Never Say Never
Never is a long time... and I like to change my mind.
As far as rules to live by (not that I have many), Never Say Never is one that I never thought would apply to me yet here we are. Cliche as it may be, I find myself turning into it repeatedly these past few years, months, and weeks...the more I say I’m never going to do something, wear something, be something…the faster I find myself doing it.
Let me explain.
In 7th grade, Maggie was NEVER going to use blush—she was strictly going to use foundation, coverup, and lipgloss (clear, obviously). HA! What???? Why!!!
In 9th grade, Maggie was NEVER going to wear tights—she was going to wear mini skirts and bare legs all winter long! I willingly subjected myself to years of cold-weather torture for no good reason.
In 11th grade, Maggie was NEVER going to wear a puff sleeve. OR a shoulder pad for that matter! Could you imagine? Lo and behold, one year later…the puff entered my closet and has not left since… I continue to wear both styles in the most extreme silhouettes possible…*sigh.*
SMU Maggie was NEVER EVER going to download that app TikTok. Welp.
Okay fine, in 2022 Maggie will post her outfits on TikTok, but she’s NEVER going to talk on it. Well, that didn’t last very long either.
In 2024, Maggie was NEVER EVER EVER going to post on Reels. In fairness, I didn’t see the TikTok doom on the horizon and I still have to close my eyes when I press post.
Last Friday 1/17/25, Maggie swore she would NEVER post an “Ask Me Anything” sticker on Instagram (even though it’s her favorite content to consume). READ MY ASK ME ANYTHING ANSWERS BELOW!
Maggie yesterday and every day before that vehemently abhorred (and still does TBH) when anyone referred to themselves in the third person, and yet!! ^^^^^^^ I just did that!! ^^^^ Many times!!^^^^
The point is Never Say Never because a day will come when “never” doesn’t serve you anymore.
You Asked, I Answered
10 of the most frequently asked questions from last Friday’s Ask Me Anything sticker.
Where did Marge Klim come from? Why do you call yourself Marge on one platform and Maggie on another?
So, no one calls me Marge. Or at least they didn’t before all of this. The name came from my little sister who spent the summer of 2022 convincing me to download TikTok and post on it. Let the record show that she is six years younger than I am, much cooler (as little sisters tend to be), and loves to tell me how cringe I am at every turn. Our conversations went a little like this:
M: “If you think I’m so cringe, why do you even want me on TikTok??”
L: “You ARE cringe, but random people will like what you wear. I don’t, but people will.”
M: “I made it through all of College and Covid without downloading TikTok, I’m not going to start now.”
L: “You don’t even have to scroll on it, just post the videos that you text me of your outfits and log off.”
So that’s what I did. For the first six months, I didn’t scroll; I posted videos starting in May, and by July, I was consistently getting viral views. As far as rebirthing myself as Marge Klim, Lily said, “No one with a name that long ever makes it. And it’s hard to say our last name anyway. Think about it: Alix Earle. Marge Klim.” There you have it.
This side social media persona that has grown into amazing opportunities and a network of incredible friends is all thanks to a little sister who saw potential in my cringe. She remains my harshest critic and most judgemental “manager," paid in a slew of PR boxes.
How did you come up with the name Selfish Delights?
I was lucky enough to get a tour of the Hermès flagship for work this past year and fell in love with their Bespoke Room. Tucked in some back corner of Madison Ave. is the most gorgeously outfitted suite set with a pristine collection of collars and cuffs positioned for picking. If you know how much I love a button-down with cuff or collar interest, you know this was my heaven. Our guide told us that the most esteemed patrons of this custom work always opted for what they called “Selfish Delights”- initials embroidered on the inside of a cuff where no one could see them, patterned silk lining the inside of a suit jacket, a word inscribed on an inside pocket- a special detail added just for themselves to enjoy.
I’ve always felt this way about what I wear, it’s for me and no one else. I firmly believe in gatekeeping, keeping something special just for yourself. Even my Instagram account has always been (until this past week) a creative outlet for me- I’m not interested in using it for selling or linking-which is why I hesitate to post things like “Ask Me Anything” stickers. The more I use it for advertising as opposed to aesthetics, the less appealing it becomes to me.
