Confession time: it’s very hard to be a fashion blogger when you don’t feel good about your appearance. The number of outfit posts on my blog declined severely last year in direct relation with my self-esteem.
To be quite honest, I’m glad style blogs weren’t around when I was younger. Most of my favorite bloggers are slim glamorous fashionistas who, while incredibly stylish, aren’t always the most relatable. In earlier days, my solutions for coping with weight issues were not the healthiest. It’s a struggle fighting the temptation to fall back on those bad habits, especially when I spend so much time taking pictures of gorgeous bloggers and perusing their sites.
What keeps me on the right track is the amazing support system I have in place. My Whole30 journey has been amazing, not because of the physical results I’m noticing, but because I’ve been so humbled by the encouragement I’ve received from my friends and family. Last month, my stress level and weight were at a peak. I ended up sitting out from the December Diversity Chic shoot. Well, not literally, because I was still taking the pictures haha. But, I was definitely feeling better behind the camera than in front of it.
I was nervous for my first month back, but getting to spend time with my friends (including our special classy/sassy guest, Christian) made the transition a breeze. On days when I’m feeling down about my weight, I remember that this is one of the very reasons we started Diversity Chic in the first place. Not every fashion blogger has to look like every other fashion blogger.
It also helped that the trend we picked this month is something I’ve been practically living in… the Poncho! The chic and versatile item may be one of the most popular of the season, and the best part is that it hides my figure. ????
Oh sweet poncho, how do I love thee? This soft grey one from Forever 21 was the best $25 purchase I made all year.
Even though the poncho has become my go-to item for when I’m feeling lazy and just want to be comfy, I decided to glam it up a little for this shoot. Shimmied into my magic Spanx leggings, put on a pair of heels, grabbed this chic cat purse (a gift from sweet Christina), a statement necklance, and topped off the look with a swipe of dark burgundy lipstick.
My monochromatic ensemble ended up blending really well with everyone’s outfits! Look how cute we are together! #ChristiansAngels
To get the details on everyone else’s amazing poncho looks, visit their respective blogs: Valery, Christian, and Sevi.
I’m so excited for year 2 of Diversity Chic! Any trends you want us to tackle in 2016? Let us know in the comments!