How I became a bit more badass:

Remember that one time, when you found something really cool at Abercrombie & Fitch,
but didn't want to buy it because of the giant moose ?

No?

Liar. 

Seriously, though. Brands are always defying our assumptions. 

After all, it's humans behind those brands, and humans are multifaceted - just like their designs. 

In fact, I'd be hard-pressed to find a designer's line with which I was either 100% satisfied or 100% dissatisfied. There is always a redeeming piece, and there's always one I think should have stayed on the drawing board, (save for 3.1 Philip Lim's F/W '13 collection, of course).

Sovrin, a line by Wisconsin-based designer Kayla Garland, is definitely edgy. So edgy, in fact, that I actually contemplated whether or not it really met my strange and slightly geeky style. 

And then I saw this shirt. 

The designer herself

Maroon, my favorite color, with an alluring symmetry that my OCD self found disconcertingly pleasing - it's now one of my favorite new basics. 

Which forces me, once again, to question whether or not maybe it is possible for a brand you don't immediately feel a connection with, to give you something that you immediately do. My nerdy self actually loves a bunch of the hand-designed, screen printed tees/tanks from this line, even if they might be meant for a slightly more badass (and by this I mean that they didn't dress up as Frodo for a full day in 8th grade and attend numerous risk-ay Halloween parties clad in full Elizabeth Bennett attire) clientele. 

I also wonder whether, if you know yourself well enough, you can really take any well-made item and make it your own?

Anddddddd we're back at the 'swag' situation. 

What can I say? It's plaguing me. 

Why, though, I'm not sure - considering that I paid my fair share for this little maroon masterpiece. 

I did, however, get a $5 discount for my modeling skills. 

That's right. ..

I'm, like, a really big deal in Wisconsin now. 

People kind of recognize me on the street.

I just want my privacy back.

Cheers. 

PS: If interested, Sovrin's Etsy page is HERE