jumpsuit / shoes / bag / earrings
Okay friends! I am back from New York! I had such a great time at Fashion Week and hanging out with the other girls, but y’all, I am TIRED. The funny thing is, we didn’t have too many crazy late nights (really just one). I roomed with my friend Abby (@everyday_abby on Instagram) and both of us are more on the low-key side of these types of things.
This trip taught me a lot about myself. I posted a little bit on my Instagram stories yesterday, but these “blogger” events are probably the hardest part of this job for me. I think it’s so hilarious that Instagram/Facebook/etc. are called SOCIAL media, when we are really all sitting alone behind our iPhone screens or laptops and leaving comments and dm’s here and there. You throw a bunch of people who work in social media into a room together and the results can be very different than what you thought.
My point is, the actual social part of this job (meaning attending events and networking with other people in the same industry), is really the hardest part. You sort of feel like you know a person, because you see so much of their life on Instagram, but in reality you don’t know much about their personality at all. Of course, we all know Instagram is one big highlight reel, but still. You don’t necessarily realize that your favorite blogger may actually be really shy, or that she may be really intimidated by other people in her industry.
I am here to tell you, I am that girl. I have been shy my whole life, though it has definitely gotten better with age. You may not be aware of it when you first meet me, because I tend to use humor to navigate my way through uncomfortable situations, but I promise, new social situations make me uneasy. I went to the rewardStyle conference in Dallas in April, and was so intimated and overwhelmed with everything that I feel like I pretty much didn’t talk to anyone other than the girls I was rooming with. Luckily, they were awesome, so the weekend wasn’t a total bust.
This trip, I told myself I wouldn’t be that way. I tried to put myself out there a little more, and go up to the girls who I admire (and am also intimidated by) to introduce myself and get to know them. And you know what? Most of the time, they were super gracious and sweet, and I didn’t have anything to worry about.
One of the days in New York, rewardStyle had set up a headquarters for us at a rooftop lounge at one of the hotels. I arrived pretty early to it because I had an early meeting. None of the girls I actually know were there. After my meeting, I ran to the restroom, then decided I’d sit quietly by myself to try to get an Instagram post up and pass a little time in hopes that someone I knew would show up soon.
As I was sitting there alone, one of my favorite bloggers (one of the girls I would have been nervous about just walking up to and introducing myself) saw me, and immediately said hi and sat down and chatted with me for a while. She probably has no idea how much something so small impacted my trip, but that alone gave me enough confidence to get through the weekend.
I realize that sound so silly, but in a way, it was validating. Which I think is what we are all really looking for at the end of the day, in any industry, or even just in life in general. It’s super scary to put yourself out there. I mean, who doesn’t fear rejection?! But you’ll never grow as a person if you don’t. I’m here to say, it was worth it! I’m also here to say, just because someone seems like they totally have it together on Instagram, doesn’t mean they actually do!
That’s all I’ve got on my NYFW experience for now, but I have more coming soon!
xo, Loren
Photos by Julia Arceri Photography
