I was brought up to view clothing as strictly utilitarian. Sometimes I ask my mom if I really came from her womb and she always answers “of course!” as she sits there in her mom jeans she found in the clearance bin five years ago at a local Tractor Supply Company. Thanks to her, my style remains simple, utilitarian, yet with an edge thanks to dad.
To this day, my dad rocks the leather jackets and vests, black jeans, motorcycle boots and leather cuffs inscribed with the Blue Oyster Cult initials. Friends always thought he was some sort of escaped convict, but he was just simply a badass. And I find myself drawing from his personal style aesthetic to inspire my own.
For more than three years I’ve been passively participating in the world of fashion through observation. After much hesitation, I finally jumped into several online fashion communities last year, and this year started my
own fashion and personal style blog.
I’ve developed more confidence and gained support from my readers and fellow bloggers who have influenced my style. When the opportunity came to meet some of these girls in person, learn more about how to successfully run a fashion blog and experience
New York Fashion Week, I jumped on board.
I registered for a conference during New York Fashion Week through
Chictopia, which is one of the fashion communities I’m a member of. I was surrounded by influential bloggers such as Jane Aldridge from
Sea of Shoes, fashion editors and up-and-coming designers.
I was also invited to be a part of a Girls Night Out party sponsored by Dove, and hosted by mega-fashion blogger Jessica Schroeder of
What I Wore. At this exclusive event, I met girls from around the country and put my photography skills to work. We enjoyed drinks and food before heading out in a limo to tour downtown New York City. By documenting the night, I was able to gain exposure through sharing these images with the bloggers. This experience allowed me to combine elements of photojournalism and fashion—two loves of my life.
I was also invited to the Academy of Art fashion show at Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. The fashion show was by far the highlight of my stay in NYC. I photographed the models, personally experienced a true fashion show and was surrounded by inspiration and others who shared my enthusiasm for fashion. This further fueled my passion for photography and fashion.
I’ve been a silent observer for so long and now I’ve realized it’s time for me to take a risk and get more involved and channel this energy into the Capital region.