Vintage Style in an Elevator, A Birthday Reflection

Hi everyone,

There’s no cake, no candles, no party playlist today. Just a quiet moment, a vintage outfit, and a camera capturing me in an elevator: going up, going down, standing still. Somehow, it all feels symbolic.

Today, I turned 41.

This photoshoot wasn’t planned as a birthday shoot. It just happened. But as I looked through the images, something about the setting spoke to where I am right now. An elevator is a transitional space, you’re between floors, between destinations, between moments. You don’t stay in it long, but it’s necessary to move forward or rise.

That’s what 41 feels like to me.

Not quite the fresh bloom of youth. Not yet the settled calm of later years. But a pause, an acknowledgment of growth, resilience, grace. A nod to the girl I used to be and the woman I continue becoming.

The vintage aesthetic of this look isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about timelessness, holding onto what’s classic, what endures. The pieces I wore are an ode to the quiet strength I carry now: structured, elegant, and a little bold. Because even when life feels a little stuck between floors, I’ve learned to show up with presence and style.

I may not be celebrating the way others expect, but I am honoring this moment in the way I know how: through expression, through movement, through style.

To anyone who feels like they’re in an elevator moment of their own: you’re not alone. Whether you’re ascending, descending, or pausing, your presence matters. And your next floor may just be your best yet.

— With love and reflection,
Iris