Shredded Sweater - Storets, Jacket - Zara, Faux Fur Collar - vintage, Jeans - Free People, Wedges - ModCloth, Belt - vintage, Scissors on necklace - courtesy of Roz from the blog Clothes, Cameras and Coffee
A casual outfit that I wore on Black Friday out and about. Dressed it up with a vintage faux fur collar that I found a few months ago. It really does the job of adding some glam and elegance to any piece. As many of you know, I am obsessed with shredded sweaters, and this is my third one that I picked from Storets. A little grunge and rock and roll never hurt one bit.
For this post, I wanted to feature the necklace around my neck. The scissors on it were handmade for me by the wonderful English blogger Roz from Clothes, Cameras and Coffee. Roz is extremely beautiful and reminds me of a young Elizabeth Taylor, has a vintage closet to die for, is a budding photographer, and has the most amazing way with words. She's only 15, but she is way wise beyond her years. Basically, she is the coolest and most intelligent 15 year old I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. We have been corresponding through email ever since I found out that she just had her scoliosis back surgery. Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is curved from side to side (resulting in a S or C-shaped spine), usually due to deformities in the shape of individual vertebrae. It is a condition that the patient is usually just born with and can worsen throughout the years if it is not treated correctly.
The reason I mention this is because I had the exact same surgery over 4 years ago, in 2006 during my freshman year of college. I have known that I have had scoliosis since elementary school and I had to wear a back brace to keep my spine from curving even more. The brace basically worked to "push" my spine back into place (trust me, this was not a comfortable situation at all!). I was an active and rebellious child, so instead of wearing it like the prescribed 23 hours a day, I only wore it at night or when I was home and not playing. While the brace did help get my curve degree down into the mid-20's, after I stopped wearing it as a teenager to see if my spine would worsen or not, it quickly shot up to the high 40's. Surgery was an option that I was always too fearful to acknowledge, but I knew that I had no choice in the end.
The surgery that I had was the exact same surgery that Roz had just last month. Two lightweight titanium rods were placed along my spine with screws (no, I do not set off metal detectors at the airport). The rods and screws keep my spine in its newly straightened position, as well as keep in place the extra bone that was fused to my spine to reshape the deformed vertebrae (this is complicated stuff people). It was a 7 hour surgery. Totally major. The biggest fear I had was that I would be included in the 1% of patients who have complications, such as paralysis. I mean we're dealing with the spine . . . which connects with my brain . . . and all those nerves that keep me functioning right. It certainly was a scary and painful experience, but I was still young, strong, and healthy, and I recovered with flying colors. I even returned back to school after only 2 weeks!
I quickly came to realize that the surgery was the best thing to happen to me because I no longer have to worry about people looking at my back because of my scoliosis. In reality, though, nobody ever actually noticed it . . . only I did. I feel way more confident with my body than I did as a teenager, and I can finally wear all the kinds of clothes I want (before, I would never wear anything tight-fitted because I didn't want people to notice my scoliosis). I no longer feel trapped by my body or self-conscious about it, and it is such a freedom that I am so lucky to have now. It was so nice to be able to share my experiences with another blogger that I am so inspired by, and to discuss all the ways it has helped me now.
The scar running along my spine is no longer just the result of a long and painful surgery to correct a physical deformity, but it is an emblem of my strength that has helped me come to be who I am today. It is comforting to embrace this outlook on my experience and grow from it rather than get down on the fact that I have scoliosis and not somebody else. I had it for a reason, and I wouldn't be the same person I am today without it. I am grateful for that. It was a struggle in the beginning, but it was all so worthwhile. Roz and I share these same thoughts on our scoliosis and the aftermath of our surgeries, and I am happy that we are able to look at the positive side of things.
It has been over 4 years since my surgery, and I feel better than ever. It's like I haven't even had it in the first place. I still dance and have even taken up Tae Bo in the past year! Roz is also having a healthy recovery from her surgery. Cheers to being young and strong! My spine curvature right now is in the low 20's, but nobody can even notice at all that I even ever had anything wrong with my spine. This is the first time on this blog that I have gone into detail about my scoliosis. I thought it would be an interesting thing to share with you guys, especially for my readers who want to know more personal things about me. I could go into even more depth about my experience, but that would probably be the length of a Harry Potter book, and I don't want to bore you. But if you have any more questions, just email me! I love receiving emails from my readers :)
Now back to the "mummified" scissors that Roz made for me that I was speaking of. Roz came up with this "Mummy's Scissors" project over the summer to see other bloggers like herself wear and "market" an unusual yet easy to make piece of jewelery. Some bloggers made their own and some, like myself, got a pair that Roz made herself. It is a very interesting project that is meant to bring to life our creativity and individual fashion-sense. I probably never would have thought to wear scissors as a necklace before being approached to take part in this project, but I was up to the challenge and wanted to find a way to make the scissors fit in with my own personal style. When worn on a chain alongside my favorite charms with an outfit that is casual and modern, the scissors feel edgy and totally ME. It shows how easy it really is for one to mix the obscure with the everyday. I quite like the result. What do you think? The scissors even seem to fit into my scoliosis story, since I did have to be literally cut into during surgery. The scissors and my scar go hand in hand. Now I have two emblems of strength to show off and be proud of. It is the best way to think about things, not just for someone like me or Roz, but for anyone. What would be your emblem of strength? Oh, and please check out Roz's blog here. It really is amazing. The girl blows me away with each and every post!
