I AM SO MOVED! I can’t believe that’s true and I just was (and am) so grateful to find you. But this means so much to me! Congratulations, and here’s to many more — more writing, joy, whatever you want, and even eating the whole damn baguette 😘
Piperlime, the ubiquitous army jacket, going out tops and more — there is nothing that has not shaped who we are from what we wore. And letting it pile up in the closet, as you beautifully captured here, is like staying the same. We evolve as we edit what we wear ... and vice versa. And we are thankful for the memories along the way.
Beautifully put! There is a tension between appreciating our past and evolving. I’m glad you understood. Capturing that tension feels like speaking out of both sides of my mouth, but two things can be true.
Both are absolutely true! I am a bit of a broken record on substack — and every other medium — about this, but I am writing a fashion essay collection that is exactly this sentiment. Tales of love, loss, working in fashion and finding my authentic self is all told through what I wore. And while it's a fun nostalgic romp through fashion (the post-college Ann Taylor suit and low slung 7's with hanky panky's to a lifelong obsession with white men's shirts thanks to Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch's inaugural collection of caftans and early aughts Prada sandals to ease a breakup), the journey is soulful and more about being vulnerable — naked — than what I wore. And while it's my own story, we've all been there. I love to tell book agents that "the essays are ever so timely and robust, unlike the thin eyebrows we once wore."
Congratulations on one year and all that you’ve done so far! Somewhere down the line, “midimalist” will be as well-known a term as mini- and max- … mark my words! I’m so glad I stumbled upon your newsletter as your thoughts always get my gears turning. I’m honoured to have you as a reader 🥹.
1 year, woohoo!!!💓 consider me president of the midimalist fan club 😉 I’ve learned so much from you and you write in a way where it feels we really get to know YOU!
I forgot about how madewell was a whole movement in the fashion/blogging world, and I also remember dying for this infamous free people trapeze tunic with lace chevron stripes LOL.
Laughing at the description of the Free People top because I was right there with you! Isn’t it hilarious to think we could probably find those pieces on Poshmark now and people would be (practically) giving them away!
I feel like our clothes are so much deeper than just clothes... they hold memories and stories of the places we went and the people we were when we wore them! So while we might cringe, it's also so fun to look back and see how things have evolved. Congrats on one year and I look forward to all of your future newsletters!
Congrats on year 1! I love how you explore ideas in your newsletter and I'm glad it's taking off, thank you for mentioning me. Also, I graduated journalism school in 2007 and I can concur that journalism professors at the time had no idea what was coming!
I looked down memory lane last year and I cringed at some of the things I wore - like my American Apparel jersey skater skirt - but I also love that my younger self was not the same as my current self. Consistency is overrated in style.
Thank you Lin!! You were one of my first reads on SS and I still save your posts for when I can sit and truly engage with them.
Isn’t it great when we can let ourselves learn from a fashion past (I wouldn’t necessarily call them “mistakes”)? Looking back at pictures I realize how long it took me to push back against what was popular at any time and carve out my own voice for what I wear. But I wouldn’t change anything.
Congrats on your one year! This post made me think: how would my outfits look different over the years if composed of newer items with those I've had two, five, even 10 years? I like imagining the feeling of that in terms of texture (patina, like you say) and also because it makes any one outfit less locked in a certain year or years of styling trends.
Yes! It’s an interesting thought to say; what if instead of wearing the same (let’s say) black boots each year we just replace them with a new pair. It would be exhausting to never have a history.
Congrats on 1 year!! Your newsletter is my favorite and I always look forward to what you're going to write about.
The Madewell era is so real. I don't think I'm completely out of it because I think they make some good pieces, but I definitely don't exclusively shop there anymore.
I love your substack and always make sure I am caught up! Thank you for your fresh perspective and for keeping the conversation moving forward. We are lucky to have you in our inboxes!
Ooooh congrats on your 1st Substack birthday! 🥳 Such a fun read, my legs hurt just thinking about how skinny those jeans used to be. Hello American Apparel Era. I also love wondering how we’ll perceive our current era as we reflect in the future (ok that future past is breaking my brain…) cos like, when you’re in the eye of the storm/era it’s like ‘this is going to last FOREVER’ 😂
The tree ring metaphor is a really apt one. I've been trying to wear some of the oldest pieces in my wardrobe recently, including some of the cringy ones that I've kept for sentimental reasons (I find that the cringy ones are from 10+ years ago and they are painfully untrendy), just to see how I could wear them, being the same old me and the different current me. The both versions of myself exist simultaneously, and in order for style to be personal, it has to have layers in it. It's a fun exercise!
Thanks Tiia! Keeping your aging fashion is important because it truly would be like a tree that is hollow inside. Playing with your aging fashion is even better!! Modernizing your pieces and accepting that it might not always work but to still hold on to it. Brilliant.
Congrats on your year Kelly! So impressive what you’ve built. I love your different eras- it hits HARD! I am absolute rolling with the Piperlime reference. That and C Wonder are literally of such an era…!
I AM SO MOVED! I can’t believe that’s true and I just was (and am) so grateful to find you. But this means so much to me! Congratulations, and here’s to many more — more writing, joy, whatever you want, and even eating the whole damn baguette 😘
Rachel, a soft spot in my heart always belongs to YOU.
XO!
Piperlime, the ubiquitous army jacket, going out tops and more — there is nothing that has not shaped who we are from what we wore. And letting it pile up in the closet, as you beautifully captured here, is like staying the same. We evolve as we edit what we wear ... and vice versa. And we are thankful for the memories along the way.
Beautifully put! There is a tension between appreciating our past and evolving. I’m glad you understood. Capturing that tension feels like speaking out of both sides of my mouth, but two things can be true.
