2012 Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference

Over cocktails last week, Amanda, who works for Independent Fashion Bloggers, convinced Usha and me to volunteer at the IFB Conference. She didn't have to twist our arms too hard - did you see the lineup of panelists? Yesterday I arrived at Milk Studios by 7:30 AM with only the bare minimum of essentials in my (ancient) orange patent clutch. Because I'm not a fashion blogger, I didn't pressure myself to wear my most fabulous outfit or my highest heels. (Nothing to see here, just lil ol' me in Target jeans and a five dollar top!) Eleven hours on my feet later, my trusty leopard wedges - chosen for comfort - were no longer bearable.

From left to right: me, Usha, Taylor, and Crissie watching from the sidelines. Photo by Marielle Sales.

I met some wonderful fellow bloggers, but because I haven't yet embraced the day's oft-repeated mantra ("brand yourself!"), I didn't have a business card to exchange with them. (Perhaps I should finally take the plunge toward legitimizing this endeavor I embarked upon over two years ago?)

When I got home last night, I peeked at the day's tweets labeled with the #IFBcon hashtag and was struck by how many people wished they had been able to attend. It was a powerful reminder that I'm incredibly fortunate to live in my favorite city, a place where so many others dream of one day visiting.