch more on-trend too.

I have to admit that 'dressing up' for the camera took a little getting used to, and I did feel a little awkward in some instances, but in reality those are your best looks. When most people are lounging around in jeans and a tee, or have put more thought into their breakfast than their outfit, then you can feel a little uncomfortable and overdressed. Over the last few months I've learned to stop caring and be confident in my fashion choices, because you guys tell me you love the outcome. What's more liberating and confidence boosting than that?

If there's one thing that forces you to address your insecurities, then it's looking at hundreds of pictures of them on a regular basis. For years I'd barely taken anything more than a carefully cropped selfie, but jumping into posing in the middle of the street has helped me come to love my changing body shape and accept the fact I no longer have the skin (or arms - bingo wings are not my friend!) of my 20-something self. Yes I still don't like every photo, and yes I certainly have my good and bad angles, but honestly I don't think I've ever been more confident as I am now. I don't *need* to love or look my best in every single picture, but instead focus on the fact I'm sharing information and my body is just the vessel that allows that to happen. (Deep.) I'm more than the way I look - and so are you.

I hope you've enjoyed the past 30 different outfits and will continue to enjoy the ones I'm planning to share over the next twelve months. Here's to many more snaps of me with cheap as chips shoes and overpriced handbags!



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