This just dropped in my email and I had to come here to make a comment. This is such a good conversation starter. Reflective. Everything can't be practical (for me). I also want to ***feel*** something. What I (want to) communicate is slightly off-axis from what people expect from me (as a surgeon). After that first layer, people really have to recalibrate their first impression of me (insert whatever they think a surgeon should be). This is also even more relevant as a Black woman.
This moved me so much. Thank you for sharing that.
The idea of using style to force a 'recalibration' of a first impression is so powerful, especially in a field as rigid as surgery, and doubly so as a Black woman where the 'sensible' checklist is often unfairly used as a tool for respectability.
When you’re in a role that demands 100% precision and practicality all day, I imagine those Granger Feather slides feel like a necessary addition. All of us contain multitudes.
P.S. Those slides are the definition of 'feeling something'. Absolute magic!
Carrie, your comment really resonated with me. I'm also a doctor (in an intensive care field) and there are so many layers to how fashion has interfaced with my training and career. Like Asta mentioned, it has always been an important expressive/intuitive 'pop-off valve' to counteract the weight and precision of the work. Your idea of forcing a recalibration of expectations is so powerful. For a long time I tried to use cloths to blend in to my professional environments, but I finally realized that in our line of work we can't disappear - people are watching, people are judging, it is fundamentally performative especially for women in the field. My specific field is not highly male dominated but I imagine this is even more the case for you: there is no way to dress that will actually lead to blending in. There is a lot of power and freedom in embracing that and saying, yeah, I don't meet your expectations: I meet mine.
Yes, Christa! The paradox of hyper(in)visiblity defines my experience well and relates to what you shared. It's 'easier' to blend in, but in so many ways I cannot and frankly at this stage in life I don't want to. Its the first step in people understanding what they *won't* get from me because I am living fully, showing up fully, honoring my boundaries and staying accountable to myself. Less confusion later. and I love what you said about not meeting others' expectations, only meeting mine. It took a long time to get here mentally and my personal style is reflective of that. Its been a journey to find "professional friction" as @asta has put it in other posts. To dress for the occasion and location while still being me.
Carrie, thank you again for sharing your experience and insight! Your comments really helped me think through some of my ongoing style hangups related to the workplace and other highly visible settings.
Thank you for sharing this! Every time I second guess wearing 'too much personality' I pause to remind myself that my patients contain multitudes just like me. There are some patients/patient families who will question my competence even if I am wearing a professional black suit and bare face, and some for whom my 'signs of life' will be a comfort or connection point.
I feel all of the above! I work for a nonprofit helping people with ALS, and I sometimes find myself tempering down my outfits to avoid being “too much” for people whose diagnosis has dimmed their lives. But really, people appreciate authenticity and vibrance and honesty, and clothes should not minimize the experience or the compassionate support exchanged. Really appreciated the context here @carrie @christa @solsticecrown. And @asta/aastha of course!
I really appreciate that conflict, esp. for women doctors. Several of my doctors always wear a trademark accessory. One, a wild tie. The others, statement jewelry or colorful tops. I find it adds to human connection.
Looove how many MDs are joining this convo! Such a great reminder that "blending in" is a fruitless goal and not worth our time. The pressure to look like "what a doctor looks like" or "what a scientist looks like" is so real. And the mindset that paying any attention (or looking like you pay attention) to what you look like means you're wasting time that could be spent doing something more meaningful. But in fact, becoming integrated humans who exist as physical, aesthetic beings in the world makes us better at taking care of our patients.
Like Carrie, I want to communicate something "slightly off axis from what people expect from me." While not distracting from or trivializing the often heavy conversations I have to have. I think my style (composed, adventurous, dynamic) allows for this, but it's not always easy to find ways to bring in that POV while meeting my needs for practicality and professionalism. I have a toddler, I e-bike to work (in temps as low as 15 degrees) in a 4-season climate. I need clothes that are warm, breathable, washable, and allow for movement--pragmatic, but not always in the Tibi "wearable" sense of the word!
