Meet Natalie Buenker | Fashion Blogger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Buenker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
Being a fashion blogger has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. When I was a junior in high school and started my blog, I never knew how many doors would open for me, how many friendships I would make, the opportunities I would receive, and the community I would grow. Blogging has been such a fun adventure in my life that I wouldn’t trade for the world! What people usually don’t know about being a fashion blogger is that it takes a lot of work. The fashion industry is always changing, and it is a very fast-paced industry, so you have to be able to adapt with the trends and what is going on in the industry. As my blog has grown over the past 5 years, I have had to work a lot of late hours and weekends to be able to create good content that my audience loves. Being a blogger is a lot more behind-the-scenes and computer work than it seems to be. Some days, I spend hours shopping at different stores for my followers. Sometimes I spend hours emailing brands, making outfit collages, or linking outfits for my followers to shop. I think that a big part about blogging that many people are not aware of is that the computer work can be an all-day affair.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It definitely has not been an easy journey being a fashion blogger. Since I started my blog at such a young age, I was very nervous to put myself out there and about what people might think or say. Fashion can be a difficult industry because your style reflects who you are as a person, so if someone criticizes your outfit, it is easy to take it personally. I love the color pink. It is my favorite color and a color I feel good in. I want my followers to see that I wear what makes me feel confident and pretty not necessarily what everyone is wearing. Often, we are told to wear things that make us look mature which tends to mean don’t wear bright colors, however, I love bright colors and I love showing my audience how to incorporate color into a sophisticated wardrobe! What I want the world to know about my brand, The Trendy Gal, and me is that whenever they hop on my page or find me on social media they know that I appreciate them for who they are and I hope that they can find confidence in what they wear no matter their shape, size, or color. Everyone is beautiful and deserves to feel confident and beautiful not only in what they wear, but in their own skin. Professionally, it has been a grueling but amazing journey so far. The fashion industry is very competitive and it can be hard to break through as a blogger or influencer. For years now, I have been putting in long hours of creating content, planning, and engaging with my followers. Some days it can be draining and sometimes I want to throw in the towel, but then I remember why I started and why I love what I get to do every day. Getting to have a platform where I can encourage women everyday makes all the long hours worth it. I love when I get to help women style themselves for all the moments in their life, big and small. It truly makes everything I do daily so worth it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is such a hard question because there are so many good spots in Houston! One restaurant I love and would definitely take my best friend to is Sixty Vines. They are my go-to spot for brunch! I love their breakfast sandwich and also their mimosas are to die for. Some places for drinks that I love are Little Woodrows and Wonder bar. I love the photo opportunities of Wonder Bar and I also love being able to chat outside, when the weather is nice, at Little Woodrows! Some other restaurants I love are Flower Child, Dish Society, Gatlins BBQ, Lolas, and many other places but these are a few of my favorite spots! Some of my favorite places to take photos for my blog are Highland Village, I love the cute Cupcake ATM outside Sprinkles! I also love taking pictures at the McGovern Centennial Gardens. It is such a pretty space and my photos always turn out great. Since I live in the Heights, a few of my favorite places to shop include The Impeccable Pig and Lululemon in Heights Mercantile. I also love Anjouls and Emerson Rose as well! Shopping in Rice Village never disappoints and you can make a whole day out of it because they have yummy food spots, such as Hopdoddy, and you can grab drinks in the area as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents have always been my biggest fans growing up. They have also encouraged me to be myself and to be confident in things I want to do in life. There have been many times where I have wanted to quit blogging because it is a tedious task that requires a lot of time and effort. If it wasn’t for their support, I would not be as successful of a blogger as I am today. For years, my mom would be the person behind the camera taking my photos and I still remember my dad getting up with me at 6 a.m. in New York City so I could get the perfect shot before the streets were too crowded with people. Also, the fashion community has played a big role in my life as a blogger. I have made so many friendships through blogging and those girls inspire me and life me up daily and I love that they make me not only a better person but, a better blogger!

Website: https://thetrendygal.blog/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetrendygal_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=thetrendygal_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxZ3hkX4i25p64ZsbLf625g