I'll say it- I'm nostalgic for 2012.
Not necessarily the Olympics (as much as I love Tom Daley) or the Jubilee (even with the volume of scones that became justifiable as a meal). Not even the fact it was the year of Taylor’s Red and Tame Impala’s Lonerism! (What albums)! But really for the wide eyed excitement and unknown for this new thing I'd just started called blogging. I'd started two years previously, in 2010- encouraged by my best friend Gemma and completely unaware of what this new thing looked like…
And largely, it looked simple. It was led by an excited community, fuelled on connection and comments as soon as somebody posted. There were the interesting cool girls across the pond, with Tavi Gevinson flying the flag for fashion-loving awkward teenagers everywhere- and what a joy it was! Nothing excited me as much as checking the Bloglovin homepage or Blogger to see there was a new post! It was the marrying of a MySpace bulletin and something that felt more mine and grown up. My little online 'zine; filled with giddy announcements of a new Vampire Weekend track and thoughts that were sparked by the reading of an article in Company magazine.
And 14 years on from when I started, I’m still here.
Although I don't wear a beehive anymore (never say never), so much of my style has remained the same. I have things in my wardrobe from 2010 I still pull out and things I've hunted for on Vinted because I wish I'd held onto them for just that bit longer (Topshop sailor coat, are you there?) My inspiration pool largely looks the same, and I have an aching soft spot for Lula magazine editorials (during the Leith years- never forget)!
So maybe if you know me already, perhaps that’s where from! And if you don’t- hello! I’m Liv. I’ve been blogging, trying to get my head around HTML and picking profile songs online pretty much since I had access to a computer. And, having migrated from Piczo (I know), to Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, Instagram and now here- it feels like the next grown up place to call my internet home for a bit. I’ve just moved in- and what an exciting place this feels like! My cosy internet living room- and I’m reading for a cosy chatty, glorious housewarming.
Aside from being on the internet, I’m a writer, content creator and most joyfully a mother to the most special little boy. I also run the community The Insecure Girls’ Club, and in 2020 published a book called ‘The Insecure Girls’ Handbook’, which talks about everything from friendship, comparison, self belief, body image and everything in-between- and how we can learn to believe in ourselves just that little better (something I’m very much still practising). Recognising myself as a bit of a chronic over-sharer (or just with a deep love of documenting things in a bit of a quasi autobiographical way)- I've found myself having shared my life online for most of my adult life. From internships, university, dropping out of university, moving out, getting married, having a baby, separating and finding myself all over again.
And believe it or not, I still have a lot more to share! Whether that’s about life, parenting, dating (!), style evolution, shopping, new music (and old), sourcing the best vintage and everything in-between; hopefully with a handful of adjectives that span greater than 'LOVE!!' or ‘OMG!’- but either way, I hope you’ll join me along for the ride.
I'm really quite excited.
(and if you’ve followed for this long- thank you! It’s so nice to see you here too)!
Plays *suddenly I see by KT Tunstall*
But what’s this then?
In case you’re new here, welcome to The Sentimental Wardrobe; my new Substack and newsletter- rooted in nostalgia but sharing what’s good and special now too (that I also believe will continue to feel special for years to come). Whether that’s my fail-safe Vinted search terms, my favourite second hand spots, new brands and makers that I must share on a NEED TO KNOW basis, a heart to heart about dating for the first time, mood-boosting playlists and conversations with women who I would quite like to be when I grow up (ahem). It’s an internet picnic of sorts, with all of the best bits spread out and ready for you to sit back, relax and soak up.
It’s a newsletter but you can very much use the app to keep up to date with posts if your inbox is already stretched at the seams- I definitely know what that feels like!
Free Subscribers
For free subscribers you’ll receive my Sunday Duvet Reading newsletter (a round up of everything I’ve loved in the past month, some words and style picks) on the last Sunday of every month with previews of my other content. It’s one of my favourite things to send out, so thank you for choosing this!
Paid Subscribers
I know what you’re probably thinking- ‘may I ask why you’re asking me to pay?’ and admittedly this feels like quite a scary and daunting thing to do- especially as I’ve not done it before. But to share without sponsorships and continue to write and produce content; be it guides, stories and editorials I do- requires a lot of love, care and time. It’s a means of supporting my work, attaching value to a job I often pass off as me ‘being silly online’ (when really that ‘silliness’ takes hours and a lot of time) so it really really makes a huge difference (and I really am eternally grateful).
Subscribers will receive a weekly newsletter (sometimes more often)! It might be a Wish List or edit of what I’ve seen that week, perhaps a playlist, an interview or something I’ve written from the heart and never shared before (and I kind of hope might feel like sharing with friends).
You’ll be able to join the comments, and have conversations with other like minded readers.
There will also occasionally be daily bits as and when- whether that’s a song I love (and want everyone else to love to), a brand look-book that has sent me heart a flutter or a new maker that I want you to know about before everybody else.
For paying subscribers it’s £5 a month or £50 a year (which gives you two months free!). I don’t drink coffee so can’t use that comparison but it works out at about £1.25 a week. That's less than a cup of tea and almost the same as a bunch of daffs from the supermarket! (and also less than the strange random unknown amount Apple sometimes take from your account)!
I also get this definitely might not be an option for everyone so if you wanted a paid subscription and know it wouldn’t be feasible right now, I will gladly help you out- no questions asked. Just pop me an email and I’ll gladly help.
You can also gift a subscription to someone who you think might like being part of this community too right here!
Founding Members
I’m also offering a very exciting and limited number of founding memberships to those that really want to support this exciting journey.
A founding membership will cost £150 and for that you’ll receive:
A little box from me filled with a few favourite beauty bits
A personalised playlist (depending on what you fancy)!
And a handwritten letter (personalised with any recommendations you might like)!
As well as all of the above too. You’ll also receive the enormous sense of well-being from supporting somebody's work and writing. Which isn't stocked in many places!
Finally, regardless of whether you can pay or not, I am so grateful to have you here, reading along and supporting something I love doing so very much. I know how time poor we all are, and choosing to spend even a moment of your precious time here means a lot. Whether that's on your commute, in bed with a brew or on the top of the bus in between meetings. I so appreciate it, thank you.
This also happened which is very cool and exciting!
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
