I
debated writing this post for a year now. This will be my final post on Sterling
Style. Maybe I will want to start it up again someday, but for now I know
it’s time to say goodbye to a blog I've loved. It’s hard for me to even write
this since this blog has truly meant so much to me and changed my life in so
many ways.
Four
years ago I discovered Polyvore. I was immediately hooked on creating artsy
fashion sets and would spend countless hours creating and connecting with the
community. It was my first “blog.” From there, I soon discovered personal blogs
and it opened my eyes to a brand new world. I remember frantically calling my
parents and telling them all about it and feeling so excited about starting my
own. It didn’t take me long to think of a name. I was always proud of my family
name--Sterling. Since my blog would be mostly about fashion, I decided Sterling
Style had a nice ring to it.
I’m
always on the hunt for new inspiration and when I started this blog I used it
as an inspiration board. I would post anything that caught my eye. Then I
got the itch to take my own photos and even began to take outfit pictures. I
look back at many of them and cringe —so many outfits that we’re so not
me. But I realize that style evolves and you must experiment to find what
really resonates with you.
Those
few years were so amazing for me. I got to learn about the online world,
connect with so many amazing women and fellow bloggers, and work with
incredible brands. It made me realize that I wanted to do this full-time.
I
agonized over how I would take blogging from a hobby to a full-time gig. I kept
trying to envision Sterling Style 10, 20, 30 years in the future and I just
couldn’t see it. I knew that I did not want to have the focus on me all
the time. I was loosing interest in sharing my own outfits and taking pictures
of everything (plus Instagram became that place for me). I also realized I was
entering a new phase in my life. I was almost 30 and I while I still loved
fashion, I knew that in the years to come I may not feel the urge to be photographed.
I wanted to wear things because I loved them, not because they should be
blogged. That’s when I came up with Glitter Guide.
I
kept going back to the essence of blogging and why I was so eager to start my
own. It was about being inspired and sharing those discoveries with others. I
wanted to do that full-time. This reflected my long-time fantasy of working
for a magazine. However, there were already so many sites out there that did something
like this. I started to really research them and then realized that so much has
already been done, but that doesn’t mean something isn’t worth doing. There is
room for originality. I wanted a site that had a girlie/ feminine vibe. I
wanted it to feel like getting welcome advice and tips from your best
girlfriend. I went through many names before picking Glitter Guide. It’s
a risky name—people think we’re just talking about glitter all day long. But,
I’m a fan of alliterations and knew the content would be more important than
the name. Thanks to the amazing support of Sterling Style readers, Glitter
Guide had a successful launch. I’m forever thankful for that.
Now,
four years later, I am doing this full-time. I absolutely love what I do. I’ve
also learned how important it is to unplug and take time away from work and the
online world. Life’s too short to let it fly by without taking time to really
enjoy it. With the amount of time Glitter Guide requires, I feel it’s time to say
goodbye to Sterling Style. I’m excited to see where the next four years
will take me!
Thank
you for your endless support. I wish you the best.
