When I started to blog back in 2010, blogging wasn’t a way to push product. It never even occurred to me that anybody cared about where my clothing was from, I assumed people would just save my looks in an inspiration board somewhere, like I used to do from Lookbook.nu. I can remember screen shotting looks I liked from the site, and saving them into folders on my desktop labelled by the season (this was before Pinterest!) If I had a tough time getting dressed, I would just pull up some of my favorite looks and recreate them! It was a convenient and free way to help me have a new appreciation for my own wardrobe without spending a dime. I was broke, working at a local clothing boutique and slinging some vintage clothes on Etsy as a side gig, so I was definitely not going out and buying anything from the internet (nor was anyone really trying to sell me anything). It was all in good fun! We followed each other because we felt an unsaid bond thanks to our shared love for being thrifty, photography, and we were a community that celebrated creativity.
Fast forward eight years, and here we are with #ad, swipe up, shop my X,Y and Z and I am just trying to hold on to those early days just a tiny bit, while still earning a living. For me, it’s a really tough balance between sharing what I am wearing, where things are from and providing shopabble links (because if I don’t add them in, many of you will ask for them!) and then feeling like some days I want to share none of it, and simply show my morning coffee and my walk with Hudson because there’s a lot more to life than just buy this or shop that. I guess what I am trying to say is that by nature, this industry is one that promotes spending money, and while every product I talk about I do truly believe in, it just bums me out that a lot of things in life go from fun to profit, as a natural progression, and it changes the entire nature of the thing itself. I love writing these personal posts because I feel like (FOR ME AT LEAST) they are a breath of fresh air. They’re a way to reflect, spread a message, talk about things and not for a second even mention buying things.
For me it isn’t a sponsored VS unsponsored thing. I know there’s a certain stigma that is applied to sponsored content from anyone not in this industry (which is upsetting because sponsored content for me takes much longer to shoot / plan for) – but this post is not to put down sponsored content. It’s more to take a look at ALL of the content, and to acknowledge that sponsored or unsponsored, its all a plea for consumerism, and this constant need to shop. Eighty percent of instagram stories I click thru link to something, and it just makes me feel this constant NEED for more, more, more. If I feel that way, I can’t even imagine how someone who isn’t a blogger may feel. I am so passionate about what I do, and I absolutely love being able to creatively help brands share new arrivals, product launches, etc. but I just wanted to also play devils advocate and say that if you feel like your striped tee shirt and favorite pair of jeans is all you need, and you’re happy with your skincare regimen, than that is okay too! My intentions are never to make you feel a lack of anything, just to entertain you, share tips and most of all share a love of creativity and fashion. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.