Weekend Edition #9

Florals for spring...groundbreaking.

Hi!

I spent the last week in Amsterdam, for work, and my work was reviewing men’s and women’s designs for the 2025 summer/pre-fall season. Once we finalize the designs, they go into sample production. We will show the finished goods to buyers in October: striped polo shirts, swingy dresses, linen shirts, swishy skirts. They will be in stores all over the world next May, June, and July.

It was three full days, morning to night (fashion never sleeps), and it was fun. I have a love-hate relationship with my job. Making clothes used to feel fabulous, and now it feels mostly frivolous. Both personally and culturally. There are always political issues at play in the large brands I’ve worked for, there are even bigger political issues at play in the world. The heavy impact on the planet is undeniable. (Most clothes are made from synthetic fabrications now, which really means petrochemicals. Oil. And those clothes are manufactured and then discarded at rates far beyond what our systems can handle.) I feel guilty leaving my young family for work trips; my work hardly saves lives. My parenting is helping to shape three little lives.

Speaking of - I have started designing merch for my son’s school store. It’s also really fun. We sold the first batch of product at the spring sale a few weeks ago. What a hoot to see an idea that formed in my head turn into a hat, that someone picked up, bought, and immediately put on their head. The clothing I work on for work has to go through a lot more steps before it gets to the store and then into someone’s closet. By the time it does, I’m usually working a year into the future and barely thinking about someone wearing something I helped create. Making items for the school store has reminded me of the small pleasures of getting dressed: showing your school spirit at Sports Day, smiling at someone you don’t know in the park who has the same tote as you, seeing your middle son light up when he gets a new tee shirt from his new school.

Small pleasures in a big messy world. That’s what I’m thinking about right now. When we’re looking at sketches, we are looking for the goosebumps (and the money, let’s be honest). And a few times this week, I felt them. I imagined the woman who will try on the dress and feel confident. Able to take on the world, a board room, a classroom, a doctor’s office (underneath her white coat). Or the man who will feel comfortable, at ease, and ready to run their kid to an ice hockey practice. (Because in my imagination all relationships are equal partnerships. I’m so lucky mine is.)

So when that happens, I love my job.

I also really like the people I work with, and I think anything that takes you out of your bubble and reminds you of all those dots in the universe is a good thing. I celebrated my birthday while I was away, and one of my colleagues sent me the most epic floral arrangement I’ve ever seen. I felt grateful for this job that’s taken me across the ocean to build relationships with people on the other side of the world. Making clothes may be frivolous, but much of life is. It’s what makes the hard realities a tiny bit easier. The gorgeous soft sweater that envelops you and makes you feel chic AF. The love story in the novel that keeps you up reading until 1:00 AM when you’re jet lagged (and when you’re not). The movie that makes you cry on the plane. The cappuccino from the corporate canteen that re-energizes you after you stayed up too late with jet lag, reading. The floral dress that’s coming in May 2025 that you imagine will be perfect for your son’s end-of-year picnic in the park. The Dutch floral arrangement that’s so beautiful you just want to sit in your hotel room and stare at the blooms, which are as big as your head, and the colors, which could inspire a future collection.

The other day my oldest son was talking to me about what he might be when he grows up. Among the many options he listed, the idea of being a subway manager (of the meatball sandwich chain, not the trains) or a professional baseball player were both particularly exciting to him. What struck me were not the specific jobs he was considering, but how joyful he was about how many jobs there were to consider. Oh, the places you’ll go.

Flowers for spring, sometimes they are groundbreaking.

Have a good weekend!

x Lindsay

Dutch hydrangeas and peonies as big as my head