When Life Hands You So Much More than Lemons

Lifestyle

Mar 14

There's not a day that goes by that I don't acknowledge, even if it's just to myself, that I'm really, really lucky. I'm constantly pinching myself to see if I'm going to wake up from a life that feels so surreal, particularly on days when I get to witness my friends achieving such monumentally amazing things and developing their talents. ModCloth asked me to share some of those moments (while wearing this gorgeous yellow dress of theirs, natch) and I couldn't resist the opportunity to get reflective and celebrate a bit.

In business, and life in general, I draw so much inspiration from the women and non-binary people around me and how incredibly resourceful we all tend to be. In the little bubble I've been incredible privileged to be in, I witness the ways we connect with each other, help each other, and inspire one another to push boundaries on inclusivity, progress, and problem solving. If you've ever listened to the Call Your Girlfriend podcast (or if you follow me on IG, where I seem to plug this concept constantly) I majorly subscribe to shine theory -- "I don't shine if you don't shine." The basic idea is that there's room for all of us to succeed, and that we can amplify each others voices to lift entire communities up with us. It's a way of reframing what is traditionally thought of as competition - and instead valuing community and collaboration.

I owe so much of my own success to being supported and encouraged by other women, including my mom, my now-business partner Gabi, and my former Marie Claire editor, Lea Goldman. It was even through a casual conversation with my friend, and ModCloth founder Susan, that I was given one of my first chances to design a collection -- an opportunity that inevitably lead me to other design opportunities and finally, last summer, launching Premme. It's through my friend Janet Mock that I'm constantly reminded to speak my truth and breathe authenticity to everything I do. And I think, subconsciously, some of these relationships even influence and inspire the way I dress, too; I feel like I'm channeling a little of the retro-ladylike vibes that my friend Haley, another fellow founder, dons so well, while other days I draw a bit from Priscilla Ono, and others from Nadia Aboulhosn.

I feel so lucky to be surrounded by incredibly talented, real people; to draw so much wisdom from them, and to celebrate their successes and wins as they celebrate mine. There is so much to be grateful for, even when life feels like a marathon full of unexpected hurdles, and I think my strong friendships and relationships are among the things I'm luckiest to possess.