Hi lovelies! A year ago, I started Six Foot Style and recently took some time to reflect on the last year, how I’m feeling and where I see SFS going in the year ahead. After a lot of thought and consideration, I have decided to take the month of February off from the blog. I’ll be honest here, and completely candid with you guys … on both sides of the spectrum. This is a longer post, so stick with me. I've added some funny candid photos mixed in from my last year of blogging for entertainment value! THE FUN STUFFIt’s been a great year. I’ve met some wonderful people, connected with other fabulous bloggers, had the opportunity to discover and work with so many amazing companies. And perhaps most important, I have been able to share my sense of style with a unique community of supportive and receptive people. I can’t tell you how much each comment, like, repost, direct message, everything means to me. That’s what has made this year, and the blogging experience in general, worth it for me. Making meaningful connections with truly inspiring and incredible people. THE SHITTY STUFF (AND A HEAVY DOSE OF TRUTH)Blogging is a lot of work with often little reward. I don’t have a paid team behind me taking photos, editing, updating my website, creating and sending weekly emails, posting daily updates on social media pages, etc. … my team is me and my husband. It’s a huge time commitment. If you’re familiar with my blog, you know that I have a full-time job and lots of obligations that keep me busy during the week. So, Six Foot Style is a weekend activity that I squeeze in between a seemingly endless list of to-do’s. This leaves little room for error, and has led to some tense moments between my husband and me over the last year. When photo shoots don’t work out as planned, or something comes up and I’m frantically trying to meet commitments I’ve arranged with a company, I become a stressed out maniac. Not fun for anyone. There’s also a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. When I partner with a company for a blog post or review, there are usually dozens of emails back and forth with product requests, shipment information, returns for alternate sizing, and so forth. And I’ll be real here … I don’t have a flood of emails sitting in my inbox from designers and companies that are dying for me to wear their clothing. Most of my partnerships over the last year have come-to-be as a result of my outreach to a particular company. Which takes work to successfully pitch and convince a brand that I am worthy of wearing their clothing and writing about their brand. You’ve all probably seen Instagram fashionistas with tens of thousands of followers, but please know that there’s usually a team of people behind these women serving as the face of their brand. And a lot of women have been able to successfully make blogging their full-time job, spending 40+ hours a week. That just isn’t the case for me. Musing on that same theme, here’s a news flash … I’m not a model. I wish that I woke up looking like Gigi Hadid, but the reality is that it takes time for me to do my hair and makeup before each photo shoot. And my prep before a photo shoot is not as extensive as some other bloggers I know. I am not putting in hair extensions, applying fake eyelashes, or anything like that. How you see me in my photos is actually what I look like in real life. Anyway, since I haven’t ever modeled before, when the camera starts flashing, it takes me quite a while to hit a comfortable niche and actually strike a moderately reasonable pose. Sensing a trend here … more time. I make zero money from blogging. Here’s a little nugget of truth about blogging … brands want to partner with influencers who have lots of followers. And LOTS of bloggers pay to play this game. There are tons of companies that, for a minimal investment will like, comment, basically be a robot for your Instagram page in order to grow your following. I personally know bloggers who have paid for followers. I refuse to do this, it feels weird to me. It doesn’t bother me that others are, but it’s just not for me. So every single one of my followers is earned and that takes consistent posting of relevant material and lots of prayers that everyone keeps coming back week after week and showing love on my pages. I’ve thought about joining Reward Style which you all know (or should get to know). You’ve probably clicked on links to products from blog posts and watched your web browser quickly go to rstyle.com then seamlessly forward to a product page. That blogger gets paid if you purchase that product. And rightfully so, they’ve influenced your purchase, and should be rewarded for that. However for me, I just never set out to make money off of my blog. I wanted to create a place for women to find inspiration and ideas for upping their workwear game. It’s my hope that Six Foot Style has become this place. Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I wish that I was making some money … just enough to pay for someone to do my hair and makeup before each photo shoot. To pay a photographer so my husband isn’t forced outside in the dead of winter to snap photos during his precious weekend time. But maybe in 2017 right? There are a ton of fashion bloggers out there. Lately I’ve been feeling defeated + deflated and find myself thinking I can’t provide something that a million other women aren’t already doing on Instagram. There’s lots of tall bloggers, loads of work wear bloggers, and a seemingly endless number of fashion bloggers. While I know that none of them are me, and my aesthetic and style is unique to truly only me, it feels overwhelming at times. And competitive. I see myself comparing my blog to others, and I become disappointed when I’m not as successful as others (I’m a former college athlete so competitiveness courses my veins). I can’t figure out how to not feel like that.
