When you find yourself in a funk, one that has prolonged for years, and every time you look yourself in the mirror, if you feel blah, or meh, or simply unenthused, it may be time for some active changes. That’s the sort of feeling I had this past year. I was tired of the short beard, the steel earrings I’ve had since I was in my late teens, and my overall look. It’s easy to get too comfortable, to get into a routine, because modern life simply is that way at times. You get up, you get ready and goto work, you come home and you’re too tired to care about much else. It’s no way to live. And stale is no way to be.
When you feel the air growing stale in your life, it’s probably time to start taking some risks, making some changes, and taking on a new overall point-of-view. With consistency comes the spinning of wheels, so if you’re to live a life worth living, it’s imperative to be ever-changing, and to keep an open mind. For me, what I needed was a changing of how I looked, and in turn how I felt about myself. Sure, a monumental change was not needed, as I’ve not felt stale or depressed about my own life or ventures in many years, but sometimes a refreshing of sorts is in order to lighten the spirit. And that’s just what I did.
I wouldn’t go as far as to call this experience a mid-life crisis, as I had no ambition of drastically changing my situation or buying a sports car, but I did begin to recognize a lessening in confidence, in my certainty of who I am. As I grow older, it seems that changes in taste and personal expectations tend to be inspired by the simplicity of time passing. From late teens to mid twenties and then late twenties to early thirties, and beyond, the expectation of appearance and personal maturity can also dictate what sort of changes one will likely go through. But I find there’s relevance in this feeling that we all go through, no matter the age.
Personally, I decided to grow out my hair, because I’ve always wanted longer hair; it’s as simple as that. I also decided to grow out my beard, aiming for a sort of ‘righteous’ beardom status that would impress any beard aficionado. I also noticed that my 20/20 vision had faded enough to become a distraction and a hinderance, so I went through the motions and acquired eyeglasses. I then took a hard long look at my clothing choices. While I admire the great authors who always seemed to be dressed for success in a fine tailored suit, I honestly don’t have the energy nor the budget to pull off such a feat, so I had to make a few concessions. I donated the old, raggedy, and much too youthful pieces from my closet and went shopping for a more age appropriate approach. Then, I took a long look in the mirror and decided something was still missing… a hat!
I reached out to the fine folks at Tenth Street Hats and asked to feature their classic wool felt Valencia Safari hat, designed by Scala. The Scala Safari hat was precisely what was missing, and though, while it won’t be an everyday accessory, it is a defining piece that adds a bit of unique character to my wardrobe. Scala’s take on the traditional safari hat is a simplistic yet eye-catching design that simplifies the timeless look, while adding versatility and class to a style that tends to remind one of a certain time and place in history. The Valencia is made of a water repellent wool felt that provides a flexibility for travelers and anyone on the go, because you can simply wad it up and pack it in a crumpled mess and it will still bounce back better than ever once you shape it and put it on your head. For me, I love the classy sued band that adds a subtle taste of classic beauty to the whole ensemble. And just like that, I’ve reinvented my look, reinspired my air of quiet confidence, and feel a little better and brighter day by day.
If you would like to learn more about Scala Hats and Tenth Street Hats, click here.
(Main photo by rodrigomcv via Flickr – Product photo by © Tenth Street Hats)
I wouldn’t go as far as to call this experience a mid-life crisis, as I had no ambition of drastically changing my situation or buying a sports car, but I did begin to recognize a lessening in confidence, in my certainty of who I am. As I grow older, it seems that changes in taste and personal expectations tend to be inspired by the simplicity of time passing. From late teens to mid twenties and then late twenties to early thirties, and beyond, the expectation of appearance and personal maturity can also dictate what sort of changes one will likely go through. But I find there’s relevance in this feeling that we all go through, no matter the age.
Personally, I decided to grow out my hair, because I’ve always wanted longer hair; it’s as simple as that. I also decided to grow out my beard, aiming for a sort of ‘righteous’ beardom status that would impress any beard aficionado. I also noticed that my 20/20 vision had faded enough to become a distraction and a hinderance, so I went through the motions and acquired eyeglasses. I then took a hard long look at my clothing choices. While I admire the great authors who always seemed to be dressed for success in a fine tailored suit, I honestly don’t have the energy nor the budget to pull off such a feat, so I had to make a few concessions. I donated the old, raggedy, and much too youthful pieces from my closet and went shopping for a more age appropriate approach. Then, I took a long look in the mirror and decided something was still missing… a hat!
I reached out to the fine folks at Tenth Street Hats and asked to feature their classic wool felt Valencia Safari hat, designed by Scala. The Scala Safari hat was precisely what was missing, and though, while it won’t be an everyday accessory, it is a defining piece that adds a bit of unique character to my wardrobe. Scala’s take on the traditional safari hat is a simplistic yet eye-catching design that simplifies the timeless look, while adding versatility and class to a style that tends to remind one of a certain time and place in history. The Valencia is made of a water repellent wool felt that provides a flexibility for travelers and anyone on the go, because you can simply wad it up and pack it in a crumpled mess and it will still bounce back better than ever once you shape it and put it on your head. For me, I love the classy sued band that adds a subtle taste of classic beauty to the whole ensemble. And just like that, I’ve reinvented my look, reinspired my air of quiet confidence, and feel a little better and brighter day by day.
If you would like to learn more about Scala Hats and Tenth Street Hats, click here.
(Main photo by rodrigomcv via Flickr – Product photo by © Tenth Street Hats)
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