Yes to Ms Frizzle! My secret shopping obsession is finding clothing that makes me think, "if Ms Frizzle wore miniskirts" or "if Ms. Frizzle had a cocktail party to go to" etc etc.
YES! I have been saying for years that I'm in my Auntie Mame era. I'm filling my apartment with highly curated and weird art that makes me happy, building a fantastic analog music collection, finding unique well-mad secondhand clothing, and learning all the things I was curious about as a kid but stopped pursuing because I Can't Monetize It So Why Bother. I'm child-free but I am an auntie, and I love building the mystique of my life and increasingly perplexing my family.
This is real wealth: the agency and chutzpah to just be yourself. Felt this one down deep, because when women claim their full selves, it changes everything. And at least in my age group (early 40s), we're getting there but not THERE-THERE yet. I'll be working on this from within the confines of severe chronic illness...weird sick rich aunt energy!
I've always called it "Eccentric High School Art Teacher", but same idea! I found my favorite vintage cardigan 6 years ago at Hidden Treasures (https://www.hiddentreasurestopanga.com/) in Topanga Canyon. It was everything, and I wore it constantly. Two years ago, we were the victims of a smash and grab in San Francisco, and of all our luggage was stolen. Of the things they got (my running shoes, makeup, a nice dress I'd just bought), the $40 vintage cardigan is the only thing I still think about-- at least once a week, no lie. Long story long, I want everything (or at least the vast majority of things) in my life to feel like that cardigan. Fun, meaningful, and just so me.
Yes! This is perfect! My BFF and I also talk about Art Teach Chic and will also describe a sweater as very "Delight in the line" which is something her college art professor would say!
Delight in the line. Filing that one away. Sarah... I literally reverse google image search this cardigan twice a year to see if I can find it. I have one photo of it and it doesn't have the tag visible! It bums me out so much.
If you are on Facebook, the “Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! with Caroline Moss” group is top notch at finding things! Hope you come across a replacement soon.
I love this post. A great way to live fully. Brought to mind this quote: 'I didn't want to get to the end of my life and find that I had just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.' Diane Ackerman. Just turned 61 so doing a lot of life review and how I want to be going forward.
Oh I love this! Working my way towards WRA (though in no rush at 35). I took the idea on its first outing last week - wearing a velvet and satin tux to a black tie event with gold boots, instead of a dress and heels :)
i love this! i'm 52 and am pretty sure i'm a WRA at this point 😆 my headstrong and difficult to impress nibling recently told me i'm the only rich person they respect and i guess it's all relative as to whether i'm actually rich but it was one of the best compliments i've received.
just bought my first house and am slowly making it into the WRA/plant lady home of my dreams!
I love this. Especially this: "Sure, she loves her family and her job but she is more than any of these." I have a growing... I guess we'll call it distaste? for seemingly all (not all but most) around me who can't seem to articulate ONE SENTENCE without bringing up their significant other or child and don't seem to have their own thoughts/opinions/things that belong to just them. You are not 100% the same as anyone else and you shoudn't be! It seems like a lot of people want to lose their identity in a codependent something or other. It's bizarre to me.
What an absolutely fascinating and thoughtful piece Sarah!
I will be 55 in July this year!! Over the past 5 or so years, I’ve noticeably “not given a shit” about dying my hair, what people think of me (work in progress) and accepted that I am who I am.
Love the detail you go into about a Weird Rich Aunt. Ageing is a privilege not extended to everyone. This has given me pause for thought…. I have big life decision that I’m thinking about…. May I think like a Weird Rich Aunt and make that decision!!
Thank you, thank you for putting so many words to my similar ambitions. It also makes miss and appreciate even more my “crazy aunt Jane” who embodied all of this and more.
She was a member of the foreign service during WWII where she met her future (and then past) husband, a Pakistani duke. During the 25+ years she lived in Karachi she directed the city chorale group and raised saluki dogs.
Oh, and when she was is college - dreaming, like you, of her very successful future as a WRA - she kept a pet aligator in her bathtub. Inspirational! Aspirational! Delightful.
