The phrase, “jack of all trades, master of none” has always provoked me in such a visceral way. I used to consent to its notion, reluctantly agreeing- it’s more noble to be an expert of something than to be superfluously interested in many things.
Since fully embodying my nature as a multi-hyphenate creative however, I feel confident in dissent of this idea. While I have great respect for those who dedicate their valued time to one craft, and of course I see the value of a thorough education- this logic has always felt venomous to my authenticity (and I’m sure to that of many other multi-hyphenates).
Why is it so much more admirable to become a “master” rather than simply an enjoyer? A forever beginner?
“Don’t aim at success, the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued it must ensue and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s dedication to a cause greater than oneself, or as a byproduct of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself.” Alan Watts
Why is the pursuit of achievement the higher ranking moral feat alllll of the time?
After a while, “accomplishing” feels a lot like trying to lick your own elbow. Or worse, a once innocent & genuine interest rots at the hands of pressure, and inspired action morphs into uninspired responsibility.
To accomplish over enjoy, it seems quite foolish to me.
What if we’re meant to taste test- to simply play and explore the arts, our careers, our homes, our styles.
How could we possibly absorb the world if we limit our consumption & attention to just one or two mediums? Just for the sake of “being an expert”.
I want to do lots of things in my lifetime, not because I have any talent or feel the need to prove my talent.
I just want to see what I can create through paint, food, sound, word, dance, material. Because it’s FUN to do so, and sometimes that is the goal- to bask in enjoyment.
Why limit ourselves to one form of self expression when there are limitless iterations?
How much of ourselves do we really experience if we aren’t willing to try new shit and see how we fare? And what is a well-developed palate without variety anyway?
Being a beginner is how we retain our child-like innocence. The part of us that still finds the world endearing, captivating, and limitless. I’d rather know nothing and experience all, than be expert in one thing with willful blindness to the world around me.
“I hope she'll be a fool - that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” — Daisy Buchanan, The Great Gatsby
The notion of experiencing it all has a presence in my closet too. You’ll find vintage, second hand, (limited & intentionally curated) fast fashion, & designer all throughout; high-low representation in full-throttle.
& so, the second half of this ‘stack is going 2 bring you some rlllly nice, affordable linen-blend recs ala my recent H&M order which I am very pleased with.
I was shopping for a few clients recently who expressed the desire for inexpensive linen items they could dirty this summer without remorse, and after a enough successful outcomes from H&M, I was practically forced to give them a try myself.
You may have already heard via tiktok, but this dress is quite incred. It’s on the straighter side, if you desire more of an a-line, look here. But this fed my flowy, effortless DOÊN craving sufficiently enough to abandon checkout. So far, I’ve paired it with my favorite summer outerwear piece (this cotton men’s robe, below, from GoodWill, $7 - a gorg alternative) and funky statement jewelry. I found this 2nd hand Chico’s necklace at an estate sale last summer for $5 and promise you will see a resurgence of large silver pendants soon if you haven’t already… More on the necklace here.
Another LBD & robe situation… you can see where my personal summer formulas are leaning (see another iteration of it with this gorg handmade & dyed dress I got in Coconut Grove- Miami). This black mini is great for those who want arm coverage in the heat with lots of breathing room.
Side note, but I’ve evidently been loving the concept of robes- full blown robes that are marketed for bath time (& chocolate, wine, & couch caviar time, s/o my queen). They’re just cardigans but with more of a grounding, eastern essence, which I am partial to given a lifelong interest in Zen Buddhism & Taoism. Decisions like this, choosing a robe over a cardigan for ex, is how we connect our emotions & interests to our personal style. But I also just love a full length outerwear moment- it elongates the body and makes a look feel complete by creating a harmonious line & frame of color from top to bottom.
This might be the tunic of my dreams - who’s to say. I styled it additionally here but am truly so excited to pair this with a variety of fun bralettes, dresses layered under, and this bubble skirt I’m experimenting with from SSENSE (can’t lie, not loving it for myself at the moment & might be posh-ing).
But wait back to robes…
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