Particularly ISO of pants or dresses that meet these requirements rn, if anybody has ideas! Everybody always says wear long underwear underneath pants but the sensory experience of layering pants is... not always pleasant in my experience. Two of my current faves are fleece-backed nylon barrel pants and a boiled wool cocoon dress with fleece-lined or merino tights.
I agree about MDs joining the conversation and thinking about the expectations of being a woman in medicine and for me a Black woman in medicine through the lens of fashion and style. As you said - more likely than not there is a judgement that you aren't or can't be take seriously, that you could be doing something else with your time.
I was drawn to a red (more of a deep coral, or a red that leans coral, to be accurate) Marimekko patterned l/s mock neck top. I never, and I mean NEVER, wear red. I rarely purchase luxury brands. I suppose Marimekko is not all the way luxury, but a ribbed top over $200 is a splurge in my books. (There’s that practicality, right there). Anyway, I was so drawn to not only the colour (first attraction) but also to the subtle print (yes, Marimekko sometimes does “subtle”) and the fabric is absolutely silky and luxe. Anyway, said top went on sale and I snapped it up. Turns out I love this piece! It brings me joy. I adore the colour, I revel in the quality of the fabric. It’s the only thing “red” I have but I wear it regularly and it gets noticed (cuz it’s out of my ordinary). I even bought a NARS lip stain in this colour. Crazy, amirite?! Love that your written pieces make us think! Keep digging deep, Asta - I love your work (and your commanding persona style) 🩷
I actually purchased the Tibi pvc belt in black. I wasn’t going to get it because I wasn’t sure I would wear it and I thought it might sit weird - but after seeing so much amazing content I started imagining the belt with my existing clothes and I just knew I would regret it if I didn’t get it!
Yes, the belt is actually a lot more wearable than I expected. It works a lot like a wide patent belt or structured modern peplum. It makes a pretty basic outfit look a lot more interesting. Now I'm contemplating the Tibi hoop skirt - maybe I dismissed it too quickly?
I got those too!! I am taking them on a second trip next week and I can’t wait to work them in. I actually bought them, returned them bc they are a little noisy (literally, when you walk) then ordered them again bc I could just SEE them… but so far I’ve only been able to wear them on vacations bc while I do not demand full practically… they at not warm!! No regrets here. I think I will wear them all spring.
I constantly have to make choices about what to put in my closet. I have enough things. I don’t have endless room or resources adding more makes things harder, not easier. More choices. More overwhelm. Sometimes I am relieved when something is not a fit for any reason because it makes choices easier. I sense that with these questions - can I sit in this? Looking for relief. Maybe if you are asking these questions it’s not a full body yes. There’s something that’s a nagging concern like your budget. Or something else. Maybe it just means wait.
Relief or self limitation because of fear of failure? Now you personally have enough items and have experimented enough to know the difference.
I think there are 3 broad categories of mindsets:
1. Very satisfied with their style and happy to align with a strictly pragmatic checklist. Like Kelly’s comment when she was a new mom.
2. Very satisfied with their style and happy to experiment and make mistakes. Although with time there are fewer mistakes.
3. Aligned with a strictly pragmatic checklist and unhappy with how pushed their style is. Every time they come close to pushing it, a pretend ‘must have’ requirements holds them back. Stuck in this loop.
Theres also perhaps a 4th category of people unhappy with style, experimenting, pushing, but without direction or the knowledge of self which then keeps them stuck in THAT loop.
Right — so true. And now you know, you really make me think too about all the people who compliment you when you’re wearing something really interesting but you know they would never try that for practical reasons. Sometimes I even go ahead and find one for the person secondhand but that’s not the issue. OK, this is fascinating.
This was so thoughtful and thought provoking for me. When I had kids, I shifted so far in the direction of practicality (and for good reason) but woke up utterly BORED with my clothes. Then I slowly added the slightly impractical but totally desired pieces to my wardrobe and I find getting dressed with a good POV so much easier now. I wouldn’t trade the years of building my foundation but I loved this reminder that we all need the special things too.
