Me and My Lizard Brain
A simple answer as to why I wore a wedding dress to Junior year prom.
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In 2020, the human behind the instagram account @frisky_gatos introduced me to the idea of a Lizard Overlord living in my brain who I should listen to when making clothing purchases. Bear with me.
“The Lizard Brain is a play on the idea of listening 2 ur primitive brain and dressing instinctually” - Frisky_Gatos
For a deep dive on the subject, you should read their post on Reddit or click through this Instagram post of theirs if you’re more of a visual learner.
This concept came to me at the perfect time. I had recently moved into a remote role at work, and well, it was lockdown. I had a lot of time to think and I realized I didn’t like my clothes anymore. After the pressures of being a fashion major in college and later working in the outdoor apparel industry for 8 years, my style morphed from whatever the weird business-casual/slouchy-blazer-thing was in 2013 to looking like I was ready to take a hike on a moment’s notice.
Which was still me, but all creativity seemed to have left my clothing choices. Personal style was my primary form of self expression for a very long time. Similar to any art practice it requires discipline to maintain, but my struggles with mental health and a desire to fit in put my practice on hold. At some point I stopped listening to my Lizard.
As someone who has been very serious about their personal style since middle school, I can remember a time I listened to my Lizard (and read The Style Rookie, RIP). I didn’t realize it then, but that’s pretty much how I made every clothing purchase up until I went to college.
In 2011, I could not escape the grasp that Jeffrey Campbell Lita1 booties had on me. Once I acquired them, they turned into a shoe I clomped in wore very casually around the halls of my high school. My sophomore year turnabout look would not have been complete without the slightly less famous Nightwalks by the same maker. For my Junior year prom, my Lizard demanded I wear a Nicole Miller wedding dress, bustle and all, that I found in a NYC consignment shop while on a college visit. It’s easy to look back on our teen years and cringe, but I stand by all of these choices. I was having fun.
Now 10+ years later, I’m tuning into my Lizard again. She’s more opinionated than ever which helps make clothing decisions much easier on wallet and planet. I’m once again enjoying thrifting and the joy of the secondhand hunt. My heels aren’t quite as high and I haven’t purchased another wedding dress since but I find myself reaching to wear colors and textures I previously swore off. And while I still appreciate a good basic, some of these lizard purchases are becoming my own set of basics.
While I’d like to say my Lizard style is devoid of any influence from modern trends, that wouldn’t be true. Patchwork seems to be having a moment so while denim with reinforcing knee patches and shirts that look like quilts are very much a my-Lizard thing, they’re not deducting any style points from my wardrobe.
I recently purchased a pair of square-toe ballet flats, very on trend. My Lizard absolutely loved that they are a metallic gold very much like my favorite pair of metallic flats I wore in middle school. The major difference now is I’m wearing them with straight leg denim and not a Juicy Couture tracksuit.
Something I’m not able to tie to a current trend but was definitely a hit during the late 80s-early 90s is my newly found shirt. Acid-wash denim with pearl and gemstone embellishments, metal buttons, and shoulder pads. I just… needed it.
Is this making sense? If not now, maybe someday. Thanks for sticking through this after I opened it by saying there’s a Lizard Overlord in my brain. I told you I’d write about personal style someday!
What does my Lizard currently yearn for?
A Glowing Chard Hair Clip. Every year my mother grows Swiss Chard in her garden and it reminds me of her.
This gauzey, frilly white dress on Depop. I genuinely have no where to wear it though.
A plaid and paisley skirt, also on Depop.
These secondhand Chanel heels which are now, of course, Not For Sale (cries).
If you’re wondering if I have tips and tricks for finding your personal style (aka listening to your lizard) or you are looking for advice when it comes to shopping secondhand- these will come in a future newsletter! Stay tuned and be sure to subscribe for more.
Read The Cut’s 10th Birthday Tribute to the Jeffrey Campbell Lita.