The last few months have been filled with a slew of life changing events. Most notably was my 30th birthday. After a year of dread, I finally turned thirty. Now that it's here, I'm quite content with where I am as a thirty year old. Thrilled in fact!
There is one thing that's been on my mind though. It all started a week after my birthday. Things got real one afternoon when I found myself face-to-face with an old student of mine, at the earring carousel at Forever 21. Both of us perusing the lackluster jewelry, deciding which piece was worthy of our five dollars. At that moment, the moment I realized that I was actively shopping at the same store as a 14 year old, I decided that my days of shopping at Forever 21 may be over. Meanwhile, each day I would look into my closet, thinking about who I was as a thirty year woman, hating everything that I saw. Thinking to myself "This is all wrong!" The pastels, the mountains of gaudy jewelry, the hemlines, the uncomfortable shoes, fanciful party dresses, the list goes on and on. Turning thirty has really messed with my head when it comes to my wardrobe. What's appropriate and what's not? Have things changed now that I am checking the 30+ box? What's a girl, or shall I say woman, to do? This begs the question, what should a thirty year old wear?
After a fair amount of research of other notable women in their thirties, my fear and confusion began to subside. Mila Kunis, Kate Mara, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Kerr, and Pippa Middleton all joined the "30 Club" this year. Each beautiful, on-trend, age-appropriate, without forgoing an ounce of style.
Style is a funny thing; both so important yet simultaneously so trivial. At the ripe old age of thirty, I have a better sense of what looks good on me. Today I wear what makes me feel good. Instead of wasting money piles of clothes I'll wear only once, I save my pennies for what's really important (like a vacation with my boyfriend). In the end what I've realized is that perhaps one's style evolves over time, not necessarily when they turn a certain age. I must surrender to the fact that I will probably always love impractical footwear, while accepting that at moments I will revel in the comfort of a good pair of flats.
Here I am: older (obviously) and wiser (maybe).
xo-