What I Wore: Feelings on 25

Yesterday I turned 25 years old (WHOA) and I’m starting to think that I might be having a quarter-life crisis. This birthday has me feeling all the feelings- nostalgic, optimistic, confident, reflective, and grateful to name a few.

I used to think that birthdays after 21 were kind of pointless. Like they let you drive, call you an adult, throw you one big boozy last hurrah and from there on out you spend the rest of your life celebrating the slowing of your metabolism. Dramatic, I know (me? never!), but I think it felt that way because my 22nd, 23rd, and 24th birthdays seemed a little insignificant. I spent those years pretending to be a “grown up”, but in reality I felt like someone fumbling around in the dark looking for a light switch. I didn’t even successfully keep my plants or pet fish alive. #Fail While maybe seeming uneventful at the time, I really believe that the trials and errors of the past few years have allowed me to grow so much as a person. 25 year old Amanda is much more comfortable in her own skin than she was 3 or 4 years ago, and it feels really good. (I promise that’s the last time you’ll ever hear me refer to myself in the third person).

Hat: similar. Top: similar. Scarf: Vintage. Jeans: here. Boots: similar. Bag: similar.

The older I get, the more confident I feel about who I am. I like things that are bright, colorful, and expressive. I either talk a ton or not at all. I’m a total homebody and am completely fine with it. I listen to show tunes in the car, enjoy wearing earrings that are as big as my head, and feel my best self when I’m overdressed. As most teenagers do, I wasted so much time in my younger years worrying about what other people thought. I’m not one for regrets, but if I had to choose one it would be not expressing myself as much as I could have during high school and early college. As I got older and started to really embrace my quirky interests, I realized that people were actually very encouraging of it. The pieces that I get the most compliments on in my wardrobe are the things that some people would probably call the weirdest. And even if  the occasional person is not-so-complimentary, I’m to a point in my life where I just don’t care anymore. I dress for me, and in most cases that means bright colors, vintage pieces, lots of embellishments, and hats whenever possible.

Speaking of vintage pieces, let’s talk about this adorable little orange scarf. I picked it up for 50 cents at a thrift store years ago, and have worn it as a head wrap in the past. I’ve seen a lot of people tie bandanas around their necks with off-the-shoulder tops for spring, and I think doing the same with a colorful scarf is a fun way to make the look a little more feminine. My thrifted silk scarf collection is absolutely out of control, so you can definitely count on seeing more outfits like this in the future! This hat was an absolute staple in my wardrobe last summer, and I can tell that will translate into this season as well 🙂

Lastly, I want to extend a big THANK YOU to everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday! You are all so thoughtful and I’m incredibly grateful for the constant support. I have some really fun plans with my girl friends this weekend to keep my birthday celebration rolling, so if you haven’t yet make sure to follow @thirtyfour_seven on Instagram and join the party via insta-story tomorrow!

Xo Amanda