So, with all of that being said, I have decided to take a month off from blogging. I am a bit burned out, and need to step away from Six Foot Style for a hot minute. I am not sure what the future holds for the blog … but I’ll be sure to keep y’all updated. During the month, I'll also be doing a digital detox which I've posted about on the Tall Guides website. Thanks for reading this post (I didn’t mean for it to be so sad), I just wanted everyone to know where I’m really at. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to be more honest and open up more … lift the “perfection” mask and image that I find myself always putting on. So this is real. This is me.
19 Comments
1/30/2017 12:14:50 pm
Such a lot of truth in this post. I've been blogging for a few years and I used to feel pressure to post every week - as someone who self-shoots this was not easy! I learned to be ok with just posting when I felt like it or when a great idea hit me. I also found that I was ok with branching out to other topics beyond Fashion if I wasn't feeling particularly great about being on camera that week. My advice would be to do what you love, and don't beat yourself up if you take a week or more off at a time. The people who enjoy reading your blog will still be there when you get back to it. Have a great break, and may I just say... Love the blog :)
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Sara,
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Lauren,
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Thank you Kacy. And I am sending you a huge virtual hug for chatting with me last evening. I can't tell you how much your support and encouragement means to me. The best part of blogging has been meeting and connecting with other tall women (like you) from all over the world. Our tall community has such a wonderful and unique perspective ... it's truly lovely. I am confident that a month away from SFS, along with a digital detox will leave me refreshed and energized. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!
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Lauren,
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Nichole,
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Hi Lauren,
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Hi Caroline,
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1/31/2017 03:46:32 pm
Hi Lauren - Thank you so much for writing such an honest and open piece. It really resonated with me. I must say that I have been so impressed by the level of professionalism that you have exhibited on your website over the past year all the while juggling a demanding career and all of your other commitments. Your content is interesting, original and fun, and I can tell that you put a lot of time and effort into your posts, social media etc. I am excited about the various brands that you've introduced me to (my White Rabbit bra just arrived today...so in love!) and I find myself looking forward to your posts.
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Beth - my beautiful blogging friend who has been so sweet to me from day one ... I cannot thank you enough for your sincere comment above. This post felt incredibly vulnerable for me, so I appreciate your kind words.
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Hi Lauren, Sorry it's taken me a while to comment on this post. I hope you are having a nice break! We all sometimes need to switch off and I hope that this is helping you decide what to do. I can certainly relate to a lot of the issues you raised in this post. I hope you continue to share your style as I for one really enjoy seeing your outfits.
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Hi Gemma,
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Thanks Lauren, thats really great to hear! I'm loving forward to seeing your new content soon. Honestly I'm not sure how I do either haha it can be exhausting at times but it helps that I'm home a lot! I have recently adjusted my posting times and am posting less than usual. Have a lovely day. Gemma x Hey Lauren, I've been meaning to comment on how much I love the authenticity and honesty in this post. I can certainly relate to it. I am so glad that you're back and re-energised. I love your blog and I'd like to say a big THANK YOU for all you do at Tall Guides. Sallee x
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Thanks Sallee,
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Beautifully written. I've only been at this blogging thing for 6 months and I have felt all those emotions and frustrations! Every once in awhile I have to reread my about me page to remind myself what and why I'm doing. It's so easy to get caught in the race. I have a corporate race I'm already running and as a mom and wife I have more important things to balance. Finding that center is hard though. So glad to see you back after the break.
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Hi Aimee,
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