Week in Review #12: Body image, self-acceptance & wearing what I want
A humbling moment with one of my kids this week — plus an exciting collaboration that just dropped & more!
This week I was humbled by one of my kids when I was getting ready for work. Wearing a tank and denim mini skirt (shown above), they looked over at me and innocently asked, “Why do grown-ups have such gross ugly veins?!” This was clearly not a random question. Innocent as it was, it was asked while looking right at my legs. And honestly, had I not spend the past decade working on my own confidence and self-acceptance, it probably would’ve crushed me and pushed me to change my outfit, feeling insecure about wearing the mini skirt I’d picked out for the day.
Instead, I took a breath and allowed it to be a teachable moment. I explained in a neutral way that veins start to show more as you get older and it’s just part of life. Nothing bad about it, just a fact. I also explained that while I am a very confident person and not easily rattled, that not everybody feels that way and when we say something about another person’s body it can often be misinterpreted as something critical, so those thoughts aren’t the ones that should be shared. Lastly, I explained that I absolutely loved my outfit and didn’t mind that my veins were showing because they were just part of my body and I love my body.
A humbling moment? 100%. It’s not easy to accept the aging body, no matter how positive your body image is! A confidence-killer? Thankfully no. If anything, it was a moment to celebrate how far I’ve come in my own self-acceptance journey and hopefully it planted a seed in their minds about their own confidence and self-acceptance.
Have your kids (or someone else’s kids) humbled you like this before? How did you take it? How did you move forward?
Thought of the Week
Last Chance for Summer
The LIEN earrings and ring I designed with THATCH Jewelry are nearly sold out for the summer! They’re year-round beauties, but especially wonderful paired with wet summer hair and an easy breezy outfit. Summer styling ideas below for you, and you can shop them both here. (For those wondering, the earrings have a heavy gold-plating and are nickel-free!)
What I Wore This Week
My favorite look from the week was definitely this tonal combo with a loose shirt and loose trousers. So easy-breezy for summertime! See the rest of the looks here.
Sold Out NYC x Natalie Borton
This brand has been an absolute favorite of mine for the past several years and I can confidently say that I wear their tops more than any other item in my wardrobe. From soft, fitted tanks to airy tees, they make the basics my wardrobe is built on, and the quality is excellent.
This week we launched the first of four pieces in our collaboration — The Racerback Tank in Cream. Shop now before it’s gone, and stay tuned for the other three pieces launching very soon!
Recent Saves
Below is a little collection of some interesting posts that I saved here on Substack this week and I found thought-provoking…
What We See When We See Clothes | “The more we are willing to explore these complicated nuances that lie beneath our clothing choices, the more interesting our personal style will feel to us. Without carefully considering our personal histories and why we feel so strongly about a certain aesthetic, we end up prizing our clothes for what they telegraph to others, rather than what they mean to us. And end up with outfits that say nothing about who we are.”
Beauty’s Infernal Double Bind | “This idea of beauty as a form of control rings true IMO, in big and small ways, every day. The beauty industry, and wider beauty culture and norms, keep us in this endless spiral of hope, self-doubt, self-loathing, disillusionment, embarrassment, pain (physical and psychological), and perhaps debt, as we reach for society’s impossible definition of beauty. Which is always subtly changing (er…soap brow vs feather brow anyone?). And contradicting themselves.”
Level Up Your Life With This One Simple Habit Shift | “In order to put this into practice, all you have to do is identify the ONE thing you want to invest in doing, and commit to doing it as early in the day as possible.”
Packing for Italy | Heather has incredible style that’s elevated, minimalist and mindful — I love this packing list she put together for her European travels!
What It’s Like to Not Buy Clothes for 7 Years | “Here, we spoke to three women who have done long-term shopping bans, cutting out specific categories (clothes, makeup) or even broader purchases for a year or more. Motivated by money, the environment, and the sheer quantity of stuff they already had, they’ve all found a way to stick to their resolutions. Here’s how they did it.”
Hope you have a great weekend — until next time!
xx
Natalie
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Ummmmmmmmm, would you be willing to share the details on that GORG black tank top with the loop/circle open cut-outs/ties. OBSESSED.
I grew up very poor. Like, off-grid because it was cheaper, not because it was only good for the environment, poor. My mom didn't even buy new underwear for at least 15 years. And I think about how we laud 7-year abstinence practices, and how that attention compares to the attention we give poverty and child and maternal mortality rates. And I think about how privileged we all are. It's shocking some days to look at my life - in Silicon Valley, child goes to a private school, the amount we all spend on things like kindergarten birthday parties, etc etc. It grounds me. I guess my point in all this, is I am as glad for the articles on abstinence as I am about poverty, because we need both to encourage social change.
Also, I packed for a 4-week trip in just carryons for the whole family! So proud of myself, and I thought of your example from last summer's France trip as my inspo!
And as for kids coming to the age where they are noticing bodies - I felt this topic! I have severe acne scarring, so severe people used to remark on it - strangers in public. My kiddo is now noticing it and we talk about it whenever he asks. It's been so healing for me to see how readily he accepts the factual way I talk about it, and about how he doesn't see my scars as me. I am me. The scars are just background, like my hair color or height or the shape of my mouth. It's been wonderful. Motherhood has healed - and continues to heal - me in so many ways!