Head’s up—there won’t be an episode next week but don’t worry, we have amazing episodes coming up, including with Anika Krueger, Lindsay Sword and more folks you won’t want to miss!

Today’s guest is Traci Landy of Rambling in Style. Traci shares her experience as a college athlete, discovering her creative-side as an adult, and what she’s trying to say with her clothing. Enjoy!

Episode Transcript

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

Welcome

Maureen: You’re listening to Intuitive Style, where we believe that everyone has style. I’m Maureen McLennon Welton. In conversation with fantastic guests, we explore how to tap into our style intuition so that we can dress authentically and live fully.

Today’s guest is Traci, writer of Rambling in Style on Substack. Traci launched into the scene in the spring and has been lighting up our feeds ever since. And in addition to writing about style, she’s a full-time school teacher and parent. I love her extremely relatable angle as a fellow self-taught personal style enthusiast. I think this is really important kind of representation. Traci, welcome to the show.

Traci: Thank you so much for having me. I’m so excited to be here. I’m excited to chat with you.

Maureen: One thing I appreciate about your writing is your flexibility and the way that you allow yourself to kind of go where the vibe takes you. So for example, your post about palate cleansers, which aside from being a great lesson in slowing down, also touched on rule breaking. Specifically, you had planned out a handful of outfits and ended up dressing very differently. So what is that decision-making process like, planning outfits and staying flexible?

Traci: It’s so funny because all my friends and family would describe me as like the least flexible person in the universe. To say, that this is a skill that I’ve had to really try to build over time is the truth.

Our family was going to Aruba and I have been loving using Indyx to digitize my wardrobe and I’ll probably talk about it a lot here and there. I was digitizing my wardrobe, planning a collection of what I was going to wear each day. One of the things when we go away, we have this unspoken family rule that it’s carry-on only. Like we don’t check bags. We refuse to do it. We went to Disney World for like eight days and we did not check a bag. So I’m trying to get everything neatly in my luggage and I plan it down to the T, and I got to Aruba and it’s funny, like you mentioned vibes, the vibes just didn’t feel good. They felt off for what I packed. Old Tracy would have probably went into a panic, right? Of like, but I planned this and I have to take pictures and what about my content and what about my next blog post?

And this new Traci 2.0 that I’m really growing into since kind of my Substack launched in the spring has really been kind of like, okay, pause. You don’t really want to get dressed right now. You don’t really want to put on these really cute outfits that you planned. You instead want to focus on just being present with your family. You don’t want to be running around holding your camera, taking pictures. Like it just wasn’t what I wanted to do on the trip.

And there was this part of me that felt so guilty, right? Like I was like, I packed these outfits, I have to shoot them, people need to see them, that’s what the people want, and I had to take a minute and say, like, but what do I want? Like right now I want time with my family and right now I want to wear what just feels… I don’t really want to put a heel on or, you know, a pair of shorts that might just feel a little tight right now because I’m having fun with my family and we’re trying all the things. And I think it’s just building that skill of just giving myself permission to say, you can change course, right? Like you don’t have to go into something and say, I’m 100% doing this because it’s what everyone else wants. It was in that moment saying, well, what do I want right now? I want to be comfortable. I don’t wanna wear all these things that I planned out and I wanna enjoy being present with my family.

And that’s kind of where that post came from. Like it wasn’t supposed to be that. It was supposed to be everything else. And giving myself grace to say, you can change course and allowing myself, I love to make rules for myself, right? Like I have to wear this or I have to have this done by this day or whatever it is. And a lot of the rules I make for myself, nobody else is making them for me. So in this new 2.0 phase, it’s been a lot of saying like, okay, you can pivot and you can pivot and be okay, right? You don’t have to have this breakdown or this shaming that you didn’t do what you planned. You can just pivot and try something different.

