Photo: Carmen Daneshmandi
I have come to know that all exciting and initially innovative long term endeavors at some point come to a plateau where nothing all that new is happening. I usually know I have reached that point scientifically when the data begins to show as a straight line. I know I have reached that point affectively when I begin to feel bored with myself and my ideas. When that happens I know that it is time to hit the road and leave my comfort zone. It is time to stop automatically saying no to something I would not ordinarily do. It is time to challenge myself to make something fresh and new out of something old and perhaps not considered beautiful (like kale and green lipstick) It is time to do the unexpected, like reveal an eye. It is time to take risks and not worry about failure or what others may think.
In order to function this way I have found that one must be extremely comfortable with change and of course themselves. For me it also means letting go and putting myself in the hands of young people. I have no problem doing this because countless young people walk into my classroom and put themselves into mine. I learn more at times from them than perhaps they learn from me or that I learn from my own peers. This happens because we mutually risk and allow ourselves to be vulnerable without fear of critique. So in working with groups of young creatives, I am risking and I am risking without fear because of who they are. Together, letting go, we can co-construct something new. The photo above is from a feature done with young creatives for L’Officiel Italia.
This feature represents the best of what I have found since I entered the world of fashion: positivity, optimism, mutual support, risk-taking, innovation and generosity. The introduction to the exceptionally talented photographer, styling team and access to garments was made possible through the endless generosity of Suk Chai, the creative beauty behind Schai, a brand I have worn before. The feature itself was instigated by another magnanimous renaissance woman, Floriana Serani creative director of her own brand Blackblessed and who’s work I have also featured. The photographer, Carmen Daneshmandi and the stylist Alnardo Perez are two of the most respectful people I have ever met and the way they thoughtfully engaged me in this project made their creative process transparent and was a gift. It was something I took many lessons from. They took the time to know the real me and when that happens, when you feel truly known, it is a delicious moment and I thank them for it. Their innovation was to show the real me in a new, fresh and exciting way.
So basically I am giving fair warning, hang on to your seats because this summer there will be times you and Accidental Icon are leaving the comfort zone.
What do you wear or do when you get bored and want to leave the comfort zone?
Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us! Great photo too!
Love how you are evolving and especially really love your new haircut.
Hopefully I can deliver! The photographer is just amazing!
Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us! Great photo too!
Hopefully I can deliver! The photographer is just amazing!
Cool photo! Can’t wait to see more of this collaboration!
Love how you are evolving and especially really love your new haircut.
So excited to see what comes! Accidental Icon has become my favorite blog for so many reasons. Being a more advanced age fashionista myself, I love the attitude and determination to take risks. I love the NYC centricity and the writing just speaks to me…. intelligence + style + heart & soul….Accidental Icon, you kinda got it all going on! Hooray for teachers everywhere… I believe you never stop learning OR teaching. THANKS for everything.
It is really never either or is it? I realize in the summer, I need some kind of structure and during the academic year some time of letting go. How wonderful and exciting this time must be for you!
I love, love, love, love it when my readers reflect back to me exactly what I would like to achieve with this blog. Your comment made my day.
So excited to see what comes! Accidental Icon has become my favorite blog for so many reasons. Being a more advanced age fashionista myself, I love the attitude and determination to take risks. I love the NYC centricity and the writing just speaks to me…. intelligence + style + heart & soul….Accidental Icon, you kinda got it all going on! Hooray for teachers everywhere… I believe you never stop learning OR teaching. THANKS for everything.
I love, love, love, love it when my readers reflect back to me exactly what I would like to achieve with this blog. Your comment made my day.
WOW! I can’t wait to see what you come up with,Lyn. I have just left the comfort zone of office work – it hasn’t quite sunk in yet but I am only wearing clothes that I love every day to make me feel good about the transition from the comfort zone of a daily fixed routine to a less structured but more creative life.
