Thoughts on Three Years of Blogging

In addition to everything else I forgot this month,  my blog's third birthday slipped by unnoticed.  Not that I planned to throw it a party or anything, but I usually take the time when another year of FCF has passed, to reflect on the direction it's headed, and whether what I'm putting into it is balanced out by what I get out of it.  Overall, I'm pretty happy with how my three year old is doing, and I think I've managed to stick to the original plan of creating a positive forum for celebrating people in London whose personal style stands out.  Over time, I've added art and cultural event coverage, and more recently, my own adventures in dressing for the daily theatre of my life.  Since I haven't had any cranky emails or comments, I assume that my readers are ok with this (or have no feelings one way or the other).

One of the most meaningful, and delightfully unexpected, benefits of my blog has been the connections I have made with other bloggers from all over the globe.  My followers are mostly women, and I have stumbled onto a community of kindred spirits, that were it not for the Internet, would have remained unknown to me.  I am grateful for their support, comments, and the inspiration constantly provided by their over-the-top, outside-the-box, and overwhelmingly creative style and personalities. You know who you are, and if my other readers want to meet you, they can peruse my list of "blogs that inspire me".

My blog has had a significant impact on what I wear.  I have always enjoyed "dressing up", and my style choices have been considered "unique" since I was in my 20's, but blogging, and following others' blogs, have encouraged me to experiment with shapes and colours I had never considered before.  I also buy more of my clothing secondhand, which has had a significant impact on my wardrobe.  My basics now share space with one-of-a-kind pieces like the Chinese jacket that I am wearing in the photo above, and these pieces are not saved for special occasions, but incorporated into my daily wardrobe.  And, as many of the bloggers I follow, who are in their 40's, 50's and older, have realized, with age comes the confidence to dress for yourself, and to care less about whether anyone else approves of what you're wearing.  If this blog provides any kind of inspiration, I would hope that it would be to wear what makes you happy, and don't worry what other people think about it.  Life is too short to not take the opportunity to find joy wherever you can, even if it's in a pair of striped socks.

I'm wearing: jacket from The Sentimentalist, jeans from H&M, shoes from the Toronto

Vintage show