We watched The White Tiger a few nights ago and I’m still thinking about it.
Farmers, Foragers and Homesteaders are the New Fashion Influencers – Do you follow any of these people? You might want to start.
7 Women on Deciding Not to Have Kids. It’s always interesting to read the reasons people have for setting up their lives the way they do.
Five simple home cleaning tips. I have definitely taken advantage of #4 in the last year and it’s been a big motivator!
These are the oxford answer to the cute brown boots I shared last week! (Love the color so much.)
I have a soft spot for denim jackets in all shapes and sizes. Love this fresh take.
My other soft spot: white tops with ruffles, always.
A cold weather outfit to wear anywhere. I love the socks.
Only Child is having a sample sale on Tuesday (February 2nd). It’s a great chance to scoop up something from the brand at 30% or 40% off.
A Love Letter to All the Overwhelmed White People Who Are Trying – how crucial is your skin color to your personal identity? A compelling perspective for the many of us who have never really had to think about it before.
Wow–as someone who grew up on a farm, worked on farms through middle, high college, currently lives on a small farm and currently keeps livestock, the FASHION Glamour SHOTS of farm fashion feel deeply inauthentic. Rural life is great, but my hunter wellies are faded and covered in muck and mud, my wool socks worn through the heels–fabrics have to be weather and snag-resistant, breathable–washable–preferably in dark colors that don’t show stains made of fabrics that hay and mud brush off—durable, comfort, movement, and maximum warmth matter.
I don’t meander out in Frye boots and prairie dresses to take photos of myself gathering eggs. There’s no WAY someone doing barn chores returns from the barn…even a light feeding (aka, feeding/water but no mucking)…in a spotless billowing prairie dress. That’s IF I got out of the barn, because in the wind, the billow would probably spook my mare and she’d step on the train trying to get away from me.
I’m not a farmer, but I think you articulated for me what I found irksome about that article. There’s an implication that somehow the lifestyle presented is more “authentic” or “grounded” because of the beautiful natural surroundings, but at its core, its still aspirational and consumerist for the majority of followers/viewers. Everyone is entitled to create beautiful imagery and curate their feeds, but it’s important to differentiate fashion photography from the complexities of the lifestyle. I think that younger generations see less cognitive dissonance with social media representations vs. reality, but it’s hard for this millennial to not feel that something is lost when a life is turned into a brand. Once it’s commodified, it loses a lot of its weightiness.
Fascinating take Leah! It makes a lot of sense. I do think some people are more naturally aesthetically driven and create beautiful content around what they’re already doing with ease. But it’s definitely not the majority of us, so I suppose that’s what makes it aspirational.
You put this so well–this version of “farming/rural life” has definitely been romanticized and commoditized. I also have a hard time with people and lifestyles/cultures becoming brands…and since I come from this background, I think there’s something disturbing to me about how pervasive this imagery has become, how this romanticized, unreal version of the lifestyle has exploded in popularity…while actual farmers are experiencing practically unprecedented levels of hardship right now.
Thank you for this comment from someone who grew up in the country. My dad was a livestock and grain truck driver and I would often help him on short drives. We also had horses who I had to feed. My mom would’ve KILLED me if I wore my “nice clothes” out to feed the horses or gotten my good shoes muddy. I have a few friends who grew up in the suburbs who are very into this and I think it’s just because they weren’t forced to help out on a farm when they were kids. It’s a weird feeling sometimes to see it glamorized and even see more durable brands become fashionable. Usually I try not to let it get to me but every once in a while I feel sort of perplexed by it all.
Hahaha! Farm fashion glamour shots! Those images just made me laugh. It is one thing to grab some eggs from your backyard coop or pick some kale from your raised bed, but actual farming is a whole different thing. I don’t know ANY farmers who do their chores in prairie dresses.
Ha, loved this comment! I grew up on a farm and spent my childhood in 4-H and the FFA keeping rabbits and feeder calves. You’re right that farming certainly does not look like this article. (I laughed out loud when I got to the woman gathering eggs from the chicken coop in a floor-length white dress.)
My favorite homesteading account right now is @leahspicer. She and her family are adorable!
Adding White Tiger to my queue now!
Wow, what a great account! Thanks for sharing Lexie!
Love the women who decided not have kids article. I don’t want kids either and it’s just nice to hear about other women’s stories. Some are the same and some are different from my own. I feel like it’s not really talked about in that way a lot. We all have our reasons and they’re all valid.
That’s a great point I feel like this is very rarely talked about and even more rarely lauded or celebrated. I’m glad you liked the article!