the world according to sherimaven

Good morning, Tuesday. Cloudy in the city and enjoying a bit of solitude today.

So I usually write about the Met Ball, and I guess I will today too. But it's not what you think. Because I'm neither delighted or impressed. As one fellow follower of fashion friend of mine said on his Instagram- doesn't this all just feel so ridiculous and indulgent under the lens of the times in which we live? The answer is a strong yes for me.

Thing is, the theme is probably lost on anyone under 45. I'm going to guess many millennials have no idea what "camp" truly means. Having grown up with a gay cousin who dressed in drag and having also grown up as a young child in the 70s, I think I have a pretty good idea. Also the Susan Sontag essay is probably lost on that whole crowd, and admittedly, most people.  I suppose you can't expect Bella Hadid to deconstruct cultural nuances. That does seem a bit much. And the funny thing is so many people thought that so many people really "got it" this year. I disagree. 

Kendall and Kylie- feathers does not a camp make. You too, Anna. You too.

Kim- why so wet? Why do you always like to look wet? I don't understand. Go home  and towel off.

Cardi B was a fan favorite. But you're just vulgar to me and that's the truth. Distasteful and campy are not necessarily a thing. A period dress? Is that what it was? A showstopper yes. But camp? I dunno.

Everyone in Gucci- safe. Easy. Camp. Best looks of the night though in my mind. Harry Styles got the memo. So did Jared Leto (they were my two favs ps). So did Saoirse Ronan. And that afterparty at the gym uptown was most likely the real party.

Celine Dion- You are camp meets white walker. Well done.

Hamish Bowles. Camp as f.

Gaga. Nice dress color but whatever with her.

Jordan Roth. Stellar.

Amber Valletta. Wax on wax off.  I can't stop staring at her crotch. And now you can't either. 

I think I'm done. Also- where in F was Madonna? She's the campiest of them all.

I guess for me the theme is weird. And to me, men were the only ones who got it right, particularly the gay ones.  This look was amazing too but whatever who cares. I  know it seems like i do, but I just don't.  Camp seems a bit too much of an opaque construct for the masses. And that's my issue. Over intellectualizing fashion seems off right now, even though camp is hardly a heady pursuit. I just think the whole business of Met Ball is so blech at this point. Where's the real glamour and creativity and originality? Just seems like everyone's a designer puppet these days. Now with marabou feathers. You can fight me on this if you want. But that's how I feel. It's almost as big of a yawn as Meghan Markle's royal baby.  PS I will go to see this show of course. Because I know what camp is. And it ain't a selfie with Kylie Jenner, I know that.

Cause that's what's up this very uncampy Tuesday in the 718. Yours, in thank you, next. XO

Good morning, Monday. It's a beautiful bright day in the city yet somehow my old brownstone has the heat turned up to full blast. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to being outside. This is kind of BS.

Besides all of that, I read a post from a former boss/mentor that gave me pause this morning in between sweating. She's got a big  job overseas and was asked by a German journalist how it felt to have such a gig at her age. She's almost 60 and though Germans are notoriously blunt, I still find that shocking. Why should anyone have to justify their age when it comes to having a job that requires a tremendous amount of experience? 

If you look at our current presidential race, you'll see that 60 feels young. Joe Biden is almost 80. As is Trump. As is Bernie. Is it a ok for men to have arguably the most important job in the world at such advanced ages? I don't get it. 

There was also a fairly brill article about Madonna's new album on British Vogue today. In it, they noted that although Madonna has bulldozed her middle finger through society when it comes to sexuality, feminism, and style for years, her biggest battle is being fought now. And that's ageism. I admit it- I'm not feeling wonderful about Madonna of late and maybe that's my bad. If she is indeed someone who shocked the world with that amazing "Like a Virgin" performance at the MTV Awards way back in 1984 and gave us the SEX book, maybe she's here now to show us a thing or two about what it means to still feel very much in your zone when you are over 60. And to challenge how we feel about age in general.

