march round up: teenage dreams and sequin queens
Thinking about new love languages, the early 2000s, new fashion trends and Britney Spears.
Hello! Welcome back. As a constant reminder: I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m not going to lie, I started a new job a couple weeks ago and with things getting exponentially busier, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to send out my third edition of the newsletter. But here it is! I’m going to continue with this monthly schedule with an assortment of mini messays (messy essays), fashion philosophies, binging reflections, etc. And if you haven’t already….you know what to do.
In the last year, I think I’ve said the phrase, “I miss you and can’t wait to see you soon” too many times that I can count. So much so that I’m worried it’s becoming to feel less resonant, less meaningful with each time I say it. But in fact it’s the very opposite because with every time I say it to an old friend or family member I haven’t seen in a while, I say it with that much more earnest.
“I miss you and I can’t wait to see you soon.”
I feel like during this time we’ve all had to rework what our love language is. It’s not as simple as dropping by at random to surprise your friend, spending a night out dancing, giving hugs, etc. For me, being half introverted, half extroverted, sometimes it would mean going to a loud bar to sing karaoke, or sometimes it would mean sitting at home and watching too many episodes of trashy reality TV shows.
Lately though, my love language has been going back to something that has constantly been there: shopping — mainly thrifting. It’s one of the few things I’ve still been able to do, even if it’s not as often. Ever since I was a teenager, stumbling to figure out my personal style, going to a thrift store and digging for hidden gems with my mom was a way to show love for her, but also for myself. It was a quick chance to reinvent myself or to find something that fits just right.
I’ve been saying how I’ve been reverting back to a lot of the things that brought me comfort as a teenager, mainly due to the pandemic. Shopping is always something that tied in with something emotional: I want something new, I need something for spirit week, I need a first date outfit, I need a dress for homecoming or just simply: I want to see my friends and communicate my love for them by finding a bomb sweater that matches them perfectly.
So I'm glad I get to keep that love language somewhat right now, even if it's a quick thrift trip with friends and trying on weird items that we may or may not ever wear. My favorite part of a good thrift trip is getting a chance to experiment with new styles, or old trends that are coming back around. Here’s two I’ve been thinking about experimenting with:
Colorful tights — although I haven’t figured out how to style them personally, I have played around with them in photoshoots. I just love them. They transcend generations. They’re chic, yet fun. They're not for everyone (and that's okay!) but one thing you can't say is that they are is boring. And for me, someone who's tired of wearing sweat pants, but still can't commit to jeans just yet, I think the different type of in-between for me right now.
Patchwork tops — something about these kind of shirts and general aesthetic just feels violent. But in a good way. It truly feels like you took a shirt, went at it with a lawn mower or pair of scissors and then stitched it back together with no rhyme or reason. I haven’t been able to find one to commit to but I honestly think it’s because it’s a style where there’s so many unique variations that I’ve been so indecisive.
fall 2021: three runway looks i loved
Overall, I’ve been feeling a little lost with my personal style, so instead, I’ve been allowing myself to indulge in it externally, more as an art form, rather than a practical thing I put int my every day routine and hoping that it comes full circle and I feel more in tune with how I want to “look” as I enter back into the world.
1. Blumarine. Folks, it appears we’ve finally come full circle, and it can’t be shown any better than through Blumarine’s newest line which has the most Paris Hilton vibes I’ve seen in a while, has brought our early 2000s dreams to life. The one thing I remember about that era of fashion was there was a certain showmanship to it; every look felt like everyone was just throwing random acts at the stage and seeing what works for the audience, or at the very least — garners a reaction. I also think the main way I experienced fashion in the early aughts is through music video fashion, and that’s what I’m really feeling from this pink fur skirt and leg wrap shoes.
2. Chopova Lovena. This British designer’s philosophy on clothing is similar to what I’m trying to embody: take inspiration from your past, but don’t let it define you. Think I’m reading too much into it? Maybe. But all I know is, their use of reusing old traditional folk clothing has struck a cord in my heart and this particular look has such an interesting mix of punk, color and uniform that I absolutely can’t stop looking at.
3. Prada. I love the second-skin look in this Prada’s womenswear collection. The idea of wearing something tight, form fitting and embellished with a fun print underneath a baggy, big jacket is just well, speaking to me. It feels like a good combination of where I”m at right now in terms of my style — comfort, but also dabbling in harsher silhouettes and harder clothing that isn’t completely making me feel like I’m in bed constantly. Basically, I’m craving movement. Although, this particular look with just the second-skin just feels fun as hell.
what i’m watching:
The Framing of Britney Spears (Hulu)
The impact that Britney Spears left on anyone growing up in the early 2000s is unmatched, but it’s interesting and heartbreaking to see the impact those years had on her. The new documentary produced by the New York Times and available on Hulu is a must-watch (although, I’m aware that almost everyone already has). It’s interesting how this doc left a takeaway for Britney fans but for all of us, who have a front row seat in the big circus that is the way our society views female musicians, actors and women that reach undeniable fame and almost god-like pop royalty.
One thing I didn’t think about before is Britney’s age during all of this. She had two children at 25 when her “meltdown” occurred and I couldn’t help but think about how that’s my current actual age and how at this age we’re still developing so much of ourselves. And in Britney’s case it begs the question of: why do we want women to grow up so fast, but stay so young at the same time?
For me, I’m thinking about all the posters I had on my wall as a kid, how she influenced my style, my sense of self and my music taste (an aspect I do wish the doc touched on a little bit more, because the way she reshaped pop music and really set the standard, is unmatched). To this day, her music influences my taste to this day: fun, explosive, glossy and danceable. And her songs and music videos — from the sauciness of “Toxic” to the deep emotional turmoil that is “Everytime” — were the first videos I experienced as a child, and hell they were the main way I experienced music.
might i suggest: Sydney Urbanek’s fascinating two-part essay about the aftermath of Britney and Justin’s break up, as told through the music videos they released.
YouTube
I’ll be honest! I haven’t watched a lot of new shows this past month — just continuing to make my way through WandaVision and The X-Files. But also, YouTube has really become a safe space in the last year and I think the creators deserve a shoutout. The two fashion channels I’ve been watching the most, though are definitely Modern Gurlz and Mina Lee, and they recently posted some great essays about two of my favorite films:
Style Analysis: Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen — Modern Gurlz
Chicago (2002) & the history of showgirl costumes — Mina Lee
what I’ve been reading:
From Bank Robber to Hollywood: Why Cherry Author Nico Walker Isn’t Watching the Movie of His Life — Kevin Hall
The journalist as influencer: how we sell ourselves on social media — Allegra Hobbs
Britney Spears Was Never In Control — Tavi Gevinson
song of the moment
discover diaries
A couple months ago, I liked one single video on Instagram of someone making a handmade rug. Now, my entire discover page is basically filled with these colorful funky rugs and people making them, and it’s the most calming thing to watch. It also makes me want to update my bathroom rugs again.
