Autumn’s Story

I was once a little girl who wanted to wear corsets and elaborate gowns like women in period drama films got to do. I grew up into a young woman who had no idea how to make that dream come true, and spent my twenties wearing sweatpants and tshirts. A friend of mine told me she thought it was a shame that I was such an interesting person but you couldn’t tell by the clothes I wore. I would look at people with stylish and creative clothing with wistfulness, thinking ‘someday I wish I could look like that’ but I did nothing because I hated how I looked in anything.

I got divorced at age 30, and that’s when my evolution truly began. It was a chance to start over and I decided that’s what I should do with my style. I visualized myself as a confident, sexy woman 10 years in the future who wore corsets often and had lots of beautiful clothes and supported herself financially and was successful in life. It was a big leap from my then-self, a frumpy, depressed, poverty-line housewife who hated to look in the mirror. I began to ask myself “what would Autumn do?” and I would try to picture what that future version of me would wear. I tried on a lot of clothes at thrift stores, and finally got used to seeing my body in the mirror. I discovered what silhouettes worked for my figure through trial and error, and I bought my first corset.

Over the past 15 years I’ve built a big wardrobe as well as boosted my confidence, increased my self esteem, and succeeded at building my first business as a massage therapist. I’ve raised 3 kids as a single mom, gotten a Bachelor’s while working full time, and figured out my personal style. The difference between old me and new me is black and white.

I hope to inspire others to experience the joy and freedom and confidence that creative self-expression through clothing can bring. It changed my life, perhaps it can change yours.