Ugh, this one is SOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD. So good. Allow me a corny-a** moment…
I live, and have always lived, and will probably live forever, in a Sauce Desert. Not cuz I want to, but because life is complicated and sometimes you can’t get away from a place. And I’ve always been a person with weird interests who loves experimenting with clothes. I’ve been shamed by my (HIPPIE!) family (???), bullied in every school including college, and now in my perimenopausal years hella side-eyed by the guy in cursed REI-brand gorp at the Whole Foods fish counter. On the flipside I also get a lot of love, which I am genuinely grateful for and still kinda surprised by, but the thing is, I often feel like a floating sauce island because I am so mismatched to my environment. The older I get, the more I’m able to see it like a fascinating sociological experiment - who reacts and why can be an interesting glimpse into the general human condition - but sometimes I still feel f***ing nuts. The existence of this sletter is invaluable to me. Not just because you somehow love all the same kinds of things, but because of the vibes. You have it 100000% right - the key to rocking fun sh*t in a small-minded place (or just a different place than where you’re from originally) is to be a decent human being first and foremost. Don’t be a judgmental, narcissistic jackass and you will look amazing in nearly anything.
Boss post. I live in a sauce desert, but have enjoyed trying to dress locally. There is a local Amish clothing store, Gohn Bros. Manufacturing, that has made their own garments onsite for 100 years. I was wearing a pair of their pants in SF and someone asked if they were Evan Kinori. Sometimes you can find a gold nugget in the desert.
If I might add...as someone who grew up in LA and then had the great good fortune to live in Paris, London and NYC but now lives in an absolute sauce desert - hello SLO (IYKYK)...age also helps. As a woman of a certain age I have the biggest I don’t give a f$$k attitude. my invisibility in society as a whole allows me to rock my faves (CDG, Isssey, Needles, etc) and even cosplay at times (sexy librarian is a fave) in a land of Lulus. While some of the boomer/GenXers give me the occasional side eye - the lovely Gen Zers are forever complementing me on my fit. Where what you love and others will get it (or not).
This has been my experience, too. Gen Z kids are way more appreciative of my sartorial choices, maybe just because they’re more open-minded about gender and less influenced by fusty rules about what old people should look like. Oddly (or maybe not!), the folks most likely to give me stinkeye are guys my age. These are probably the same kinda dudes who were jerks to me when I was a teenager - sauceless then and sauceless now, and more importantly, unkind and uptight as hell.
How funny, I asked one of the original questions that he quotes in the beginning of the post and I live in the same area. Amazing nature, zero swag haha. Thanks for doing your part in upgrading SLO’s sauce quotient!
I really love this one. This is powerful. Try belonging and responding to your environment. Are you wearing the clothes are they wearing you? But if you feel comfortable and confident you could be the cool aunt in the small town with serious style at the library. Maybe you don't want to wear all black to pick strawberries. How much do we want to stand out? If it makes sense to you.
My great-aunt retired to an island in Sweden. Every day, no matter what the weather, she wore an ankle-length wool skirt hand-embroidered with windmills, wildflowers, or birds in a riot of beautiful colors. She topped that with a man's vest, also embroidered by her own hand, and a white ruffled blouse, buttoned up to her neck, fastened with a brooch. Orthopedic loafers, and thick, black-framed glasses. She looked like she stepped out of the nineteenth century. Then she'd hop on her bike with her painting supplies and sit by the seaside. She definitely stood out among the farmers and tourists.
I was the asker of the more long-winded of the two questions quoted in the beginning of this post. This is exactly the kind of practical, good-vibes profundity I was looking for. You rock Jonah and Erin!
One of my favorite sletters yet, y'all keep it coming! I don't comment normally but I read every thing that comes from you and Erin in my inbox. LOVE how much the BBSP sletter has influenced how I think about my own wardrobe in a reimagined way.
Also, the quote from multiple people verbatim really resonated. A good gut laugh too (for some reason) which I enjoyed and am grateful for you providing.
