1.29.2011

Inspirational Post by Katelyn

 My friend Katelyn wanted to share with you her personal thoughts on being yourself...
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 To many of my long standing friends and my family, they think I’ve gone off the deep end. They think I am insane. They think I’m weird. But it doesn’t make me feel like I have to conform back to the way I was or that they are even trying to tell me to do so. I think we get stuck sometimes. Caught up in what others will think or say. Caught up in having the newest, best, most expensive.

I love my goodwill and thrift finds and I am not embarrassed to say I shop at there.
Let me shout it from the rooftops. I LOVE GOODWILL. I love cheap, once loved but now unwanted clothing.

I also love unique handmade clothing that was not made in a sweat shop then sold for a poop ton of money.

I mix and match and don’t match at all.

I will wear my bright purple tights with knee high socks, moccasins, a flower dress, braids in my hair and owl necklace, and you know what? I will rock it.

I get asked how to put together outfits like I do and you know...there is no rhyme or reason, no break down of how I get dressed, no rules. I wear what I want. No no, I wear what I FEEL.

I used to think, “it’s just clothing, I shouldn’t worry about what I wear, it’s not important.” But I was wrong. It is important. To me. If I wear what I feel I am more confident. Even when getting funny looks or comments like, “that’s interesting...” I am more confident and I can hold my head high. Look that person right in the eye and not feel like I need to hold my head down and just keep walking. My old M.O.

Clothing is a powerful instrument. It can give you confidence or it can trash it.

I’m not saying at all that we should all look alike.

Please ward off big consumers. Ward off the feeling of having to impress other with our dress that with the price of we could’ve fed a small country.

Dig down deep inside and do what feels right for you. If you don’t feel confident. Keep looking.

There is no manual on how to find your own style. There is no quick fix.

You need to find it. Individually.

Try everything if you have to.

The best piece of advice I can give to you is to not care what others think. I know. It’s easier said than done. But if I have been able to do it, you sure as heck can. It takes time and it takes patience. It takes a thick skin to not let what others, especially those close to you let their opinions of you and your “new found” style affect you.

I’m crazy, hippie Katie to most. And I love that title. Honestly. It means I am not following the norm. I am being me. And that for me, is the best person I can be.
{in the two photos above she is sporting some of her Violet Bella goodies}


11 comments:

  1. Love you Katelyn ~ you always look rockin to me

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  2. What a great post. I totally agree. I haven't bought new clothes in probably a year. I shop at Goodwill and try to sew my own clothes whenever I can. (Sweat shops are evil!) I probably look pretty conservative most of the time. And I have to wear a uniform to work. But I LOVE that Katelyn is comfortable in her own skin, wearing whatever she pleases. And honestly, those photos show her in some pretty cute outfits! LOVE the fringey boots!

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  3. I <3 Katelyn. And everything she wears. Mostly I love it because I know she's so confident in herself, it really shows through, even just in pictures (and because it's all really cute anyway). What a beautiful lady, inside and out. Thanks for sharing your words of encouragement, it's not easy to always just be and not care what others think. Thanks for having Katelyn share her thoughts, Laura!

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  4. Awww you all are so sweet. Thank you! <3

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  5. This is such a lovely post! I am a huge advocate of gently worn/re-used, handmade, and eco-friendly clothing. I design sustainable fashion for a living so I wear a lot of it, but I also adore a trip to Goodwill. It's almost better than going to a boutique to shop because you're on a treasure hunt!

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  6. How boring would it be if we were all the same?
    Im so blad im not like everyone else.
    The ones thst make the rude comments are the BORING ones that are to scared to branch out but arent scared to talk to ones as if they were in middle schhol.

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  7. Well done Katelyn! I live in a small town in the moutains in NY, it's a place where everyone knows you...I get the strangest looks because of my sense of style, hey refer to me as the HIPPIE CHIC.
    they think I'm weird! whatever, I wear what makes ME feel good...
    I am just so happy to have found you all...just happy to hear I am not alone :D

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  8. Katelyn you are such a wonderful woman!!!!!!!!

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  9. I LOVE THIS POST, I AM FROM ARGENTINA THIRD WORLD!, TRY TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH THE PLANET AND OTHER THINGS, NO VIOLENCE, ALL LOVE IS MY CLOTHES AND RECYCLED SALVATION ARMY, CREATED MY OWN DESIGNS AND Teaching the CONCIENCIA.ME ME LOVE AROUND THE SAME AS I HAVE FOUND PEOPLE, FROM ACROSS THE CONTINENT! JUST IN THE U.S., THE COUNTRY OF USE, MAKES ME HAPPY AND MAKES ME FEEL ALL IS NOT LOST! AhhME FORGET, ALSO MY HIPPIE ME SAY THE TEACHER AS TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS ART SECUNDARIAS.MIL HUGS, BLESSINGS, PEACE AND LOVE IN YOUR INVITED WHEN VIDAS.VERO.QUEDAN LIKE MY BLOG HILANDOLAVIDA.BLOGSPOT.COM

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments!