Building A Version for Yourself

There are outfits you buy because they're fashionable.

Then there are outfits you build because they remind you of another version of yourself.

Or maybe, building a version for yourself or more yourself.

This Thursday's vintage boutique outfit falls into the second category.

The inspiration wasn't actually vintage clothing hanging in my closet. It was a dress I admired at the vintage boutique—a black and white vintage design with little buttons, polka dots, and bright red piping. The dress was a medium, and it simply wasn't my size.

I’m a large and sometimes extra large.

I’m a Sophia Loren not a Twiggy.

Instead of mourning the dress, I borrowed its spirit.

A black-and-white polka dot dress.

Bright red suede ankle boots.

My retro black bowler bag with red piping.

A vivid blue leopard scarf to add a little unexpected color.

Ironically, the only truly vintage piece is the bowler bag, and even it isn't antique. I bought it sometime in the 1990s at Marshall's after work. Back then, every little purchase carried hope for the life I imagined was ahead of me.

Back then, shopping was ... hope.

I'd wander the aisles looking for something fun to wear, then reward myself with a Gloria Jean's caramel iced coffee (fraps may not have existed yet? like smart phones). If I was lucky, there was an Auntie Anne's pretzel with caramel dipping sauce waiting somewhere in the mall too. God. Carbs. Sugar. <3

The bag carries those memories every time I pick it up.

The red boots?

They're adorable.

They're also what I now call "cute boots, limited wear."

Perfect for a few hours helping customers in a vintage shop.

Not so perfect for wandering antique malls or walking uneven brick sidewalks all afternoon.

That's part of building a wardrobe, too—learning which pieces are made for adventures and which are made for moments.

The dress may not be the original inspiration.

The boots may not be all-day boots.

The scarf may not match in the traditional sense.

But together they tell a story.

Sometimes that's the best kind of vintage—not recreating the past, but carrying little pieces of it forward into the life you're living now.

And yes, I do feel bad that I'm carrying extra weight right now. I'm not a fan of this version of my body. But I love me. I'm still me at this weight. Some seasons leave their marks on us. Life hasn't always been easy. This last year. It’s been really hard. I needed comfort.