TRENDY ACTIVITIES

Today we venture a little off into left field, for a post.  Although we aren't talking hip & cool & clothing or makeup things...this post is definitely #TRENDY in it's own ways.

Running has become trendy.  It's the 5K the 10K the 1/2 marathon.

There's one thing I hate...

And that's TRENDY PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES.

To me (and I am hella jaded when it comes to this topic) running and its trendiness has hit a climax.  WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?

But I shouldn't be so upset, and really, I'm not.  Aside from other forms that trends come packaged in...physical activity is good. DUH.

Let me give you a lay of the land, if you are not familiar with my upbringing--
My father started running road races about the time my oldest brother was born..i think...idk that was a looong time ago.  It's been a family staple since..and although it's a total lie based on the number of months prior to my birth.. but I tell people I ran the Lincoln Marathon with my mother in 1990. I attended road races in the most-middle-of-nowhere towns you could imagine in the deep underworlds of Kansas.  It was fun tagging along as a kid...I would get a ribbon or frisbee or a shirt 10 sizes too big just for running a fun run.

Running seems to be a way of life for some.  And for my oldest brother this is probably somehow an understatement.  He "runs professionally."  Marathons, halves, what-have-you.  My sister-in-laws run.  My mom still runs. My dad still runs. My other brother slays w/a tennis raquet. But then...there's ALEX.  The rebel, the forever-problem-child of the generation....or the kid who just couldn't focus on one, singular activity.

My mom likes to run because it gives her happy endorphens or something. RUNNERS R CRAZY TBH.
My dad runs because he's always done it.  If he's not working at the office or on the farm he's running.
My brother runs like twice a day or some shit.  And if he's not, he's slingin' running shoes at Manhattan Running Company.

Running is something different to everyone.  And for me...running didn't do anything for me but cause me injury and a lot of whining about how much it sucked.  But I did it off and on because I was decent at it, between those injuries and seasons of tennis and softball, of course.

UNTIL NOW*~*~~

I decided, as a trendy bitch....running must be my next battle. One I've fought with before, but now feel ready to face with the music.  So, to be 100% honest I've been running on the regular, for about a month now...a far cry from the numerous times I've gone out for a run once a month thinking it was going to become a daily occurence. Now, I've tried to focus on the idea of what running is to me, how it fits into my daily life, and I think that is why I am still sticking with it.  Although I hate to admit- stress and anxieties riddle me.  Running has helped me get me out of funks, and it is a nice way to stretch out my bones after a day of sitting in a cube.  It's nice to feel focused.

So, if you wanna be a trendy bitch, I say go ahead.  This is one trend that won't hurt your wallet (okay that is a totally lie...cute sports bras and shorts are still a guilty pleasure) and is a positive thing for your body and mind.  Don't ask me to be on your warrior team or mud thing or color thing though...I'll run in the opposite direction screaming insanities.

A few tips and things (although I'm no profesh):

1. Get RUNNING shoes from a RUNNING SPECIFIC STORE.  My brother will kill me if I don't make enough of a point of this.  Lucky for the trendy bitches of today..running shoes come in "HOT" colors now. So feel anew.

2.  Don't start out like a crazy woman.  I learn this about every time I "start running again".  Take it slow even though you don't want to.  And vary up your days with other things like dance or yoga or tennis, etc.

3.  Find out why you really want to run and make sure it's a convincing enough reason for you.  This was always my problem, I think.  A main goal for many is to lose weight and get in shape.  I didn't need to lose weight, in fact, I needed to gain it.  So my goal was to get in shape and to use it as an aid to my stressful days.  It's going well so far!  (**make sure your diet/calorie intake is in tune w/what you are doing...or you'll DIE).

**AND shout outs 2 my bro-bro always for the kicks hook-up.  Feeling pritty in my Newton running shoes when I run...and guilty when I'm not running **

<3

YOU'RE DOING IT (OVERALLS) WRONG

I'll say it, If you are wearing overalls you probably look kinda stupid right now. OK OK Let's lay it all out on the table before (if not, already) I turn into a pretentious prick who seems too good for what's trending currently, this post is about the good and the bad of a trend and the topic if you haven't guessed is....

THE OVERALL

  

Let's face it, you can only pull overalls off if you time travel back to the late 80's and 90's.  Don't get me wrong, like any 22 year old I LOVE reminiscing back to my childhood where I didn't know what bills were and thought receiving mail meant I would be getting a $2 bill from my grandparents in a card. Honestly, my 8 year old self circa 1999 would applaud today's trending performance....but what does she know, she colored in the lines in her coloring book.

I feel stuck in this lack-luster state of mind when it comes to most trends lately, or because of their increasingly rapid changes and lack of growth and development, best described as "micro-trends". Dear God, save us all from the horrible future of more foreseeable micro-trends.

What could I hate about overalls?

There is nothing I hate about overalls.

The problem I have with today's resurgence of the beautiful contraption called the overall, is that upon it's comeback it has not completely evolved or moved forward.  Trends recycle, and show up a few decades later, but they are considered and adjusted to fit into their new time period.  We are treating overalls in a sentimental way, which has glossed our eyes and our ability to challenge perspective...we don't want to be perceived as that 35 year old guy who still acts like he's in high school, do we?  I'll be the first to admit that I still want to be a kid and sometimes dress like a kid, but that's probably some other personal deep-seeded issue.  More probable in defining my fear of this current trend is the fact that for the first time I'm seeing a trend reappear in the bredth of my own lifespan and it's w e i r d.

As much as this is in no way a real issue in the way of news, I want you to know that there is hope for the overall in my book.  I'm not condoning it's existence and have it's best interests in mind...I'm even excited about it lately.

After fumbling around on the internet like a fish flopping on dry land (the daily norm), I ran across a blog post that would change my mind about this whole internal conflict overalls had created in me.  Yes, there have been some adjustments made to the overall, one being an update of material in the creation of the leather-all (Thanks Phillip Lim, I'll always love you).  In a more tailored cut, we're seeing a stage of inbetween or similarly the skirt with suspender straps combo;  I feel like we're there but not just yet.  Finally on the verge of giving up and scrapping the trend and waiting for it to pass I found the answer in my quest for the holy grail.  THE OVERALL CROP TOP

As personal opinion, I find the Overall Crop Top as a success in the re-inventing of the overall itself.  Maybe it seems like too easy of an answer, but I think it's ballsy and with anything in life, taking that initial cut is the most important (luckily for us, it's just one and done and the best part is you can actually use the original overall in your world takeover).  The key to the crop top approach is that it is also a trend that is surfacing (which is being worn differently with full mid-length skirts or in matching top/bottom pairings).  Combining the Overall and the Crop Top you get something new.

After finding my solution to the future of overalls, I had to have my own.  Slowly plotting my attack, I envisioned a swift DIY.  Thankfully for me and my ability to procrastinate for month(s) on projects I came across an already cropped overall at the resale shop I work at.  When I got home with the piece, the real challenge was only beginning--HOW DO I WEAR THIS? I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS

Here's what I'd researched:

1. With a high-waisted skirt makes sense proportion-wise for 2013's standards and

2. Who doesn't love a little sideboob

(I like it, but I also felt a little too naked)

3.  Lounge/track pants are a beautiful thing and paired with a crop top and heels make a complete look

But how do I make an outfit for upcoming fall weather and still incorporate this piece?  I'll admit my attempt was just that- an attempt for now.  I'm feeling it but know the answer (like in my quest for the re-invented idea for the overall) is still out there- for the time being, here's my look:

Tell me your thoughts on the overall and/or other micro trends you are in fear of,

xx

Alex