Fashionista is all about the future of fashion: the people, trends and industry shifts we believe will go on to define it. Fashionista is also a place where future leaders begin their careers — in an industry that’s not easy to break into. The Fashionista Future Self series is dedicated to those of us still working to achieve our goals.
In some exciting news, it will culminate in the launch of our first-ever, limited-edition product collaboration with Bluboho: two pieces of jewelry you’ll be able to wear forever, that will serve as a tangible link to your future self. Coming Oct. 22. (Pre-order the moonstone charm bracelet here and envelope charm here.)
Our upcoming jewelry collab (see below) is extremely cute, yes, but there’s also a lot of meaning behind the design we worked on with Bluboho. The envelope charm, which our whole editorial team has been wearing non-stop the last couple of weeks, symbolizes a “note” to your future self. The beauty of it is that we can all individually decide what that note is: A personal mantra? Words of encouragement? A reminder of a challenge we’ve overcome?
Photo: Courtesy of Bluboho
As sentimental as it may sound, the collaboration process gave us all the opportunity to reflect on the lessons we’ve learned in our lives and careers, and the wisdom we’ve gained and want to hold onto as we move through life — the context of all in which we live, basically.
In hopes of inspiring others (and at the risk of oversharing), each Fashionista editor jotted down a few notes to ourselves (for the world to see), including the career advice we’d give our younger selves if we could, and what our Future Self jewelry is helping us remember every day. Keep scrolling to read them all.
Dhani Mau, Editor in Chief
I would tell young Dhani to stop comparing herself to others. Concerning yourself with another person’s career, appearance or generational wealth will never be helpful. Give yourself grace and recognize your own privilege and your many, many strengths and achievements. Also, go to therapy.
My little envelope charm reminds me to, as “Project Runway” Season 2 contestant Santino Rice jazzily sang in 2005, “Lighten up, it’s just fashion!” When I catch myself obsessing over a mistake or putting too much pressure on myself, this simple phrase instantly shifts my perspective and brings to light how lucky I am to have a job where I get to have fun and pursue my own genuine interests. (To quote another 2000s fashion reality TV star, “It’s clothes. We’re not saving lives.”)
Photo: Courtesy of Bluboho
Stephanie Saltzman, Beauty Director
To my younger self, I’d say: Read everything. You think you’re reading a lot, but read more. It will serve you well, both professionally and personally, enriching your mind, your perspective and your capacity for empathy. Also: Don’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t contribute something important — something that resonates with people, that informs them, inspires them and brings (often much-needed) levity — to the world. And finally: If you’re gonna insist you pursue a professional path based on your journalism degree, you’d better be prepared to go into each day ready for anything.
What’s the message to myself I imagine tucked away inside my dainty li’l envelope charm? Years and years ago, artist Cleo Wade made a piece that read: “You’re amazing, stop being confused.” That’s it, that’s the note.
Janelle Sessoms, Staff Writer
I would tell my younger self that being interested in fashion is not something to be ashamed of, and there’s a viable career you can make of it. (So please stop telling people you’re going to be a doctor.) The years of bingeing “America’s Next Top Model” and “Project Runway,” the hours spent flipping through fashion magazines, the summers of watching your grandmother sew and demanding you be taught how to do that — all of those small signifiers will lead to a future far better than you ever dreamed. Also, never stop being curious. People might tell you that you ask too many questions, but that curiosity and that genuine interest in learning is what will get you far.
It’s good to be career-driven, but when I look at the Future of Self jewelry I’m reminded there’s more to life than work. I remember that it’s okay to be present, celebrate the small wins and enjoy the little things in life.
Photo: Courtesy of Bluboho
Brooke Frischer, Staff Writer and Social Lead
I would tell my younger self that her passions are valuable and important and that holding onto that deep love for fashion and art will be why she gets to live out her dream career. Put aside any ideas that a world where you get to write about and experience the things you enjoy most for a living is impossible.
The Future Self jewelry is helping me to remember how far I’ve come in my work and career. In moments where I feel any doubt about the future, I remind myself of all the times in my life it felt like so many challenges were impossible to overcome, and how I managed to not just jump over those hurdles, but also go so far past them and achieve major goals.
Savannah Sitton, Contributing Market Editor
I’d tell young Savannah to not fear the future, it will be beautifully unexpected and you won’t have to settle on anything that doesn’t make you feel fulfilled. You won’t have to change careers or accept jobs you hate. I’d thank her for not wavering on the life she envisioned, building an exciting career in fashion and being lucky enough to meet amazing colleagues and friends along the way. I’d tell her not to cry at every ‘no’ or rejection letter, trust that those were meant to happen and led me to my fated, correct path.
It is perhaps corny, but the mantra “fake it ’till you make it” has served me well: I called myself a fashion editor long before anyone paid me to be one. If you feel there’s no space for you, make the space and ignore the naysayers — there will always be haters, it’s your job to build your dream life no matter what — and I have! When I look down at my moonstone bracelet, it brings me back to a place of gratitude to my past self for enduring every struggle along the way, and coming out stronger.
Source: Fashionista.com
