Never Stop Playing Dress Up

Hello my dear readers,

One of the strangest things about getting older is realizing how many childlike things slowly disappear from your life. Somewhere between responsibilities, schedules, bills, and trying to keep up with the world, people stop playing dress up. As if putting on a ridiculous outfit and pretending you’re in a movie suddenly became forbidden after the age of twelve.

When I was little, I was constantly in some sort of princess costume. A plastic crown, satin gloves, sparkly shoes that clicked too loudly against the floor. I didn’t care where we were going. Grocery store, dinner, random Tuesday afternoon. I just loved the feeling of becoming somebody magical for the day. It made life feel bigger. More cinematic. More alive.

I think as you grow up, it becomes even more important to intentionally create moments like that for yourself again.

One of my favorite things to do lately has been what I still secretly consider playing dress up. Putting together a fun outfit, throwing on dramatic makeup, maybe even wearing a wig, blasting good music in the car, and driving somewhere pretty with my friends to take photos like we’re characters in our own little movie. The other day we drove around the Hollywood Hills for over an hour just talking about life, changing outfits in the car, laughing at nothing, and chasing good lighting before the sun disappeared. It felt like freedom.

There’s something so healing about stepping outside of your routine and pretending to be somebody else for a little while. Fashion does that for me. Hair does that for me. Makeup does that for me. They remind me that life is art if you let it be. That even an ordinary day can transform into a memory you’ll keep forever.

I like to think of life like a video game sometimes. Our clothes, accessories, perfumes, makeup, all of it feels like collecting different versions of ourselves with different superpowers attached to them. On this particular day mine happened to be a borrowed blonde wig, a white tea-length princess skirt, and a vintage Victoria’s Secret bra from the 2010s. Lily as a blonde is so iconic.

So this is your reminder to play dress up more. Romanticize things. Go somewhere pretty with your friends. Wear something ridiculous just because it makes you happy. Take photos. Blast music too loudly while driving through the city at night. Life becomes whatever you decide to make of it. You might as well make it beautiful.

Xoxo, Lily