Weekly Digest #84

Hi! 

How is your relationship with the clothes you wear? Do you even care about them or are you one of those who pick anything that is clean to spend the day in?

I’ve always considered myself a stylish person. Countless hours of my life have been spent thinking about what to wear and, especially, how to wear. 

As a teenager, I saw being a bookworm and an aspiring it girl (remember them? you’re getting old) as my main character traits. I styled my hair like Alexa Chung, rocked indie Tumblr girl looks and always carried a book around - like Rory Gilmore also did. 

But as you know, when I was 18, I found myself in the shoes of a single mother and, honestly, that completely ruined my persona! So, like many other mothers, I got estranged from that old version of me and it took me years to realize that I had to find my way - not back into that old version, but towards a new, adapted, stronger one.  

Playing with the countless possibilities of expression that come with the mundane action of picking up clothes to wear for a regular day have always made me feel better, and I missed this feeling. Being a mother, it is easy to bury yourself alive in the endless work, which I did for almost the entire past 8 years. 

Thinking of that and looking for ways to get out of this hole I put myself in (with a little help from our patriarchal society, of course), I’ve recently started focusing on dedicating some daily time to dressing more consciously.

Today, as the week comes to an end, I can say that daily time is making huge a difference in how I feel, and if you've ever cheered yourself up by nailing an outfit, then you know how it feels. 

It is really pleasing to be doing this again. Even when I get a little late on my to do list. Or when I overdress and end up getting funny looks from strangers at the bakery. It is not only about fashion. As Edith Head said, you can have anything you want in life if you dress for it. For me it is, and it’s always been, a way of self expression. A means to position myself in this world. 

This week I saw an Instagram post by Iris Apfel in which she talks about the difference between being stylish and being fashionable, and it spoke to many of the reflections I’ve been having in this process

If you don’t know who Iris Apfel is, I highly recommend you do some research about her. The woman is so inspiring that even Barbie wants to be her. 

The thing is: you may or may not care a lot about what your clothes tell about you, but they still do the talking anyway. 

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I started a new job this Wednesday and, although I’m feeling over the moon about it, it is overwhelming to try to absorb so much important information in such a short period of time. Because of that, I wasn’t looking for more mental stimulation in this week’s soundtrack; my mind just needed a good rest. 

So I remembered the songs that Logan and Isabel released a while ago and they are just what I needed. 

You may remember Isabel Paige from issue #45, where I recommended her Youtube channel as a way to unwind during quarantine. She shoots beautiful simple life scenes in her tiny house. Logan Bowden is a singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist who has many solo releases. 

The result of their partnering up is a cozy and thoughtful collection of songs you should definitely check out. You can find Logan and Isabel on Spotify.

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Ah, another beautiful morning - time to ruin it by immediately opening my phone

“Ah, would you look at that—another beautiful morning, with the sun’s first rays casting a warm glow on my bed sheets. As I wake from restful slumber, I peer out my window and—yes, it’s looking like another perfect day! Time to ruin it by immediately opening my phone and reading about everything that’s happening and everything that everyone is saying.” - from New Yorker Magazine. Read more here.

Citizens’ manifesto declares Brazilian democracy facing ‘immense danger’

“(...) A manifesto signed by almost a million citizens has warned amid growing fears president Jair Bolsonaro could refuse to accept defeat in October’s election. 

The declaration – whose backers include major figures in business, politics, science and the arts – comes after Bolsonaro escalated his attacks on Brazil’s voting system and summoned hardcore supporters to hit the streets ‘for the last time’ before the October 2nd vote.” - from The Guardian. Read more here.

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*picture by Caroline Caldwell

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See you around!