She was a gem. 🩷 I can only dream of being half the WRA she was. #goals indeed.
Eglantine Price and Jessica Fletcher are my guideposts for living a full joyful life. (So maybe it’s just Angela Lansbury?) I turn 50 in July, so maybe I’m already there! 🎉 While, yep, there is sadness, there is so much richness to discover in getting older too.
Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyon, Wanda Sykes, Lucy Liu, Chappel Roan, any of The Family Gorgeous from Drag Race UK, Kate Winslet. I will be thinking about WRAs instead of doing important things. I would like sub genres and intersections too. WQueerA, WAutisticA etc etc.
Yes! At 59.5 years young, I'm definitely in my WRA phase, although the R part needs some work as it relates to monetary richness. I began embracing my eccentricity around age 40, and have become less and less apologetic (or even explanatory) about it since. I've reached the point where my response to someone (typically family) commenting to me, "You're weird," results in me replying, "Thank you," and meaning it.
WRA inspirations include you, Sarah 😁, Susannah Conway, Carrie Fisher (may she forever rise in power), the Dowager Countess of Grantham (as played by the late, great Maggie Smith), Molly Brown (of Titanic fame, as played by Kathy Bates), Katharine Hepburn, and Greta Garbo.
My style goal previously was a combination of Miss Frizzle and Lucille Ball. Now I think that’s evolving a bit, which is a cool thing to explore.
Ohhh, those two are such icons!!
Yes to Ms Frizzle! My secret shopping obsession is finding clothing that makes me think, "if Ms Frizzle wore miniskirts" or "if Ms. Frizzle had a cocktail party to go to" etc etc.
Your comment is making me ponder my style evolution as “if Ms. Frizzle was an art teacher but also dabbled in reiki”
YES! I have been saying for years that I'm in my Auntie Mame era. I'm filling my apartment with highly curated and weird art that makes me happy, building a fantastic analog music collection, finding unique well-mad secondhand clothing, and learning all the things I was curious about as a kid but stopped pursuing because I Can't Monetize It So Why Bother. I'm child-free but I am an auntie, and I love building the mystique of my life and increasingly perplexing my family.
Yes! Those "can't monetize" hobbies are so important!
This is real wealth: the agency and chutzpah to just be yourself. Felt this one down deep, because when women claim their full selves, it changes everything. And at least in my age group (early 40s), we're getting there but not THERE-THERE yet. I'll be working on this from within the confines of severe chronic illness...weird sick rich aunt energy!
Yes! It feels surprisingly subversive to ... look forward to aging??!
I've always called it "Eccentric High School Art Teacher", but same idea! I found my favorite vintage cardigan 6 years ago at Hidden Treasures (https://www.hiddentreasurestopanga.com/) in Topanga Canyon. It was everything, and I wore it constantly. Two years ago, we were the victims of a smash and grab in San Francisco, and of all our luggage was stolen. Of the things they got (my running shoes, makeup, a nice dress I'd just bought), the $40 vintage cardigan is the only thing I still think about-- at least once a week, no lie. Long story long, I want everything (or at least the vast majority of things) in my life to feel like that cardigan. Fun, meaningful, and just so me.
Yes! This is perfect! My BFF and I also talk about Art Teach Chic and will also describe a sweater as very "Delight in the line" which is something her college art professor would say!
Delight in the line. Filing that one away. Sarah... I literally reverse google image search this cardigan twice a year to see if I can find it. I have one photo of it and it doesn't have the tag visible! It bums me out so much.
If you are on Facebook, the “Gee Thanks, Just Bought It! with Caroline Moss” group is top notch at finding things! Hope you come across a replacement soon.
I think I might even be in that group already! lol Thanks for the tip!
I love this post. A great way to live fully. Brought to mind this quote: 'I didn't want to get to the end of my life and find that I had just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.' Diane Ackerman. Just turned 61 so doing a lot of life review and how I want to be going forward.
Thank you so much for sharing that lovely quote!!
