Why "Always Looking Up"?

When creating the tagline for this blog, the idea of “Always Looking Up” kept popping into my head. Yes, as a little person I am “always looking up” at a world that was not designed for someone with dwarfism. But to me, it also means to remain optimistic no matter the circumstances. 

For as long as I can remember, shopping has always been a struggle. I walk into a store expecting to walk out with nothing, that way I’m not disappointed. I’ve made friends with the salespeople at Nordstrom as I am known to spend hours there looking for one pair of shoes or waiting for a seamstress from alterations. I’ll try things on in multiple sizes, manipulating the garment to find the perfect fit, imagining how something will look with inches cut off of the hem or sleeves. I no longer shop with my mom as too many times in the past one (or both) of us winds up leaving in tears. 

Yet, despite my struggles with shopping, I love fashion. I’ve loved fashion ever since my mom allowed me to pick out my outfits for school. I was 9-years-old when I sat down and watched my first episode of Project Runway (my first reality TV obsession). My coffee table is scattered with the latest issues of Vogue and Elle. I fill my fashion board on Pinterest with outfit ideas and clothing hacks. I love that with something as simple as fabric you can craft an identity. As Rachel Zoe said “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” 

The fashion industry, one of constant change, is slowly becoming more inclusive. Different body types are being represented on the runways and in editorials. Yet, as a woman with dwarfism, I am still feeling left out. Going back to the idea of “Always Looking Up”, I am optimistic that this will change…I have to be. I believe that one day I will be able to walk into a store or open a fashion magazine and find clothes that are designed for someone like me, someone who is just a little different. It’s not going to be easy, but it is certainly possible.