This is a very special day for me because today is my 2nd blogiversary! Yes, Closet Luxe is 2 years old, and I can hardly believe it. Time flies when you’re having fun!

When I started blogging, I wanted to do one thing: create a collection of outfit inspiration for women — wallflowers, specifically —  and inspire them to let fashion help pave the way to a stronger sense of self. In looking back on two years of posts, I can see I am a living product of my goal, and in no way am I close to completing my style or personal evolution.

To commemorate this milestone, I wanted to shoot a look that was more special than my usual. And coming off of my previous post where I opened up about my insecurities, I felt it was only right to also push myself to explore what would make me feel like the 30-year-old woman I am, rather than the 20-something-year-old girl I remember.

I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. I wanted to feel sexy.

Dressing this way wasn’t necessarily difficult, but feeling it was a whole other thing. Because of my lingering self-doubts, I’ve always had a hard time acknowledging that part of me, so it was quite the challenge to bring her out for a photo op.

Selecting the right pieces definitely helped me feel more comfortable with the idea and look I was going for. I am a firm believer in subtlety, which is why I chose to pair a lace dress with over-the-knee (OTK) socks. The OTK style was deliberate for two reasons: (1) it does a great job of elongating even the shortest of legs — and feeling taller always makes this blogger feel more confident! — and (2) it allows just the right amount of skin to show below the hem of the dress, keeping things intriguing.

Though it’s difficult to read here, my flash tattoo says, “explore. dream. discover.” and that is exactly what I will continue to do. I want to keep exploring new things and dream bigger, all while discovering more about myself along the way. Though it’s still hard to open up about the more personal subjects I’ve been starting to write about, I think it will be good for me to keep at and weave in with my regular posts when it makes sense.

I never expected that blogging would become a way for me to document my growth, both stylistically and personally, but it has — and I’m truly honored that you all are choosing to share this journey with me. I cannot thank each of you enough for your continued support!

XOXO

Outfit details

Dress: Free People
Clutch: Rebecca Minkoff (0ld)
Scarf: Zara (old)
Shoes: Sam Edelman (old)
Socks: Target
Necklace: Forever 21 (old)
Bracelets: Stella & Dot, Jawbone UP2 activity tracker
Rings: Chanel, Melinda Maria (old), Svelte Metals
Earrings: Meraki Handmade
Flash tattoo: Flash Tattoos

Photographer: Luis Omar of MELSANV