Best of 2015 - Damsel In Dior

Damsel Diaries 9 years ago Best of 2015

As I boarded my 62nd flight of the year last week on my way home from Miami, a large lump formed in my throat. Before I knew it I was standing in the galley with tears running down my face, having a full blown panic attack. Breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, I knew that it was a moment of mind over matter. After take off I crashed into a very deep slumber and as my heavy eyes pulled themselves open nearly 3 hours later, I smiled knowing that my plane was heading home.

They say that the best books are the hardest ones to read. This was, hands down, one of the best years of my life {as well as one of the hardest}. I was going through the hundreds of photos taken throughout the past 365 days and the overall emotion that washes over my heart is gratefulness. I am still in complete shock that I not only get to do what I do every day for a living, but the incredible experiences that this platform {this blog} has granted me are astounding. Any challenges that I faced this year, both personally and professionally, can be washed out by the tremendous gratitude that I feel for being able to do what I love to do. Rainy days, sunny days, call in sick days, happy dance days . . . no matter what the day is, I have you. I have my laptop, my readers and my favorite thing in this world.

I cannot thank you enough for being a part of my story and for letting me tell it in this most special place. Here are a few favorite moments from my year.

Cheers to another year!

I finally made it to the top of the “Rock” in NY to take some photos but it was too freezing and too windy to get any good shots. This was the only snap from the shoot that never ended up making the blog.

{Throwback}

When I started my blog I always dreamed of going to Luisa via Roma’s “Firenze Forever” event. I always saw that they only invited the best of the best so it was on my bucket list to be included!

{Sorta Like a Dream}

It was on this trip to Bermuda that I realized the importance of having a stellar photographer. I always knew that great photographers made great blogs, but after having these candid moments caught of me {without me realizing my photo was being taken}, I started to feel a bit more comfortable in front of the camera.

I am so lucky to have 2 best friends who get to travel to many of the same places, at the same time, as I do. At the end of the day, there is nothing better than having a little laugh with my girls.

{La Ville des Lumières}

I took photos on this street last year in Paris and had to revisit it again this September.

{My Secret Place}

This is one of my favorite places to shoot but I very rarely get to drive up to {it’s Point Dume outside of Malibu}.

{The Shift}

I visited New York once a month this entire year. I now consider it my second home.

{Firenze Forever}

I jumped around the house dancing like a 5 year old when Valentino posted this photo of me in Florence to their Instagram.

{The Golden Door}

This was taken on a very unique experience to The Golden Door. I went with a few other bloggers and we had all just come off of a very hectic travel schedule so every one was on the same page: CHILL.

{Secret Swim}

This was one of my favorite trips of the year because it was very under the radar. Not a lot of people even knew I went to Mexico with Soludos and Felicia {my photographer} and I had so much fun bouncing around taking photos. This was snapped just before I dove into the Cenotes watering hole {which was freezing by the way}.

{Zimmermann Show}

Just before heading into the Zimmermann New York Fashion Week show I snapped this photo which ended up being one of the most popular/shared images of my year.

{Parks & Vintage}

I am in love with this photo because it captures me and my girls lives perfectly.

{50 Straight Up: Miami}

Me on a boat in Miami, how much better can life get? I realized this year that I am addicted to boats, the beach and a hot sun.

{7 Fun Fall To Do’s}

This is one of my favorite photos of the year. With every visit to NY I go running in Central Park, but I have never sat in it. I was shooting a story for Seven Daughters Wines and took in a moment to sip on some wine in the park and it was one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen.

{Rolling Around}

{Here}

{Throwback}

{Early Bird Special}

Working on my first ever clothing collection with Splendid was a dream come true. This photo of me wearing one of my dresses in Paris tells the story of the entire collection: Chill, laid back and chic.

{The Golden Door}

I learned the art of sitting still this year. It has taught me to think before I speak, pause before I react and that moments of silence can be moments of brilliance.

{It’s Here}

{Parks & Vintage}

{Ferris Bueller’s Day Off}

{Lone Moments}

Another thing that was on my 2015 bucket list was to appear in Vogue. This is the image that was printed in Deutsch Vogue. While I was hoping for US Vogue, as my Mom would say “Vogue is Vogue!”

{Beach Story}

I love this moment that was snapped in between scouting locations in Bermuda. Sometimes I wish I could share the little moments in between snaps, in between photos and in between locations because those are the times when the story forms and the idea is created.