Here is to the start of a bright week!
xoxo
A casual outfit that I wore on Black Friday out and about. Dressed it up with a vintage faux fur collar that I found a few months ago. It really does the job of adding some glam and elegance to any piece. As many of you know, I am obsessed with shredded sweaters, and this is my third one that I picked from Storets. A little grunge and rock and roll never hurt one bit.
For this post, I wanted to feature the necklace around my neck. The scissors on it were handmade for me by the wonderful English blogger Roz from Clothes, Cameras and Coffee. Roz is extremely beautiful and reminds me of a young Elizabeth Taylor, has a vintage closet to die for, is a budding photographer, and has the most amazing way with words. She's only 15, but she is way wise beyond her years. Basically, she is the coolest and most intelligent 15 year old I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. We have been corresponding through email ever since I found out that she just had her scoliosis back surgery. Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine is curved from side to side (resulting in a S or C-shaped spine), usually due to deformities in the shape of individual vertebrae. It is a condition that the patient is usually just born with and can worsen throughout the years if it is not treated correctly.
The reason I mention this is because I had the exact same surgery over 4 years ago, in 2006 during my freshman year of college. I have known that I have had scoliosis since elementary school and I had to wear a back brace to keep my spine from curving even more. The brace basically worked to "push" my spine back into place (trust me, this was not a comfortable situation at all!). I was an active and rebellious child, so instead of wearing it like the prescribed 23 hours a day, I only wore it at night or when I was home and not playing. While the brace did help get my curve degree down into the mid-20's, after I stopped wearing it as a teenager to see if my spine would worsen or not, it quickly shot up to the high 40's. Surgery was an option that I was always too fearful to acknowledge, but I knew that I had no choice in the end.
The surgery that I had was the exact same surgery that Roz had just last month. Two lightweight titanium rods were placed along my spine with screws (no, I do not set off metal detectors at the airport). The rods and screws keep my spine in its newly straightened position, as well as keep in place the extra bone that was fused to my spine to reshape the deformed vertebrae (this is complicated stuff people). It was a 7 hour surgery. Totally major. The biggest fear I had was that I would be included in the 1% of patients who have complications, such as paralysis. I mean we're dealing with the spine . . . which connects with my brain . . . and all those nerves that keep me functioning right. It certainly was a scary and painful experience, but I was still young, strong, and healthy, and I recovered with flying colors. I even returned back to school after only 2 weeks!
I quickly came to realize that the surgery was the best thing to happen to me because I no longer have to worry about people looking at my back because of my scoliosis. In reality, though, nobody ever actually noticed it . . . only I did. I feel way more confident with my body than I did as a teenager, and I can finally wear all the kinds of clothes I want (before, I would never wear anything tight-fitted because I didn't want people to notice my scoliosis). I no longer feel trapped by my body or self-conscious about it, and it is such a freedom that I am so lucky to have now. It was so nice to be able to share my experiences with another blogger that I am so inspired by, and to discuss all the ways it has helped me now.
The scar running along my spine is no longer just the result of a long and painful surgery to correct a physical deformity, but it is an emblem of my strength that has helped me come to be who I am today. It is comforting to embrace this outlook on my experience and grow from it rather than get down on the fact that I have scoliosis and not somebody else. I had it for a reason, and I wouldn't be the same person I am today without it. I am grateful for that. It was a struggle in the beginning, but it was all so worthwhile. Roz and I share these same thoughts on our scoliosis and the aftermath of our surgeries, and I am happy that we are able to look at the positive side of things.
It has been over 4 years since my surgery, and I feel better than ever. It's like I haven't even had it in the first place. I still dance and have even taken up Tae Bo in the past year! Roz is also having a healthy recovery from her surgery. Cheers to being young and strong! My spine curvature right now is in the low 20's, but nobody can even notice at all that I even ever had anything wrong with my spine. This is the first time on this blog that I have gone into detail about my scoliosis. I thought it would be an interesting thing to share with you guys, especially for my readers who want to know more personal things about me. I could go into even more depth about my experience, but that would probably be the length of a Harry Potter book, and I don't want to bore you. But if you have any more questions, just email me! I love receiving emails from my readers :)
Now back to the "mummified" scissors that Roz made for me that I was speaking of. Roz came up with this "Mummy's Scissors" project over the summer to see other bloggers like herself wear and "market" an unusual yet easy to make piece of jewelery. Some bloggers made their own and some, like myself, got a pair that Roz made herself. It is a very interesting project that is meant to bring to life our creativity and individual fashion-sense. I probably never would have thought to wear scissors as a necklace before being approached to take part in this project, but I was up to the challenge and wanted to find a way to make the scissors fit in with my own personal style. When worn on a chain alongside my favorite charms with an outfit that is casual and modern, the scissors feel edgy and totally ME. It shows how easy it really is for one to mix the obscure with the everyday. I quite like the result. What do you think? The scissors even seem to fit into my scoliosis story, since I did have to be literally cut into during surgery. The scissors and my scar go hand in hand. Now I have two emblems of strength to show off and be proud of. It is the best way to think about things, not just for someone like me or Roz, but for anyone. What would be your emblem of strength? Oh, and please check out Roz's blog here. It really is amazing. The girl blows me away with each and every post!
Here is to the start of a bright week!
xoxo
0 comments:
Post a Comment