THE ROOT 9: 34.3

Trick question! You are probably a bit of both 🙂

We may have certain social dynamics or work experiences that lead us to absorb stress for the people around us, and then there are situations where we do the opposite and exude stress. As I reflect on it, this usually comes down to the types of situations we naturally feel more capable or confident in.

But I think this gives us a good moment of pause to think about that balance: Where can I improve in how I exude stress to those around me? And where do I offer support when something stressful is happening?

For example, though I do not love flying, I rarely exude stress in crowded areas like airports (even if I am running late for a flight) It simply doesn’t stress me out that much. Similarly, under a tight deadline, I tend to focus on execution and push through, rather than getting nervous that time is ticking.

However, I can absolutely work on my stress levels when it comes to living in the moment and not being a stickler for time. I tend to exude stress if I feel a meeting is running over, or if a dinner lasts longer than the mental time I had attached to it. Being a planner, I feel less stress when a schedule needs to be followed stress but more stressed if time is left open without much of a ‘plan’. I don’t do too well on vacations where we just relax…but I can lean into it if I block out how long the relaxing will be going on for in my brain 😉

Those are just some initial thoughts on how my stress manifests or may deescalate that of those around me, but this question has made me appreciate the opportunity to be a bit more self aware and think about how our stress responses influence those around us.

Thrifted Costumes

Gone are the days, in my opinion, where a great Halloween costume is something we pick up from a Spirit Halloween (and maybe they are catching on to the trend, considering the growth in the Spirit Christmas pop ups planned for this year—keep your eyes peeled for those. More on that here)

While quick Amazon deliveries to make a costume come to life are likely still a reality, when I’ve relied on this in the past, it often leads to last minute execution that falls a bit flat, removes the fun from bringing a costume to life, and leaves me with items I never even wore lying around because I got too lazy to return them.

I’ve talked about my love for thrift before, and I’ll use any excuse to talk about it again, but I love the idea of dedicating a thrift day to building out your Halloween outfit. It opens up an opportunity for us to be more creative with what we put together. Even better, you might invest in some unique pieces that play a role in your Halloween outfit but whose life extends far past just the 31st of October.

If you are still unsure of what you are doing for Halloween next weekend, maybe this is your sign? Take the moment, solo or with a friend, and embrace some creativity in a local thrift store for your plans on the weekend of the 31st.

Giving Lace an Edge

For the longest time, lace felt almost too feminine for my personal style. While there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s the side of my aesthetic I tend to lean into the least when getting dressed.

But I think there is a huge opportunity to play with lace and completely redefine it. It can be a powerful gender neutral texture that plays a role in our outfits in ways we may have not considered before. Especially with the holidays coming up, I’m feeling inclined to explore lace this season instead of relying on the autumn tones for Thanksgiving or sparkles and glamour on New Year’s Eve.

I've been inspired by what I’ve been seeing in the office and browsing on Pinterest. I’m noting a focus on pairing lace with clean, crisp, or heavily textured materials, acknowledging that while it can be a frilly and more feminine fabric, it can also be more than that if we want it to be. Here are a few ways I’m planning to explore its versatility:

Lace over other textures or seemingly crisp materials gives it an edge, making it easy to dress up for the office and transition straight into happy hour or dinner. I may have previously written off lace, but playing with these ideas makes me excited to explore and appreciate its versatility.