Chicago has a very strong community. I assumed it was like this in each state, but as I grew older I realized there is a very dense population of Southasians in Chicago. Together we make a strong community, but how often are we together? We’ve assembled ourselves into cliques based on our childhood friends and Illinois universities. The naive out-of-towners whom move into the city, have caught on and created their own group—welcoming anyone from out of town to end their hostile Chicago experience. I’m not proud of it and I would classify myself as a Chicago native. The more I’ve matured, the more I openly greet anyone from out of state. Now it’s to the point where I prefer out of state company just because it’s so refreshing and pure. New life chapters and interests bring our groups slightly closer, but we still like to hold strong to our initial group. Are we setting ourselves back? I’ve seen a tremendous growth in myself just from opening myself to diverse groups and I’m addicted. It’s nice to see you were in a bubble, and feels even better when you’re stepping out of it. We shouldn’t limit ourselves to our comfort zone, growth happens when you challenge yourself and you’d be surprised how great it feels.
Dress: I purchased this silk dress from Aritizia over the summer. I fell in love with the deep rose color as well as the quality of the fabric. Silk is so understated and uncommon to wear, which draws me closer to it. I’ve worn this in multiple ways like under pants like here as well as with a cute blazer here. It’s perfect for warm weather and flatters you figure beautifully. A huge advantage is that it doesn’t hug your gut, it’s a big win for the Mother’s world.
Scarf: I loved this blue polka dot scarf since I got it in high school. It no longer has its tag on it due to me wearing it so often. I love pulling out old gems from my closet and this is one of them. Invest in cute scarves because you can easily pair them with your dresses and outfits for a chic touch.