THE RISE OF THE ‘HONEST’ BLOGGER

Oh hey gang, so *warning* this is gonna be a bit of a rambling post – hang in there!

It’s 23.21pm (how did that happen?!) I have literally spent the entire day at my desk. For real, I’ve been up and working since 8.30am this morning. Anyways that’s the time (got a bit side tracked there, soz) and I’ve suddenly had the urge to write a blog so… here it is.

When I started this blog it was for LOL’s, I wrote VERY sporadically about anything and everything. It was never something I thought would end up earning me money let alone something I would come to call my job! It was just a little corner of the web that I shared bad quality photos of me wearing my favourite clothes, usually taken by my mum (thanks mum – you’re the best) taken in front of our garage wall back home in Grimsby.
I am so proud and very chuffed with how it’s grown and even though (I hope you’ll agree) the quality of content has improved, thanks to a new website, better writing and some gorgeous photography taken by the legend that is Zoe Griffin, all in all I’m still very much the same girl who started this thing.
Yes, a bit older, a bit wiser….? Of course there are some natural changes, some outlooks and opinions have changed over the years and depending on my mood my posts have ranged from happy go lucky to girl scorned (break ups are a bitch) but overall I like to think that I’ve remained true to myself throughout.

Dress – c/o Boden, Bag c/o Boden, Bag c/o Boden, Glasses – c/o Ray Ban via Glasses Direct
Photography – Zoe Griffin

That being said there’s a new phrase that seems to have reared it’s head in the blogosphere recently – “Relatable Blogger.”
I mean, I hope I’m relatable… Am I?  Surely everyone relates to different people?
Anyway when this phrase is being used, it’s used in a negative way – “she’s not relatable anymore,” “I can’t relate with her lifestyle.”
It’s mainly being said about people/bloggers who have grown both as people and in a financial sense too (good for you babes.)
They have worked hard, very hard I might add (being self employed and managing to be financially stable is tough – having disposable income is even tougher) and if they want to reward themselves with a designer bag or a fancy holiday then why the hell not?!
But I digress… along with “relatable” there’s also the latest coined phrase “honest blogger.” It seems to have been taken on my countless brands and influencers. Girls or Guys that openly talk about sex, about porn, about periods, orgasms, plastic surgery and one night stands. Now I am in no way saying they shouldn’t talk about it – I love reading it! But I’m kinda over the reasoning that because I don’t talk about my sex life and my bodily functions that I’m in some way not honest?!
I think it goes without saying that I’m a 27 year old woman, I have periods and I have sex. I don’t find that to be taboo, I am very comfortable talking and writing about it but it honestly just isn’t something I’ve ever had the need or the inspiration to write about. Yet! I mean I’m in  no way saying these subjects will never come up, I might feel the need to have a rant about periods any day now but I’m not going to force it just to be considered ‘relatable’ or ‘honest.’
I am honest! This – what I’m writing right now is honest but I’m also being honest when I shove on an outfit I’ve been loving lately and take pretty pictures in them.

There are SO many bloggers and influencers out there, all writing in their own style and sharing their own content. I may not be relatable to everyone and I’m not trying to be – that is an impossibility. I am quite simply just being me.

I have blogs that I go for for fashion inspo and I have blogs that I go to for more personal posts, both very different but both equally as ‘honest.’ I hope everyone reading this and everyone that clicks onto this blog – my little corner of the web finds what I write to be honest and true to who I am, whatever I choose to write about.

So yeah, just had to get that out. It’s been bugging be as I recently read a whole lot of tweets and social posts about the rise of the honest blogger and insinuating that people choosing to write about things such as fashion and travel and not being truthful. Clearly by this post you can see I disagree with this sentiment. Write what you want to write, share what you want to share be who you want to be.

I hope you find this post to be free of deceit; truthful and sincere (the Google definition of honest.)

K x

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12 Comments

  1. Jenny
    October 3, 2017 / 1:45 pm

    I don't understand why people can say these kinds of things and I don't find it right when people say negative things about bloggers who post about fashion etc either – I think everyone should write about whatever they want to write about! I totally agree that we can't be relatable to everybody all the time. Life would be so boring if we were all the same wouldn't it! xJenny | LuxeStyle

  2. Kate Winney
    October 3, 2017 / 3:38 pm

    Hey Jenny,Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment – I really do appreciate it! Ughhhhh!!! I know it really does annoy me. There is room for every kind of blogger to write anything they want to and each relates o a different audience. Thanks for stopping by lovely xxx

  3. Call Me Amy
    October 3, 2017 / 3:41 pm

    In a way all bloggers are relatable because as you say everyone relates to different people! I like to think I'm an honest blogger, but I'm yet to talk about periods and sex – I definitely don't think that makes us any less honest when it comes to what we do talk about though!Amy xxwww.callmeamy.co.uk

    • Kate Winney
      October 9, 2017 / 5:29 pm

      Hey Amy,Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment! I agree, everyone is different and relates to different things. You do you :DKate xxx

  4. Shiana
    October 3, 2017 / 7:32 pm

    Totally agree with you, there are also different bloggers I go to for different things but seeing more of the person behind the blog keeps me coming back! I love your outfit in this post, went to buy the boden dress straight away!Shiana xxwww.shianajarvis.com

    • Kate Winney
      October 9, 2017 / 5:30 pm

      Hi Shiana,I couldn't agree more. And thankyou, I'm loving this dress atm – so easy to wear! Thanks so much for rreading and commenting :DKate xxx

  5. Kim
    October 5, 2017 / 5:21 pm

    Honesty is definitely the best policy! I don't understand why people complain about bloggers no longer being "relatable" since we are all people who grow up and fall in love with different things and lifestyles along the way. It's normal! Stay you and don't let anyone try to change that!simplylovebirds.com

    • Kate Winney
      October 9, 2017 / 5:30 pm

      It always is!Hey Kim, Yep, I intend to stay true myself. Always!Kate xx

  6. Marina Who
    October 6, 2017 / 8:06 am

    This is such a great post, something for us all to think about. By the way, your outfit is so stylish :)https://waitmarinawho.blogspot.tw/

    • Kate Winney
      October 9, 2017 / 5:31 pm

      Thanks so much Marina, I really appreciate it!Kate xx

  7. Unknown
    October 17, 2017 / 4:51 pm

    Definitely all about being who you should be 🙂 We should all be true to ourselves!www.stephyttravels.com

    • Kate Winney
      October 18, 2017 / 12:00 am

      So true!Thanks for reading and commenting, I really appreciate it!Kate xxx