This is great, really resonated with me as somebody who has made a similar move from London, which is fit city, to somewhere where the vibe is very much 'trying to look nice is for poseurs'. Stuff I wouldnt think twice about wearing before now feels too fancy.
This is such a great piece (& converted me to paid subscriber very happily). I love it. I, too, re-lo’d this year from NYC to LA & WFH & even THAT move has brought similarly musings. Lifestyle here (Glassell Park WAY more casual.. I have a horse here & a painting studio.. so I’m kind of Ladies of the Canyon but neaten up for zoom calls 🫣.. so many of my “everyday” NYC/east end clothes are hanging accusingly on their hangers.
Rarely a trouser
Barely ever a coat, sparkly skirt, jewelry etc...
Luckily I magically landed at the sparkliest magical dressage barn.. that has been such a wonderment ~ like world class athletes w full crazy decorative press-on nails.. major crystal helmets ...It is so wild.
So.. my Prada skirts are gently resting.. they come on trips & get worn a ton ..
But it’s definitely been a (surprisingly) intense change in the daily finery department ❤️🧜🏻♀️🧞♀️🧚🏽♂️
Glad to find this space ~ vibe & writing are ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Once the queen spoke to my great-aunt, admiring her outfit. No one else dressed like Maje and all of her embroidered skirts and vests are still on the island, hanging in a closet owned by my cousin.
Moving from NYC back to my midwestern roots so my son can be closer to grandparents, cousins, friends, etc. Been struggling with saying goodbye to the excitement and expressiveness of NYC. Recently I decided I'm just going to... make the "sauce desert"... better? Going to get involved in community organizing, start a business, and be that person -- with my New York wardrobe. Reading this at this exact life-moment just solidified it. (Subscriber retained!)
Ugh, this one is SOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD. So good. Allow me a corny-a** moment…
I live, and have always lived, and will probably live forever, in a Sauce Desert. Not cuz I want to, but because life is complicated and sometimes you can’t get away from a place. And I’ve always been a person with weird interests who loves experimenting with clothes. I’ve been shamed by my (HIPPIE!) family (???), bullied in every school including college, and now in my perimenopausal years hella side-eyed by the guy in cursed REI-brand gorp at the Whole Foods fish counter. On the flipside I also get a lot of love, which I am genuinely grateful for and still kinda surprised by, but the thing is, I often feel like a floating sauce island because I am so mismatched to my environment. The older I get, the more I’m able to see it like a fascinating sociological experiment - who reacts and why can be an interesting glimpse into the general human condition - but sometimes I still feel f***ing nuts. The existence of this sletter is invaluable to me. Not just because you somehow love all the same kinds of things, but because of the vibes. You have it 100000% right - the key to rocking fun sh*t in a small-minded place (or just a different place than where you’re from originally) is to be a decent human being first and foremost. Don’t be a judgmental, narcissistic jackass and you will look amazing in nearly anything.
Boss post. I live in a sauce desert, but have enjoyed trying to dress locally. There is a local Amish clothing store, Gohn Bros. Manufacturing, that has made their own garments onsite for 100 years. I was wearing a pair of their pants in SF and someone asked if they were Evan Kinori. Sometimes you can find a gold nugget in the desert.
If I might add...as someone who grew up in LA and then had the great good fortune to live in Paris, London and NYC but now lives in an absolute sauce desert - hello SLO (IYKYK)...age also helps. As a woman of a certain age I have the biggest I don’t give a f$$k attitude. my invisibility in society as a whole allows me to rock my faves (CDG, Isssey, Needles, etc) and even cosplay at times (sexy librarian is a fave) in a land of Lulus. While some of the boomer/GenXers give me the occasional side eye - the lovely Gen Zers are forever complementing me on my fit. Where what you love and others will get it (or not).
This has been my experience, too. Gen Z kids are way more appreciative of my sartorial choices, maybe just because they’re more open-minded about gender and less influenced by fusty rules about what old people should look like. Oddly (or maybe not!), the folks most likely to give me stinkeye are guys my age. These are probably the same kinda dudes who were jerks to me when I was a teenager - sauceless then and sauceless now, and more importantly, unkind and uptight as hell.
