Eleven years three days ago I started something I haven’t figured out how to stop: this blog. It’s something that was born out of pure awe of fashion blogs I discovered in 2011-2012—including Flashes of Style and A Clothes Horse. And so this, too, became a fashion blog. Afterwards, I found more fashion blogs that I ended up loving and following for years, such as Delightfully Tacky (now Liz Morrow Studios), Selective Potential, Wish Wish Wish and A Beautiful Mess—all of which have a great influence on my blogging style to this day.
With over a decade in my pocket, there’s bound to be a lot of changes and experiences that I happened to encounter. Blogging today feels sooo different from what it was like back in the early 2010s. Nobody goes and reads blogs anymore now—are you guys even here?—and a lot of people I’d gotten to know through this blog have since retreated from this world. But, for me, the blogging world—or the blogsphere, as we ‘in the know’ used to call it—is filled with sentimental value. And it is a lot warmer and thoughtful than today’s social media frenzy of like and follower counts. I’d like to share some of my experiences with you.
Eleven years three days ago I started something I haven’t figured out how to stop: this blog. It’s something that was born out of pure awe of fashion blogs I discovered in 2011-2012—including Flashes of Style and A Clothes Horse. And so this, too, became a fashion blog. Afterwards, I found more fashion blogs that I ended up loving and following for years, such as Delightfully Tacky (now Liz Morrow Studios), Selective Potential, Wish Wish Wish and A Beautiful Mess—all of which have a great influence on my blogging style to this day.
With over a decade in my pocket, there’s bound to be a lot of changes and experiences that I happened to encounter. Blogging today feels sooo different from what it was like back in the early 2010s. Nobody goes and reads blogs anymore now—are you guys even here?—and a lot of people I’d gotten to know through this blog have since retreated from this world. But, for me, the blogging world—or the blogsphere, as we ‘in the know’ used to call it—is filled with sentimental value. And it is a lot warmer and thoughtful than today’s social media frenzy of like and follower counts. I’d like to share some of my experiences with you.
How It Started
The Aimless Writing
Set out to create a fashion blog, I used to write outfit posts regularly—almost everyday! In fact, it was the only kind of post that I would mostly share. Having just discovered a sense of personal style, there wasn’t much weight or nuance to what I wrote—it was really just any outfit I was wearing that day accompanied by constant word vomit. Sometimes I would interview illustrators for a segment on my blog and, without realising it, I was building networks that are still valuable to this day.
The photos were mostly taken in my room—with the help of my giant suitcase at the time—using a pocket digital camera that had a pretty good quality, so much so that most people mistook them for DSLR-generated photos. It didn’t allow me much control, however. The lens was entirely automatic, there was no ISO setting and I couldn’t figure out how to focus it properly.
The Sense of Community
Back then blogging was much, much warmer. Among the fashion and lifestyle bloggers alone, there was a sort of kinship that didn’t use to be marred with a sense of snobbery that came later. A lot of the bloggers I followed would form communities with one another, such as Delightful Dozen and Flock Together, and even hold blog-specific events and gatherings—with TXSC being the most prestigious in the US.
Most everyone was pretty welcoming towards everyone. We would comment on each other’s posts often, feature other bloggers occasionally and even let other bloggers write a post on our blogs—back then we called it guest-blogging. That was how we got to know each other, even those who might feel unattainable at first. This was how I got to know Jennif Hsieh, Kittenhood, Devinne Stevens, My Peach Days and October Rebel.
The Aimless Writing
Set out to create a fashion blog, I used to write outfit posts regularly—almost everyday! In fact, it was the only kind of post that I would mostly share. Having just discovered a sense of personal style, there wasn’t much weight or nuance to what I wrote—it was really just any outfit I was wearing that day accompanied by constant word vomit. Sometimes I would interview illustrators for a segment on my blog and, without realising it, I was building networks that are still valuable to this day.
The photos were mostly taken in my room—with the help of my giant suitcase at the time—using a pocket digital camera that had a pretty good quality, so much so that most people mistook them for DSLR-generated photos. It didn’t allow me much control, however. The lens was entirely automatic, there was no ISO setting and I couldn’t figure out how to focus it properly.
