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BOLD BY DESIGN | JULY 2020
LET TER FROM JULIA MOLLOY A magazine, why a magazine, I thought to myself at 4:30 in the morning as I struggled to fall back asleep. My internal light bulb had gone off and it wouldn’t stop flashing visions of magazine covers, articles and friends I could feature, traveling to grand resorts to do interviews, and bold new products to feature. Visions of grandeur and grit swirled a dreamscape in my drowsy imagination, making my heart beat faster despite my need for more sleep. The next few days the question lingered as I pondered my next challenge. BOLD–Business of Luxury Design–needed something new. Or, maybe I was just getting bored. As if an international consulting firm and the luxury BOLD Summit business conference wasn’t enough, right!? And I literally know nothing about doing a magazine, I thought. Then I remembered something I hadn’t thought of for decades. I was shocked when I realized that I’ve done this before, kind of. A long-forgotten memory emerged. It was sixth grade, I was sweet, meek, a little dorky, and I didn’t have cool clothes to wear. I had no older siblings to show me the ropes. I needed a haircut and fashion advice terribly. Being a late bloomer and 2 sizes smaller than other kids my age, I wore a lot of uncool hand me downs and a scuffed-up pair of brown penny loafers with fringe that curled up at the ends. But I was a straight A student and I had ideas for my school, Mark Twain Elementary. I wanted to fix up our playground and create a donations table for extra lunch food kids didn’t want. I decided I would put my name in to be class President. I made posters and a speech. I wore my favorite bright yellow pleated dress, that flared out like a flower when I twirled, to give my speech in. I went up on the stage in front of the school and told them all my great ideas. I was terrified. When I was done, I think a total of 3 people clapped, until they realized no one else was, and then they awkwardly stopped. The whole day everyone made fun of my fancy yellow dress. I told them that I didn’t ‘dress up’ for the speech, I just randomly felt like wearing it. My first experience (but definitely not the last) in being fabulously overdressed. At the end of the next day, the results were announced over the classroom intercom. The Principal announced that Marci won. Marci!? I sunk in my chair. Perfect, blonde, Jordache jean wearing, snotty, little miss popular won! She didn’t even have a speech! She simply said “Hi” and laughed as everyone cheered. Really?