Both are absolutely true! I am a bit of a broken record on substack — and every other medium — about this, but I am writing a fashion essay collection that is exactly this sentiment. Tales of love, loss, working in fashion and finding my authentic self is all told through what I wore. And while it's a fun nostalgic romp through fashion (the post-college Ann Taylor suit and low slung 7's with hanky panky's to a lifelong obsession with white men's shirts thanks to Carolina Herrera, Tory Burch's inaugural collection of caftans and early aughts Prada sandals to ease a breakup), the journey is soulful and more about being vulnerable — naked — than what I wore. And while it's my own story, we've all been there. I love to tell book agents that "the essays are ever so timely and robust, unlike the thin eyebrows we once wore."
HA!! Your elevator pitch description is SO good. It resonates with people because (as you said) we’ve all been there.
Love your stack and the True Detective reference 🥖
I’m glad someone got it 😉
Congratulations on one year and all that you’ve done so far! Somewhere down the line, “midimalist” will be as well-known a term as mini- and max- … mark my words! I’m so glad I stumbled upon your newsletter as your thoughts always get my gears turning. I’m honoured to have you as a reader 🥹.
So unbelievably honored your here 😭
Loved this blast from the past! Definitely went through the same eras with the red hunter boots and Sam Edelman booties.
Also congrats on 1-year! You’re one of my favourite writers to read. So relatable and fun! 🤍
Maria this comment means the world to me. The love is so, so mutual.
1 year, woohoo!!!💓 consider me president of the midimalist fan club 😉 I’ve learned so much from you and you write in a way where it feels we really get to know YOU!
I forgot about how madewell was a whole movement in the fashion/blogging world, and I also remember dying for this infamous free people trapeze tunic with lace chevron stripes LOL.
Elle, I’m so thankful for you!!
Laughing at the description of the Free People top because I was right there with you! Isn’t it hilarious to think we could probably find those pieces on Poshmark now and people would be (practically) giving them away!
I love this! Love the patina, the tree rings, and feel seen by the Sam Edelman booties haaha.
There wasn’t a girl around that wasn’t wearing those booties!!
I feel like our clothes are so much deeper than just clothes... they hold memories and stories of the places we went and the people we were when we wore them! So while we might cringe, it's also so fun to look back and see how things have evolved. Congrats on one year and I look forward to all of your future newsletters!
Thanks Kendall! I agree, I love looking back on my previous eras even if they don’t feel like ME right now; they aren’t supposed to, you know?!
Congrats on year 1! I love how you explore ideas in your newsletter and I'm glad it's taking off, thank you for mentioning me. Also, I graduated journalism school in 2007 and I can concur that journalism professors at the time had no idea what was coming!
I looked down memory lane last year and I cringed at some of the things I wore - like my American Apparel jersey skater skirt - but I also love that my younger self was not the same as my current self. Consistency is overrated in style.
Thank you Lin!! You were one of my first reads on SS and I still save your posts for when I can sit and truly engage with them.
Isn’t it great when we can let ourselves learn from a fashion past (I wouldn’t necessarily call them “mistakes”)? Looking back at pictures I realize how long it took me to push back against what was popular at any time and carve out my own voice for what I wear. But I wouldn’t change anything.
Congrats on your one year! This post made me think: how would my outfits look different over the years if composed of newer items with those I've had two, five, even 10 years? I like imagining the feeling of that in terms of texture (patina, like you say) and also because it makes any one outfit less locked in a certain year or years of styling trends.
Yes! It’s an interesting thought to say; what if instead of wearing the same (let’s say) black boots each year we just replace them with a new pair. It would be exhausting to never have a history.
Congrats on 1 year!! Your newsletter is my favorite and I always look forward to what you're going to write about.
The Madewell era is so real. I don't think I'm completely out of it because I think they make some good pieces, but I definitely don't exclusively shop there anymore.
Thanks for all the love Ofelia, I love your newsletter!! I think in a perfect world my eras include stores without being exclusive to them.
I love your substack and always make sure I am caught up! Thank you for your fresh perspective and for keeping the conversation moving forward. We are lucky to have you in our inboxes!
Emily this is such an incredible compliment. Thank you for your kind words, they will be my affirmation as I fall asleep tonight 😭
Yes!!
Ooooh congrats on your 1st Substack birthday! 🥳 Such a fun read, my legs hurt just thinking about how skinny those jeans used to be. Hello American Apparel Era. I also love wondering how we’ll perceive our current era as we reflect in the future (ok that future past is breaking my brain…) cos like, when you’re in the eye of the storm/era it’s like ‘this is going to last FOREVER’ 😂
Hahaha TOTALLY! “I’ll always wear barrel leg jeans” 🫠 someone said to me that we are in the “personal style” era and that honestly sums up so much.
Also congratulations on one year!! 👏👏👏👏👏💞
🫶🙌🥹
Happy one year! Here's to many more!
The tree ring metaphor is a really apt one. I've been trying to wear some of the oldest pieces in my wardrobe recently, including some of the cringy ones that I've kept for sentimental reasons (I find that the cringy ones are from 10+ years ago and they are painfully untrendy), just to see how I could wear them, being the same old me and the different current me. The both versions of myself exist simultaneously, and in order for style to be personal, it has to have layers in it. It's a fun exercise!
Thanks Tiia! Keeping your aging fashion is important because it truly would be like a tree that is hollow inside. Playing with your aging fashion is even better!! Modernizing your pieces and accepting that it might not always work but to still hold on to it. Brilliant.
Congrats on your year Kelly! So impressive what you’ve built. I love your different eras- it hits HARD! I am absolute rolling with the Piperlime reference. That and C Wonder are literally of such an era…!
IYKYK!!