Friday, September 24
We’re not going to call a spade a spade ♠️. This is not a phase. Mom and Aunt Sue and I talked this week about some things that happened to me over the weekend. They told me to make my own decisions and I’m going to do just that. I talked about it briefly in my blog on Sunday but I don’t want to say much more. Because I’m going to make my own decisions concerning my lifestyle, I can go ahead with today’s blog which I’m looking forward to sharing.
For me, 2021 has been the year of gender nonconformity and dressing non traditionally. I’ve rocked my Coach purse and looked amazing in my leopard print cardigan and my blazers. Sara and I will rock ours when we go shopping in the not too distant future. I style my floral blouses with my skinny jeans and a tank top underneath. I’ve worked hard to develop my fashionable image and establish my definition of style. I almost gave it up because some people complained. My family and friends have come through for me and I’m going to continue being Fashionable 4EVA. However it won’t come without some changes.
Today’s blog highlights my “Journey to Being Fashionable 4eva”. It started on an overnight work trip in Ashtabula. We were all staying at a nearby Red Roof and we were in one of the rooms waiting to go to dinner.
Two of the girls from Uniontown walked into the room. The redhead looked casual in jeans and a T-shirt. The blonde looked stunning in a pink cherry dress. Here I was looking frumpy in my gym shorts and a T-shirt while Emily looked gorgeous. I was going through a period of loneliness as well since my Grandma passed away and that night exacerbated it even more.
I had that night on my mind for two months and spilled everything to Mr. Clougherty as well as Maura and Ashley when we met up for dinner at Bud Murphy’s just before Thanksgiving. At least they were all understanding about what I was going through. This experience opened my eyes to dressing better.
In 2020 when COVID hit, I began supporting small businesses and developed a huge following on Instagram. I started to buy accessories but for the longest time I was hiding them because I wasn’t sure how my family would react. I constantly asked for approval from my friends and from my family about my accessories and even my Gilmore Girls attire. I was that insecure.
I followed bloggers and learned more about them. I also followed local clothing boutiques like Wight Elephant and Lizzie’s and supported them in person and through social media. I fell in love with Ligonier and called it my little Stars Hollow. I reconciled with Sara and finally got to meet her husband Rob one night for dinner at the Ligonier Tavern. It was during the holidays. Sara has become a huge fan of my blog and my fashionable attire.
2021 has had its good moments and bad moments. I dealt with a health scare that could have been fatal had it not been taken care of. I lost a beloved family member to heart disease. I helped my sister move into her first house. Plus I celebrated my 40th birthdays at Jean Bonnet with family as well as with Sara at the Olive Garden.
But what is the best thing to happen in 2021? That would be coming into my own with my fashion sense and definition of style. I was so excited to go to the Coach outlet and buy my Coach bags. My interest in Coach came from my coworker last Fall when she brought her big Coach purse to work. The same girl who wowed me with her cute pink cherry dress the year before. That, plus all the advertising from social media, and encouragement from Paula and Sara. Thus, I had a really great brand of designer bag.
I have become more confident as I embarked on my gender nonconforming adventures in my fashion. Everyone is on board with my dressing non traditionally, well most everyone. I’m working through the negativity and making it work for me. If it makes me happy, then that’s all that matters. Along with Harry Styles and Hunter Schafer, we are some of the best dressed people around.
Working in Carmichaels on Wednesday reminded me of how far I’ve come in the last few years with my blog, my confidence, and my sense of style. Two years ago I was transitioning and trying to figure things out.
I like the person I’m seeing in 2021.
Stylish 🍒 