All About Me – My Fashion Story

Hello! My name is Conner Kathleen Hale, and this is my blog – Haute & Found. I am utilizing this website to share the latest fashion news, trends, and opinions, with a focus on sustainability. To gain a deeper understanding, I will begin by introducing myself and sharing my story. I am from Little Rock, Arkansas, and have secretly always had a passion for fashion. It started when I was in middle school. One day, I looked around me, and everyone was wearing Lululemon. I felt so left out because I only owned Nike shorts, and at the time, my mom thought they were too expensive for a fifth grader to own (she was right). I thought to myself that no one would notice if I had on Nike, they look the same, right? The answer is no; they are, in fact, so different in terms of aesthetic, structure, quality, and status – both in terms of the product and the company. Obviously, no fifth grader is going to know the rational choices that a company makes to make a product or how a brand markets itself, but in a way, they do. The use of symbols is key to differentiating the products. Nike has a swoosh, and Lululemon has an omega. Okay.. yeah, they are different symbols, so what? Are they not both athletic wear? Wrong. The price, as well as the fit, color palette, feel, and appearance of the shorts, differ. According to this analysis, you can infer that a person who wears Nike versus Lululemon shorts has a different set of morals, beliefs, and opinions, based on owning and wearing those shorts. Fashion was born out of views and statements; what you choose to wear every day reflects the kind of person you are and how you feel about yourself. Then came high school, and I started feeling more interested in personal style, buying similar items that everyone else wore, but in a different way. I researched brands and would find them on second-hand shopping apps, buying clothes that were purposefully off-trend because I wanted to fit in while standing out at the same time. I have had this mentality for a long time – fit in enough to the point where you have something in common with everyone around you, but stand out enough for everyone to notice that you are not one of them. This led me to want to attend a prestigious out-of-state school, on an academic and athletic scholarship, while pursuing a very rigorous degree to become a doctor ultimately. I now live in Nashville and am a fashion student. How did that happen? I started to feel like something was calling my name in Nashville – specifically Belmont, and even more specifically, the fashion industry. Fashion? I don’t even know what I would do when I graduate.. I don’t know how to sew or do anything design-related, so why is the universe telling me to pursue this? I put my complete trust in God, and it led me to transfer to Belmont. I did not think I was good or creative enough to study fashion, so I applied to nursing school. I visited my high school counselor one weekend back at home and told her about my new desire for nursing. She laughed at me and said it wasn’t me. She saw me in a more creative light. I received the email the next day, informing me that I had not been accepted into nursing school. So, I changed my major to Fashion Merchandising. Currently, I am an intern for a celebrity stylist, a freelance stylist, and a model in my school’s fashion show, as well as a volunteer at multiple fashion shows. Additionally, I work in high-end, luxury retail. I could not have reached where I am now if it weren’t for my past rejections. I always believe that rejection is redirection. I live a comfortable life in Nashville, where I am constantly surrounded by creativity at every step. I hope that my blogs bring you influence and inspiration, whether it is in fashion or sustainability.