Armor Baby

       There's a piercing truth to Bill Cunningham's wise words. The original street style photographer has dedicated years to documenting the day to day armor of the people who drift through the streets of New York City and his observations strike a cord in me.

       People often find fashion frivolous. They want to write it off. Box it up. Mark it mere vanity. I admittedly pause in step at times, to ponder if fashion is a worthy "cause". What's the driving force behind it?

      There are the different arguments: it's art, it's a political statement, it's self expression, it's fun, it's just...who.i.am. While all of those things can be applied to fashion let me ask you this, what did you carefully pick out to wear on that first date with the love of your life? What did you lay out the night before you went into labor? What did you slide into the day you filed for divorce? What did you buy for your first big job interview?

      Yes, yes so it's sentiment bla bla bla what's the point? Are you on your period? Lets just say white pants aren't in my armor lineup for a week or so but sentiment isn't all that I chock fashion up to- it's preparing yourself to face the arising sentiments attached to every day.  Life, death, drinking coffee, getting canned, grocery shopping, having a baby, having TWO babies, dealing with your mother-in-law.  HUGE crux moments or just taking the trash to the road- there's something to the consistancy of clothing. To knowing when you go to bed at night, that you have that perfect black James Perse bodycon dress, and even though you're only going to log four hours of sleep before you get up and do it all again, atleast you'll have that swag. Atleast you'll be wearing the armor that bolsters you through the day and into the fashion future. Clothing has a drive to it. It stokes my fire for life. It fuels me into an alternate universe. A universe that encases me from the intolerable elements of a world in sweats and the "i just give up" mentality. It permits me to exist each day unharmed merely because I decide to DRESS. Whether I find myself pushing a stroller, a proposition, a friendship, a sale- i've got the armor baby to go to war with the world.

      So, put on yours and save your crying for your pj's.

      xo
      C