Courage of convictions when getting dressed

a phrase that lives rent free in my brain

Jan 27, 2025

Last week became an unintended and unexpected break from writing. I knew January would be a transition month for me, but didn’t count on just how much of a transition and what that would feel like. This week on social media, I’ll be sharing a four of those transitions: two life updates, what 2025 holds for Chic Stripes (my style business) and a two year goal. You can follow on IG if you’re not already for more on those. Thanks for being here!

This store feels like it has a LOT of convictions. It has a POV and it’s sticking with it. It’s memorable because of it’s convictions.

the courage of convictions when getting dressed

On average, this phrase rattles through my mind once per week. It is, officially, living rent free in my brain.

I’m 94% sure it originated as a quote from this Culture Study podcast titled: “Why Do Clothes Suck Now?” as the host Anne Helen Peterson and guest Amanda Mull, staff writer at The Atlantic, hash out twenty years of “fashion production (and consumption) trends.”

It was a phrase that caused me to stop, rewind, listen and voice memo it to myself in December 2023 (there is another phrase from this same episode, but that’s a Vogue[ish] article for next week). For more than two years, it has been swimming in my subconscious.

But what does it mean? How does it play out in real life? Why am I so intrigued by the wording of this?

DEFINITIONS
courage: the ability to do something that frightens one; strength in the face of pain or grief
conviction: a firmly held belief or opinion

The phrase makes me ponder the courage it takes to be perceived and develop style convictions.

Wanna talk convictions? Look no further than Diane Keaton.

For some, the purpose of getting dressed is to blend in. It’s to not being noticed - either too much, or too little, but just the right amount.

Sometimes this is out of basic safety or just not wanting to be cat called on a walk to get coffee.
Sometimes it’s out of a lack of confidence or just wanting to get through the day.
Sometimes it’s because of a belief that your brain, ideas and output should be first and foremost and that what you wear doesn’t matter.

For some, being perceived rolls naturally. They love a flaunting moment. For others, it takes practice, experimentation, and a slow build of their style muscles in order to dress with confidence, courage, and conviction.

QUESTION
Where are you on the scale of having the courage of convictions when getting dressed?
1 = blending in. 5= desire to build the muscles. 10 = flaunting it.
There’s no wrong answers, just reflection, observation, and action.

Our girl Iris Apfel also has convictions. You don’t have to dress “crazy” or super colorfully or in menswear. But I bet you do have something that is YOU - or something that can be developed.

In order to be perceived, there needs to be something of substance there - a way you like to express yourself, small local businesses you like to support and shout out when someone asks where you got something, a color palette that makes you smile.

Occasionally the social media algorithm will serve me something useful and smart. One such video presented the hypothesis that says:

The reason Gen Z struggles to cultivate their personal style is because they existing primarily in an echo chamber of social media and lack hobbies in the real world.
They argue that the most interestingly dressed people with a defined style have interesting hobbies - art, museums, cooking, gardening, etc.
They have developed a point of view because they have exposed themselves, purposely, to a wide range of influences and have worked at finding what they like and don’t like.

Take this hypothesis as you will, but I think is an interesting thought experiment.

Especially because it mirrors an exercise I assign in Style Lab. In Style Foundation 1- discovering your Vibe or Essence, I strictly forbid you from pinning outfit ideas. Instead, I encourage a multi media approach that gathers music, words, feelings, and images that you are attracted to you and that span industries and topics. But for images, I encourage you to look at: landscape, real estate, furniture, animals, gardening, recipes, art, boats, flowers, shells. The idea is to curate images that speak to you for some reason - maybe it’s the colors, the lighting, the form. There is something there that, eventually, you’ll be able to translate to clothing, but for now, it’s the search for YOU.

You can’t have a unique sense of style if you are only pulling outfits from influencers. One must have hobbies that sparks creativity and encourages engagement.

So practically speaking, what does having the courage of convictions when getting dressed actually mean?

Of course, convictions can also be more tangible than philosophical:

only wearing 100% natural materials
avoiding fast fashion
supporting small businesses / designers
making your own clothes
shopping second hand
taking care of your clothes
choosing to care about what you wear
getting dressed (most) every day
doing a no new clothes month or year
playing with trends
ignoring trends

But for me, my convictions are that style is a practice and it is enthusiasm for what I’m wearing. Translated, this means dressing up when no one else does. Being polished, adding the accessories, wearing the dress. Being okay with putting together a banger of an outfit when everyone else is in a t-shirt and jeans. It’s putting in the effort and not falling back to blending in just because everyone else is.

Now I’d invite you ….

What is your convictions?

Vogue [ish]

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