So we’re on our annual Airstream road trip, this time heading north for a short jaunt (we usually go for 4 weeks, but this year we’re so busy that we can’t go for nearly that long). Also we’re traveling in one of our smaller Airstreams this year (a 23 footer instead of our usual 28) since we’re anticipating some windy, narrow roads through the Sierra Nevadas. I did a quick tour of our temporary home on my Insta stories and saved it to the highlights if you’re interested. Also on Insta, I’m currently going through my 5th 10x10 Challenge (see it all here). You would think it would be old by now, but I still have fun and I learn new things about my closet/style during each round. It’s just a fun way to think about your clothes creatively.

When I read this from Garance this week it really struck a chord with me:

It’s common in the fashion world to accept gifts with a mix of recognition and obsequiousness. A lot of people actually live off those gifts. They haven’t bought any of the things they are wearing, they don’t pay for any of the 5-star hotels they come out of, and they’d never have the means to buy their own business class ticket.

But not only do they love benefiting from the gifts, they actually expect them and end up thinking that’s what they’re owed.

They end up thinking they’re rich. I know fashion editors who spend their entire lives going from one press trip to another, basically living their lives by proxy.

I always felt a little bit uncomfortable with this idea when it came to me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, because let’s face it: flying business class is a lot nicer than flying coach.

The problem is, of course, once you’ve been spoiled with privileges to the point you forget who you really are – a normal person with a normal salary – it’s like a drug: you’d do absolutely anything to not lose that privilege.

So then you lose all your critical thinking skills. When you’re not the one choosing what’s given to you and all you want are the trappings of a life of privilege (accompanied by the insecurity of knowing that deep down none of that really belongs to you), you end up putting up with anything just so the well doesn’t run dry.

But actually, saying no to extras when they don’t make sense, is not only the height of elegance – it’s also the only way to stay real.

And staying real is the only way to live.

Of course, I’m nowhere near that baller fashion status but I’ve been reviewing free things here and there, especially from Everlane (which is one of my favorites and has been for a long time). I do get to choose what I review and I have turned down things in the past. But sometimes I wonder myself if I lose some of that ‘critical thinking skills’ when it comes to their stuff. I mean do I love it more because it was free? Or do I not focus on the bad because I don’t want to lose the gifted items? It’s hard to tell because I still purchase and review items from them on my own, and I really do love the bulk of the things I get. I think if I ever get something gifted that I can’t write a favorable review on, I would probably send it back. I guess I’m thinking about my ReNew review from this past week because truth be told I don’t really need a second puffer (my first one is an old black Arc’teryx one though that one currently doesn’t fit me and this one does), but I did really want a light colored one. Also this is all in light of the idea that even though recycled plastic is better than not recycled plastic, it’s still not the best. No plastic is the best. And read this article if you want to feel even worse about recycling.

Also speaking of that Everlane puffer review, oh man so embarrassing to be talking about using less plastic and then to post a pic of me holding a disposable coffee cup with a plastic lid. I’m on vacation mode and tried to finish up that post, I totally missed the irony of it all. I’m usually really good about being zero waste when it comes to my routines like grocery shopping or at the farmers market. I guess I’m prepared for my usual but not usually prepared for everything. I do have a Keepcup for coffee to go but I rarely ever go to coffee shops so I forget to bring it with me. Ah well guess it goes to show I need to keep up the vigilance and diligence of being zero waste. I gotta do better!

And lastly, I didn’t have time to schedule any posts ahead of time for this trip so there’s going to be some radio silence on the blog for a bit (especially since I’m in and out of internet/cell service during this trip).