(An old blog header from around 2010)
I first began this blog (It wasn't called fashion-train at this point) when I was 15 years old. I was a fashion obsessed teenager, obsessed with buying clothes and wearing different outfits and my fashion bible was reading Elle magazine. I began writing this blog to my Uncle moving away to the other side of the world and he updated my family with what he was doing through a travel blog. Soon after I thought why not begin one of these blog things about fashion? Little did I know for the next 6 years blogging would evolve into an industry in it's own right, where popular bloggers wrote books, had beauty lines and product ranges.
After all this time calling myself a 'fashion' blogger I've become stuck in a rut. It's not because I'm not interested in fashion as I am in the final few weeks of my fashion promotion degree, it's simply because the fashion blogging industry has changed.
(blog photo taken with my mobile phone in 2010)
I no longer find myself posing for photos by my garden wall as now I feel that my attempt at getting a good photo isn't good enough. I'm a typical 21 year old girl, loves having a few cocktails, works hard and hanging out with friends and my boyfriend. I'm a student, I lead a busy life and I blog when I can. Blogging has become a place where people can now call their hobby a full-time job. They have photographer on call, stick thin figures and live in London so they can take over exposed photos of strangers doorsteps as it's a 'pretty backdrop'.
When I first began blogging I spent everything I earned from my part time job at a local football stadium, on clothes (usually in Primark as that's all I could afford) I was obsessed with trying new outfits, experimenting with new styles and documenting it on my blog was an ideal form of expression for me. Over the next couple of years it became a community, readers were loyal (and some still are) and everyone was kind and supportive to each other and spent time reading each others blogs and getting to know each other. For the first time in my life I felt like I belonged. I finally found 'friends' interested in fashion just as much as I was.
(I was around 16 here and I'd just discovered what a tripod was haha!)
Around a year later (maybe not even that) brands began to email me. I never knew why they were contacting me and why they'd have any interest in a 16 year old girl. I went to my first blogging event and I felt like I'd discovered a new world, we were treated like VIP's today, I travelled down to Leicester (I had to bring my mum as a chaperone) and that's when I knew maybe my little hobby was getting me noticed in the industry I'd worked so hard to get into.
Fast forward around a few years and it's become an industry where blogs are exactly like magazines. To be a 'successful' blogger you have to have a youtube channel. The genuine side of blogging is lost, as is the authenticity (I even based my dissertation for university on this) The content you think is genuine is probably paid for and when it comes to working with brands and companies all they look for is numbers. I know I'm never going to be a 'big blogger' and I'll continue to blog for as long as it makes me happy and I feel inspired.
I'm not saying I'm not a 'fashion blogger' as that's where this blog began. I just don't feel comfortable posting photos of my outfits when so many blogs are like magazine spreads and I do not have the means for that. I am not a size 8, hair down to my knees and a model looking face and a photographer on call. I made this blog to focus on what I'm interested in and at the moment I'm really loving beauty blogging. I'll still probably post the odd fashion post though as that's where this blog began.
I'm hoping one day I'll wake up and I'll fall in love with fashion blogging again but for the time being, it's not something I'm enjoying and I'd rather focus my blog on content I'm truly interested in to be as real and genuine with you guys, my readers.
I hope you liked this more honest, personal post. I'd love to know your thoughts.
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6 comments
The comments on the pictures made me laugh on this! Great post
Wildgloss.com
I feel you Becca, it's hard to feel relevant these days. I'm cringing at myself even typing that because really, why should we feel the need to be relevant? I think we've been blogging for a similar length of time as you and watching the changes and opportunities in the 'industry' has been exhausting at times! You should be proud of your blog and what you have achieved though, just the other day a friend told me that you take amazing beauty product photos, so readers definitely appreciate your efforts :) And as a fellow brick wall poser, you need to get to it again! J x
I so agree with what you've said here. I don't resent people who have done really well but I feel a little lost in the blogosphere sometimes and kind of wish I'd made more effort. But you're right, it's best to just focus on making content that you love - anything else is a bonus. I always really liked your garden wall photos by the way xo
you're not alone, dear. I've been following you for years and we both have seen this world change. Tbh I've written similar posts to this due to my own feelings of inadequacy. But keep oosting your photos! do it for you, and your followers who want something more relatable!
keep it up girl and dont get bugged by the celeb style bloggers
XO Sahra
Que Sera Sahra
Ever since I found your blog Becca, I have loved watching it evolve! I definitely think that the true 'origin' of blogging has been somewhat lost, I suppose it's about everything 'moving along with the times'. I feel as if a lot of us are getting left behind as we don't have the funds or lifestyle to live up to that 'blogger expectation'.
Megan xo
Thumbelina Lillie | UK Beauty & Fashion Blog
you're not alone becca, i feel exactly the same! i never know what's real and not real on blogs anymore and i just feel that my blog will never really get anywhere when everyone just follows the same 'big' bloggers!
love katy @ The Rawrdrobe x
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