Happy one year anniversary to me! 12 months really doesn’t sound like a long stretch of time and in reality it isn’t, but for me it feels like an eternity. In a good way! Although I’ve had TwentySixStyle for four years, I blogged on and off, it was originally a fashion news site and I didn’t have a clear direction of what it was. So I’m counting this as my first official anniversary. So much has happened in this year and in a way it’s been a bit of a trial period and I’m only now just getting started. I’ve been toying with the idea of a new blog design for months now but wasn’t sure what it was that I wanted. But with my first workiversary around the corner, a new year and a new career, I knew that this was the perfect time.
It sounds silly but this was a big decision for me. When it comes to visual creation, I’m meticulous to the point of obsession with making sure everything works together – colours, tones, shapes – it all has to fit. With so many beautiful new blog designs, I felt overwhelmed with the choices. I didn’t want to choose something that a) everyone else had and b) that didn’t suit me or the content I wanted to create. Developing a personal brand is something I feel pretty strongly about and it all starts with the aesthetics, making sure it all gels together with what you want to say and what you want to achieve. Luckily, I found a web designer who got my design induced anxiety and created a simple, minimal space which allowed readers to navigate easily and lose themselves in content they can (hopefully) relate to.
Starting a blog has been one of the most challenging, exciting and hardest things I’ve ever done. Anyone who thinks it’s easy and “not a real job” has no idea the time, effort and skills it takes to make a blog tick over and work. It seems easy but with an over-saturated market, to stand out and stand up against those who have been blogging for 5-10 years is virtually impossible. What starts as a hobby can quickly become a business with no rule book or guide to making it work.
I went into this a year ago with zero expectations and have been lucky enough to meet some amazing people and work with some of my favourite brands like John Lewis, Dune, Free People and Monica Vinader. Since going freelance (read about my decision HERE), there’s been some amazing opportunities come my way and although I’m nowhere near where I’d like to be yet, I’m so grateful to be in this position, doing a job I love as a freelance journalist alongside a new business as a blogger. If someone had told me I’d be doing this a year ago I’d never have believed them.
Thank you to every single person who reads more ramblings, likes my pictures and comments on my Instagram Stories – your support means everything and I’m so excited to continue this little journey with you.
