Yesterday a girl about my age came up to my booth and held up a shirt she liked. She asked me how I would style it and I told her a few ways. She seemed a little defeated and said, “I just wear boring clothes and I feel stuck in my clothes.” I’m paraphrasing, and genuinely no shade to her; we’ve all been stuck before. She was wearing jeans and a tee shirt and I had her try the shirt I had made on over her shirt to show her how it could go with what she had on and elevate her look a little bit. And she said again, “I just don’t think I could wear something like this. I’m too boring and stuck in my clothes.” Again I’m paraphrasing and not trying to be judgmental. I have been stuck.
I think millennials have been given a gift. We get a lot of flack from boomers that we job hop, and we’re flaky, and we don’t stick things out. But I think millennials look at previous generations and are now able to say, “I’m not going to stay stuck.” I quit my job this year, and it’s not permanent (I hope), but there’s a beauty in recognizing what isn’t working and taking a leap to make changes in life.
Clothes are simple in the grand scheme of things. But if you’re feeling stuck, make a change (even a small one) that will move you towards feeling unstuck. If you feel like your clothes are boring find one fun piece that you can incorporate into what you already have, and wear it confidently. A curated vintage and handmade market is a great place to start because most of us sellers are passionate about getting you in pieces that will make you shine. But staying stuck isn’t going to help you feel unstuck. Start small and you’ll start to notice big changes!
I hope that girl finds a sequin blazer that she loves and she wears it confidently one day. I hope she feels less boring in her clothes, even by wearing something she has in a new way. I hope if you’re feeling stuck you find the courage to make a change, even in the tiniest of ways.
Anyways, here’s the shirt she wouldn’t buy. Good luck to all you brave friends!