The Sense of Community
Back then blogging was much, much warmer. Among the fashion and lifestyle bloggers alone, there was a sort of kinship that didn’t use to be marred with a sense of snobbery that came later. A lot of the bloggers I followed would form communities with one another, such as Delightful Dozen and Flock Together, and even hold blog-specific events and gatherings—with TXSC being the most prestigious in the US.
Most everyone was pretty welcoming towards everyone. We would comment on each other’s posts often, feature other bloggers occasionally and even let other bloggers write a post on our blogs—back then we called it guest-blogging. That was how we got to know each other, even those who might feel unattainable at first. This was how I got to know Jennif Hsieh, Kittenhood, Devinne Stevens, My Peach Days and October Rebel.
How It Progressed
The Rise of Capitals
Before long, blogging became recognised as a prestigious profession where a lot of names have been quoted to worth millions, being invited to exclusive events and making a fortune. Brands started to collaborate more with blogs. Bloggers were basically the birth of all influencers. More and more people wanted to get a slice of that pie and started blogging. However, since their intentions weren’t pure—to say the least—it changed the way people interacted in the blogsphere, which is now a blogging industry. People started to get so obsessed with numbers—readership, social media followers and sponsorship.
For me, this rise of the blogging prestige cannot come at a better time as I was just coming home from Germany, struggling to accept that I quit school and my future was compromised. Seeing as blogging was the one consistent thing in my life at the time, I thought it could be a career option for me. I got to know Indonesian bloggers, such as Milka Amelia and Japobs. When Amel took me to a blogging gathering, I realised that the blogging community in Indonesia was very different—or was it really just the sign of the times? There was a sense of snobbery around the room. If you didn’t have the right numbers, nobody would waste 2 seconds with you. It was so different from the blogging community I’ve always known and loved. That’s when I knew I didn’t want this to be my career.
How It Progressed
The Rise of Capitals
Before long, blogging became recognised as a prestigious profession where a lot of names have been quoted to worth millions, being invited to exclusive events and making a fortune. Brands started to collaborate more with blogs. Bloggers were basically the birth of all influencers. More and more people wanted to get a slice of that pie and started blogging. However, since their intentions weren’t pure—to say the least—it changed the way people interacted in the blogsphere, which is now a blogging industry. People started to get so obsessed with numbers—readership, social media followers and sponsorship.
For me, this rise of the blogging prestige cannot come at a better time as I was just coming home from Germany, struggling to accept that I quit school and my future was compromised. Seeing as blogging was the one consistent thing in my life at the time, I thought it could be a career option for me. I got to know Indonesian bloggers, such as Milka Amelia and Japobs. When Amel took me to a blogging gathering, I realised that the blogging community in Indonesia was very different—or was it really just the sign of the times? There was a sense of snobbery around the room. If you didn’t have the right numbers, nobody would waste 2 seconds with you. It was so different from the blogging community I’ve always known and loved. That’s when I knew I didn’t want this to be my career.
The Growing Identity
Since I started this venture with one desire that wasn’t particularly in line with the rest of my personality—I was never a fashionable girl, wouldn’t know fashion brands from Adam—it has always been an internal struggle for me to figure out where to draw the line on what part of me felt appropriate for this blog.
As time went by, however, I started to become more comfortable with myself. I started to explore other topics—art, food, books, films and sustainability. Then the Rana Plaza tragedy happened and I couldn’t ignore it. Then I started exploring zero-waste lifestyle and that cemented it. This blog stopped becoming just a silly creative outlet for a bored uni student, and turned into an activist platform for the environment.
I took notes from bloggers such as Damaris and Klara, who blogged only for themselves. Since then on, the sole intention of any post I wrote was for myself.
The Growing Identity
Since I started this venture with one desire that wasn’t particularly in line with the rest of my personality—I was never a fashionable girl, wouldn’t know fashion brands from Adam—it has always been an internal struggle for me to figure out where to draw the line on what part of me felt appropriate for this blog.
