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The Layers of Protection From a Curated Wardrobe
NEWSLETTER
7/9/20262 min read
I was out of the office last week for such much needed vacation time with the family. We went camping.
To half of you that’s going to sound like a lovely chance to connect with nature. The other half are going to wonder how a few days of peeing in the woods is a vacation while wrinkling your nose at the thought.
I packed for the trip in record time. Normally I'm a terrible packer. I over pack. A 3 day vacation? That means I need 9 pairs of socks. Why? What if my socks get dirty. Twice. All 3 days.
This time, for 3 days in the woods, I packed 3 pairs of shorts, 2 short sleeve shorts, 1 long sleeve, and a flowy dress along with a few more basics. My bag was the most compact of the family's (I was honestly so proud I was bragging about it to the rest of my family).
As someone that tends to dress very thoughtfully, I had mixed feelings about letting my sense of style go by the wayside for a few days. In part, it felt relieving – the past few months have been go-go-go and I was ready for the break. The other side of me felt a bit bummed, because I still wanted to feel grounded in the sense of self my style supports.
My conflicting feelings were short lived, because somehow my style still seeped through. Day 2 of camping I was sitting by the fire in my newly purchased massive folding chair (it’s called the King Kong) wearing cotton poplin shorts, a longline sports bra, a cotton plaid button down, and a 90s print flat-brimmed baseball hat sipping out of my army green Stanley mug. I felt so happy. I felt like I was camping embodied.
My real world outfit perfectly matched my inner feeling of what “Erin’s cute camping style” would look like.
I honestly didn’t plan it. It just happened. But I don’t think it happened randomly.
It happened because I have curated a wardrobe of pieces over a long time that feel specific to me. Pieces that are unique and I love individually.
The cotton poplin shorts are grey vertical stripes with a boxer-like waistband. They make me feel sporty and playful.
The button down is one of the items I took from my grandparents house after my grandfather died to remember him by. It is some of the softest, flowiest cotton and makes me feel cozy and safe when I wear it.
My hat was given to me by my husband and reminds me of the crazy prints I wore as a child growing up in the 90s and summers at the lake. It makes me feel youthful, fun and understood by my partner.
These aren't just random pieces of clothing. They are pieces soaked in love, personality, and individual meaning. Wearing them is like wrapping myself in layers of emotional protection and reminders of who I am in the world.
Curating a wardrobe with pieces of this caliber can feel really overwhelming. It is possible though, it just demands deep consideration go into every purchase.
The payoff on the other side is being able to effortlessly dress like yourself, even when you’re reaching for pieces, that on the surface, feel random or incredibly casual.
To even feel stylish sitting in the woods in a giant chair called the King Kong.
