True Life: I Used To Be Basic

You know I like to throw it back every once in a while on a Thursday but today we’re doing something a little different. It seems like we can’t get enough of the term “basic bitch” (I find myself saying the word “basic” in that reference at least once every other day) so I thought I’d make a little confession to you. This isn’t easy but…

I used to be basic.

Yes, I drank Pumpkin Spice Lattes, I had a North Face (in more than one color), I wore Uggs like it was my job, I was in a sorority, I thought it was cool to drink anything pink out of a martini glass, I really enjoyed sunglasses that took over half of my face, I owned Tory Burch Reva flats, and I straightened my hair almost everyday. These are not easy things to admit but I must confess on the only day of the week we’re allowed to throw it back (unless you flash it back on a Friday, but who even does that?)

Being basic in high school (sorry Jennifer).

Basic bitch status continued in college (as well as regrettable bangs).

I’m not sure if this is basic or just dates me but yes, I had a hot pink Razr (complete with a dangly phone charm).

Although I never achieved full blown basic-ness (I never owned those J. Crew tan flat boots, I’ve never carried a Longchamp bag and I’ve never had more than one sip of a Diet Coke), I was still…pretty basic (basic enough where you could’ve made my life into a relevant Halloween costume for 2014). So how did I overcome such basic-ness? An interest in fashion definitely helps. We discussed the whole basic vs. normcore thing (and how fitting in is the new standing out) but in general, fashion encourages people to be themselves and not do what everyone else is doing (unless we get into #trendsontrendsontrends…which can also get pretty basic). Once I really started reading fashion news on a regular basis, keeping up with runway shows, and discovering new and emerging designers, and then I began to question myself — Why the fuck am I wearing this fleece jacket that 15,000 other people are wearing in a one mile radius (and it’s not even warm)? These boots are hideous and make my feet look enormous — so why are they on my feet right now? I love pumpkin but is there a reason why I’m drinking it at 8am? Do I really need to be frying my hair on a daily basis? When I figured out my answers (by the way this was before the term “basic bitch” even existed) I thought I’m gonna do me and you do you…and my basic-ness was cured!

So if you find yourself over-Googling Ryan Gosling, thinking your horoscope will solve all problems and still convincing yourself Splenda is a great alternative, then you can get help from the free Basic Bitch hotline 1-800-BSCBTCH…or you can leave me a comment and I can try to help you via the Internet. Remember, your basic-ness can also vary depending on what city you live in (at least according to Jezebel). Thankfully, I don’t like baseball and I don’t own any David Yurman (which are apparently specific basic qualities for Chicago girls) so I’m still in the clear. But if you can relate to any of the aforementioned here or here, you can always come to me…a former basic bitch.

Images via Pinterest, The Cut and an old digital camera that probably no longer exists