Your Fashion Hall Pass This Thanksgiving

Tina, here.

A Thanksgiving note to you, our beloved readers.

Thanksgiving. Image.

A year ago this week I was on the mountain, in Beersheba Springs, Tennessee with my family. It was particularly cold and we spent our time in the kitchen around the huge fireplace when we weren't hiking or gathering wood. There were Ugg-offenders in my midst. Guess who didn't care? Me. I wasn't the image of elegance myself. My sister snatched this shot of me drinking my morning coffee in the kitchen, teasing, wouldn't your readers get a kick out of this!

Flannels, fisherman sweater, hair clip and sneakers. Peak of chic, don't you think? Ha. Who cares when you're cold and happy?

I was preparing for a life-changing, life-saving medical event that would bring so much more to me than peace of mind. Right after Thanksgiving of last year I had a prophylactic double mastectomy and reconstruction that reduced my chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer from 89% to less than 5%. I thank God for the story that brought me here and the story that has been written since.

Out of the ashes often rises beauty in a way never imagined. The Pink Chapter, started by Deidre and myself to walk alongside women with breast cancer, has been this year's biggest personal blessing to me.

Two friends that an enemy brought together. Breast cancer made Juli and Penny friends. Their friendship will outlive the cancer.

Penny, our November Pink Lady for The Pink Chapter.

Juli and her life-saving best friend, Gus. Juli was our first Pink Lady, when The Pink Chapter launched this October.

You have your own stories, and we are forever privileged to hear many of them when you invite us inside your closets, the most sacred part of your home. We get it when you just can't care about what you're wearing. It happens when life unfolds around you.

It will always be our passion to care for you. And if we run into you at the grocery and you're wearing Uggs and yoga pants, we don't care. We're just happy to see you living your life. (You may not quote me on this on any day except Thanksgiving. And maybe Christmas. Every other day of the year you get fined. Ha.)

From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.