Zigzag

I have a confession to make: I don't think I am fashionable or unique enough for anyone to care much for my style and blogging. I know that this is probably shared by a lot of people secretly, and it's wrong to think it - we need everyone's voice and opinion, or else we would all look the same. If a friend said this to me I'd tell her she was crazy but, I think, it's hard (nowadays especially) to feel 100% confident in who you are. With the multitude of social media platforms today, updating on other people's lives is far easier and instant. This is a good thing - the benefits social media have had on communication and in enacting change is major. Also, I can't help feel it's also hindered a lot of things. It's hard, seeing the perfectly curated snapshots on Instagram or the seemingly perfect lives of fashion bloggers and not feel insecure about my own blog or IG feed - I can't afford much else than the high street, I don't have time to spend my days online, and I'm using my mum's camera since I could never afford the fancy, shmancy cameras I covet.

There's a quote I love that sums this feeling up perfectly: "Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel". It's important to remind ourselves that what people present online is often a carefully edited view of themselves. I myself are guilty of this too: I edit photos, add filters and take 100 shots of the same thing to get the best outcome. In all honesty, while the outfits I share with you on here are all my own (brought by myself, not sponsored by anyone), styled by myself, and worn in my everyday life, they are chosen to show a specific side of myself. Usually, as much as I love dressing up and choosing outfits meticulously, I also love lounging in leggings and an old, ratty jumper. As a literature student, with very few contact hours, thousands of books to read, and reams of essays to write, the comfiest, easiest thing to wear is often my OOTD on days I don't have lectures. Reminding myself of this (and of that quote) makes it easier when I see my favourite bloggers wearing thousands of pounds worth of designer clothing, or jetting off to New York for a fashion shoot - they too have lazy days we don't see. They have blogged a lot longer, built up their online presence and following, and now blog full time, with much of what they wear being given to them by sponsors.

So, maybe one day I could be as successful as them (not that I think it's likely, or that it's what I'm aiming for - this blog is for myself, not for success!), but for right now I'm making do with the limited time, money, and clothing I have. That's why I'm repeating with this orange skirt which I wore last week. While, in an ideal world, I would never have to outfit-repeat (Lizzie McGuire reference woop woop! ;P), in reality I will have to and that's ok. I want to keep this blog as honest and realistic as I can, despite my style-insecurities - hopefully it'll help someone else who also feels insecure realize that they too can blog!

- Esther.

Outfit details:
Top and skirt: H&M
Boots: New Look
Bag: Topshop
Green stone ring: my mum's
Claw ring: Ad Hoc (www.adhoclondon.com)
Thumb ring: H&M
Layering rings: my sister's