These days, ageism is trending in a very big way. And I do think that although both sexes suffer from it, it's harder for women because of the obvious objectification of youth when you are female. One person who seems to continually dodge this bullet is J.Lo. Perhaps because at 49, it seems like she is reverse aging. Body is better than ever. Hair and skin are perfection. Dance skills still so fly. She's a miracle. Somehow, J. Lo's age is lauded vs. panned. Because she looks perfect. And that bar is ridiculous for the rest of us to achieve. And we shouldn't have to. 

Because when someone like Madonna shows some signs of age, it's somehow more disturbing. And maybe Madonna's campiness now feels a bit too cabaret/Dietrich/schticky for some. All I know is that for normal people like me and you, we are thank goodness not in the media being scrutinized in this way. But if you believe in the trickle down theory of life, then you too will know that Madonna is a mirror on how society views age and women in particular, and that just has to change.  Look how we are worshipping at the altar of Keanu these days. And he's 54. I'm aware his hard chill vibe and steeliness allow him a certain transcendent quality, but you get my point. 

As my generation reaches the 50-yard line, one thing is clear to me. Gen X is a generation that holds on to its youth the way it holds on to its cynicism. There's no doubt my crowd won't take aging sitting down- we'll fight it tooth and nail as we dig our Chucks into the ground. We're not going without a fight. And the notion of being doing and loving whatever age you're at? That's a revolution worth fighting for.  Look at this pic of the cast of "Reality Bites" from the other night, 25 years after the movie was made. Love.  Still cool as hell after all these years.

It's all so terribly subjective, this age thing. But what should change is the judgement. I myself admit I want youth in Washington, but mostly because the old white man thing is too scary to me. But there's a big difference between running the country than there is performing at an awards show. And we need to explore our damaged relationship with age and celebrate not just youth,  but maturity and evolution. So don't you forget about me or anyone else. And by the way, we won't let you.  Because ageism is old news, or at least it may be soon.  I'm still trying to find my way on my own journey, ps. And I'm a ok with that.

Cause that's what's up this older is a ok kind of Monday in the 718, Yours, in changing the game and blazing trails. XO

Good morning. I’m in BK but Vegas is still top of mind. Fun was very much had and it was nice to connect with a new bunch of women, all bonded together to celebrate our friend’s bday. I remember when I was a whole lot younger feeling weird about hanging with a group of women I didn’t know, but with age comes acceptance- of self and others. And this was just a wonderful group of women and I feel lucky to have met them. But back to Vegas. Because I just love it. And even though I hadn’t been back since my wedding day, it was super fun for all the right reasons. Cause if you don’t like Vegas, you don’t like fun. 

 And truly coming back here as an older person was just as fun as it was when I was younger. It’s truly multigenerational- you can go to clubs with all the kiddos or you can go see a show, drink, eat, shop with a huge range of ages. I think I may have to make Vegas more of a regular thing. 

 So here’s some things I love about Sin City. Oh, and incidentally- I don’t gamble. I like to say it’s the one vice I’ve never had. There’s so much going on in Vegas you can truly not set foot in a casino if you don’t feel like it, although you kind of have to.

 The service. First things first, your maven is a sucker for good service. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate someone taking the effort to check in with me during a meal, or during a stay at a hotel, or even when shopping. Restaurants answer the phone on the first ring. Reservations are seated on time. Shows go on like clockwork. The level of service is probably the best anywhere, and they make you feel like you just won a million dollars, even if you don’t gamble.

 The spectacle. The fact that a completely man-made planet was created in the middle of the desert is just astounding. For our last night, we sat at the spectacularly gorgeous sushi resto in the Wynn, Mizumi. The view was outrageous- floor to ceiling windows looking out on a Japanese forest, complete with the most beautiful waterfall. It’s all so over the top. And as someone who like a bit of maxi with her mini, I find it all so delightful. A forest in the middle of the desert while sipping on a whiskey cocktail. I can’t. Yes I can. And I will again.