In this newsletter, Selfish Delights, I’ll be sharing what I have inscribed on the inside pocket of my life- all the tips, tricks, and secrets I’ve kept close to my chest- from shopping to traveling to just plain living.
You have good taste, but how did you get it? How did you find your personal style?
Thank you! I think that’s generally up for debate, but I’ll take it. I’ve always been someone who shops with their heart, not with their head. Today the result is a closet full of unconventional statement pieces that I wholeheartedly love, in the past that meant diving deep into whatever style I was feeling at the time. As far as finding my personal style, I owe a lot of that to my Mom who let me experiment and express myself in a way that I think a lot of others wouldn't have. For example, in 4th grade when I wanted to learn to sew, she took me to the fabric store to pick out fabrics and we spent weeks learning how to make a single pair of (hideous) pajama pants. In 7th grade when I wanted a pink and brown bedroom, she jumped on board. As I grew, if I wanted to paint on the walls with acrylics instead of a canvas, that was okay too. As far as personal style, in middle school, I lived in Sperrys, neon orange Crewcut “toothpick” skinny jeans with gold zippers down the sides, and a green and white striped rugby shirt. It did NOT look good. I also went deep on graphic t-shirts, ripped jeans, and ear crawlers one year of HS. Classic. But even when I look back at some of my old pictures, I realize that I still own a lot of the clothes I once did. I loved them so much then, that I continue to love them now.
My advice: forget “trends,” forget a “seasonal uniform;” wear what you love and what you feel good in, whether that’s basics or statement pieces, formfitting fits or baggy layers, old pieces or new purchases, as long as you love it and wear it with your whole chest it’s going to work.
What do you wear for everyday clothing? Or do you… not?
So, I’m not entirely sure what this means hahaha. I don’t save any of my crazy statement pieces or nice items for “special occasions.” I get DRESSED for work every day, to go to museums, to hang out, and many times for no reason at all because it makes me happy. I’ve never been one to hang out in leggings, I’m one of those psychopaths who can take a nap in jeans or sit on a long plane ride in them. If I am in leggings, they’re most likely an ancient pair of black shiny All Access ones. If I’m feeling uninspired, I’m falling back on a great button-down, a good pair of jeans, and a kitten heel.
How do you approach shopping for unique pieces? Websites, thrift stores, notifications, etc?
I never know what’s on the new arrivals page. I’m not a scroller when it comes to shopping. (Another reason why IG linking is not for me.) I consider myself more of a hunter, I stalk items like prey often for months, sometimes even years. I’m very well acquainted with the sales cycle at this point (sign me up for Shoppers Anonymous) and know exactly when a dream piece is going to be at its lowest price point. It also often works out that what I want, most people do not. I have a list of 10 brands that I check daily on TRR, Vestiaire Collective, eBay, etc. If it’s a specific item, you bet my Google notifications are set, and because I’m chronically online I usually can act quickly enough to score something if it pops up. Because it takes me so long to find a piece, I wouldn’t say that I’m an impulse shopper, though I must have a strong reaction to something to press the buy button. I’m not a great thrifter, but do enjoy the hunt and discoverability that comes with it.
Where did you go to college? What did you major in? Did you have internships?
I went to SMU and triple majored in Fashion Media, Journalism, and Advertising with a specialization in Digital Media Strategy. I’ve always thrived on a busy schedule, too much downtime makes me lazy. I interned every year of college, the first 2 years writing for Modern Luxury Dallas and then in the summers at Modern Luxury’s Manhattan and Hamptons publications, junior and senior years I worked in partnerships at an advertising agency The Richards Group, and was very actively involved in collegiate extracurriculars and a few random social media ambassadorships. I fear this is reading like a resume, but the highlight: I had zero idea what I wanted to do after I graduated.
Advice for a fashion-based career? How did you find your niche in the fashion world?
