Notes Editor’s Letter
A Message from Overall Girl
W
hen I was a little girl, my elementary school decided to impose a strict “tucked-in shirts” policy. During the summer months leading up to school, I fretted over the new rule — as a little girl with a big belly, nothing was worse than tucking in my shirt. Then, in a flash of brilliance, I discovered a loophole: overalls. For three years straight, I wore overalls nearly every day. Because kids are kids, I quickly became known as Overall Girl, a nickname that didn’t really bother me because it was true, and because I loved my overalls dearly. One year, on school picture day, I wore baby blue overalls with a lime green shirt underneath. Because I also wore pigtails every day (yes, I really was that cool), I tied my frizzy hair with green and blue scrunchies to match. This, at the time, seemed like haute couture. All that to say, I’ve never really understood fashion. Most of my clothes are neutral-toned, loose-fitting, practical. The idea of assembling an actual ‘wardrobe’ sounds as daunting and outside-my-wheelhouse as starting a collection of rare 17th-century surgical tools. And yet, I can’t help but admire people who have an eye for fashion. Everywhere they go, these people make a statement about themselves, about who they want to be, without having to say or do anything in the moment. As a writer and full-time introvert, I prefer to let my words speak for my personality. And yet, when you’re simply moving through a room, there are no speech bubbles following you. Sometimes, for better or worse, appearances speak louder than words.
“I’m never massively concerned about what somebody is wearing, as long as it makes them feel really good about themselves.” Tan France, “Queer Eye”
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BellinghamAlive.com
It’s also true that the way we look affects the way we feel. When we wear slouchy, wrinkled, or old clothes, we may feel slouchy, wrinkled, and old. If we wear bold colors and vibrant prints, we might feel bolder, more vibrant. And yes, when we wear overalls, we might feel safe, but only because we’re trying to hide. In this month’s fashion feature, we showcase cozy and cute sweaters from local retailers. Our publisher, Lisa Karlberg (perhaps the direct opposite of Overall Girl), lovingly assembled each outfit to display the kind of unique Northwest style you can find at businesses in Whatcom, Skagit, and San Juan counties. This holiday season, there’s really no need to shop online or visit boutiques in big cities; you can find whatever you need right here at home. As someone with minimal fashion sense, I found myself drawn to the clothes and accessories Lisa discovered (strangely, there wasn’t a single scrunchie in her collection). I admit, browsing through the items she selected, I felt inspired to revamp my own style. I hope, looking at this month’s fashion feature, you’ll feel the same way, too.
BECKY MANDELBAUM Editor In Chief