The Leather Anniversary

Another year, another lap of debauchery, joy, pleasure, and growth.

January is my anniversary month in this industry, and I can’t help but reflect on where I’ve come from since first starting this career path a few years ago.

It all came to fruition after getting laid off from a job I cared about, but ultimately knew wasn’t my end goal. It may come as no surprise to you that it was at a nonprofit; I can’t help but hold my bleeding heart out for the world, for better or worse.

Though I still deeply value giving back to community and helping others, getting laid off due to standard industry budget cuts was the push I needed to launch something that was for me, something that would secure my future. Losing that job was the greatest gift I ever got (fitting, as it happened the week before Christmas. Go figure). Through the past few years, I achieved things I never dreamed of: an income more than what I thought my “max” would ever be, the ability to give to my community with more generosity than my underpaying nonprofit job would ever allow, the ability to travel and see my friends all over the country, the ability to apply to, get in, and pay for grad school. The list goes on.

I can’t help but be grateful. I entered this industry with some wit and research, but in the process I’ve grown into a self-actualized woman, a person who can hold containers with expertise and guile, a person who can transform aesthetically at the drop of a hat (once you’ve rushed from a cross country flight to a fancy dinner in under 30 minutes, you’ll get what I mean). I couldn’t have done any of it without my sweet, snarky, and generous clients and fans. And of course, my incredible SW community, a group of people so supportive and wise that it baffles me we haven’t collectively started running the country yet (Yet!! Yet!).

Before I go on waxing poetic for too long, I thought I’d share some of my favorite moments from 2022 personally, and a few of my favorite dates (Note: exclusion of our date does not mean I didn’t love it, or that it didn’t make the top five. A gal has to be discerning when picking a highlight reel. Please know I appreciate each and every one of our dates, whether it’s a quick lunchtime meeting or a weekend away).

Personal highlights:

  • Moving to San Francisco

  • Starting grad school

  • Getting a huge back piece tattooed

Some favorite dates:

  • A 3-day trip to The Ace in Palm Springs with star gazing in Joshua Tree and frozen piña coladas by the pool

  • Getting hired for a queer birthday orgy

  • An overnight in Nashville that included an incredible tasting menu at The Catbird Seat

Of course, every anniversary warrants a gift. And this anniversary is the Leather Anniversary, which means that the classic gift is something made of leather. And of course, my wishlist has been updated with a few leather items should you wish to contribute toward celebrating this milestone in my career. Some highlights include:

Of course, if. leather isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other small and large things on my wishlist this year that I would be delighted to receive, and tips are always appreciated.

I’m so thankful to everyone I’ve met this year, and cannot wait to keep creating memories with new and old faces alike in 2023. Happy New Year, sweets!

Simone Solnsa