Oh I love this! Working my way towards WRA (though in no rush at 35). I took the idea on its first outing last week - wearing a velvet and satin tux to a black tie event with gold boots, instead of a dress and heels :)
That sounds like an INCREDIBLE outfit!!
i love this! i'm 52 and am pretty sure i'm a WRA at this point 😆 my headstrong and difficult to impress nibling recently told me i'm the only rich person they respect and i guess it's all relative as to whether i'm actually rich but it was one of the best compliments i've received.
just bought my first house and am slowly making it into the WRA/plant lady home of my dreams!
What an incredible compliment!
I love this. Especially this: "Sure, she loves her family and her job but she is more than any of these." I have a growing... I guess we'll call it distaste? for seemingly all (not all but most) around me who can't seem to articulate ONE SENTENCE without bringing up their significant other or child and don't seem to have their own thoughts/opinions/things that belong to just them. You are not 100% the same as anyone else and you shoudn't be! It seems like a lot of people want to lose their identity in a codependent something or other. It's bizarre to me.
And it's pretty rare that men make being a husband or father the center of their identity. Just saying!!
Yes, it is almost 100% women doing this in my experience.
GOALS.
Right?!
What an absolutely fascinating and thoughtful piece Sarah!
I will be 55 in July this year!! Over the past 5 or so years, I’ve noticeably “not given a shit” about dying my hair, what people think of me (work in progress) and accepted that I am who I am.
Love the detail you go into about a Weird Rich Aunt. Ageing is a privilege not extended to everyone. This has given me pause for thought…. I have big life decision that I’m thinking about…. May I think like a Weird Rich Aunt and make that decision!!
♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, thank you for putting so many words to my similar ambitions. It also makes miss and appreciate even more my “crazy aunt Jane” who embodied all of this and more.
She was a member of the foreign service during WWII where she met her future (and then past) husband, a Pakistani duke. During the 25+ years she lived in Karachi she directed the city chorale group and raised saluki dogs.
Oh, and when she was is college - dreaming, like you, of her very successful future as a WRA - she kept a pet aligator in her bathtub. Inspirational! Aspirational! Delightful.
She was a gem. 🩷 I can only dream of being half the WRA she was. #goals indeed.
Wowwww! Aunt Jane is truly, truly #goals!
Eglantine Price and Jessica Fletcher are my guideposts for living a full joyful life. (So maybe it’s just Angela Lansbury?) I turn 50 in July, so maybe I’m already there! 🎉 While, yep, there is sadness, there is so much richness to discover in getting older too.
Oh, I'm unfamiliar with Eglantine Price - I'll have to look her up!
She’s the witchy heroine of Bedknobs and Broomsticks! As a kid it meant so much to see a single woman living a full life solo and doing good!
Melanie Lynskey, Natasha Lyon, Wanda Sykes, Lucy Liu, Chappel Roan, any of The Family Gorgeous from Drag Race UK, Kate Winslet. I will be thinking about WRAs instead of doing important things. I would like sub genres and intersections too. WQueerA, WAutisticA etc etc.
Doechii. ✨️
I don’t know about this. I am a 57 year old WRA and some days I dress like a 15 year old skater boy.
As a WRA you are allowed to dress however you want! That’s the essense of a Weird Rich Aunt!
Yes! At 59.5 years young, I'm definitely in my WRA phase, although the R part needs some work as it relates to monetary richness. I began embracing my eccentricity around age 40, and have become less and less apologetic (or even explanatory) about it since. I've reached the point where my response to someone (typically family) commenting to me, "You're weird," results in me replying, "Thank you," and meaning it.
WRA inspirations include you, Sarah 😁, Susannah Conway, Carrie Fisher (may she forever rise in power), the Dowager Countess of Grantham (as played by the late, great Maggie Smith), Molly Brown (of Titanic fame, as played by Kathy Bates), Katharine Hepburn, and Greta Garbo.
Carrie Fisher! Yes!
Entering my WRA era … 💅🏻
Ohhhh, you are going to be SUCH a good WRA!! I feel like the PNW really lends itself to that!