Upcycle & Sob With Joy

(mini-travelogue to Austin City Limits)

As much as possible, I’ve been trying to buy clothes vintage/second-hand, and upcycle/DIY things, as a small way to fight against environmental degradation and the ever-expanding void in the centre of my body.

When coming up with fun outfits for Austin City Limits, I knew I wanted a Shania shirt:

…but like... more on-brand for me, and less overnight-shipping-from-Amazon. I found a white crop top that I never wear, designed something in Procreate and used some iron-on transfer paper from Staples to make this!

shirt, pre- and post-ironing! i’ve officially broken the seal on “wearing clothes covered in hyper-specific cartoons of my own creation.”

Fun fact: I lifted this outfit DIRECTLY from this person I found googling “austin city limits outfits 2023.”

thanks king!

I love this shirt *so much,* I will wear it everywhere, and once the iron-on transfer wears out I will iron the same thing on again.

Let’s Go Girls! x Matisse at the MoMA last week (NYC travelogue incoming…)

We were also planning to wear pink on the day we were to see Chappell Roan, so it was off to the thrift store:

assortment of XXL plaids --> chosen plaid after shortening hem and sleeves and taking it in a little

Final result:

Everything i’m wearing (except the hat, which I found at an Austin convenience store of all places, and the neckerchief) was purchased second hand, including the truly wonderful Frye leather harness boots

Clothing choice so personal and I’d never judge anyone for where they choose to purchase theirs, but I have always loved thrifting, altering and DIY-ing clothes, ever since learning to sew in high school. It feels really nice to extend my creativity and resourcefulness to this area of my life again!

I didn’t have time or energy to draw a TON in Austin - it was a whirlwind trip consisting of two days at the festival and lots of running around.

a chill morning with Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners

orville peck; festival goers; barton springs pool

why indeed?

I don’t have much to say about the phenomenon that is Chappell Roan that hasn’t already been said, but I got to see something that made me literally sob into my hands while describing it to my friends -

Two sisters no older than 7 and 9 sitting atop their parents shoulders, holding hands while dancing and singing along to Pink Pony Club. It really made me go, “geez, what a core memory for them and for all of us, maybe we aren’t doomed, maybe there IS a way forward for us after all that’s rooted in joy and art and togetherness.”

Til next time,

Zoe