Getting a job in fashion is nearly impossible, and I never worked in corporate so I’m not the best one to ask if that’s your goal. I started my career in advertising and when I was ready to make a switch I didn’t know what direction to go in- I loved traveling, I loved interior design, I loved fashion and food and so many things- the throughline for me in all of these industries was that I loved aesthetics and being in the know. Technically I work in Trend Forecasting and my job title is Creative Editor, but generally, trend forecasting is an antiquated term that reveals next to nothing about what I do. With the advent of data and the extreme cadence of social media, true trends are somewhat obsolete. A small part of my job is predicting macro aesthetic shifts 2 years out that we package in seasonless Design Movements for clients. My favorite part of my job is the section of our business that touches all of the industries listed above and works on keeping brands relevant by devising smart business strategies based on consumer insights. Think creative juice flows, ghostwriting, shopping trips, and fun fill-in-the-blank assignments. If you really want some snappy intelligence and early insights, follow our substack The Relevancy Read. It’s genius.
Where do you get inspiration from? In general, but also the pieces you find and the ideation behind outfitting.
Inspiration hunting is actually a big part of my job. I work in an office Monday through Thursday and on Fridays we have “Research Days,” which means we’re supposed to go out and gather inspiration- go to new restaurant openings, stores, galleries, museums, pop-ups, etc. It’s a dream for someone who likes to do all that for fun. I will say it took time for me to train my eyes to see things I would normally overlook.
Top Tips for Sourcing Inspiration and Generally Enriching Your Life:
Do things alone.
Take yourself out to a fabulous meal at a place you’ve been dying to try. Go to a gallery on your own. Explore a new part of the city. Take pictures of what you like. Go to a coffee shop and write down your thoughts in an actual notebook. Trust me.
Force Spontaneity.
Inspiration comes to me most often when I’m experiencing something new so I try to put myself in that situation as often as possible. I keep a running list in my notes tab that I add to throughout the week of stores I want to hit, pop-ups I want to see, and new openings I want to check out, even if it’s just a hotel lobby or a corner in a coffee shop that someone posted and I found interesting. On the weekends I’ll make a point to see as many things on my list, often I end up stumbling into something unexpected. If you feel like your weekends pass you by, try this to take advantage of your time off!
Be A Tourist In Your City.
Traveling is hands down the best source of inspiration, but not always actionable so be a tourist in your city. Make a bucket list and check things off. Go to the Opera even if you think it will bore you to tears, make your boy sit through the ballet, you get the idea.
Read Everything.
No more, “I read XXX in an article recently” but in reality it was XXX from a TikTok video. Read the newspaper. Read a book- what everyone else is reading so you know what’s up (this also forces you to read outside of your comfort zone), but also read what you’re interested in. Go to a magazine shop every Sunday morning and start a collection.
Train Your Eye.
Force yourself to notice small details (this requires less nose in your phone time.) Sharpen your focus on the mundane: analyze menu fonts, the graphic on your coffee cup, interesting hang tags, stitching on a jacket, the finish on a piece of furniture, or a color combination that strikes you.
Be Alone With Your Thoughts. Be Bored.
Missing your childhood creativity? Try this. It’s harder than you think. Keep your mind clear. I implore you to be bored. Don’t fill every spare second with a scroll or a show. Do your morning commute without headphones in, you’ll be amazed by what you notice. Spend time outside. Go for a walk without listening to music or a podcast. Refrain from parroting other people’s opinions before you’ve formed your own.
Lastly, the outfitting and styling portion of this question requires some serious noodling…stay tuned.
Where would you move in your late 20s, as a couple and as a single girl?
If I was single, Paris. Hands down. But if we’re being honest, I haven’t been single since I was a pre-teen so take that rec with a grain of salt. As a couple, London.
What’s one item in your shopping cart right now?
This has been sitting in my cart since last week, the final sale aspect is holding me back but I can’t stop thinking about it.
That was a mouthful!
Next week’s stack will be sharper. What to expect in your inbox 1/31: Thoughts on Anti Capsule Dressing, 10 more answers from my Ask Me Anything sticker, and 5 Selfish Delights from my wishlist.
Have a Selfish Delight you want to share? A question you want answered? Drop a Comment.
As always,
If you’re not going to be nice, at least be funny,
Maggie