When it comes to getting dressed, a lot of what I do is I pivot and I can make those adjustments. But the big thing for me has been like not following that up with shame, right? Of like, you did a bad job or you didn’t do what you said you were going to do. It’s okay to let the world down to take care of yourself. And I think that was that moment. So on this podcast, I try to talk about body awareness. And I think that’s a big part of telling our bodies that, or making sure that our bodies and our minds are in the right roles.

Maureen: So I’m just curious, you had mentioned that in the past you would have panicked. This time, how do you make that transition to not panicking when the situation is the same? Do you lead with your mind? Do you lead with your body?

Traci: Yeah. I think it’s a lot of leading with my mind because I think that is my worst enemy. And I write about this all the time about like, you know, being a super type B person and sometimes like being a little bit of a hot mess and having to juggle that. And sometimes that can be really stressful, but yeah, I think a lot of it is like conditioning my mind to say like, it’s okay. Like you can make those changes, you can be flexible, you can wear what feels good to you and nobody’s watching. Nobody really, nobody really cares what you’re wearing sometimes. And, you know, I think that’s just like an inner dialogue that I learned with a lot of help to have with myself.

Maureen: And in those moments, do you try on the outfit that you were originally thinking and then take it off? Or is it more like you see the outfit in your head and you’re like, I don’t even want to put it on? How does that feel?

Traci: So it’s like, I’ll get out of the shower, I’ll get myself ready. And then I’ll look at my phone and I’ll look at the outfit that I planned and I’m just like, no. Yeah. Okay. No, it’s just not today. You know, we’re going to get tacos. I don’t need to wear this gorgeous little look to go get taco meat spilled all over me. It’s just, no, I’m a big vibes person. And when I feel it, I kind of just try to trust my gut and what it’s telling me to do.

“No, it’s just not today. We’re going to get tacos. I don’t need to wear this gorgeous little look to go get taco meat spilled all over me…I’m a big vibes person. And when I feel it, I kind of just try to trust my gut and what it’s telling me to do.” – Traci Landy

Maureen: Yeah. Thank God for our gut. I’d love to talk about how you decide what to buy and where and what not to buy or wear.

Traci: I think I feel like my style evolution has really changed this a lot in my life. One of the things that really attracts me to a piece is colors. And it’s funny, because I’m not a very colorful dresser, but one thing that I really obsess over is the combinations of colors.

I always say I’m a huge copycat. I love to see things and put my own twist on it or admire it and appreciate it and try to replicate it in my own way. I never sell myself as an expert or a stylist. I literally am like, I’m a civilian. I’m a mom. I’m just trying to look good. And I’m like, I’m the guinea pig. I’m taking what everyone’s talking about and seeing how I can work it in real life.

A lot of what I do is I’ll find color combinations that I really like. And then I’ll focus on a piece or something. And I usually like to then go to Pinterest. Right. And I’ll look and see, like, how can I work this green sweater? And I’ll just search, you know, green sweater outfits. And I’m just kind of looking through them and I’ll sift through them. And any time I find that color that matches this combination that I start to like, then I just start saving it. Right. And then after a while, when I start to see for me, a big thing is like, is it versatile? Like, can I really use this piece?

Because if it’s really just this one-trick pony, it’s not worth it for me to invest. Right. I don’t have endless dollars. Like I’m a school teacher, you know, like I’m a mom. And for me, it’s a real careful consideration that most of my friends and family think is absolutely insane. But I like to really just kind of luxuriate in the colors and see if they can work. And I think that’s part of why I love graphics and design so much. I think another thing has really been like for me, as far as buying is finding brands that I really like. And unfortunately, sometimes brands that I like are out of my price range. And I have to be okay with saying like, I can’t afford that, right? Like, I could look secondhand, I could wait, I can hope for a sale, but I think it’s coming to terms with like, where can I get what I’m looking for that’s a good quality, that’s in a range that I feel okay spending.

Because there’s nothing that feels worse than overspending for something that doesn’t get its use for me. So with that, I’ve found some brands that I really gravitate to. Like, I’m waiting for J. Crew to call me, like, please. But no, I think I love to, you know, I feel like they really align with my style. I found over the years, for example, Madewell really aligns well with my style.

