When I was fourteen years old, I found myself completely and utterly enraptured in my very first (and last) boyfriend. He was a musician. A real knucklehead to the core. Man, was I smitten. We were star-crossed lovers, the fourth Hansen brother and I, and to my wide-eyed, teenybopper chagrin, he broke my little heart. I’d lay my Maybelline streaked face upon my pillow every night and hope that one day re-subscribing to Teen Vogue would once again be my largest concern.

Sure enough, in the weeks following the break-up, after a double feature of The Way We Were and Legally Blonde, I realized that I was as free as a bird. I could wear, say, and act however I damn well pleased. And I did. I dyed my hair as black as my soul and wore ripped jeans and ill-fitting band tees for six months straight. I made the transition from beauty queen to badass. My mother fretted I was gender-confused, and I would be willing to gamble that the majority of gray hair on my father’s head can be attributed to that period of my teenagedom but hell, I embraced my individuality. The same can be said about Bella.

Believe me, it is not lost on us that we have fallen off the face of the earth for the past five months. We were in mourning. Reflecting on our past four posts, we had an epiphany. Weighed down by our own fears and self-doubt, we were sucked dry of all of our personality-what made us who we are. It would appear as if we were just going through the motions, conforming to our university’s skewed perception of what us kids should be sporting.

We have updated our relationship status on Facebook. We know Steel Magnolia’s script better than Sally Field herself. We have eaten so many pints of ice cream, Ben and Jerry could name one after us. (I imagine it would be called “Bella’s Love Bites”.) In other words, we have wallowed in our own self-loathing long enough, and are ready to showcase nothing but our truest selves. Out with the old and in with the new. R.I.P. to the old Bella. You won’t be missed. Fare the well. Arrivederci, you conformist scaredy-cat. Just remember: It’s not you, it’s us.

Ciao,
Audra and Mack

Audra wearing: Vintage jean jacket, GAP grey hoodie, Urban Outfitters Karma Dharma Zen tee, Zara coating trousers (similar here), Stuart Weitzman Platform Booties, Spitfire Cat’s Eye Sunglasses, H&M grey fedora, Vintage gold geometric link bracelet, Crosby Gardens Art Fair cuff, Rebecca Minkoff Crystal Horn Pendant Necklace, Henri Bendel Fake It Stack Ring, Lori’s gold diamond ring, David Fairclough Arrow Class Ring

Mack wearing: Topshop drop-crotch jeans (Canadian tuxedo part one), GAP 1969 Western Blouse (Canadian tuxedo part two), Zara tweed jacket, Zara linen jacket with fold-over lapel, Zara long waistcoat, Pitaya white distressed beanie, Ray Ban Classic Aviators, Zara studded booties, Lisa Stewart Wrap Initial Bracelet, Erykah Badu hand cuff