I really resonated with this. For some of us, practicality genuinely is the floor, almost a hygiene factor. And I think we need to recognise the floor differs for folks.
My clothes mostly need to work either for professional services or for life with my daughter, so anything that wrinkles easily, digs in, or needs constant adjustment tends to be a non-starter.
Tibi often walk that line. I bought a gorgeous draped Tibi maxi dress, but the fold catches my foot constantly when I walk, so despite loving it, I rarely wear it. I cannot afford another fall now!
A good reminder that practicality shows up differently depending on how demanding your real-life use cases are, and especially when returns from Singapore are… not easy.
Also one thing I’m frustrated with Tibi is their implication that a creative piece can’t also be practical, because it often feel like an excuse for poorer quality. Like their insistence that it’s ok for some pieces to be sheer. I have incredible pieces (some from tibi like their nylon pieces) that are creative AND well made.
Real talk, IMO when Tibi talks about pragmatism what they mean is ‘wearability’. As in “we take high design but make it less weird so you can wear it in your everyday” vs how most people think of practicality or pragmatism.
Of course I’m not an authority on this but just a feeling. Even thinking about the CP scale. On the P side is less pushed outfits, on the C side more designed, more pushed makes me believe they literally mean “this is less pushed more wearable” vs “this is more pushed less wearable” as you slide up the scale.
Or think about the people and where they put them on the scale. Traci towards the P side, Sarah towards the C side. I doubt that means Sarah is actually a less practical person than Traci. It just means aesthetically she is more pushed.
Yes! But I think sometimes it’s honestly quality. I’ve bought pieces that have ended up being sheer and they claim it’s ok we should just live with sheer but I think it’d just not using great fabrics.
Which don’t get me wrong, I’m it disagreeing with you. I def think things construction quality has nothing to do with how creative a piece is. Things can always be beautifully made!
Your post made me think about the gallery game – where you’re in an iconic gallery and deciding which work of art is coming home with you, ignoring the factors of money or criminality.
When I play, I automatically start to apply limiting context “I like it, but can I live with it? Will it fit on my wall? Do I want the feeling I’m getting from it to inhabit my every day being? Will it work with what's there already?” Sometimes I can’t pick anything and am content to absorb the experience. Sometimes it’s “who gives a shit about any of the practicalities… I love it, I want it, I’ll take Guernica.*"
I don't consider if my visitors are going to like it, they don’t have to live with it.
I think it’s understandable, and helpful, for most of us to look at style content with the gallery game in mind. It’s less helpful when we impose our limiting context on someone else - but it happens a lot.
*I wouldn’t pick Guernica, it was the least pragmatic option that sprung to mind.
It's fun to wear some daring colours and cuts of clothing for me. Where I draw the line is comfort, if it's not fitting me comfortably I just know it's going to put me in a bad mood and isn't going to be worth it! I've just started a colour analysis based Substack btw, would love some views and subscribers, especially fashion focused people
You definitely pushed me to reconsider my first take on the Tibi skirt. Which may have been more practical than brave:) I’m off to NYC in a few weeks and I intend to do a major try-on session at the Tibi store!
Yesss!! Assessing risk level is something I’ve been feeling without being able to articulate it and it resonates so much 🙏🏽 I was looking to buy a denim jacket recently and instead of the practical option went with a more “out there” piece that moved me. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and the inspiration ❤️
I meant to comment when I first read this and somehow never did — but it stuck with me, which is usually a sign a piece has done its job.
I found your framing really thought-provoking, particularly the idea that practicality can quietly shift from being a floor to a ceiling. It’s such a clear way of describing a feeling I'm sure many people have about their wardrobes. Where my own thinking ended up diverging a bit was around the relationship between practicality and creativity. Coming from a design background, I tend to see constraints less as something that limits creativity and more as the brief that creativity responds to.
So rather than seeing practicality as something we sometimes need to push past in order to reach expansion, I find myself wondering whether the more interesting design challenge is finding the version of the idea where the practical constraints have been solved beautifully — where the piece still delivers the feeling and works in our everyday lives.
