Lost and Found: The Tale of Rediscovering Pink and Tacky

"Fashion fades. Style remains the same."

-Coco Chanel

I've always had style; unique all to me.

From the minute I had a say in what clothes I wore, it was pink cowgirl boots, velvet suits with dalmatian collars and my favorite- the "bacandy", aka my bright pink bikini.

Once, I cried through an entire Christmas play because my mom made me wear pants.

I told her that "I could be happy if I was just wearing a dress."

There was this saying in my family,

"If it's pink and its tacky, Cait will wear it."

[Not saying my style was classy, but for better or worse it was 100% ME.]

I had learned the ins and outs of productive shopping by 7.

Knew the locations of dozens of Nordstroms by 10.

And had an above proficient knowledge of all notable labels by 13.

For anyone who knows me, they know that, well... I was spoiled when it came to clothes.

Like ridiculously.

What do you expect from the daughter of the ever stylish Karen Martin?

[SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I HAVE LEARNED EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT STYLE FROM MY MOM. THE WOMAN HAS A 65+ SHOE COLLECTION AND CAN PULL OFF LIME GREEN. SHE IS AMAZING.]

I LOVED, LOVE, AND WILL ALWAYS LOVE FASHION.

However, I realized recently,

when I got to high school, things kinda changed.

I had nice clothes. I was "in."

But, I had lost my style.

I had lost my Pink and Tacky.

Firstly, I was forced into a cheer uniform or ASB shirt 3-4 days out of the week

[precious.]

&& so tired or dgaf the others,

The easiness of a sweatshirt and jeans was oh so enticing.

Secondly, I lost that fearlessness I had for fashion as a youngster.

It wasn't that I necessarily looked bad...

I just was nothing compared to the fashionista extraordinaire that was

the young Caitlin Elizabeth Martin.

Cut to this year

And, I ship off to San Francisco, CA.

One of the fashion capitols of the world.

Full of inspiration.

No cheer uniforms, no ASB shirt, no waking up at 6 am.

But,

A serious lack of funds.

Fashion is difficult for poor college girls.

But alas, I remembered

Coco Chanel, Audrey Hepburn, && Edie Sedgwick.

Would they have let something so trivial as money keep them from style?

Would they let losing their style for a while keep them from getting it back?

Absofreakinglutely not.

So,

I adapted.

I practiced.

I re-discovered.

And now, I can proudly say, I am a reformed shopper.

I learned how to make final sales and clearance look good.

Reallllll Good.

And, MOST IMPORTANTLY,

The girl that used to want to wear pink cowgirl boots and a bikini grocery shopping

Who would come in early from recess in pre-school to ensure she got the BEST dress up clothes

Who could spend a whole day trying on her mom's clothes,

Well, She's Back.

And better than ever.

MY EPIPHANY:

[i have a lot of these, i know]

Style is not what you wear. It's about how you wear it. It's about knowing who you are and what you want to say and not being afraid of it.