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Practicality as a Creative Restraint
Thursday morning I had a moment with my daughter that really cemented what I was circling all week for the newsletter. The idea is that being practical can actually pressure cook some pretty decent ideas. I used to envy people who could purchase all the clothing their heart desired because for me it was always a long, brutal hunt.
So when my daughter told me, the morning of her school’s Valentine’s Day party that she needed a themed shirt my stomach sank. I source most of my kids clothing second hand and she didn’t love the heart skirt I sourced a while back. It was a little too big, and dragged on the floor. I went into her closet, pulled out that skirt and a red long sleeve that says “Merry Christmas, Dude” on it. We turned that shirt inside out, tucked it in the skirt and I told her to trust me as I gathered it in the back with a hair tie so it would fit. On the kitchen counter my sewing box was out, and her little eyes widened when she saw red elastic waistband material and told me to make a bow with that, you know, to cover the hair tie. This was it, I thought to myself. We are making it work and honestly, this outfit was way better than an on the nose V-day shirt anyway. The look on her teacher’s face when she proudly walked into school was enough for me. Your outfits become more creative when you are forced to make it work with what you’ve got. It was practical, but it was also a little mischievous.
Sometimes I beat myself up for being so practical, but having this real-life moment happen while I was circling the same idea all week illustrated to me that practicality doesn’t have to be what limits creativity, it can be a driving force.
Then it got me thinking about my own personal style. I’ve said before, my style is “un-styled” which now feels a bit unfair to myself. I think my style is actually anchored in the idea of practicality. It’s my foundation. The pieces that captivate me are simple on the surface but intentional underneath. I enjoy pieces that are quietly unique. My whole adult life I’ve gravitated toward independent boutiques, and small grocery stores, places where care and curation are felt, not announced.
Practicality is my baseline. I need my clothes to work for me, not the other way around. They need to sustain repair and repeat wear over time. The understated nature is what gives those choices texture and meaning for me. Practicality, or whatever your anchor is, seems to thrive with a little bit of tension. For me, that tension lives in what’s not said, but felt.
Until next time,
Quietly observing the characters at the thrift store…