The Smallest Chanel Item Taught Me the Biggest Lesson About Waiting
Permission to enjoy your life now doesn't require a bigger budget. It requires deciding you're allowed to have it now.
If you're a millennial, you probably remember watching movies like 13 Going on 30 and The Devil Wears Prada. We were heavily inspired by fashion culture, and we can all agree that times were different. I don't believe we feel this way just because we're older. I believe we genuinely experienced a good time because we know what life was like before the takeover of technology. I love that the younger generation is trying to bring back physical media. Even though I'm older now, I refuse to release my childlike imagination. I still watch my favorite cartoons, and I guess you could say I'm a Disney adult. My love for animation is the reason why I chose these watercolor-inspired illustrations for my brand theme. These visuals connect me back to a time when I was young and believed I could be anything!
I've always been a massive dreamer, and I thought that by my 30s I would live in a penthouse suite in NYC. Well, I'm still in retail currently at Bloomingdale's, and I live in a one-bedroom apartment with my husband in Florida. Since these fashion movies inspired me as a child, obviously Chanel did too. I always wanted the classic quilted black Chanel handbag, but the older I became, the higher the price tag grew too. Living in the "one day" mentality caused me to delay my desires. I would pin many photos on my Pinterest and imagine that one day I would actually buy something from Chanel. I've had multiple opportunities to purchase, like random moments of surplus income. But every time I had a surplus, I could never justify spending $5,000 for a handbag. I know you're paying for a name not the actual product so it didn't seem worth the money. I realized it isn't the handbag I desire, it's the version of me that can afford that handbag.
One day my husband surprised me with tickets to see Kanye West in Tampa, FL. After the concert, we went to the mall. At first, I refused to go because I work at a mall — the last place I want to see on my vacation is another mall. However, I compromised, and we went. Passing through, we saw a Chanel beauty store. I've never seen a store that was specifically for cosmetics only. It had an intimate ambience, and the staff were welcoming. Honestly, I was surprised because, in my experience, workers have normally been rude at other stores. I asked the saleswoman if they had the CHANEL Vanity Mirror. She led me straight to it, and I bought it immediately! I'd been eyeing this mirror for years — I'd saved it on my Pinterest for a long time. The mirror is only $47; I could have purchased it a long time ago, but I kept putting it off. In my opinion, the best way to experience these brands is by ordering from the website. You can still experience the official Chanel packaging, and you can avoid the awkward, rude sales associates that kill the shopping experience. If you're like me and you've always wanted to shop at Chanel, follow my footsteps and start small. Start with a Chanel mirror and carry it around in your purse. It's not about the mirror, or even the brand — it's about who you see yourself as and the woman you want to become.
Why I'd Always Told Myself "Not Yet"
Honestly, I didn't realize I kept putting off my purchase until I finally made the decision to just go for it. Sometimes we make decisions subconsciously for so long that these silent choices become hidden and hinder our progress.
What I Thought I was Buying vs. What I actually Bought
The moral of the story is: my younger self just wanted to buy the Chanel mirror because, duh, it's Chanel! The mature side of me realized it was never about the brand but about finally becoming the woman who can say "yes, right now" — not "maybe, someday." Because we both know that someday may never come.
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Dare to Dream *again
