Schlagwort-Archive: commentary

Allgemein, Social Commentary

Exit Signs and Identity Crisis

Are we looking for our next exit out of an uncomfortable situation? I think the question should be: When are we not?

For most of us Life has a way of making good choices nearly impossible. We plan to clean our apartments. We plan to get the groceries. We plan to work in the field we’ve studied. But mostly there is a hurdle in the way to everyday life, and that hurdle is our own minds.

Okay. So maybe our minds aren’t stopping us from getting groceries (although I’ve definitely been too lazy to go, even though I had no food in the house) but isn’t it the underlying factor to every decision we make where we choose the safe route. That we stick it out a bit longer until we go for that other job, since the tips at the restaurant are really good right now. We block the success we could have because we are afraid to be left with even less than before. So how do we get out of this cycle of broken dreams and coffee stained blouses from another shift at the local Coffee Shop?

The answer to that is next to impossible to pin down. Whereas some people are born risk takers and have no shame in asking for financial support, I am of a different breed. Rather eating cream cheese out of a carton than ask for help from parents or friends, is probably not the best way to go about in life. Yet here I am struggling with multiple jobs as if I was trying to collect shells on the beach, each one serving a specific purpose. Can I learn to let go and fill my life not only with the worry of failure and go on to live life to its full potential?

The answer to that should be yes, but every time I have to submit an article or read an essay aloud in class, I am terrified of what people may think of me. Because the writing is not just a part of me, it is me. Fully and completely inhabiting me; using me as a vessel to get the story out.

So as I sit at a coffee shop editing, or on my bed writing something completely new, there are always thoughts of insecurity. The only difference to my younger self is that I have learned to acknowledge it and then throw it out the metaphorical window. Even though the doubts and fear are ever present I have not stopped writing. Bravery doesn’t come from the absence of fear, it is our choice to be brave.

So be brave and believe in who you are.

Life may be blocking some roads for you and if your mind gangs up with it, remind it who’s the boss. Don’t let your insecurities stop you from accomplishing your goals, there are always people who will do that for you.

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Allgemein, Fashion

Ageless Fashion

When have we grown too old to be ourselves? That question came to the forefront of my mind as I was assisting a woman in her mid 40s. She looked incredible in a vibrant and colorful dress that hugged her body just right, her eyes shining with the knowledge of her beauty. Then she turned to me and said: “It’s beautiful, but I’m too old for that.” With a resigned smile she turned back into the dressing room and left me at a loss for words. I didn’t know what to say to someone who looked happy and beautiful in an outfit, but ultimately thought about societies view on what women are supposed to wear past their 20s.

Even after she had left her comment still made me think on the unrealistic way we, as a society, pressure women to dress past a certain age. We all go through transformations, that is a part in growing and reaching new things, but to strip an integral part of ourselves away out of fear of ridicule or humiliation is ludicrous. Our tastes evolve over time and our choices morph into its next level but what is irrevocably our own is our style. Because style isn’t necessarily ‘fashion’ it is our unique flavor of self-expression, the flair and confidence we bring to an outfit. Style cannot be trained or bought, it is inherent and part of our minds and our bodies. While trends come and go, style sticks with everyone individually. So we experiment with trends and ‘fashion’ but our style shines through and makes it unique to us.

So to tell a woman to change her style because of her age, ethnicity, body type, hair color, etc. is telling her that her soul and mind need to change. But how can we change the fact that a lot of our current society is narrow minded in the way of personal self expression? We need to challenge them head on and invoke the curiosity of others by being unapologetically ourselves and express our style within ourselves and our appearance.

Become ageless in fashion and maybe we’ll be able to change at least one part of the bigger picture and pave the way to acceptance, so that we can break down dozens of walls more heavily secured by intolerance. A droplet of water onto a still lake will still push ripples, it just needs to let go first.

Chantal Eisinger

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Fashion

Where to find Fashion?

We have all heard the phrase ‘dress to impress’ but what does that even mean? Is it the Power Suit of the 80s ready to walk into the Boardroom? Or is it the perfect Black Dress on the first date? Or maybe its even the most outrages pattern mixing outfit inspired by the latest runways to get the job at a fashion magazine?

To make the answer simple, yes all of these and more.

Okay so that’s not simple at all in the manner of figuring out where and what to wear at all times, but it shows that there is not one right way to do ‘fashion’.

Because fashion is more than just pretty dresses and snobby stylists who seem to have all the answers. It is about inspiring and being inspired by others, by the environment and even the culture that surrounds us. It is not superficial and brainless, it has a big impact on how we perceive the world and it can provoke social change even on a political level. To have the creative outlet to put a visual to verbal commentary is a powerful tool that designers use to portray their view and their message.

So how can that help you find your personal ‘fashion moments’? Here it is on you to be bold and brave to embrace your truest self and get yourself out of your comfort zone. Try out every style and trend that speaks to you, if it doesn’t work then it will retire and make room for the next big thing. Get inspiration from others and put your own unique handprint on it, not to copy but to help and inspire your own choice. See if there are things from past decades that you tend to gravitate towards and emulate that in your modern, everyday style. There are so many ways for everyone to live their truest self and to feel amazing expressing themselves through fashion.

So ‘dress to impress’ yourself, by doing that you will impress the skeptics and anyone you might encounter. Wether that’s the Power Suit, the Black Dress, or the Fashion forward moment, express yourself and the message you want to convey.

So stay in Search of Fashion gorgeous!

C. Eisinger

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