Fashion?

So now you are probably wondering, when is this chick going to get to the good part? The part about fashion? Well, here goes...
I'll begin by saying that I grew up in a small town. In Indiana. The type of place where fashion is not a priority and maybe even ridiculed. I can't say that I was that girl who dressed like she stepped out of a Vogue editorial and was made fun of. Or that girl who looked cool in her thrift store outfit and was a total outcast. I wore the same kind of crap everyone else did and fit in just fine.
I had access to a mall about 30 miles away that had your typical mall stores. In high school I worshipped Abercrombie and had quite a preppy look. I always cared about what I was wearing and would plan my outfits each evening in preparation for school the next day. These outfits usually consisted of jeans and some kind of sweater or button down.
I read the teen fashion mags like Seventeen and YM (remember that one?), but I didn't get it. I was too busy emulating what my peers were wearing. It was the late 90's and the internet was not what it is today. Imagine a time with no fashion blogs, I shudder at the thought!
While we're on the subject of 90's fashion, I'd like to take a moment to discuss a few of the embarrassing things I wore back then. First, there were tapered jeans. These are not comparable to today's skinny jeans. I'm talking tapered at the ankle and a bit roomy up top. Not flattering. Then there was the flannel shirt/grungy look with some platform off-white lace-up Vans sneakers. Now I know flannels have made a comeback but just picture an oversized brown plaid flannel shirt with the tapered jeans and Vans, yuck! My only accessory was my backpack. Did I even have jewelry? I don't think so, perhaps just my Guess watch. Later came khakis and tops that said "Abercrombie and Fitch" on them. Snooze.
I can recall one of my classmates who most considered stylish. She was the only person in school to get some Doc Marten combat boots. I recall thinking they looked cool, but there was no way I would have worn them. She also shaved the bottom half of her head. A little too edgy for my former fashion self.
My evolution will continue next time...

The next step

  Optometry school wasn't bad. I studied quite a bit and did well in my classes, but I had time to have fun too. It seemed like a good choice and I enjoyed helping others see better. I went on to a residency program where I learned a lot about eye diseases and then I was ready to go out into the "real world."
  I decided to move to Chicago. After spending most of my life either in a small town or a college town, the idea of the big city was thrilling! Plus, I had friends there and it wasn't too far away from my family. Win-win!
  Before I made the big move I got hired by an ophthalmologist. This job was ideal, I would work in private practice right in the Loop! The downside quickly became apparent: I would also have to commute to the burbs a few days a week AND would have to work most Saturdays, bleh.  But, hey, it was (still is?) a recession, I should be happy to have a job, right? I guess that's what I should've thought, but that's not really my style.
  So I went along my way. I found a great apartment in lively Lakeview (neighborhood on the north side of Chicago, includes Wrigleyville) just about 2 blocks from my best friend. She happens to be an amazing interior designer, so it didn't take long for us to paint and decorate my apartment. I had a job, friends, and a home I loved. Life was good :)