||Top:  Express Stretch Cotton Cropped Tank | Skirt:  Banana Republic Floral Pleated Midi Skirt | Shoes:  Sam Edelman Odelia Mules | Jewelry:  Stella & Dot Element Necklace |  Blue Lapis Lazuli Pauline Ring (sold out) | Alice Tennis Bracelet  ||

I have been looking high and low for the perfect pleated midi skirt, and I finally found it!  The skirt’s waist is high enough, so I can wear a crop top without flashing too much skin, just a sliver. Since I wanted the skirt to be the showstopper, I chose a simple black top and some delicate jewelry to compliment it. Wearing this outfit I felt dressy without being fussy or overdone. The perfect mix between modern and romantic, if you ask me 🙂

I had the privilege of working with the talented young photographer Victoria Westrick for this photo shoot. It was so much fun and I felt incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her. It also made me realize how important collaborations are, especially between women.

Let me recall a far too familiar scenario: We start a new project, business endeavor, what have you, and we are excitedly sharing our big plans with our girlfriends, just to find out that they are not as supportive as we anticipated.  We are left wondering “why?” and start double guessing our plans, our friendship, and even ourselves.

More often than not, women for one reason or another do not support other women’s goals and efforts. May it be in the work environment or on a private level between friends, I have personally encountered push back and, in some isolated instances, even sabotage from other women.

However, whatever their reasoning may be, much more important is the fact that we all need support. We all need reaffirmation every now and then. Even the most confident person can’t do it on her own. We need our girlfriends, our sisterhood, our squad, our tribe.

As different as we may seem, we all feel joy, pain, and love the same way. Why not use our similar experiences to relate to each other and connect?!  Let’s build acceptance, support, and love for each other because … God knows, we could use more of that.

How, you might ask? It can be as easy as sharing your girlfriend’s latest post on your page or liking and following her business page or blog. It takes about 30 seconds, but means the world to your friend. Trust me.

You might say your friend’s handmade cat costumes are just not your thing? Fair enough. However, I bet one of your 375 Facebook friends was searching desperately for exactly that dinosaur costume for Mr. Mittens. Just saying.

Thankfully, I have been lucky enough to have encountered some women who are the epitome of supportive friends and coworkers.  This post is a tribute to them and to all women not afraid to stand behind other women’s dreams. They are wise enough to understand that your girlfriend’s success is not your failure.  On the contrary, it is a testimony that we can achieve our goals with hard work, focus, and a little support.

Let’s celebrate the women that are always there for us, supporting us in every endeavor, big or small!  I raise my glass to strong, supportive women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.

In this spirit, I would like to introduce a new movement – Sisterhood of Bliss – a place where women support other women’s goals and dreams without judgment and where we celebrate each other’s success. Let me know what you think or of any ideas or comments you have! And if you used the hashtag #sisterhoodofbliss for your posts, I wouldn’t even be mad 😉

A big thank you to Victoria Westrick Photography ! Stay tuned for more collaborations…

When women support each other, incredible things happen.