In my 40s, my vintage clothes have started to carry 'information'

Recently, I started posting photos of my vintage clothes on Instagram and Threads.

To be honest, I was a little hesitant.

I'm not thin.
I don't have a model's figure.
And I can't put together outfits as polished as the ones in magazines.

"I'm far from beautiful."

At first, that's what I thought.

But looking back at photos of myself standing in front of a mirror in a vintage shop, my thinking changed a little.

Maybe these aren't posts meant to make me look beautiful.

I think these are probably posts where you can see the person's background.
When I was talking to someone, the phrase,

"Getting older means carrying information," came up.

That resonated with me deeply.

I feel like when I was young, I could wear clothes just because they were cute.

Trends.
Being thin.
Looking clean.
Colors that suit me.
Cute shapes.

Of course, I think those are important too.

But once you hit your 40s, it's not just about the clothes anymore.

Your body shape is part of it.
Your life is part of it.
Your work is part of it.
Your failures are part of it.
Your fatigue is part of it.
The fact that you're in the middle of recovery is part of it.
Your preferences, your inability to give up, your boldness, and a little bit of kindness are all part of it.

That's why, even if I wear the same clothes, they look different than they did when I was young.

Lately, I'm more drawn to vintage clothes with a bit of character than simple, safe ones.

Aloha prints.
Hard Rock Cafe T-shirts.
Brooks Brothers plaid shirts.
Ralph Lauren pink polo shirts.
Caps.
White sneakers.

Individually, they have a bit of a strong personality.

But when I wear them, for some reason, they don't stand out that much.

If anything, I feel like I'm becoming the kind of person who looks like:

A neighborhood auntie who loves vintage clothes.
Someone who looks like they'll listen to you.
Someone who seems a bit interesting.
Someone who wouldn't immediately dismiss you if you asked for advice.

I feel like I'm developing that kind of vibe.

Actually, this might not be far off from what I'm aiming for with CoinBridge.

I don't want to be a "perfect supporter."

I don't want to be someone who wears proper clothes, says only the right things, and is perfectly polished without any flaws.

What I want to do instead is create a place where people can say,

"Can I ask you something?"



A place where you can sort out your troubles a little before going to institutions or specialized agencies.
A place where we can unravel anxieties that are hard to put into words together.

A place where we can look at things together and say, "That might be a problem with the system rather than something you did wrong."
Thinking about it that way, maybe my vintage clothing photos aren't just outfit posts.Neither clothes nor people need to erase their backgrounds.

In fact, it's because of the background that you can see the person.

There are things that can't be conveyed through perfectly curated posts alone.

Gaining weight due to medication side effects and lack of exercise.

Still being in the middle of recovery.

Having days where just going outside takes energy.

Even so, feeling a little moved when I go to a vintage shop.

Laughing to myself in front of the mirror, thinking, "This isn't quite right," or "Maybe this suits me."

All of those things are carried in the clothes, too.

Maybe that's why I like vintage clothes.

I'm more drawn to clothes that have lived through someone else's time than to brand-new ones.

They might be a little worn, faded, or have quirks.

But that becomes their charm.

Maybe people are the same.

You aren't trustworthy just because you have no scars.

You aren't easy to talk to just because you're perfectly polished.

If anything, thinking,

"This person must have been through a lot, too."
"But they're out and about now."
"I feel like I could talk to this person about real life, not just pleasantries."

Being seen that way can sometimes be a source of comfort for someone else.

I haven't fully launched CoinBridge yet.

The concept is still a work in progress.
My health is still in the middle of recovery.
My life is still in the middle of being put back together.

Even so, there are things I can offer right now.

Not a perfect title,
not a perfect image of a supporter,
but the figure of "someone who is out in the world, background and all."

Entering my 40s, my vintage clothes have started to carry information.

It's a bit heavy, but it's not all bad.

I wear my clothes along with that information.

And along with that background, I am gradually stepping out into the world.

#CoinBridge
#PersonWhoArticulatesStructures
#VintageClothes
#40sOutfit
#InRecovery
#ConsultationBeforeTheConsultation
#NeitherClothesNorPeopleNeedToEraseTheirBackgrounds

—

#CoinBridge
Articulating structures and connecting the field with the system.

For those reading for the first time: I have summarized my activities and CoinBridge here.