On multiple platforms, people were flaming Helen for "stating the obvious" while others were applauding her for encouraging nutrition. No matter where you fall in the debate, Helen Taylor may have been onto something with her video — It’s time to rebrand things we often take for granted as the chic things they actually are.
Eating What You Want Is Kinda Chic
In hopes of properly embodying Helen Taylor’s video, we believe that eating what you want is kinda chic! From a loaded toast with avocado and balsamic vinegar in the morning to a sweet treat at 10pm with your friends, eating and bringing nutrition to your body will never be out of style. While eating what you want is definitely chic, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to do a McDonalds run every night or only drink raw milk and eat beef for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — of course, to each their own. The chicness, though, comes from trying to strike a balance between nutrition, fun, and desire. Add a couple new veggies to your usual sandwich recipe. Choose the standard soda as your drink for that work dinner instead of your usual lemon water. The possibilities for exploration are endless as you try to find that balance.
Upcycling Is Kinda Chic
You’ve probably heard the phrase, "don’t litter, recycle" a million times, and while recycling is extremely needed, upcycling is too. Those jeans you were going to throw away can become highly stylish tote bags or quilts. Every pasta sauce jar left over from weekly pasta night can also make an amazing cup for your morning coffee. If you’ve ever been interested in crafting, upcycling is the best gateway to eventually becoming a master craftsperson. You may start with making small plant pots with your old jars, but who knows, one day you might just sew a cool outfit made completely out of recycled materials.
Literacy Is Kinda Chic
Even though society believes we’re in a literacy crisis, you don’t have to be a literacy victim! Reading, studying, and writing are all great ways to build your literacy and become the most sophisticated person around. Carrying a book/pocketbook in your bag, listening to a podcast/audiobook instead of music on your daily commute, watching an interesting documentary at the end of a busy day, and journaling at least one line before bed are all fantastic ways to improve your personal literacy skills. When you gain knowledge, you gain a new and improved outlook on the world around you — and what can be more chic than that?!
Revisiting Is Kinda Chic
Out of all the items on this list, the chicest thing you can do is commit yourself to revisiting the past loves of your life. Fortunately, when we say "revisit your past loves", we don’t mean texting a terrible ex but rather trying on that beloved outfit you haven’t worn in years. Re-listening to songs from that one awkward middle school phase to connect with your younger self, re-reading an essay you were particularly proud of just to remind yourself that you’re a good writer, or even beating that same dead horse with your besties are all terrific examples of what it means to revisit some past loves. When you commit yourself to re-exploring the "mundane" parts of your life, it becomes extremely easy to see that pretty much everything around you is kinda chic.
