Issue 60. Notes to Self
Introducing a new series where I hold myself accountable to my own style practice & invite you to join me
Dressing intuitively is a practice. Week over week, day over day, I need to turn inward to shop and dress in alignment with myself. It’s not a “once and done” deal. This new series intends to cover just that: the daily practice of dressing with intention, and the lessons I learn (and re-learn) each week.
A quick analogy—each time a potter sits down to make a new piece on the wheel, they need to center the clay on the wheel. Each and every time.
The point of this column is to create space for me (us?) to recenter. I share the activities, moments and sayings that helped me recenter this week. Why? Because I care deeply about getting dressed! And doing so authentically. So, I need to carve out space in my life (and this newsletter) to do this.
Writing and reading on this platform does not inherently help me turn inward. I need to be intentional with creating space and time to do this practice. I sense many of us are feeling this way, as
covered in a recent post aptly titled, “how the hell do we read all these substacks? how some fave 'stackers do it.’ Nearly everyone she included iterated a version of the same sentiment: t’s chaotic, I love it, and I haven’t yet figured out another way. 'Notes to Self' carves out space to re-center, offering a moment of reflection and a gentle reminder to connect with our own intuition.Without further ado, this week’s Notes to Self:
🖊️Write out a list of your go-to brands
This week, I’ve been struggling with ‘brand hierarchy’ as I shop for spring and summer. Instead of going to my go-to’s, I became obsessed with shopping from only ‘cool’ brands, lest I later feel embarrassed or regretful. It was neither productive nor enjoyable. To re-center my own experience of brands I know that I like (or don’t like), I wrote out a quick (non-exhaustive) list of my go-tos, without judgement:
Gap - for denim
Pact - for underwear
Natori - for bras
Vince - for shoes
Staud - for sculptural handbags
Everlane - for tops and sweaters
Quince - for linen pieces
Andie Swim - swimwear
And I already feel better. I love my list. I respect the time and energy I’ve spent to identify what does and doesn’t work for me. Can you spare a few minutes to do the same? Or, if you don’t have go-to brands, do you have go-to shops or silhouettes? Take a moment to appreciate what works for you.
🙏 Celebrate a MVP garment
Let’s take a moment to acknowledge a garment that makes getting dressed fun, easy, or just…happen. What garment made your life better this week? Can you take a moment to appreciate it?
For me this week, it’s the Clare V straw bag (similar) that makes every outfit a little bit more fun. Even the guy who sold me a doughnut today took a moment to acknowledge how cute it was. Conversation starter! I love that it’s got a fun shape and minimal branding so I can wear it, wherever!
🍃 Touch grass moment
Saturday morning, I met up with a very offline friend for Vinyasa and breakfast. During the class, I experienced a moment of clarity, where I was fully present and in my body. I could immediately tell that the time I’d spent online shopping the day before was decidedly un-embodied.
Can we carve out time each week for an activity that brings us to the present moment? Examples include yoga, 30-second breathing exercises, stopping to hug a loved one, calling a friend. What else helps you recenter?
🖼️ Non-fashion inspiration
What we wear is only one part of who we are. What’s inspiring you outside of fashion this week?
A recent trip to the SFMOMA with an out-of-town guest was so fun and inspiring. I particularly loved the exhibit “1900 to Now: SFMOMA's Collection,” which serves as a crash-course in modern art: including Henri Matisse’s ‘Woman With Hat’ which shocked (and horrified) the art world when it debuted due to the riot of color and unfinished finish. Today, we think of this painting as a masterpiece.
The painting's unusual techniques were not immediately met with praise. Of all the entries to the salon, Woman with the Hat drew the largest audience, though most of the attention was not positive. According to John Klein, the "bright palette and loose, seemingly haphazard application" drew the most unfavorable attention.[5] The piece was deemed infantile, dismissed as madness by audience members and the media alike.[6]: 56
This exhibit reminded me to stay open to new ideas, new ways of dressing. I don’t want to be the person who poo-poos a new form of art simply because I don’t understand it, or I’ve never seen it before.
Here’s a few garments I saw recently that I don’t like *yet,* but I’m open to the possibility that I might one day. We can choose to stay open-minded!
What’s inspiring you outside of fashion this week? What is one small way you can carve out time for a non-fashion activity you enjoy?
💡What stood out to me on Substack this week?
Many of us are feeling overwhelmed by the volume of fashion content we want to keep up with. Let’s take a moment to reflect on one Substack post that made us feel something this week. What about that post was memorable to you? How did it make you feel? Inspired? Jealous? Sad? Excited? Every feeling is welcome.
I’ll start with an example: I love reading
because her posts make me feel energized and creatively inspired. Her writing makes me feel good, like I’m good enough, just the way I am. And also, I want to try outfits like hers not because they’re *correct* but because I resonate with them. The cowboy boots + applique skirt + shawl top in an elevator? Excuse me, I wanna WEAR that!
I like paying attention to how other people’s content makes me feel. Do they hurt my inner thorn? Do they excite me? Whatever the answer is teaches me something about myself, gives me an opportunity to check my blind-spots, and curate a newsletter list that resonates with, rather than assails me. What do you learn about yourself when you take a moment to reflect on what you read this week?
That’s it for this week’s Notes to Self!
Thanks for spending a moment here. I hope this week’s Notes to Self helps you carve out your own space to recenter.
If you enjoyed this installment, let me know by leaving a comment or liking this post! Have you been looking for a series like this? Is there anything you’d like to see included? I’d love to know.
XX, Maureen
I just wrote out a list of my go to brands. I'm in the US but very few of my brands are :( Online shopping got much more expensive today and I'm sad because most brands were B Corp (shoes!!!) or independant.
Love these ideas!! Especially style as a practice