But not only do they align with my style, they align with my budget and how much I’m willing to spend and how much I can spend.

I’m also just a really big mood-based dresser. I joke about vibes, and a lot of when I get dressed and gravitate to certain pieces really just has to do with a feeling that it can evoke. And I think those are the biggest things.

Maureen: I wanted to go back to color because I’m also very particular about color, and I’ll get kind of a color stuck in my brain and want to buy something in that color. Then I’ll buy the first version of it that I see that is the right proportion or whatever, and then I’ll be like, oh, that wasn’t how I wanted to wear that color. I want to wear that color in a different way, but I bought this thing and now I’m trying to use it. Is this a very me problem, or do you ever do that where you are so caught on a color that you’re not really thinking about how you want to use it and more about using it?

Traci: Often. I think this color thing has been something I’ve always dealt with. I am a self-proclaimed Aquarius, and I love announcing to the world that I’m an Aquarius. So there’s this creative edge sometimes that I have, and when it comes to colors, I do something really similar.

I’ll find a color and hyper-fixate on how much I love it—maybe it’s cobalt blue—and I just can’t stop thinking about it. Sometimes instead of reaching for the first one I find that I may not really love, I start thinking, I need a cobalt blue sweatshirt, I need a cobalt blue sweater.

Then it’s like, okay, I want all these things, but how can I find them at the cheapest price? I go through this whole hamster wheel until I finally have to self-talk myself and say, stop. Do not think about this for a week, then come back to it with a clear mind.

Maureen: No, that’s super fair. One thing I do is I’ll buy it in nail polish.

Traci:Ooh, yeah.

Maureen: That kind of helps me get unstuck a little bit.

So we talked a little bit about body awareness, but are there any specific textures, fits, or styles that you gravitate towards because of how they feel on your body or how they make you feel?

Traci: Do you mind if I segue a little bit to talk about my journey with body awareness? I felt like there were a couple of big shifts in my life that shaped when I became really aware of the skin I’m in. One of those is college athletics—I played lacrosse in college, and being an athlete very much defined who I was for a big portion of my life. When I think back on my college experience, that was the first time I became hyper-aware of my body. I was lucky to grow up in a home where that was never something I thought about. My parents were incredible. In college, being part of a team made me start not only seeing myself but looking at everyone else.

Some things that contributed were a heavy, intense strength and conditioning program where we were Olympic lifting, getting big and strong. It was about who could lift more, which was celebrated. But there was also the weight component; they would measure body composition and clip, you know, love handles. Nobody did it to make us feel bad, but there were conversations about percentages, and mine was never great. We also had to announce what size sweatshirt we wanted—I always got a large while everyone else got small or extra small.

I remember being one of the only players who didn’t want to take off my shirt on a trip to Australia because I was with women who were incredibly fit, and that just wasn’t my body type. From then, a long journey of comparing myself, not really loving myself, and wanting something I couldn’t have started. It’s taken a long time to reflect on that and how it shaped how I see myself in the world and how I model behaviors in front of my daughter. College athletics are intense, and you get feedback from all angles—people commenting, parents suggesting exercises. Sophomore year, my eating wasn’t great, I lost a lot of weight, and I looked great from the outside. I got the most positive feedback from the world around me, which taught me that positive attention could come at a personal cost.

Just to say, everyone has a journey. We don’t just wake up one day and take outfit selfies loving ourselves. There’s a lot of work that goes into having the courage to do that. After having my kids, it was about trying to re-love my body and accept its changes. I wrote on Substack about my miscarriages and having to learn to love a body that let me down. Only in recent years am I overcoming that. When I think about what I like to wear, it’s important to understand the journey that got me here. Thinking about fabrics and textures—there were times I couldn’t look in the mirror without crying. I love to wear things that are comfortable; if something digs in, I won’t feel good. I love elastic waistbands, satin pants, high-waisted jeans. I would love to be a low-waisted girly—it looks cool—but for my body, high-waisted jeans and oversized clothing feel best. It’s not about not loving my body; it’s about what feels good. Comfort and how I feel in it really dictate what I gravitate to.

