Cutting your hair with your own hands is not for the fickle, it takes certainty, drive and a little bit of insanity… kind of like art? 

Last week, I stayed home and in a feverish fit (literally, 100 degrees), cut my hair in the bathroom sink. This ain’t nothing new, the first time was in 2nd grade when I was just trying to even out my pigtails. Can’t blame a girl for trying, eh? Yeah, that incident got no motherly sympathy. Flash forward 10 years, I also cut my hair for three years in high school/college with no problem. Why did I do it? IDK my BFF Jill? No, but really, I just knew it was time to go short. You heard it here… third (because I’ve already seen/read/noticed this elsewhere), but long hair isn’t chic anymore, it’s basic. 

Pros? Saves you hella money, gives you creative control (ha, what a douchey thing to say) of your head suit, beat boredom, arguably impressive if it looks decent, and thrilling… if you’re into that.

Cons? Um… from personal experience, the look on your hairdressers face when you admit this fact. It’s like telling a grad student that you dropped out to home school yourself in middle school level learning. Alas, I DO WHAT I WANT.

Anyway, this is how it all went down. I shuffled in my sweatsuit #chic from my bed to the bathroom holding my normal-ass scissors and thinning shears. Wet my hair, divided it into two even sections, pulled them to the front, cut about two inches clean off. Spent the next hour with the thinning shears in an effort to make it effortlessly imperfect (ya know, comme le français). If stay conscious during your past haircuts, it’s not hard to learn their tricks by just staring in the mirror. Minimal effort learning, y’all.

Fashion is so funny. Really, though! As much as I love it and drown myself in its news and images, it’s a really funny industry. I’ve been avidly following all the NYFW coverage, which yes of course is great and I’m always down for wearable art in a high glamour setting, but man, people are funny. 

Looking at street style specifically, the ish that’s all over the blogs I usually hit up, these people look great for the most part. But taking a serious step back from the culture of fashion, people actually do look a lil cray. I mean, don’t get me wrong, power to them! But, declaring that someone’s coat is “everything” or their necklace is “major” or their eye makeup is “having a moment”… let’s float back to earth for a quick lil sec, can we? I’m all for doin’ you as eccentrically as possible but I feel like Fashion Week brings it this pinnacle in which everyone just wants to get on a street style blog despite the fact that it’s supposed to be about designers’ shows. Is that what we want the industry to be about? It’s way too easy to get wrapped up in what we think fashion is ‘supposed’ to be, which all too easily let’s really great design talent get overlooked. There is amazing stuff out there if you just broaden your concept of, capital F, Fashion— I think Susie Lau of Style Bubble exposes this the best. Fashion is everywhere! You just have to realize it. 

But even outside of finding talent, the fashion industry is often criticized for lacking perspective. 

Originally Captioned: Fashionistas pose for photographs in front of a homeless man outside Moynihan Station following a showing of the Rag & Bone Spring/Summer 2013 collection during New York Fashion Week.

:-\ 
I don’t want to seem like I’m biting the hand that feeds, but, there are bigger problems out there. The aesthetic world is exciting, fantastic in a literal sense, inspiring and definitely has a keeping-up-with-the-jonses type situation, but keeping perspective is essential.

Which brings me to why I love John Jannuzzi (twitter, tumblr) and Laurel Pantin (twitter, tumblr) so much. No, they do not know me, but I really don’t care. Both have a voice within fashion that while is uncommon, is also well-received. Not to mention they both seem (at least to me) nothing short of genuine and embrace their past and present quirks with open and comedic metaphoric arms. Honestly, I just want to be their best friends (especially because they are already friends too) but I feel like they ‘get it’ without sacrificing style or personality. From reading what they both write, they seem to know the absurdity that runs rampant in fashion and call it out all the time, especially Jannuzzi. All I want is more people like them. I want to go to there. 

I personally love fashion for the artistry, glamour, diversity, pace and culture (dey love cupcakes). But I know there is more out there! However, after writing all this maybe it is I, who is not even wary, but naive.

Let’s Embrace Consumerism For a Hot Sec

I like these things, gimme.
Sortof clockwise: ALC sweater, Delfina Delettrez single earring, Sophnet men’s oxford shirt, Rebecca Minkoff loafters, Loeffler Randal bag, Westward Leaning sunglasses, Frends headphones. 

The best part is I’d totally wear these in one outfit, the worst part is I ain’t got the justifiable funds. Sugar daddies, inquire within.

Wellbridge Gym

I’ve had the priviledge of coming here several times because they are pretty generous with their guest passes and luckily we are totes neighbors.

Pros: Free coffee! Super nice facilities, a demographic that makes me feel young, and a staff who will correct your ab workout techniques even if you don’t ask.

Cons: I recognized a lot of WashU gurls and I’m not about that. It’s wildly expensive, and again, a staff who will correct your ab workout techniques even if you don’t ask.

Estrogym

Less commonly and more officially known as the South 40 Fitness Center. Admittedly, I haven’t worked out in the gym part of this since sophomore year because, well this place is definitely swamped with underclassmen, but I do werk the classes.

Pros: It makes me feel mature, they have cheap group classes that I am a big fan of, on-campus, stretching (sun?) room is good for people watching, it’s above BD so it’s like dinner-and-a-movie except more like dinner-and-a-workout.

Cons: It makes me feel old, still costs money even though we pay $44k in tuition??? Don’t get me started on private education institutions, that’s a rant for later.

The AC

Presently, I only use the AC for the pool because the “cardio” room is HELLA depressing. I ran on the treadmill once and I was like wow, this is it, this is the end of life. 

Pros: For once, it’s free. Word on the street is that it has a good weight room, but as a lady who is daintier than real athletes, this intimidates me and thus I do mental weight lifting instead. It’s steps from the b-school, yay?

Cons: Definitely the jankiest building on campus besides like, Ruby, I’m serious, they don’t even bring tours to this building. The pool has wackass hours- like 7:30-9am on weekdays wack. If we had it my way, there’d be two separate pools for plebeian lap swimming and real swimmer practice things.

YogaSix

Off campus yoga

Pros: 2 week/6 class free pass! I’ve been milking this like it’s a golden cow (wut?). Mat rental is only $2, teachers are great, good variety of classes, and it’s an unofficial Lululemon runway show. 

Cons: Have to drive there, and it’s actually pretty expensive once your free pass expires.

Outside: Question mark?
In my temperature-humble opinion it is still hella cold out so I have not explored this option beyond walking, a lot. I don’t have a car and I’m rull into fresh air so I am like BFFAE with Walking. However, I just signed up for The Color Run 5k in April so I should probably get my running act together.

Pros: Um it costs you NOTHING except your time, it’s scenic (hay Forest Park), you get clean(ish) air, and technically more strenuous than running on a treadmill I think. 

Cons: Ugh, people see and look at you and probably talk about how out of breath you look while they’re riding in their cars with heated seats, also: inclines and you have to dress for the weather and not for your potential sweat level.

On the list to try: Sweat, Lululemon yoga classes, and Skyzone Exercise classes <— THIS IS REAL. I  know, I know.