As time went by, however, I started to become more comfortable with myself. I started to explore other topics—art, food, books, films and sustainability. Then the Rana Plaza tragedy happened and I couldn’t ignore it. Then I started exploring zero-waste lifestyle and that cemented it. This blog stopped becoming just a silly creative outlet for a bored uni student, and turned into an activist platform for the environment.
I took notes from bloggers such as Damaris and Klara, who blogged only for themselves. Since then on, the sole intention of any post I wrote was for myself.
How It's Going
The Last Ones Standing
Honestly, it’s very hard for me to talk about blogging back in the “good ol’ days.” It has such history that I no longer live with day to day. There were a lot of blogs that I used to frequent, a lot of people that I discovered or those who discovered me through this blog. Some of them even flourished into friendships…and yet, most of them are no longer blogging.
Some can still be found on Instagram, like Jen, Devinne and Ren. They may not post outfits (or #OOTDs, I guess) anymore, just like they used to, but we still talk from time to time. A lot of them have become parents or pursued other passions, that I may not relate to them anymore. Others, however, just disappear from the internet.
Today blogs have pretty much become obsolete, as people prefer bite-sized contents of social media. And so, the community feeling died with them.
The Last Ones Standing
Honestly, it’s very hard for me to talk about blogging back in the “good ol’ days.” It has such history that I no longer live with day to day. There were a lot of blogs that I used to frequent, a lot of people that I discovered or those who discovered me through this blog. Some of them even flourished into friendships…and yet, most of them are no longer blogging.
Some can still be found on Instagram, like Jen, Devinne and Ren. They may not post outfits (or #OOTDs, I guess) anymore, just like they used to, but we still talk from time to time. A lot of them have become parents or pursued other passions, that I may not relate to them anymore. Others, however, just disappear from the internet.
Today blogs have pretty much become obsolete, as people prefer bite-sized contents of social media. And so, the community feeling died with them.
“Why are you still blogging?
You should just do YouTube,
people watch that more now!”
If I had a nickel for every time someone suggested I leave blogging and move to another platform. Ever since influencers took over the world and people realised that everyone’s road to fame can come from anywhere—taking power back from TV, radio and traditional media—everyone’s been obsessed with making the so-called “easy money.” Now all you need is a gadget and access to the internet, and you’ll be all set to start off your potential career as an influencer. While I’m glad to see this reformation and the professional rise of the once-bloggers, I cannot help but to feel that this world of contents have become much, much colder. All the worth is placed on mere numbers.
Honestly, I was once also incredibly obsessed with numbers. It drove me crazy, because the numbers are never what I hope they’d become. Moreover, social media would alter their algorithms ever so often—and we are powerless to do anything about it. After over 10 years in my pocket, I’ve learnt that, for me, blogging needs to come from a personal place. Lately I’ve always felt like I don’t really know why I’m blogging anymore, and dream of the day when I will cease to feel the need to have a constant online presence. But until then.
Thank you for your continual support for all these years!
“Why are you still blogging?
You should just do YouTube,
people watch that more now!”
If I had a nickel for every time someone suggested I leave blogging and move to another platform. Ever since influencers took over the world and people realised that everyone’s road to fame can come from anywhere—taking power back from TV, radio and traditional media—everyone’s been obsessed with making the so-called “easy money.” Now all you need is a gadget and access to the internet, and you’ll be all set to start off your potential career as an influencer. While I’m glad to see this reformation and the professional rise of the once-bloggers, I cannot help but to feel that this world of contents have become much, much colder. All the worth is placed on mere numbers.
Honestly, I was once also incredibly obsessed with numbers. It drove me crazy, because the numbers are never what I hope they’d become. Moreover, social media would alter their algorithms ever so often—and we are powerless to do anything about it. After over 10 years in my pocket, I’ve learnt that, for me, blogging needs to come from a personal place. Lately I’ve always felt like I don’t really know why I’m blogging anymore, and dream of the day when I will cease to feel the need to have a constant online presence. But until then.
Thank you for your continual support for all these years!