 The manic panic of it all. So Vegas is a town for people with two faces. My two faces allow me to have a solid appreciation for both the high and the low. So I adore the old, decrepit part of the strip just as much as I love the flower bridge at the Wynn and the gorgeous designer shopping. I’m not sure if everyone finds both sides as equally delicious as I do, but I’m weird like that. One minute you can be in a rockabilly inspired vintage trailer, the next you can be sipping champagne in the Dior store. Incidentally, champagne in Vegas tastes bette for some reason. I'm not sure why.

 The debauchery. I think this may be the part that turns people off to Vegas- it’s truly the biggest party you can go to, and I love that. People are drunk. And now people are high too (thanks legal weed). Incidentally, the dispensaries are completely amazing and branded and I was super impressed. If you like to get rowdy/wasted/crunk/whateverlovewants you can have it. Yea the pool at the Wynn resembled a lake at Sodom and Gomorrah, but why not go with it? Life is short. I love there’s a place where people simply come to party their faces off. Also, if you are ever questioning whether something you packed is too low, too short, or too over the top, it isn't. The fact that you are even asking yourself that is something lost on the majority of women there, who are literally wearing the least amount of clothing I've ever seen. I lived in Miami so this was less of a shock for me. :)

 The entertainment. In addition to an entire city set up to serve tourists, the entertainment component is a huge part of Vegas.

 The shopping. If you’re a girl or a guy who likes to shop- Vegas is off the rails. Particularly if you like diamonds. Or Louis. Or Chloe. Or Stella. Or Jimmy. Or Gucci. Or Chanel .You get the picture. The stores are amazing, and the service is divine. The shops at the Wynn are stellar. and they have a new area that has Opening Ceremony and YSL. And hot tip for luxury fans- you know that bag you can’t find in NY? Try and get it in Vegas- their waitlists are often shorter than big markets like New York or LA.. And if you’re a vintage type, tons of great stuff in the arts district. Great bunch of shops selling everything a vintage lover would want. Not necessarily high end, but lots of fun pieces.

 The food. Oh man. You can’t have decadence without great food. And the food in Vegas is outrageously great. The best meal we had was at a place called EDO, in an unassuming strip mall in Chinatown. We arrived at midnight and had the most fabulous tasting menu. The resto is modern tapas/Barcelona inspired and omg holy deliciousness. And the price was incredibly reasonable, and of course- the service- mwah. Highly recommend if you go to Vegas and feel like getting off the strip. Phenomenal. It's not just about big mega restaurants with celebrity chefs- there's tons of great options for more adventurous types that want something unscripted.

The clockwork. Another thing I love about Vegas is the precision aspect of it all. Everyone in Vegas is well aware they have a job to do- and they do it so well. From concierges to sommeliers to croupiers to all the amazing people that help put on all the shows around town, it’s an incredible exercise in collaboration. I just love that. It’s fascinating to watch this giant machine in action. 

Good morning, Tuesday. I'm back in NY after a weekend in Vegas and I'm easing into the week. More on Vegas tomorrow or the next day.

So today marks the (gulp) 30th anniversary of "Say Anything". OMG. How how how?

If you're not familiar, it's a movie that addresses that incredible summer between high school and college, when anything is possible.  Directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Ione Skye and John Cusack. It's a classic, beautiful love story- underachieving but whip smart boy gets valedictorian over achieving girl. Girl leaves to start college. AThe film is a perfect depiction of that excruciatingly, achingly beautiful first love. 

And speaking of love, who could forget one of Hollywood's most iconic one? The one where Cusack's character, Lloyd Dobbler, stands outside of Skye's window, holding up a boombox, in a trench coat, playing "In Your Eyes"? Movie gold. And just like that, every woman in America wanted their very own Lloyd Dobler. And though the movie feels dated from a style point of view, the sentiment still suits. John Cusack has always been the perfect guy, for many women who like the smart, funny, sensitive type. The underdog. The wallflower at the party who makes you laugh.  The scene could have been so cheesy, but through Cusack's brilliant portrayal, it was endearing and lovely. You could almost sense he didn't want to do it, and that's what made it so fantastic. He was fighting for that first love.

