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On Fridays, we’ll take a breath: See below for some commentary on apparel trends I’m loving or things I’m eyeing, a fun activity to consider, and some food for thought as you enter your weekend 🙂
1/3. Food for Thought
I love when Dylan sends me inspiration for the newsletter. Please, if you have some, never shy away from sending it my way!
On Monday, he sent me this photo in an email with no context, just the subject line "Food For Thought." We spent thirty minutes talking about it this week
Before you read our interpretation, take some time to look at it and see what you think. Push past just the numbers.
Some thoughts:
A "sub 4 marathon" is, in a way, a somewhat arbitrary goal. If I think about running one, my mind immediately goes to, "It would be cool to run sub 4." But why? I cant really articulate that reason to you
The cluster of finishing times right before the four hour mark suggests that sometimes we push to meet a goal that we have subconsciously taken on from those around us, even if it is completely arbitrary to our own journey. We tend to cluster around the expectations we hear. If everyone suddenly talked about running a 3:45 marathon, the distribution of times would likely shift right to that 3:45 mark.
This raises an important question: When we consolidate our goals or performance around something imaginary, will the satisfaction that follows really be as novel as we expect it to be? Or is it only novel because we have done something other people talk about?
This is an opportunity to look at our goal setting with a bit more of a sober eye. Is the goal actually the goal, or is it an arbitrary one influenced by the crowds around us? Aim for the goal that truly resonates with your inner self, not the one that just looks good on paper
2/3. Fun!
Playlist Refresh
This week, the one thing I enjoyed most was honestly a little bit geeky, but it was surprisingly fun: I mixed up my shuffle.
Because I tend to stick to patterns, I have basically committed myself to specific playlists for when I do cardio, when I hit back or chest, and when I hit legs. The music started to feel overplayed.
I ended up spending about three days finding new music by creating "radios" from songs I already liked. This let the algorithms do the initial discovery for me. I made a fresh 60 minute playlist that I simply called "Refresh" to try and bring some new energy into my workouts. I also cued up a couple of new podcast episodes to listen to. (Though a small note on that: podcasts can be tough for me if the gym is crowded because the voice on the podcast sometimes isn't loud enough to compete with the footsteps on cardio machines, so I save those for off peak days.)
My inspiration for you is simple: take some time to dive into some new music this week and use it to re-energize a part of your day to day.
Whether you have a long run you are dreading, need a new pick me up on a drive or a commute, or want to switch up the music you listen to when you are ending or starting your day or tidying up, intentionally look for something new.
3/3. Fashion / Retail Therapy
Mixing Things Up
I have always loved getting dressed every day, but I can’t deny I am a creature of habit. When I settle on a shirt and pant combination, I tend not to veer away from it for a while.
What led to what I’m about to talk about is leaning into the essence of trying to shift up some of my routines to bring in newness, I’m trying to lean into working out at the gym by my offie on the mornings I go in person. That has led me to pre-planning my outfit the night before, packing it in my gym bag, and effectively committing to it early.
So, I’m using this opportunity to see my closet through a new light by playing with proportions. It’s making me realize I can give some old pieces another life. A new character, if you will. Maybe these ideas will make you think about styling or getting dressed this weekend differently:
Sculpted & Flowing: Start with a slim or structured top, like a fitted turtleneck or bodysuit, and pair it with wide leg bottoms or a maxi skirt.
Loose on Loose: Layer an oversized blazer or a chunky sweater over wide, relaxed trousers or even a silky slip dress.
Elongated Column: Create an all over slim silhouette…think a long, straight cut coat worn over a simple knit and straight leg jeans.
Voluminous & Tapered: Add volume up top with a puffed sleeve blouse or exaggerated shoulder jacket, and balance it with narrow, tailored bottoms like cigarette pants or straight cut denim.
Playing with proportions gives an instant edge to familiar pieces and can make an old item feel new.
I'm so grateful you've taken the time to read and engage with the newsletter. To help me make it better, I'd love to hear any thoughts or feedback you have. Feel free to send any requests, ideas, or suggestions to [email protected]!
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