Clearing My Cache: My Past Self, My Present Style
Not long ago, I saw a post on Social Media that asked, “Does your style match your Pinterest board?” Do people still use Pinterest? I use it for all types of inspiration, but I never post anything. Anyway, I immediately pulled up my style boards and no my style did not match my Pinterest boards. In fact, the majority of what I was pinning were looks that I loved, but didn’t reflect my current life. That was the first time that I realized the misalignment in the way I see myself.
When I was a young professional, I lived in 3.75” heels and business casual attire. I wore heels every day. But when I quit my government job and became self-employed, I decided I could dress how I really wanted–elevated casual, but eventually I stopped wearing heels. Once I stopped wearing heels, there was no going back. The first time I wore heels after a six month hiatus, I almost died. My self-employment didn’t work out and I’ve moved around since to three states and counting. I will always be a pointed toe girl, but my life is different now. That day that I looked back at my style boards on Pinterest, I realized that most of the images related that previous life. I’ve made and remade my wardrobe three times over the last five years and maybe that indecision is influenced by the fact that I’m looking at myself through an old lens. I really don’t think this is uncommon. Women often keep clothes that they can’t fit partly because I hope to wear them again, but within that is that they represent the woman you used to be, the woman you still see yourself as, and or the woman you intend to be again. As for me, I’m ready to let go of that woman and move forward and the first place to start –Pinterest. It’s my intention to delete my boards and start fresh.
The woman I am today is no less fashionable, but functionality and versatility are more of a priority for me. I am preparing to begin my fourth wardrobe makeover. This time focusing on subtracting more than adding and I’m excited to build something lasting, a wardrobe that I long to wear all of the pieces, all of the time.