Incidentally, there is a scene in the movie that speaks so clearly to Generation X it hurts. When Diane's father asks Lloyd what is plans are for college and beyond, Lloyd says the following:

"I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that".

Those words. So indicative of a generation that was apathetic about capitalism and consumer culture in general. Coming out of the 80s it was easy to see why. We saw conspicuous consumption on steroids. We saw big hair, big shoulders, big cars. We saw that greed was good for some but mostly bad for others. And then l ended up in advertising. And I sold a lot of stuff, bought a lot of stuff, and processed a a lot of stuff. If only I had listened to Lloyd...

So that movie, made way back in 1989, was a seminal one for so many. John Cusack, at least for me, was everything I ever wanted in a guy. It's true I wrote about Keanu last week, but I have been team Cusack from way back in the day. I first fell for him in 'The Sure Thing". And then think about movies like "High Fidelity" and "Grosse Pointe Blank". But back to Lloyd. Because  in many ways, we were all looking for our own Lloyd Dobler. And at a time when men are feeling much in flux when it comes to their role as partners and lovers, take some notes from Lloyd. Love with wonder. And don't be afraid to be who you are.

Cause that's what's up this saying anything and meaning it kind of Tuesday in the 718. Yours, in Cusack forever. Oh, and Joe lies. XO

Good afternoon, Friday .I'm writing to you from a plan on the way to Vegas where I'm watching "Friends" and Danny DeVito is stripping to "Tainted Love" and sipping on a bloody mary. All in all, not too terrible.

And in honor of a girls trip with fellow midlife mavens, I had to share my love and affection for Pearl Lowe, who's 49 years old and every bit my girl crush. She's one of those cool English birds I dig more than anything. And now she boasts a fabulous line of dresses (I want them all).

I'm also OBSESSED with her Instagram, which celebrates maximalism to its height. 

The English do this so well, ps. That eccentric, loopy aristocrat thing. I'm all about it. Much better than Kimye's minimalist starship enterprise. I don't relate to that at all.  I need warmth and personality in my casa. I love her notion of "faded glamour". So fabulous. So into it.

Anyway, Pearl's my girl. I love her. Love her vintage aesthetic, love her cool girl cred (here she is with Kate Moss in hazy days), and love that she came out the other end of a gnarly addiction and survived to tell the tale. She's fabulous, and mom to Daisy Lowe, a gorgeous girl in her own right. And that's why she's this midlife maven's crush of the week. I'll be hanging in Sin City till Monday. Wish me luck, cause you know I'll be a lady. 

Cause that's what's up this over the top kind of Friday en route to the west coast. Yours, in rolling the dice and English roses. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. Beautiful one in NYC today.  Have a million errands to do today but at least the sun will be shining through the tedium.

So as you all by now know, I've been thinking much about this thing called midlife.

What does it mean? How do I navigate? What's in store? 

Besides an inevitable fear of hot flashes, I'm committed to living my most authentic life. And what that means is only saying "yes" to things I truly want to do.  I recently wrote some copy for a shoe brand and found it so effortless and lovely because I was allowed to use my voice. It's true the brand is slightly different than my aesthetic, but it was so much fun to write it didn't even feel like work. I'm amazed every day how this writing career has completely shifted the way I think about work in general. Part of me kicks myself for not pursuing this more full tilt when I was young. But then I'm grateful for finding it at a point i my life when I really needed to pivot. 

Another thing I've been thinking about is how women are depicted over 40.  On the one hand, we have the Norwegian looking long, flowing grey haired goddess, makeup free type- who is most likely a vegan and practices yoga every day and wears primarily white and though sensationally beautiful,  I'm not her.

I'm also not quite as wacky (though this one is admittedly closer) as that kooky older women archetype a la Iris Apfel or Linda Rodin we see everywhere. I relate a bit more here, but not quite. Also I'm not that old yet. So for me, that just doesn't feel right, even though they too are amazing. It ain't me, babe. (PS love the woman in the track suit. Ah-mazing).

