I’m not a resolution maker; I like to question myself all the time. I’m also a hoarder, a dreamer, a hedonist and an impulsive decision maker. Some of these things are good, some are not.
As a vintage lover and collector, it is so hard to let go of anything in my collection. Every piece comes with an imagined memory and is part of a romantic tale I have made up for it somewhere in my mind. Each piece of ceramic or pink poodle adds to the nostalgic landscape that requires constant dusting. Days are spent scouring shops, markets and rummaging in dusty old containers all in the name of treasure hunting. What a wonderful time it has been.
Remember I told you that when I went away on this last trip to Dubai and New York, that I had come home a different person? It was while I stood watching the sunset across the Dubai desert that a thought occurred to me.
Here I am, a vintage collector of more than twenty-five years, with closets full and shelves overflowing. Yes, I have this wonderful little blog as a visual testament to many of the beautiful finds in the last few years, but I have something that not many vintage collectors do and I have barely let it see the light.
I have the ability to tell stories.
Where fabrics may perish and lustres may fade, I know I have the untapped ability to tell the stories of these pieces, their owners and their context in words that won’t grow old. I am able to tell these tales from every culture I visit, from the past to the present, each of them clothed in their unique fabrics of love, loss, adventures and bravery.
All of the things I first sought to express when I began writing this blog way back when, centred on my own experience of life and art as expressed through fashion. Of wearing on the outside the way I felt on the inside. Nothing has changed there and I continue to use style as both armour and a pair of wings. I’d just like to do more.
I want to be able to share with you all of the stories and the moments that may hold a nugget of inspiration for you, things that will help to make us all braver. From the day to day to the big life changing moments, I want to be able to share with you more of what makes this life possible for me.
I hope to give you more insights into how I see the world and how I’m able to live with confidence and freedom. Not that they are always unwavering, but they are qualities that for the most part, a prize I keep my eyes on. I’d like to share more time “behind the curtain” with you, and why I still struggle with having thirty-something towels in the closet.
None of this means I’ll be changing the sorts of posts I share or all of my outfit creations; it simply means I hope to write more for you and to chat together. If you’ve never met me in person, you may not know how much I love a good chat, which is one of the reasons I need to write more for you. I’ve realised that when given the chance to speak, I can hardly stop for all the things I want to share and I should do more of that here.
So while it seems that the Internet is being over run with flashy statements, bright lights and everyone talking at you; I’d really like to avoid that noise and instead just invite you in to spend some time and share our stories. It’s nice to meet you.
Well said Candice!
Everywhere I look at the moment people are taking stock of their lives; it can be brought on my the death of a loved one, the breakdown of a relationship, the start of a new relationship, or like me because you had to move and that made you realise that you have way to much stuff and that you need to cull!
I shared a photo on FB today from Fashion By Mayhem – https://www.facebook.com/fashionbymayhem?pnref=story
It’s all about being your own Superhero and I think that it works perfectly in line with your blog post.
Some of us need to be our own superhero so that we can cull the stuff we have in our lives, some so that we can start studying again, some so we can find a new or better job and some so that we can finally achieve a health or personal goal.
Thank you, for sharing your year of living bravely … I know that I will be attempting to do the same for myself … but something tells me that this journey is going to be a lot more fun if I could just find myself a SuperGirl t-shirt to wear …!
Mish: Being your own Superhero is at the heart of how we can live bravely. To take risks, big and small and see our dreams come to light. I think we all too often forget that we are the authors of our own lives. 🙂 xx
With so much going on in the world I think a lot of people are deciding on what they really want out of life. I can’t wait to read your stories. To quote my millinery soul mate
“And for every hat there is a woman to wear it, and for every woman there is a story.” – Lilly Dache
Miss Fairchild: What a wonderful quote! :)xx
You tell the most wonderful stories Candice, and I love to read them. I can’t wait for lots more throughout 2015!
Rina: 🙂 Thank you! And you know just how much I love telling them in person too. x
Can’t wait to read your stories! Your story of a visit to the souk for perfume is one of the best blog articles I have read and has stayed with me far beyond just a quick read! Follow your passion,
Happy New Year!
Jacinta: Thank you so much!! That really means a lot to hear that kind of feedback. 🙂 xx
Incredibly beautiful words and insight, dear Candice. The stories, both of the items before they came to live with me, and once they have that are housed in vintage items have always been an tremendously powerful part of their pull for me and why I feel such a great (and very enjoyable) obligation to try and preserve and honour these yesteryear treasures as best I can. Like yourself, I don’t find it easy to part with ones from my personal collection, but have grown better with it, the older I’ve gotten. I’ve had my years with them, now it’s time for them to bring joy to the next owner and write another chapter in the book of their lives.
I commend your desire to cut through the endless sea of noise online to no end and stand steadfastly with you on that front, my wise and wonderful friend.
<3 Jessica
Jessica: I always love the way your blog posts have such a conversational style about them. I know you are someone who will completely understand the way our things tell stories, and just how enthralling that is. I too am taking the stance that it is time that many of these pieces had a new chapter in their history and found new, loving owners. <3 xx