Label me.

If you were a teen in the 90s, you probably will recall the importance of wearing name brand clothing.  

 

I'll never forget the ridiculous "unspoken" pressure there was to wear clothing from the following stores, (or else suffer the ultimate shunning): American Eagle, Aeropostale, Polo, Gap, Old Navy (but it just barely makes the cut as it was the cheapest option) and, of course, the sleaziest (and priciest), Abercrombie & Fitch.  

My best friend in college let me have this A&F shirt. It was the only one I ever put on my body and it could literally fit my toddler now. Why A&F makes infant sized clothing for teenagers is beyond me.  

My best friend in college let me have this A&F shirt. It was the only one I ever put on my body and it could literally fit my toddler now. Why A&F makes infant sized clothing for teenagers is beyond me.  

 

Style was out. Nobody had "style" back then. We were all just walking advertisements for these clothing companies. And nobody really knew what most of the wording on the shirt meant anyway. We all know you didn't go to an American Eagle California Surf Competition in '98. Seriously... 

 

I would literally cringe and feel completely nauseated when my mother would take us shopping at Kohls for clothing.  

 

I hated Kohls.

 

"Candies" and "EBGB" weren't exactly acceptable brands in the teen world. That is, if you wanted to be important and hang out with the coolest kids.  

Again, not MY shirt. Can't remember if it was Ashley's (the friend in the pic) or another friends. Aeropostale, I think..."Hot Cocoa Stand" is what it says. Why?! Who the heck knows. A tiny thin, cottony short-sleeved shirt about Hot Cocoa is just..…

Again, not MY shirt. Can't remember if it was Ashley's (the friend in the pic) or another friends. Aeropostale, I think..."Hot Cocoa Stand" is what it says. Why?! Who the heck knows. A tiny thin, cottony short-sleeved shirt about Hot Cocoa is just.....well, if it's cold enough for a hot cocoa stand...why would I wear that shirt made for 90 degree weather?!... Also, gas was cheap in 2003. 

 

We would fight over every rack. She thought this, and I thought the opposite. Shopping day always sucked. I would beg her to take us to Old Navy. AT LEAST DO THAT, MOM!!

 

Now, it's funny. I mean, hilarious, really. Mom pants, messy bun, worn out, sloppy old college shirts and hoodies. And I seriously could care less what you think.  

 

 

But I do still care how I'm labeled. 

 

I hope my life radiates Christ. I hope, without a moments hesitation, that when people encounter me, they label me: "Christ-follower", "different", "desirable".  

 

Do you live your life in such a way that it's completely obvious "where you shop"?!  

 

Or, are you comfortable just doing all you can to blend in with the rest of those "Abercrombie kids" that all wear the same shirt about some mythical cool kid only Malibu beach day??  

Armani Exchange shirt. Bought on my senior trip to The Big Apple. From the clearance rack, of course. Just so we could carry around the bag, of course.  

Armani Exchange shirt. Bought on my senior trip to The Big Apple. From the clearance rack, of course. Just so we could carry around the bag, of course.  

 

Christ encourages us to stand out, to be a light, to make it completely obvious how different we are. As moms, that's often hard to do as we become so incredibly invested in our families.  

 

Don't forget about the giant world beyond your homes that needs you to tend it.  

 

How do you label yourself? How would the world label you? We don't need to fit in, but stand out!! Shop at Kohls all you want because we all know that inner beauty gets us the most attention anyway. 

 

I have no idea the brand here, but it doesn't matter because I loved that shirt. Oh, and it also wasn't mine. (Notice the trend here?) It was my BFF, Sarah's (pictured on the far right) who loved wearing my dress over jeans. And we loved scarves for…

I have no idea the brand here, but it doesn't matter because I loved that shirt. Oh, and it also wasn't mine. (Notice the trend here?) It was my BFF, Sarah's (pictured on the far right) who loved wearing my dress over jeans. And we loved scarves for belts. Yes. We were amazing.