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KT Cooper's avatar

!!! loved this. I have never felt more seen than the phrase "sartorial truffle hog" which I literally gaffawed at. I too was a DIY thrifting rookie-reading teenager repinning girls wearing skinny jeans, long necklaces and pork pie hats. It's made me who I am today; a woman who is searching for her wedding dress in the back corner of vintage stores that smell like mothballs. I am grateful for that.

Because of this newsletter I went back to the bottom of my "style" pinterest board that I still have from 15 years ago, scrolling through the evolution of my taste in fashion. It was nice. Thanks :)

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Jax Preyer's avatar

I'm reviewing my work to put together a portfolio and don't know how I missed this comment!! This is so lovely—I hope you found you found the dress of your dreams <3 (hopefully one spared by the moths!)

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Alyson England's avatar

I know this post is a few months old, but I saved it a while ago and finally got around to reading it! Honestly, it couldn't have come at a more perfect time - I've been thinking a lot about Rookie today for some reason (as well as another teen girl indie mag I was into called The Messy Heads; I've heard it described as Rookie for vegans lol). I was so unsure of who I was at the time that I found those magazines, and it was fun to try and discover myself alongside other teenage girls who loved the same things I did. Basically I'm just feeling nostalgic, so thank you for writing this and being nostalgic with me.

Also a note on whether the kids are still into the DIY thing - my husband's 13 year-old cousin cuts her own bangs and writes her favorite song lyrics on her sneakers and sends me handmade friendship bracelets in the mail. At least in her case, it feels safe to say the Rookie spirit is alive and well :)

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John Mitchell's avatar

Among the sources of inspiration and techniques, I want to highlight YouTube. There is some really great stuff there.

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John Mitchell's avatar

I had not reached the point where you said Rookie shuttered in 2018.

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John Mitchell's avatar

Pinterest is wonderful for its ideas. so is Reddit. I will check out a rookie though it doesn’t sound like my gig.

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John Mitchell's avatar

Thanks for opening this discussion! I will be interested in the comments.

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John Mitchell's avatar

I should also point out that the materials of DIY are rapidly changing. Less wood and more engineered materials.

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John Mitchell's avatar

I am also a professional “builder” as a NASA experimental high-energy particle astrophysicist! Many of my most useful skills were learned in DIY with my father and grandfather, including a house and several barn/carports. Also learned a lot about structures, especially low mass, by building model airplanes including many gliders and rubber-band powered models for which weight was critical. I don’t think “kids now” are as fascinated by model airplanes or even model rockets and car repair is becoming too complex for most DIY. However, I still get good young physicists, including my son, who is an experimental particle heliophysicist with NASA. He is doing a great job with his own creations including one destined for the moon.

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John Mitchell's avatar

I have lived a DIY life until a stroke in 2015 slowed me down. I still retain full interest and make plans, just not sure what I can take on. I haven’t been a social media guy but I have a great affection for DIY publications from This

Old House to Woden Boat!

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