Runway Ready? More Like "Reality Ready

Hey besties! It’s Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, just past 9 AM here in sunny LA, and I'm still buzzing from yesterday's "collection dropping soon" vibe. But today, the caffeine is hitting different, and it's less about the theoretical runway and more about the actual, messy, beautiful reality of putting myself out there.

Yesterday, I was all nerves and excitement about this "Mandy 2.0" collection. The idea of putting my authentic self, all the growth, all the learned lessons, out into the world for everyone to see and judge felt… huge. And honestly, a little overwhelming. What if I trip? What if they don't get it?

But then, as I was walking to my 8 AM lecture (yes, I actually made it on time!), I had this moment. It wasn't a sudden epiphany or anything dramatic. Just a quiet realization. This "runway" isn't some grand, one-time event. It's every single day. It's the little choices, the small interactions, the moments where I actually apply all this stuff I've been journaling about.

It's not about a big "reveal" that suddenly makes everything perfect. It's about showing up as this evolving, growing version of myself in my everyday life. It's about having that slightly uncomfortable conversation with a friend because I've learned to value clear communication. It's about setting a boundary, even if it feels a little scary, because I know what I need. It's about choosing to pursue a design idea that feels bold and true to me, even if it might not be the most commercially viable.

This "Maturation" isn't just about understanding myself better; it's about living that understanding. It's about taking all those sketches, all those fabric experiments, and actually sewing them into wearable, functional pieces for my life. And yeah, some stitches might be a little crooked, and some seams might need re-doing, but that's part of the process, right?

So, less about the grand runway show, and more about just… walking. Confidently. Authentically. And knowing that every step, even the wobbly ones, is part of my design. Wish me luck, besties. This "reality ready" thing is a constant work in progress. 💖✨