“When I think about what I like to wear, it’s important to understand the journey that got me here.” – Traci Landy

Maureen: There’s so much there. I wanted to go back quickly to your college experience. I personally practice Health At Every Size. For listeners—weight, size, and health are not always equated as we think. That [societal] oversimplification can be harmful, especially when how you feel internally differs from perception.

Traci: Yeah. I think it’s about honoring your body, not just others’ perspectives. Safety isn’t only about what others think; it’s a balance. Fashion is also about expression and communication, not just comfort. So what I want the world to know based on what I’m wearing is that I am creative. It might sound unexciting, but it’s about showing that I’m more than a mother, wife, or teacher. I’ve grappled with who I am outside of those roles. I never wanted to lose the artistic, creative piece I discovered as an adult.

“What I want the world to know—based on what I’m wearing—is that I am creative. It might sound unexciting, but it’s about showing that I’m more than a mother, wife, or teacher. I’ve grappled with who I am outside of those roles.” – Traci Landy

Traci: When I get dressed, it’s a way to express that—to show I have passions beyond family and career, supported by family and friends. I also want to appear approachable. I love the little conversations with people about fashion—compliments, shared admiration—it’s opened doors for friendships and connections in adult life.

Maureen: Yeah, I relate so hard. I can’t believe those words are exactly what I would say.

You mentioned as you became an adult, you realized you had this creative and artistic passion. Are there any other ways outside of fashion that you dig in or utilize those skills?

Tracy: It’s a great one. So I think writing is kind of a way that I’m able to do that. One of the things I love on my blog, which is like, I probably pay way too much attention to it on Substack, are graphics and images. I love design, and no, as far as design in my house, no, I’m not good at that, but when it comes to design, that is something I really enjoy. I started to see it in the classroom as a teacher when I was—yeah, like when I make my worksheets. I taught middle school for a really long time, and my classroom, I wish I had pictures, but it was like straight out of a Pinterest class. It was so intense, and I love color themes and when I would make worksheets, the way I wanted things formatted.

I have some amazing colleagues that I work with every day, a couple of women, and they’re always cheering me on in this part of my life. One of the things they always do is they’ll make a worksheet, come up with an idea, and say, “Okay, Traci, make it pretty.” And I’m like, yeah, I got this. I’m changing the margins, and I think the more I started doing that and surrounding myself with people—some of these women included in my family—that were empowering me and saying, “You’re good at this, you should sell your worksheets, or you should write, or share, you should create an Instagram page or a TikTok,” which I can’t do, but just saying, “You should pursue this,” that was huge.

I think that’s an area I do need to do a better job of finding other outlets to embrace it. I’ve wrestled with taking a painting class, and I don’t know why I haven’t just done it, but I know it’s something I really want to do and I think I’d really enjoy. It’s all new to me—literally, in the past, believe it or not, maybe under a year, I’ve really been growing into this. My whole first chunk of life was defined by athletics—this is who you are, your box, your niche, this is what you’re really good at. I never took the time to get to know myself and realize that I’m so much more than that. And I think that’s what this new chapter has been. Aside from adult coloring books, there’s more out there for me that I want, and I need to start taking the risks and seeking it out.

Maureen: It’s crazy—I just bought an adult coloring book yesterday.

Traci: So fun.

Maureen: And I mean, I can only speak for myself, but one of the ways that can be hard in 2025 is the pressure to monetize our hobbies and turn these creative expressions into something else. Maybe I’m picking up on that from the suggestions people were giving me as well, and maybe the painting class. Does any part of that feel selfish or wrong if you’re not going to monetize it? I don’t want to put words in your mouth.

