2016 Year in Review

I started to write my caption for my Instagram #2016TopNine and quickly realized that I had way too many things to say about 2016 and a blog post would probably be much more appropriate.  Before we hop into things, I want to take a moment to thank all of you that follow along!  I started posting daily outfits two years ago on Instagram; when I thought about the possibility of writing a blog I felt overwhelmed.  I worried I’d compare myself to others and end up disappointed.

I couldn’t have been any more wrong.  Writing What Nicole Wore has been incredibly rewarding: personally, emotionally, mentally and at times financially too.  I’ve earned a confidence and sense of pride for myself that I lacked before as well as many life lessons.  I’ve been incredibly blessed to work with brands, shops and people beyond even my wildest dreams when I first started posting what I was wearing each day as a way to learn to remix my closet.

From Instagram:

At the beginning of the year, I try to set blog related goals for myself and then check in on them each month.  One of my biggest milestones with Instagram was hitting 10,000 followers on Instagram; it was something I’d worked towards and was so excited when I finally reached in May.  My biggest goal for Instagram was to reach 15k; while I missed making that goal, I’m really proud of the way I’ve learned to leverage the social platform, grow organically and create content I’m proud of.

In 2017, I want to continue to push myself on this platform by hitting a new goal {I’ll share it in this space in one year haha} by increasing my engagement and producing high quality content.

Top Blog Posts:

Polka Dot LuLaRoe Cassie Skirt + Kind Self Thought // This photo has consistently been my most Pinned photo from What Nicole Wore.  I took a longgggggg {think five year} break from college and after being at a part time job that I loathed I finally gathered the courage to quit my job and enroll in classes full time.  I’d been so scared to go back, to fail, to try, etc.  I can remember writing this post and having an incredibly hopeful feeling that this was where I was going to turn things around & focus on making choices that would allow me to grow as cheesy as it sounds.

Double Dots: LuLaRoe Cassie Skirt // One of the craziest thing about blogging and social media is how many people it can connect you to.  My Instagram friend Tracy knew I lived in Louisville so when one of her college friends, Sue, started selling LuLaRoe not long after moving here, she set us up to meet and then eventually work together!

Red Off the Shoulder Top // One of the things I gained the confidence and learned to do this year was pitch to brands.  My first retail job was working for Vera Bradley and knowing what I knew about the company and it’s mission made me determined to work with them.  It was one of the very first companies I approached and has been so rewarding; not only do I love their products, but their entire team is so kind and appreciative that they feel like friends.

DIY Donut Beach Hat // I’ve loved the Eugenia Kelly beach hats with punny praises like ‘Beach Please’ and ‘Vitamin Sea’ but the price tag was a little rich for my blood.  I saw a DIY on Glitter Guide at the beginning of the year and altered it a bit to include my favorite thing: donuts.

Fall Floral Tunic & LuLaRoe Leggings // One of the companies that has been so supportive of What Nicole Wore is SheIn; we first started working together last fall and one year later I am so grateful of the way they support me and allow me creative control when working with their product.

Lavender Hunter Boots for April Showers // These boots were my favorite thrift find of the year and so I knew I wanted to include them for my April How I Style It post.  A big thank you to my How I Style It ladies for welcoming me with open arms to their blog hop.  I have so much fun each month thinking up an outfit based around our prompt and then clicking over to see their posts.  Check back on Wednesday as Becky, Della, Tiffany and I all link up to kick off the new year!

Little Black Dress with eShakti // One of my goals for 2016 was to continue to up my photography game; I worked on this by thinking outside the box for some new places to shoot and reinvesting some of my blog earnings in a new camera.  I went to Murphy’s Camera here in Louisville {if you’re in Kentucky and thinking about purchasing a new camera definitely check them out — so helpful and no pressure to buy. Not sponsored, I’m genuinely happy with their customer service!} and eventually settled on a new camera.  I want to keep getting better at using it in 2017 and get better about shooting in manual.

Some of my highlights from this year include hosting my very first event with Macy’s, launching my Derby Days series {here, here, here and here}, traveling to Columbus to host an event for Vera Bradley, and working with a brand that has a philanthropy close to my heart.

Be safe tonight and happy New Year!