I am so happy you have signed on! Also love how you characterized it as a "difference of perception". Working with this photographer was like entering a funhouse, very exciting with many different changes in perception.
It is really never either or is it? I realize in the summer, I need some kind of structure and during the academic year some time of letting go. How wonderful and exciting this time must be for you!
I’m so ready for the adventure. The idea of the collaboration between decades difference of perception is so inspiring to me it makes me want to jump out my seat.
Love that long lean s curve that makes you look 8 feet tall. Wow. So metaphorical for what’s going to happen here.
So cool….
Thank you, I think this young photographer is brilliant and to make it even better she is a wonderful human being.
I am so happy you have signed on! Also love how you characterized it as a "difference of perception". Working with this photographer was like entering a funhouse, very exciting with many different changes in perception.
That’s so great! Wonderful picture, and congratulations!
Thank you, I think this young photographer is brilliant and to make it even better she is a wonderful human being.
Love this photography! ! I am looking forward to seeing where you take us. Love the blog and the fashion you showcase .
That makes me happy and motivated. I will need to track down some new young creatives to make things fresh and give me some new ideas!
Love this photography! ! I am looking forward to seeing where you take us. Love the blog and the fashion you showcase .
That makes me happy and motivated. I will need to track down some new young creatives to make things fresh and give me some new ideas!
I love this idea of creating a comfort zone. Wonder why I have to leave it? Extremely rare moments when I really want to leave my comfort zone I go for two ways, extreme sport or extreme style.
For me of course in order to risk I must first have my comfort zone which gives me a feeling of safety from which I can take a plunge. I will stay in my comfort zone until that time when it becomes kind of boring. Can never predict how long the period of staying in it lasts. Extreme is one way to shake things up.
I love this idea of creating a comfort zone. Wonder why I have to leave it? Extremely rare moments when I really want to leave my comfort zone I go for two ways, extreme sport or extreme style.
For me of course in order to risk I must first have my comfort zone which gives me a feeling of safety from which I can take a plunge. I will stay in my comfort zone until that time when it becomes kind of boring. Can never predict how long the period of staying in it lasts. Extreme is one way to shake things up.
Fantastic! One of the best aspects of my return to acting after many years in more corporate/academic environments has been putting myself in the hands of young creatives and letting them be in charge. When you are a senior person in pretty much any industry you inevitably find your colleagues to be lots of other jaded middle aged people. I’m really envigorated and challenged working with younger people.
Looking at the comments I think some of us need and love the sensation of destabilising risk that comes with leaving the comfort zone – I call it my walking the plank times- we are stimulated by it and that’s how we grow. However others really love the sensation of stability and need to do things to add to that and create another layer for their personal cocoon. The important thing ultimately is to know which position does it for us.
Such a measured and wise response, we must always be respectful of both positions and not critique the other. As always, the best spaces to be are the in-betweens because on some level if you don not have comfort it is challenging to feel safe enough to take a risk. It is the same with young creatives, we are co-constructing and out of that comes something new belonging to neither but only to both.
Fantastic! One of the best aspects of my return to acting after many years in more corporate/academic environments has been putting myself in the hands of young creatives and letting them be in charge. When you are a senior person in pretty much any industry you inevitably find your colleagues to be lots of other jaded middle aged people. I’m really envigorated and challenged working with younger people.
Looking at the comments I think some of us need and love the sensation of destabilising risk that comes with leaving the comfort zone – I call it my walking the plank times- we are stimulated by it and that’s how we grow. However others really love the sensation of stability and need to do things to add to that and create another layer for their personal cocoon. The important thing ultimately is to know which position does it for us.
Such a measured and wise response, we must always be respectful of both positions and not critique the other. As always, the best spaces to be are the in-betweens because on some level if you don not have comfort it is challenging to feel safe enough to take a risk. It is the same with young creatives, we are co-constructing and out of that comes something new belonging to neither but only to both.
So excited to see what you have been working on.
So excited to see what you have been working on.