Founder, Unfiltered #22: Fighting FOMO, Choosing Balance 👗🚫⚖️

Hey guys,

It’s Fashion Month, and every scroll right now is full of runway seats, backstage moments, and after parties. For me, I haven’t been at the shows, truth is, most years I haven’t had the budget to be there. This year is no different. Budgets are tight, and I’ve had to choose where mine goes. But that choice doesn’t stop the FOMO creeping in when I scroll.

And here’s the thing: it does sting sometimes. Fashion has been my world for over a decade, and not being in those rooms can feel like missing a beat. But balance means not every season can be an “on” season.

Earlier this week I read a Substack by Charlotte, a writer who’s always been so supportive of FROW. She was talking about FOMO in her own life, swapping six gym sessions a week for summer weddings, nights out and memories with friends. Reading her honesty reminded me that we all feel that same tug: the guilt of not doing enough, the panic of falling behind, even when we’re exactly where we need to be.

It made me stop and remind myself of something important: saying no isn’t the same as falling behind. It’s choosing where the yes goes. And right now, my yes belongs to projects that take longer to bloom but matter more in the long run.

FOMO will tell you you’re not enough, not doing enough, not present enough. But balance whispers something quieter: you’re still building. You’re still moving. And sometimes the best move is to step back so you can step forward with more strength.

Here’s what I’m holding onto this week: hope doesn’t live in being everywhere at once, it lives in trusting that the steps I’m taking now are still leading me where I need to go.

The Unfiltered Drop #16 🎧

This is the part I didn’t want to write down; it needed to be said out loud.
Because some truths hit different when you hear them, not just read them.

Leanna Recommends 💜

This Big By Definition Mascara from Sephora Collecion is definitely up there as one of my favourites. I’ll never forget the first time I tried it, I was blown away, and honestly, I didn’t expect to be. It’s Sephora’s own brand, which not many people even know about. They’ve now made a waterproof version too, which I’m going to have to try. If you’ve tried it, let me know what you think.

Journal Prompt 📝

Where is FOMO driving my decisions right now? And what would change if I gave myself permission to step back without guilt?

See you next Wednesday,

Leanna 💜