In any case, your post clearly sparked a lot of thinking on my end — including a long post of my own wrestling with some of these ideas — so thank you for that provocation.
Currently struggling to break free of the practicality trap myself. I can see how it happened:
shifting to WFH -> life-changing ankle injury -> twin pregnancy -> twin toddlers... Six years later, I am so damn sick of it. "It" being holding my spirit back.
If I reflect on the last few 'fits that I loved, there was an element of impracticality about them. For example: a thrifted vintage evening shawl (sheer, black, the kind of thing your mom might have made you wear to homecoming in the early aughts) draped over an enormous calf-length denim barn coat. I looked cool as hell, but, more importantly, I felt like myself. I deserve that everyday, so I'm gonna keep fighting the good fight.
I’m back, and I’m trying to break my habit of not leaving a comment because it takes me a little while to process your concepts (a compliment!). I do relate to this idea, but not necessarily in regard to practicality. My first thought was about how I shop: secondhand. The downside to secondhand is you’re constrained to what people are getting rid of, right? And the more interesting silhouettes, already more rare, don’t typically make it downstream into the secondhand market. This is def something for me to consider: would I be better served in acquiring a piece new, am I limiting myself in expression by being too hardline with provenance?
The second thought I had (an a-ha moment) is that I often feel left out of the picture with fashion that I may think looks cool or even the way I want to look… because it’s not made for my size. Like Tibi: I think a lot of their pieces you style are intriguing! But they wouldn’t fit me. So perhaps for my ow self-preservation, to save myself from blaming my body, I opt out completely.
Clyde cobalt blue elbow length leather gloves with white racing stripes. Don’t have the foggiest where I’ll wear them but they definitely make me feel something!
This just dropped in my email and I had to come here to make a comment. This is such a good conversation starter. Reflective. Everything can't be practical (for me). I also want to ***feel*** something. What I (want to) communicate is slightly off-axis from what people expect from me (as a surgeon). After that first layer, people really have to recalibrate their first impression of me (insert whatever they think a surgeon should be). This is also even more relevant as a Black woman.
The Red Granger Feather slide - LOVE
This moved me so much. Thank you for sharing that.
The idea of using style to force a 'recalibration' of a first impression is so powerful, especially in a field as rigid as surgery, and doubly so as a Black woman where the 'sensible' checklist is often unfairly used as a tool for respectability.
When you’re in a role that demands 100% precision and practicality all day, I imagine those Granger Feather slides feel like a necessary addition. All of us contain multitudes.
P.S. Those slides are the definition of 'feeling something'. Absolute magic!
Carrie, your comment really resonated with me. I'm also a doctor (in an intensive care field) and there are so many layers to how fashion has interfaced with my training and career. Like Asta mentioned, it has always been an important expressive/intuitive 'pop-off valve' to counteract the weight and precision of the work. Your idea of forcing a recalibration of expectations is so powerful. For a long time I tried to use cloths to blend in to my professional environments, but I finally realized that in our line of work we can't disappear - people are watching, people are judging, it is fundamentally performative especially for women in the field. My specific field is not highly male dominated but I imagine this is even more the case for you: there is no way to dress that will actually lead to blending in. There is a lot of power and freedom in embracing that and saying, yeah, I don't meet your expectations: I meet mine.
Yes, Christa! The paradox of hyper(in)visiblity defines my experience well and relates to what you shared. It's 'easier' to blend in, but in so many ways I cannot and frankly at this stage in life I don't want to. Its the first step in people understanding what they *won't* get from me because I am living fully, showing up fully, honoring my boundaries and staying accountable to myself. Less confusion later. and I love what you said about not meeting others' expectations, only meeting mine. It took a long time to get here mentally and my personal style is reflective of that. Its been a journey to find "professional friction" as @asta has put it in other posts. To dress for the occasion and location while still being me.
Carrie, thank you again for sharing your experience and insight! Your comments really helped me think through some of my ongoing style hangups related to the workplace and other highly visible settings.
