Trakk 07: Gen X Wisdom: The Evolution from Fashion to Function (Bring a Sweater)

We're getting ready to leave for dinner last Friday, and without thinking, I grab a cardigan from the closet.

"Why are you bringing that?" my husband asks. "It's 75 degrees."

"Just in case," I say automatically, then stop. Just in case what? Just in case the restaurant is over-air-conditioned? Just in case it gets breezy later? Just in case I need to transform into someone who's prepared for temperature variations?

When did I become this person? The person who brings layers "just in case." The person who checks the weather not just for today but for the entire week. The person who has strong opinions about indoor climate control.

Twenty-year-old me never brought a jacket anywhere. She went out in January wearing a crop top because the outfit looked cute. She shivered through movies, outdoor concerts, and basically every restaurant in America because bringing a sweater would "ruin the look."

She also spent a fortune on drinks because she was constantly trying to warm up from the inside.

But here's the thing: Current me, the me who brings cardigans and keeps emergency socks in her car and always has a phone charger, is so much more comfortable. Not just temperature-wise, but life-wise.

I've learned that being prepared isn't about being anxious, it's about being kind to future me. That cardigan isn't about expecting the worst; it's about ensuring that no matter what happens, I'll be comfortable enough to actually enjoy myself.

Past me thought preparation was uncool. Current me knows that shivering through dinner because you were too proud to bring a sweater is what's actually uncool. There's nothing stylish about being miserable when you could have easily prevented it.