Swim Good

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

“You will find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.” —Obi-Wan Kenobi (VI)

In honor of Star Wars Day earlier this week as well as the fact that the set shared in this post is from a collaboration focused on portraits rather than outfits, I thought I'd delve a little deeper into my story today. As I'm sure many a blogger or influencer of this generation can relate, commitment to such a hobby and the accompanied lifestyle is in fact a full-time job on its own. There are always those threatening moments when you stop and ask yourself, "why am I doing this, and why should I continue?" Which eventually brings you back to the significance of remembering why you started. Consider this to be my memo.


I was first inspired by the expressive nature of fashion. Many girls can own the same items and yet style them so uniquely in where their personality shines through. That intrigued me and I wanted my blog to revolve around this along with the accompanied stories behind each look. But as hard as it is to maintain your own shooting schedule, imagine trying to schedule that of a handful of other girls as well... and well, you can see why that concept fell through.

I didn't even really decide to reboot my blog in a more serious manner until it had been a few months in at my dream job at Tobi. Our own little Tobi community of influencers started not too long ago and soon spread like wildfire. Seeing how the bloggers were all so supportive of each other was truly inspiring and encouraged me to see things in a different light.


One reason I had shied away from a steady blogging hobby at first was because of some of the negative feedback I had received earlier on, most of them being about my body. And one thing I realized early on in my industry is that people don't always care that there's an actual fellow human behind the content, especially past a certain reach or engagement. So though getting reposted by some awesome brands early on was encouraging, it was also deterring because of this. However, I can definitely say that 2015 is a year that I've been the happiest with who I am, where I am in life, and my fast-paced forward-moving journey. Starting my blog again and taking it seriously as of December 2014 played a big hand in this, and I knew I was strong enough as well as invested enough to finally put my all into it.

Along with a number of working opportunities, of course one major thing that the blogging world has opened up to me is the opportunity to more easily connect with an infinite number of fellow creatives. It's probably one of the most fulfilling parts of the gig, because all of these individuals who are so completely different also bring out all kinds of perspectives for you to mull over. Thinking back, I'm still in awe at the number of amazing people I've been able to meet or join forces with since starting this journey. They've all made a lasting impact, and they all sparked some sort of inspiration within me. The good vibes that I've come across throughout this whole thing has made it easy to remind myself why I started. I find that the more friends I come across, the more intrigued I am by our easily linked lives prior to our knowledge. The connections, or "six degrees of separation" which I used to loathe, I now find to be a fun guessing game or puzzle piece.


This set is a perfect example of meeting creatives with connections to your past or present. Raj, the photographer and I had two connections, one through blogging and one through my work. And the makeup artist Surina knew a fellow NDSJ alum. Regardless of these connections I loved working with them both and getting to know these souls on a more personal level of my own. It's crazy how one day someone who is just a username or so-and-so's this-and-that can become your own friend, photographer, or so-and-so. You really never know where your next opportunity will take you, collaboration or otherwise, and it never hurts to open the door once in a while and just take the ride for what it is. Life can surprise you sometimes with its careful placement of people and plights alike... the only solution is to take it all as it comes and learn from every single moment.

Thank you to those who continue to check my posts and offer your support. It is always appreciated, and I can only hope that what I put out there will spark some inspiration in a fellow style-striving soul. As always, be sure to check back next week for the next chapter! Additionally the pink collared top photographed above is actually from a mini haul during a little shopping vlog I collaborated on with my friend Leroy, so definitely be sure to visit his YouTube channel. xx

Photographed by Raj Bhardwaj (@rajat)
Make-Up by Surina Singhal (@makeupbysurina_)

SHOP MY LOOK:
Lace Bralette—June July Melrose
Short Overalls/Shorteralls—Forever XXI
Pink Sheer Collared Button-Up—H&M


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2 comments

  1. It's always a pleasure to come by your space, reading your delicious and oftentimes inspiring thoughts. You look amazing in the portrait photos you chose for this super thoughtful piece. We all have body image issues to one extent or another. Throw other people's judgments in the mix, it can be quite the challenge. But, in the words of Taylor Swift: Shake it off, shall we? Hehe =D xo

    Shanaz | Fashionista NOW

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    1. It's always a pleasure when you do come by, Shanaz! Your feedback is always insightful and encouraging, and truly means a lot. And yes I definitely agree! Though my own body image issues have most definitely become a thing of the past and a learning lesson for me at this time, I can only hope that my own experiences can help others who might be facing something similar as well. Thank you as always for reading and being your wonderful self! :D

      xo—
      Muna Lamis

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