The doctor who performed my colonscopy showed up with big multi-colored rhinestone earrings. It made me love her so much!
Thank you for sharing this! Every time I second guess wearing 'too much personality' I pause to remind myself that my patients contain multitudes just like me. There are some patients/patient families who will question my competence even if I am wearing a professional black suit and bare face, and some for whom my 'signs of life' will be a comfort or connection point.
I feel all of the above! I work for a nonprofit helping people with ALS, and I sometimes find myself tempering down my outfits to avoid being “too much” for people whose diagnosis has dimmed their lives. But really, people appreciate authenticity and vibrance and honesty, and clothes should not minimize the experience or the compassionate support exchanged. Really appreciated the context here @carrie @christa @solsticecrown. And @asta/aastha of course!
I really appreciate that conflict, esp. for women doctors. Several of my doctors always wear a trademark accessory. One, a wild tie. The others, statement jewelry or colorful tops. I find it adds to human connection.
Looove how many MDs are joining this convo! Such a great reminder that "blending in" is a fruitless goal and not worth our time. The pressure to look like "what a doctor looks like" or "what a scientist looks like" is so real. And the mindset that paying any attention (or looking like you pay attention) to what you look like means you're wasting time that could be spent doing something more meaningful. But in fact, becoming integrated humans who exist as physical, aesthetic beings in the world makes us better at taking care of our patients.
Like Carrie, I want to communicate something "slightly off axis from what people expect from me." While not distracting from or trivializing the often heavy conversations I have to have. I think my style (composed, adventurous, dynamic) allows for this, but it's not always easy to find ways to bring in that POV while meeting my needs for practicality and professionalism. I have a toddler, I e-bike to work (in temps as low as 15 degrees) in a 4-season climate. I need clothes that are warm, breathable, washable, and allow for movement--pragmatic, but not always in the Tibi "wearable" sense of the word!
Particularly ISO of pants or dresses that meet these requirements rn, if anybody has ideas! Everybody always says wear long underwear underneath pants but the sensory experience of layering pants is... not always pleasant in my experience. Two of my current faves are fleece-backed nylon barrel pants and a boiled wool cocoon dress with fleece-lined or merino tights.
I agree about MDs joining the conversation and thinking about the expectations of being a woman in medicine and for me a Black woman in medicine through the lens of fashion and style. As you said - more likely than not there is a judgement that you aren't or can't be take seriously, that you could be doing something else with your time.
I was drawn to a red (more of a deep coral, or a red that leans coral, to be accurate) Marimekko patterned l/s mock neck top. I never, and I mean NEVER, wear red. I rarely purchase luxury brands. I suppose Marimekko is not all the way luxury, but a ribbed top over $200 is a splurge in my books. (There’s that practicality, right there). Anyway, I was so drawn to not only the colour (first attraction) but also to the subtle print (yes, Marimekko sometimes does “subtle”) and the fabric is absolutely silky and luxe. Anyway, said top went on sale and I snapped it up. Turns out I love this piece! It brings me joy. I adore the colour, I revel in the quality of the fabric. It’s the only thing “red” I have but I wear it regularly and it gets noticed (cuz it’s out of my ordinary). I even bought a NARS lip stain in this colour. Crazy, amirite?! Love that your written pieces make us think! Keep digging deep, Asta - I love your work (and your commanding persona style) 🩷
I actually purchased the Tibi pvc belt in black. I wasn’t going to get it because I wasn’t sure I would wear it and I thought it might sit weird - but after seeing so much amazing content I started imagining the belt with my existing clothes and I just knew I would regret it if I didn’t get it!
Thats great! Have you gotten a chance to try it on yet?
Yes, the belt is actually a lot more wearable than I expected. It works a lot like a wide patent belt or structured modern peplum. It makes a pretty basic outfit look a lot more interesting. Now I'm contemplating the Tibi hoop skirt - maybe I dismissed it too quickly?
Silver pants.
Oh love those (as you know). What has your experience been with them so far? Hitting regret or liking them?
