So a post I have been thinking about writing for a while, but deliberated alot about posting! Finally got round to it whilst on a long train journey! So here we go...
I am aware that I post on here alot and the photos are mostly of me and it may look to any outsider that I am pretty conceited, and have the perfect life etc! I do have a wonderful life, for which I am very grateful, but I wanted to shed some light on the reality behind the photos, behind the filters, and also why I love clothes so much, and do what I do: sell clothes.
I have alway loved clothes. I mean, really, really loved, to the point of obsession! My Mum has always loved clothes so I think it must be in the genes! When I try to think why I love them so much, I think it's because clothes are a way to change your 'cover'. No matter what people say, rightly, or wrongly, we do often judge by covers. So, to illustrate, if you follow me on instagram, you probably assume that I am a vision of good health. But like many of you, I am sure, I have a number of chronic health conditions (4 serious autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes), and clothes have the ability to mask all of these issues, going much further than that, and actually making me look fit & healthy.
From a young age I knew that my genetics weren't great (I was quite premature), and that I couldn't do much about my insides, but I realised quite quickly, that you can easilty change the way you look on the outside through what you wear. And this is what I have always done...
I have a scientific background (I read Zoology at Nottingham university) and this can even be explained in scientific terms. In his ground breaking, life changing book, The Selfish Gene (I really recommend reading it, it will change your view of life on planet on earth), Richard Dawkins talks alot about your genotype (the genetic make up or your body on the inside which you can't do much about), your phenotype (your body and the way you look on the outside; hair colour, height, eye colour etc), and most importantly and most relevant to me in the clothes industry, he coined the term: extended phenotype, which is the effect of your genes BEYOND your physical body, so for example, clothing. And this you CAN change, and make yourself look better, and from an evolutionary point of view, you can sort of override your actual genes (slightly dodgy ones in my instance!), by giving the illusion that they are better than they actually are, and you can increase your 'evolutionary fitness'. And this is what I do on a regular basis and 'trick' alot of people into thinking that I am a vision of good genes and healthiness, which is just not the case! For me, like you I am sure, some days are a struggle to be honest! But clothes make me happy. (Probably quite tragic, but true!). And that is the power of clothing, and anyone, no matter what genes you have been dealt with, can dress to make you look better, and therefore feel better. I know it definitely works for me, and I have done it all my life.
Clothes are like my secret power and my confidence booster. And so why not make your 'cover' be as good as possible too!? If you have any health conditions, or like me not been dished out the best genes, then clothes may make you feel better too. And that's why I started my little business, to sell comfy and stylish clothes to help empower women and feel better about themselves. Lucy xx
ps the intention of this post is NOT for sympathy (I hate sympathy and really don't need it anyway!) but just to hopefully inspire you a little bit, and shed some honesty behind my often filtered instagram grid....
pps I am actually a naturally quite shy person... and very camera shy, believe it or not! I model my clothes myself, not because I think I look good, but because it's free and much cheaper than paying someone... you may notice that I always hide behind large sunglasses and often look away from the camera! I just love clothes, figuring out how to style them and want to showcase them in an affordable way!
ppps What I should also say is that clothes / style / fashion / instagram, are for me, a complete escapism from the mundanities of every day life!!! Clothes brighten up my day! Not just their colour, but they are also like a puzzle... I love trying to work out what goes with what, and what will bring out the best in other items etc.... and love coming up with new outfits: just putting clothes together that I haven't before. My instagram grid is like an alter ego... the highly filtered and edited life that we think we all would love to lead... the reality is I lead a similiar life to everyone else, with similar challenges of battling with health and with the washing pile!! : - ) xx