How funny, I asked one of the original questions that he quotes in the beginning of the post and I live in the same area. Amazing nature, zero swag haha. Thanks for doing your part in upgrading SLO’s sauce quotient!
So nice to know there is more than one Blackbird Spyplane fan in SLO!
I really love this one. This is powerful. Try belonging and responding to your environment. Are you wearing the clothes are they wearing you? But if you feel comfortable and confident you could be the cool aunt in the small town with serious style at the library. Maybe you don't want to wear all black to pick strawberries. How much do we want to stand out? If it makes sense to you.
cool aunt in the small town with serious style at the library ftw >>>>
My great-aunt retired to an island in Sweden. Every day, no matter what the weather, she wore an ankle-length wool skirt hand-embroidered with windmills, wildflowers, or birds in a riot of beautiful colors. She topped that with a man's vest, also embroidered by her own hand, and a white ruffled blouse, buttoned up to her neck, fastened with a brooch. Orthopedic loafers, and thick, black-framed glasses. She looked like she stepped out of the nineteenth century. Then she'd hop on her bike with her painting supplies and sit by the seaside. She definitely stood out among the farmers and tourists.
And probably made a lot of people incredibly happy, too.
I was the asker of the more long-winded of the two questions quoted in the beginning of this post. This is exactly the kind of practical, good-vibes profundity I was looking for. You rock Jonah and Erin!
Blackbird Spyplane is truly a drip oasis for the sauce desserts.
One of my favorite sletters yet, y'all keep it coming! I don't comment normally but I read every thing that comes from you and Erin in my inbox. LOVE how much the BBSP sletter has influenced how I think about my own wardrobe in a reimagined way.
Also, the quote from multiple people verbatim really resonated. A good gut laugh too (for some reason) which I enjoyed and am grateful for you providing.
Thank you Jonah, for so beautifully expressing the context and purpose of our clothing choices.
This is great, really resonated with me as somebody who has made a similar move from London, which is fit city, to somewhere where the vibe is very much 'trying to look nice is for poseurs'. Stuff I wouldnt think twice about wearing before now feels too fancy.
Beautiful! I even teared up a little at the end - that truly is acting like the MF man locally. 🖤
This is such a great piece (& converted me to paid subscriber very happily). I love it. I, too, re-lo’d this year from NYC to LA & WFH & even THAT move has brought similarly musings. Lifestyle here (Glassell Park WAY more casual.. I have a horse here & a painting studio.. so I’m kind of Ladies of the Canyon but neaten up for zoom calls 🫣.. so many of my “everyday” NYC/east end clothes are hanging accusingly on their hangers.
Rarely a trouser
Barely ever a coat, sparkly skirt, jewelry etc...
Luckily I magically landed at the sparkliest magical dressage barn.. that has been such a wonderment ~ like world class athletes w full crazy decorative press-on nails.. major crystal helmets ...It is so wild.
So.. my Prada skirts are gently resting.. they come on trips & get worn a ton ..
But it’s definitely been a (surprisingly) intense change in the daily finery department ❤️🧜🏻♀️🧞♀️🧚🏽♂️
Glad to find this space ~ vibe & writing are ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Once the queen spoke to my great-aunt, admiring her outfit. No one else dressed like Maje and all of her embroidered skirts and vests are still on the island, hanging in a closet owned by my cousin.
I moved from NY to San Francisco about three years ago and I still struggle with this question regularly. San Francisco is so aggressively swagless.
Moving from NYC back to my midwestern roots so my son can be closer to grandparents, cousins, friends, etc. Been struggling with saying goodbye to the excitement and expressiveness of NYC. Recently I decided I'm just going to... make the "sauce desert"... better? Going to get involved in community organizing, start a business, and be that person -- with my New York wardrobe. Reading this at this exact life-moment just solidified it. (Subscriber retained!)
Very NYC of you
YES! DO IT! And welcome back! We need you out here!
This just made my day. Really cool read!! Keep that great work!!!