Tracy: No, I think no, because for me, really, when I say it really is creative expression, I really mean that. I wrote a post about being on Instagram and struggling with content creation. I was comparing myself to everybody—why doesn’t anyone like my stuff? I was trying to engage with people and try, and it became this mind wrestle.

My daughter came up one day while I was trying to make a reel, which I can’t do—I’m so bad at them. She watched me laughing and asked, “Can I see it?” We would watch them, and then she said, “Mommy, how many likes did you get?” I was like, what? She said, “How many likes and dislikes did you get?” I felt weird, like did I say something out loud, and I didn’t like the way it felt.

I ended up deleting my Instagram—I was like, this isn’t for me, this doesn’t feel real, doesn’t feel good. I eventually created a really low-key new one, but it was a moment where I realized this doesn’t align with who I am right now and what I’m working on myself with.

To go back to painting, I can see something and be like, this isn’t the right reason for me, it doesn’t feel good for my soul, and I can walk away. Sometimes I want to light it on fire, but I can quietly leave. Painting or something like that would just be purely a hobby. Sometimes what holds me back is time—I want to do it, but what has to give? Is it my workouts, which I need to feel good? Is it spending quality time coloring with my daughter? I just wish I had more hours in a day.

Interviewer: Yeah. How is Substack, with likes and comments and gamification, different from Instagram?

Tracy: It feels less saturated, more substance. Instagram moves too fast for me—I couldn’t keep up. There’s something about reading someone’s writing that slows you down and lets you absorb it. I show up with a genuine heart on any platform—that’s who I am, how I like to operate, being kind. On Substack, engagement feels more authentic. Comments feel real, like people saying, “This speaks to me,” or “Your writing feels like my inner dialogue.” It’s less competitive, more uplifting, and I feel really good there. I didn’t get that fulfillment on Instagram.

Maureen: What advice would you give to someone trying to build a wardrobe that feels intuitive and authentic?

Tracy: The most important thing is working on yourself first. For me, it was learning how to love myself, appreciate my body, and sharpen my mental health. It’s ongoing work. Then, find what attracts you—what catches your eye, whether colors, textures, or aesthetics.

Start being aware of what you like, because in a world of algorithms and constant changes, it’s easy to forget what you genuinely like versus what you feel you should like. Another part is letting go of things that no longer serve you. I can be a big hoarder—jeans that I hope will fit or shirts that might come back in style. Building a wardrobe involves working on yourself first, then letting go of items that add pressure or no longer resonate, whether donating or thrifting.

Also, observe the world—people, colors, art, flowers. Moments of presence are underrated. For example, my husband and I went to a concert and were waiting in a cafe, and I was just watching the people in the city, absorbing their creativity in dress, tattoos, piercings, hair—it was inspiring.

Find brands that align with you, pieces that feel good and have multipurpose potential. For me, Pinterest helps figure out how to style something before investing. Apps like Indyx have helped me see my wardrobe as malleable, visualize what I have, what I need, and try new combinations. That combination of inner work, observation, and thoughtful curation has helped me build an intuitive wardrobe.

Maureen: I love your suggestion about observing the world. I’m not a homebody, so I love soaking in inspiration.

Thank you, Traci. This has been a delight. I resonate with so much of what you said. Where can people find you?

Traci: You can find me on Substack, Rambling in Style by Traci and on Instagram. I always reply to comments or DMs. I’ve met really cool people there and look forward to connecting.

Maureen: I’ll include your links in the show notes.

Traci: Perfect, thank you so much.

Maureen: Have a good one.

Traci: Thank you, see ya.

Outro

Intuitive Style is produced, edited, and hosted by me, Maureen McLennon Welton. Our theme music is by Tim Reed and Jacob Welton.

In case you missed it, Intuitive Style the podcast is an offshoot of Intuitive Style, the newsletter. Head over to Substack, and search Intuitive Style to read the newsletter—which covers reflections on personal style, guest features, and encouragement that there is no wrong way to get dressed.

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Thanks

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