Tuesday, January 28, 2014

"Who Are You Wearing?"

We all know “Who are you wearing?” is reserved for the red carpet. I doubt anyone would come up to a mom like me on the street and ask that question. If they did, well, that would just be creepy.

Yet, for a year and a half, I had a very fine answer to this question. I wore a person of distinction almost daily. I wasn’t wearing Cavalli or Chanel...

mom and baby in moby wrap

I was wearing Claire.

Clearly, my daughter and I aren't red-carpet ready. But if we had the opportunity and Ryan Seacrest were to use his astute journalistic skills to query further about my extraordinary baby outfit, I would reply with great enthusiasm and pride. I would say that she's made entirely by hand. I would tell him that I worked on my creation for over nine months, and that she required intensive labor. I would say that I count my daily accessory as priceless and unique -- couture in the best sense of the word.

But he's probably not going to ask, and I probably won't walk the red carpet in my one-of-a kind creation. That's okay. I did get to do this:

baby in moby wrap

And, now that Claire is older, I get to do this:

mama and child

Clothes aren't really the point here, are they? Really, you barely noticed what I'm wearing in these photos, did you?

When I look at each picture, I do see a "who". I see my daughter. I notice myself in relation to another. I notice a connection between two people, between mama and child.

Sure, you can really, really like a dress on the red carpet. But love doesn't come from fancy clothes or make-up or big parties.

Love grows in the fertile soil of everyday, uncelebrated gestures.

No, I won't be walking the red carpet anytime soon. That's okay. My designer creation is a true labor of love.

And I didn't have to squeeze my toesies into Louboutin's either!

Moms and friends! Some of my lovely blogger buddies and I thought we would have fun combining the #365FeministSelfie with Award Season in this post and in a link-up. The #365FeministSelfie is all about showing women as they are, no filter, no primping, no perfection, and perhaps no makeup. Pretty much the complete opposite of the Award Season Red Carpet drama-rama. So we’re asking you...
mom looking at a baby in a moby wrap

Who are YOU wearing? Link up a post with a picture and/or some text below. And, remember, COME AS YOU ARE!





24 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh I really loved this so much. I totally wore Isaiah until he was so heavy I started getting backaches, at 6 I tried one last summer in the Ergo. It was not to be.
    But I still get to snuggle him and hold him close and that is what is the most awesome of all.
    I wouldn't give anything for my time with him!
    Claire is a precious angel. Just Love.

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  2. That is more beautiful than any dress on any red carpet! My kids hated to be worn, which was too bad. Now the younger one wanted to be held and carried all the time, but never worn. She had to make me work for it! :-)

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  3. I am in awe. I wish that I'd been so inspired with my post because you and Claire are gorgeous and I did not notice what you're wearing at all. Just that you're both here. Perfect. Mom and daughter. Love. I noticed the love.

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  4. I am so touched by this: "But if we had the opportunity and Ryan Seacrest were to use his astute journalistic skills to query further about my extraordinary baby outfit, I would reply with great enthusiasm and pride. I would say that she's made entirely by hand. I would tell him that I worked on my creation for over nine months, and that she required intensive labor. I would say that I count my daily accessory as priceless and unique -- couture in the best sense of the word."

    It's true that to us they are the most special thing in the world, meriting a question like that from Ryan Seacrest. At the very least. I loved your take. And the look on your face on both photos, such pride and satisfaction. <3

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  5. I absolutely loved this take on the topic! It makes me miss wearing my son. :) You are totally right about everything -- clothes and make-up and appearance are not what's important, it's the love we give each other. Beautiful. :)

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  6. This is such a beautiful post. Thank you :)

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  7. so beautiful .. she has grown .. u both look adorable together :)

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  8. Such sweet pictures and sweet mama daughter love :)

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  9. Your pictures here are so beautiful. Absolutely love this, Rachel!XO

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  10. When my babes were little, I spent no money on clothes and lots of money on wraps and slings. Because they were my wardrobe. Love this. xoxo

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  11. This made me tear up! So tender and beautiful! I've never been a 'clothesy'. I would rather be known for who I am rather than who I'm wearing. Thank you for this sweet take on the subject! :)

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  12. You've got great pictures here, and a perfect point made too.

    My son is a baby wearer. He's a big, muscly, tough-guy, in charge of a big group of fellas in the military, sweet, baby-wearing dad. I almost put a pic of him on WW today wearing his daughter. Great minds think alike, but your story is much nicer than a single, no-word post. :)

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  13. Aww, those are the sweetest pictures! I really wish that I had worn my children more. NOw they are too big. :-( That is one of my biggest mommy regrets.

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  14. Aw, this was really touching! I adore the photos, and I LOVE the direction you went with this! Your selfies are so beautiful. :)

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  15. Ah, you are so right- no one even notices the clothes when you are draped in that kind of perfection! And damn you and those baby photos- you're making my uterus hurt! ;) xo

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  16. Awww, I did lots of baby wearing, too. But those days are (almost) behind me now. My son prefers the stroller!

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  17. Um, my boobs just leaked a little looking at those amazing baby Claire photos, and I mean that in the best, most emotional way. Loved this, beautiful mama!!! Loved!!!!!

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  18. So sweet. I didn't do a lot of baby wearing because I felt suffocated. I would do it sometimes when I'd need my hands free though. My daughter had to always be carried or she'd flip.

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  19. I wish that I invested in a nice wrap so that I could have worn my baby when he was younger. I would carry him in my arms or let him rest on my chest.

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  20. Ah, this post takes me back! I had my second son at the exact same time that my neighbor--and one of my closest friends--had her third child. Well, not the EXACT same time, but their birthdays were only a week apart, so you get what I'm saying. Back then, we were both stay-at-home moms who wore our babies all around town constantly. The other neighbors in our 'hood would always tease us, saying they didn't feel like they were part of the "in" crowd since they didn't have babies to wear. Such awesome memories.

    I also wanted to stop by and say thanks for leaving the comment you left on my last week's post. It really did make my day, Rachel. It's so hard to veer away from one's normal writing style, and although I was my normal smart*ssy self in that post, it was still on the sweet side since it dealt with my awesome family. I was afraid people would think I'd lost my snark, and God forbid! But your comment made me feel like I'd made the right decision in sharing. It meant a lot to me. THANK YOU!

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  21. LOVE your post and I love think link-up idea!

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  22. this was such a beautiful post, rachel. i can't wait to wear my baby!

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  23. I love this. You're wearing your love on your face, too.

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