Outfit Post: A Coveted Celebration

Last week, after attending the media preview of the new Willys Detroit store, I called my sister.

Not to brag about the fact that I’m now being invited to media preview events at super cool stores in Detroit (which I also did), but to squeal (like a little girl) that the store is not only carrying LA designer Clare Vivier, but it is also carrying the exact leopard print calf hair clutch that I’ve pinned, poached, hukk’d, and basically tracked in every imaginable way for years. Followed by more squealing.

She immediately said, “so, you’re going to buy it, right?”

Buy it?? No way.

I came up with every excuse possible.

I’m on a budget. It’s too expensive. I don’t need another bag. I have too much leopard print (as if that’s possible). I should sleep on it.

But I was in denial.

Even though I couldn’t admit it out loud, I knew that clutch was coming home with me. And my sister knew it too, calling me out for picking out an outfit that perfectly complimented a bag I didn’t yet own. Funny how that happens.

And sure enough, my sister was right. With the encouragement of the lovely staff at Willys (and two complimentary Drought Juice cocktails later), that bag was mine.

In spite of having an incredible ability to be practical, I have an even more incredible ability to justify just about anything.

I’ve wanted this bag forever. It goes with anything (leopard is obviously a neutral). It matches my outfit (fate, right?). I get to buy it locally. It supports Detroit retail.

But the biggest reason I could justify the bag?

A clean scan.

Because after 2 cancer diagnosis in 1 year, you just don’t need to justify celebrating with the perfect little leopard print clutch that I've forever loved.

So even though I’m on a budget and it’s too expensive and I don’t need another bag and I have too much leopard print and I should sleep on it, none of that matters when it comes to love and celebrating.

Or so I'm justifying.

dress: h&m

vest: tj maxx (similar here)

shoes: c/o cynthia vincent

clutch: clare v. via willys detroit

The Evolving Door

Behind the scenes of Cynthia Vincent's studio and showroom

Sometimes in life a door opens that you better walk through (no, run through) or else it may slam in your face, never to open again. A couple months ago, that door opened for me.

While aimlessly trolling Facebook, I came across a contest from PopSugar - a chance to win a trip to LA to meet designer Cynthia Vincent and have her create a one-of-a kind piece for me (spoiler alert, I won). All I had to do was talk about how my style has evolved.

Normally, I would continue scrolling though the Facebook newsfeed, not giving a second thought to the competition. But something made me not just pause, but actually take the time to enter. Maybe it was because I loved Cynthia Vincent’s line. Maybe it was because it was January in Detroit and a trip to LA sounded like heaven. But in all honesty, I think it was this idea of personal evolution that struck a chord.

Cancer changed me. I mean, how can it not. When a terrible, life threatening disease takes over your body, there’s no way you can emerge on the other side the same person. But cancer didn’t just change my outlook. It changed my sense of gratitude. And my joy for life.

Cancer also changed my style. Or, more accurately, it changed my insecurities about my style.

It changed me from a shy, insecure, girl who felt the need to blend in, to a strong willed, bad ass woman, who started to care less what other people thought of me and more what I thought about myself. I won’t say cancer was a gift, but it certainly helped give me the strength to evolve. 

So back to my open door.

Around the same time I entered the PopSugar contest, I began to seriously question my life and its purpose. I had just learned I was one year in remission and wanted to stop living and start L-I-V-I-N’ (thank you Matthew Mcconaughey). I started to really focus on finding my joy again (which is unsurprisingly easy to lose in the face of cancer and surprisingly, even easier to lose in the aftermath of cancer). I was questioning this blog and fashion and my career and constantly asking myself (in a super over the top, dramatic way), “What am I doing with my life?!”

And then I won the trip to LA to meet Cynthia Vincent.

I’m not a very religious person, and I’m not sure I really believe in signs from the universe, but I do believe in opportunities. And doors. And walking through them. The old me? The pre-cancer me? She would have been too afraid to put herself out there and walk through that door. And her life would have been just fine. But that girl? She wouldn’t have had the chance to walk a red carpet of a Beverly Hills event in an amazing one-of-a-kind designer dress. That girl would have missed out.

And that’s an evolution I can live with.

_______

By now, you’ve probably already seen the videos of my time in LA with Cynthia (if not, you can watch them here), but I wanted to share a glimpse of some of the behind the scenes action. Enjoy!

One of a Kind: The Reveal

 

I'm so excited to share with you the third and final part of the PopSugar video, where Cynthia Vincent reveals the dress she designed specially for me. This experience was such a joy and something I could never imagine being a part of. I'm grateful to the entire PopSugar team, the videographers, and especially Cynthia and everyone at her studio. The whole experience was such a gift.

And in case you missed them, check out Part 1 and Part 2 (the videos make way more sense if you watch them in order).

One of a Kind: The Process

 

I'm excited to share with you Part 2 of the PopSugar One of a Kind video I filmed with Cynthia Vincent. This episode is a behind the scenes look at the incredible design process that goes into creating a look. I hope you enjoy!

In case you missed it, you can check out Part 1 here and Part 3 here. 

One of a Kind: The Beginning

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of being chosen by PopSugar for an incredible experience to fly to LA to meet designer Cynthia Vincent and have her create a one of a kind piece for me. After such an amazing trip with Cynthia and her team, I am thrilled and honored to share with you the first video of that experience!

Stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3 and well as some behind the scenes posts.