I like them, but they ARE noisy and thin. I could use some styling inspo, especially for warmer weather.
I got those too!! I am taking them on a second trip next week and I can’t wait to work them in. I actually bought them, returned them bc they are a little noisy (literally, when you walk) then ordered them again bc I could just SEE them… but so far I’ve only been able to wear them on vacations bc while I do not demand full practically… they at not warm!! No regrets here. I think I will wear them all spring.
I constantly have to make choices about what to put in my closet. I have enough things. I don’t have endless room or resources adding more makes things harder, not easier. More choices. More overwhelm. Sometimes I am relieved when something is not a fit for any reason because it makes choices easier. I sense that with these questions - can I sit in this? Looking for relief. Maybe if you are asking these questions it’s not a full body yes. There’s something that’s a nagging concern like your budget. Or something else. Maybe it just means wait.
Relief or self limitation because of fear of failure? Now you personally have enough items and have experimented enough to know the difference.
I think there are 3 broad categories of mindsets:
1. Very satisfied with their style and happy to align with a strictly pragmatic checklist. Like Kelly’s comment when she was a new mom.
2. Very satisfied with their style and happy to experiment and make mistakes. Although with time there are fewer mistakes.
3. Aligned with a strictly pragmatic checklist and unhappy with how pushed their style is. Every time they come close to pushing it, a pretend ‘must have’ requirements holds them back. Stuck in this loop.
Theres also perhaps a 4th category of people unhappy with style, experimenting, pushing, but without direction or the knowledge of self which then keeps them stuck in THAT loop.
Right — so true. And now you know, you really make me think too about all the people who compliment you when you’re wearing something really interesting but you know they would never try that for practical reasons. Sometimes I even go ahead and find one for the person secondhand but that’s not the issue. OK, this is fascinating.
This was so thoughtful and thought provoking for me. When I had kids, I shifted so far in the direction of practicality (and for good reason) but woke up utterly BORED with my clothes. Then I slowly added the slightly impractical but totally desired pieces to my wardrobe and I find getting dressed with a good POV so much easier now. I wouldn’t trade the years of building my foundation but I loved this reminder that we all need the special things too.
I really resonated with this. For some of us, practicality genuinely is the floor, almost a hygiene factor. And I think we need to recognise the floor differs for folks.
My clothes mostly need to work either for professional services or for life with my daughter, so anything that wrinkles easily, digs in, or needs constant adjustment tends to be a non-starter.
Tibi often walk that line. I bought a gorgeous draped Tibi maxi dress, but the fold catches my foot constantly when I walk, so despite loving it, I rarely wear it. I cannot afford another fall now!
A good reminder that practicality shows up differently depending on how demanding your real-life use cases are, and especially when returns from Singapore are… not easy.
Also one thing I’m frustrated with Tibi is their implication that a creative piece can’t also be practical, because it often feel like an excuse for poorer quality. Like their insistence that it’s ok for some pieces to be sheer. I have incredible pieces (some from tibi like their nylon pieces) that are creative AND well made.
Real talk, IMO when Tibi talks about pragmatism what they mean is ‘wearability’. As in “we take high design but make it less weird so you can wear it in your everyday” vs how most people think of practicality or pragmatism.
Of course I’m not an authority on this but just a feeling. Even thinking about the CP scale. On the P side is less pushed outfits, on the C side more designed, more pushed makes me believe they literally mean “this is less pushed more wearable” vs “this is more pushed less wearable” as you slide up the scale.
Or think about the people and where they put them on the scale. Traci towards the P side, Sarah towards the C side. I doubt that means Sarah is actually a less practical person than Traci. It just means aesthetically she is more pushed.
Yes! But I think sometimes it’s honestly quality. I’ve bought pieces that have ended up being sheer and they claim it’s ok we should just live with sheer but I think it’d just not using great fabrics.
Which don’t get me wrong, I’m it disagreeing with you. I def think things construction quality has nothing to do with how creative a piece is. Things can always be beautifully made!
I love how you put this—it makes perfect sense, and I totally agree!
