style icons (a brief series!): carrie brownstein

January 23, 2018/

So you’ve probably noticed some changes to the blog recently. I had the back end updated, and took the opportunity to completely refresh the overall look. I also made the very big decision to do away with “donuts, dresses and dirt”, and rename the blog with – well, MY name. I’ll be writing more about that soon, but one of the main reasons for the change was the desire to break out of the framework that I felt the old name kept me pinned to.

In the almost 7 (!!) years that I’ve been writing this blog so much about me and my life have changed. And that’s extended to the blog itself. It was my talented designer who suggested the new name, pointing out that this space truly is a reflection of me – who I am. And it’s been liberating to have more creative license to share the kind of content that I want to – when I want.

Hence, this series!

I’ve written in the past about style in general, and how I dress. But I’ve never shared the women who inspire me (and there are a lot!). I drew up a list and it was interesting to see them all side by side – their similarities as well as their differences. I thought it might be fun to make it an actual series, and would love to know your thoughts!

First up?

image credit: Billy Kidd for Variety

This will come as no surprise to anyone that knows me.

I first discovered Carrie Brownstein through one of my all-time favorite shows, “Portlandia” (have you started the final season yet? I’m so sad it’s ending!). I was a big fan and went to see the cast in a New York Times Talk about 5 years ago. It was there that I learned that Carrie Brownstein had a whole other life prior to Portlandia, as a member of the band Sleater-Kinney. I was so smitten with her after watching the interview that I did some research as soon as I got home.

image credit: We Are the Rhodes

And my head exploded. On so many levels.

First – and foremost – the music. It’s hard to pick my favorite SK song, as there are so, so many – but this one stands out as it was one of the first I came across, and still blows me away every time I hear it. Okay, this one too.

image credit: Andrew T. Warman

Second – HOW DID I MISS THEM???????? I mean, my oldest kid spent her entire first year of life listening to Nevermind on a constant loop; this would have SO been my band. It still kills me to this day, but I suppose that – between being in the throes of new motherhood, no Internet, and the fact that (bizarrely) they never had a commercial hit – the timing made it unlikely for me to know them.

image credit: Winnie Au

I’ve made up for this lost time as best as possible, and have become only more enamored and admiring of Carrie Brownstein along the way. I loved her in Transparent. Loved her memoir. Love her humor, talent, openness and intelligence.

And LOVE LOVE LOVE her style.