You Could Say It Was The Hat
That Changed Me
I’ve always been somewhat comfortable with being uncomfortable, which influenced my style. I'd wear things or fix my hair in ways I truly loved, knowing full well it would evoke some commentary. I say “somewhat comfortable” because I'd still hear the nagging voice in my head touting, “Who do you think you are? You can't pull off that look.” You know the one.
Just a few years ago, I so badly wanted to wear a wide-brimmed fedora hat. I even bought one, but could not bring myself to wear it in public. I’d put it on, check the mirror, and hear, “You can't pull that off. You're out of your league. What will they think of you?” And I’d tuck the hat away in my closet.
But one day, as I chickened out of wearing it for the umpteenth time, a deeper truth became clear. The hat was a metaphor, a symbol. It represented everything I was holding back for fear of what others would think. It had nothing to do with fashion, and everything to do with fear.
Emboldened by that bit of conscious clarity, I put on the damn hat. Fedora-dorned and accessorized with a bit of discomfort, I walked out the door, different.
Now, whenever I hesitate to wear something I like, I embrace the uncomfortable. I think about my wide-brimmed hat and wear it anyway.
on my mind this week…
Influencer Inspiration
Meet Thamarr. She’s one of my favorite follows on a little site called Instagram. Heard of it?
Get inspired by her outdoor photoshoots, outfit style, creative energy, and overall earthy aesthetic. Go on the gram and find her @musingsofacurvylady
Join the conversation
I love that Elizabeth doesn’t just assume that people don’t care about what’s happening in the fashion industry. The reality is, most people don’t really know or understand the lengths at which our continual shopping is hurting workers or the planet.
A better vision of the fashion industry includes buying less. If each of us started with that, we’d be taking one giant step in the right direction.
Follow @elizabethlcline
Taking The High Road
Journalist extraordinaire @unwrinkling talks with influencers about holding ourselves to a higher standard.
In the article "Klepp points out that... for all the ways the sustainability conversation has become mainstream... we all have more clothes than ever before, but we’re wearing them less. That pattern alone ought to indicate that current strategies aren’t working."
Fletcher says... “We’ve known for a long time that ‘green’ products do little to change behavior, if anything at all. It seems impossible to say that you can just keep promoting better alternatives, but stick with the growth-focused ideology that underpins it all, because that’s not going to change anything.”
As someone who enjoys thinking about my style and what I wear each day, it's easy to trick myself into believing I don't need to change how much I buy — just what I buy.
But that creates a false idealogy that more is better. It's a way to continue the same old patterns without questioning what impact my actions actually have.
You’ve got to read the whole article. I’m thinking, now more than ever, about my personal behavior and the influencers I'm following.
Summer in a small town…
I grew up in Mayberry. You may think I’m exaggerating, but I have plenty of stories to prove I am not.
It’s a daily occurrence to find townspeople, my dad included, gathered at the infamous “round table” for the Bluebird’s breakfast. It’s commonplace to call the Town Marshal by his first name or spot golf carts and semis sharing the same road.
It’s where you can create an OOTD video in the middle of the road without a soul in sight. The ease of this linen jumpsuit paired with timeless Birkenstocks is the perfect uniform for an impromptu visit to my parents’ house. A small town is not for everyone, but I’ve come to appreciate this little slice of home.