There's also the more "lean in" archetype- of women running the show in business a la Sheryl Sandberg. I have never, ever had the need to wear anything resembling a suit to work, so for me, that whole pencil skirt thing is not really a thing.  Not my tempo.

Recently I cut my hair off again. It's super short and I'm happy with it. To me, having short hair is a bit of a middle finger to traditional feminine ideals, but strangely enough, I feel more womanly with my hair short than not. And I'm keeping it bright copper red because red hair just makes me feel like me, even though I'm far from a natural redhead. I identify as a redhead and that's the truth- it suits me. I'm obsessed with women like Stella Tennant and a bit more of a tomboy look. Here she is above from a Zara campaign last year. I have always, always loved her look and love how she's getting older right along with me, even if I'm not ten feet tall or an English aristocrat. She's fantastic. #goals.

If anything, I feel more aligned with women like Winona Ryder, Sofia Coppola, and former Sassy mag editors cum bloggers Andrea Linnett and Kim France. They're still cool, and I imagine they still blast Sonic Youth and have a youthfulness and cred I really connect to. It will be interesting to attend that 50th birthday weekend in Vegas and chat a bit about what it means to be 50 or on the verge. I can't tell you how much I'm loving this part of life and figuring out who I am. Finally. The strong sense of self is worth the price of admission. 

And what's great about all the women above is they are all authentic and true to who they are, and that's fabulous. And there's no need to put yourself under pressure to see where you fit in- because maybe you just don't and that's amazing too. But despite all the options, we still have work to do when it come to confidence at midlife and beyond.

Check it- I found a great article in Time about how the whole notion of body positivity leaves out women over 40. if we are learning to embrace body types that are not traditionally ideal, we should think about how to embrace what is considered beautiful and sexy, spider veins and all. From the piece is an interesting statistic from 2018:

"Currently, there are approximately 14,520 posts with the hashtag #agepo or #agepositive, versus 8.3 million posts with the hashtag #bodypositivity or #bodypositive. A scroll through the latter indeed reveals women who appear to be mostly in their 20s".

And from the same piece, with Gen X representing about a fifth of the overall population and with about 30 percent of the spending power, "Xers drop almost double what millennials do on “apparel and services”; we also purchase more products from brands we follow on social media than millennials".

There's a big opportunity for brands to engage with X, yet they don't. I'm hoping to help break ground on real talk about aging, particularly in my crowd and demographic. Because reality doesn't have to bite. But it doesn't have to be invisible either. And like the sentiment at the top of the post, being authentic and just being you requires bravery. And to find out who you are and want to be is pure joy. Trust.

Cause that's what's up this authentic Wednesday in the 718. Yours, in breaking molds and being true. XO

Good morning, Monday. It's a gloomy, sleepy Monday in New York which I always find seductive in some kind of way. The slowness of it all. It's lovely truly. Lazing into the work week and such.

So this weekend I peeped the new cover of GQ, with none other than Keanu Reeves on the cover. With amazing photos shot by Daniel Jackson, the twitterverse was aflutter as a collective "damn Felicia" was uttered in regards to just how cool and incredibly hot Keanu looks. And as one friend posted this am- "one word: 54". He's one of us. And by us, I mean a Gen Xer. By the skin of his teeth mind you (Gen X birth years start in 1965 but I'll let it slide), but one of us nonetheless.

Keanu is 5 to the fucking 4. Can you believe that? What is it about Keanu that has endless appeal? Is it that he seems just kind of regular in the best of ways? Is it that he keeps on getting better? Full disclosure- I've never been the biggest fan of his acting, though I recently rewatched "My Own Private Idaho" and he was magnificent and dark in that one.

I love that he's on the cover of GQ. I love how transcendentally rad he looks. And I love that everyone's loving him. Love to love you, Keanu. Thanks for keeping it real. You "over the hill assassin" you. His words, not mine.