Your post made me think about the gallery game – where you’re in an iconic gallery and deciding which work of art is coming home with you, ignoring the factors of money or criminality.
When I play, I automatically start to apply limiting context “I like it, but can I live with it? Will it fit on my wall? Do I want the feeling I’m getting from it to inhabit my every day being? Will it work with what's there already?” Sometimes I can’t pick anything and am content to absorb the experience. Sometimes it’s “who gives a shit about any of the practicalities… I love it, I want it, I’ll take Guernica.*"
I don't consider if my visitors are going to like it, they don’t have to live with it.
I think it’s understandable, and helpful, for most of us to look at style content with the gallery game in mind. It’s less helpful when we impose our limiting context on someone else - but it happens a lot.
*I wouldn’t pick Guernica, it was the least pragmatic option that sprung to mind.
It's fun to wear some daring colours and cuts of clothing for me. Where I draw the line is comfort, if it's not fitting me comfortably I just know it's going to put me in a bad mood and isn't going to be worth it! I've just started a colour analysis based Substack btw, would love some views and subscribers, especially fashion focused people
You definitely pushed me to reconsider my first take on the Tibi skirt. Which may have been more practical than brave:) I’m off to NYC in a few weeks and I intend to do a major try-on session at the Tibi store!
Yesss!! Assessing risk level is something I’ve been feeling without being able to articulate it and it resonates so much 🙏🏽 I was looking to buy a denim jacket recently and instead of the practical option went with a more “out there” piece that moved me. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and the inspiration ❤️
I meant to comment when I first read this and somehow never did — but it stuck with me, which is usually a sign a piece has done its job.
I found your framing really thought-provoking, particularly the idea that practicality can quietly shift from being a floor to a ceiling. It’s such a clear way of describing a feeling I'm sure many people have about their wardrobes. Where my own thinking ended up diverging a bit was around the relationship between practicality and creativity. Coming from a design background, I tend to see constraints less as something that limits creativity and more as the brief that creativity responds to.
So rather than seeing practicality as something we sometimes need to push past in order to reach expansion, I find myself wondering whether the more interesting design challenge is finding the version of the idea where the practical constraints have been solved beautifully — where the piece still delivers the feeling and works in our everyday lives.
In any case, your post clearly sparked a lot of thinking on my end — including a long post of my own wrestling with some of these ideas — so thank you for that provocation.
Currently struggling to break free of the practicality trap myself. I can see how it happened:
shifting to WFH -> life-changing ankle injury -> twin pregnancy -> twin toddlers... Six years later, I am so damn sick of it. "It" being holding my spirit back.
If I reflect on the last few 'fits that I loved, there was an element of impracticality about them. For example: a thrifted vintage evening shawl (sheer, black, the kind of thing your mom might have made you wear to homecoming in the early aughts) draped over an enormous calf-length denim barn coat. I looked cool as hell, but, more importantly, I felt like myself. I deserve that everyday, so I'm gonna keep fighting the good fight.
This: "Practicality is a great floor. It’s a terrible ceiling." is a really good title!
I’m back, and I’m trying to break my habit of not leaving a comment because it takes me a little while to process your concepts (a compliment!). I do relate to this idea, but not necessarily in regard to practicality. My first thought was about how I shop: secondhand. The downside to secondhand is you’re constrained to what people are getting rid of, right? And the more interesting silhouettes, already more rare, don’t typically make it downstream into the secondhand market. This is def something for me to consider: would I be better served in acquiring a piece new, am I limiting myself in expression by being too hardline with provenance?
The second thought I had (an a-ha moment) is that I often feel left out of the picture with fashion that I may think looks cool or even the way I want to look… because it’s not made for my size. Like Tibi: I think a lot of their pieces you style are intriguing! But they wouldn’t fit me. So perhaps for my ow self-preservation, to save myself from blaming my body, I opt out completely.
Thanks for the food for thought, as always!
Clyde cobalt blue elbow length leather gloves with white racing stripes. Don’t have the foggiest where I’ll wear them but they definitely make me feel something!