You be the judge, but he's a dream. I love the opening line of the piece, ps:

"Here, before you're quite ready for him, is Keanu Reeves: At the top of the driveway of the Chateau Marmont, smoking a cigarette on a low couch, like he's on his front porch".

Who's cooler? Who would you rather stay up late drinking and listening to vinyl with? Not many people. Not many people.

And like the piece says:

"Every generation gets its own Keanu Reeves, except every generation's Keanu Reeves is this Keanu Reeves".

Keanu Reeves- the best example of a transcendent hero for all the ages. What could be better?

Cause that's what's up this long live Keanu of a Monday in the 212. Yours, in excellent midlife adventures. XO

Good morning, Friday. Happy Easter and Passover to all.  

So I've been seeing a style story all over the Internet about the return of the Steve Madden platform slide with the bandage strap. These were standard fare in the 90s, though I must say- I never rocked them. Because they're hideous. And even though I may or may not have had a few baby backpacks (of the Stussy and Diesel varietal) as well as a cadre of slip dresses and baby tees (baby stuff- it was a thing), these shoes were not my jam. And rest assured, they will not be this go around either.  I love that tear from Sassy above- featuring the amazing Andrea Linnett whose current blog I religiously ponder on the regs.

It's funny because I was pondering the 90s the other day (as one does) and not thinking about fashion, but what my drink of choice used to be. And I really didn't come up with much besides the fact that I think I drank quite a bit of beer. And vodka and tonics. But other than that, I drew a blank. Perhaps because of all those vodka and tonics.  And I think there were a decent amount of Jack and Cokes. When I would hang in the East Village at bars like Lucy's or Cherry Tavern.

But back to the shoes. I absolutely wore these Converse slides to death. They were so a thing back then, I'd rock them with all my little slip dresses. I think I need these again.

And there was definitely a kitten heel mule. With a bow. Also to go with those slip dresses. Chic non?

And I know there was a covered toe, suede high heeled clog (kind of like these but not leather)with an ankle strap that made me feel like Minnie Mouse for some reason. I remember wearing them with cut off denim shorts in the summertime. I also semi recall a platform loafer. Maybe I wore them as a work shoe in my early days in advertising. Kind of naff I know.

Oh and there was definitely an engineer boot. And a harness boot. Those were a wee bit more early 90s though. I'd wear them with boot cut cords and a bodysuit. Or with my Gap denim overalls. Tough.

And of course, my beloved Chinese slippers. I wore these all around town and were a favorite for running errands on the Upper East Side in my early days of New York life.

I am wincing in advance over all the bandage platforms I'm going to see this summer. Needless to say, I won't be joining them. I'll still be rocking my Vans slides, Gucci slides, and I'm fairly into my No. 6 clog sandals as per usual. So I guess my style is a bit same same, just evolved. How did you do the 90s and will you be rocking the Steve Maddens this time around? Rest assured, the 90s were not all Spice Girl platforms and hideous slides. Vogue's homage to 90s shoe chic shows the best of the era. And there's those kitten heels...I was not quite on a budget to wear Blahniks back then by the way.

Look how chic Linda looks in those Birkenstocks by the way. Who wouldn't wear either of these looks right now from head to toe? Not to mention this infamous shot of Kate rocking hers. So good. Truth be told, I did not go down the Birkenstock road back then. But Lord knows I'm rocking the crap out of 'em now. Suede Arizonas. Black leather with white buckles. White single strap patent leather. And a faux furkenstock I rocked all winter. Obsessed. The images above will forever be inspirational to me. So classic and cool and perfect.

Cause that's what's up this foot fetish of a Friday in the 718. Yours, in silly shoes and signs of the times. XO

Good morning, Wednesday. Gettin' over that hump.

So the other day on the Facebook I posted about a commercial from Fidelity Investments, talking about retirement with the backing track of "If You Leave" by OMD, made infamous by the movie "Pretty in Pink". Gulp. So many feelings. 

If this is a commercial clearly marketed at Gen X,  it gave me pause. How many of us are thinking about retirement? I guess it's not that far fetched but still- it feels so strange. Whoever thought that the Duck man would become an old man? 

But besides that, I loved that a pal of mine from high school commented about whether or not the band "sold out" by selling the rights to their music for this admittedly cheesy commercial. Spoken like a true Xer. And I think that's the biggest difference between us and them. And by them I mean the millennials. Because for millennials, selling out is so not a thing. With mounting student loans and living at home longer and the cult of Instafame, all cards that lead to wealth and fame are cards that should always be played. I can't help but wonder if all that fame seeking makes millennials as difficult to work with as many people say they are. Is it because the traditional workplace is simply too confining for people who dream of being front and center and are merely background players? They're also notoriously prone to early burnout. Sellouts and burnouts. Not a great look. Maybe Neil Young had it right all those years ago. Is it better to burn out than to fade away? Kurt Cobain put that famous line in his suicide note, and I remember him being criticized by fans for going too mainstream.That used to be a thing. It isn't now.

As for my generation? We never showed our hand when it came to "selling out". It was beyond frowned upon, even though we were the MTV generation and brands were clamoring to be our pals. They just weren't giving us products to feature on social media. Or write about on our blogs. Because we didn't have those things. And we were familiar with 15 minutes of fame but we didn't care.What a difference a generation makes.

And now that Generation Z is hot on the heels of millennials as the new golden child of demography, it will be interesting to see how they handle the notion of selling out, because after all, they are our kids. And they're already being touted as more cynical than millennials. That's prototypical X behavior right there.

That said, many Xers would now probably love the opportunity to shill for brands and pocket some cold, hard cash. We're not idiots. It's just that not many of us are being asked to the party. Besides being an audience to commercials that features the music we grew up with. So are you willing to sell out? And what does that even mean in such a blurry world where brands are expected to lead conversations and be in service of consumers? Interesting times these.

Cause that's what's up this X marks the spot kind of Wednesday in the 718. Yours, in selling out vs. burning out. XO

Good morning, Monday. Hope your weekend was all that. How 'bout that Game of Thrones though?

So I've talked about this before but it's worth chatting again given my recent posts about reinvention. I have always held true to the belief that going back to childhood for clues about what you should really be doing with your life is a sound strategy. As in- go on, be a kid again.

What I mean by this is that those romantic poets we studied in English lit were on to something. Wordsworth famously said that "the child is the father of man". I believe that to be true, particularly when it comes to our life's work. I'm well aware that a few things happen along the way in this thing called life. But to me, being a child is the purest expression of who we are, before the world gets a hold of us and influences us to sometimes not follow our dreams. This may not be true for everyone mind you, but it's certainly true for me.

As a child all of my time and energy and focus was spent on creative pursuits. Whether I was drawing or writing, it was always a creative endeavor that made me happy and feel most myself. I recently watched this excellent documentary on Antonio Lopez, whose fashion illustrations were hugely influential on me as a child. I would stare at them for hours and try to draw my very own version. I also wrote short stories and poems and was always so intrigued by artists and writers during my young life. But then of course life happened and i took a bit of a different path. It's true I've always worked with creative people, but having had such a strong identity as a creative as a child, I spent a lifetime wondering how to get back there. And here I am. Inner child cliches aside, I feel back in touch with the person I always wanted to be.

If you are feeling lost in the dark woods of indecision about what to do next, look forward, but also look back. I guarantee there are some clues in your young life to help decode your future. And if you're doing something you really love that allows you to connect to that pure joy you felt as a kiddo, that's just awesome. 

And for all my pals who are parents out there, please encourage your children to follow their dreams, however crazy they may sound. Be a guardian of what they love and enjoy that journey with them. It's everything.

Wishing you lots of love and inspiration this week. "Tis the season for reinvention. Cause that's what's up this thing called life kind of Monday in the 718. Yours, in not kidding around. XO