Mirror, Mirror: Reflections on Philly Style, Finding My Voice, and Social Justice

For award-winning fashion writer Elizabeth Wellington, style was initially less about labels and more about how she styled her looks. She knew what looked good and that what she wore was an essential form of self-expression. Mirror, Mirror collects thirty-six of Wellington’s columns for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she has written about fashion, politics, and pop culture since 2002. Each chapter includes an opening essay defining the era and how Wellington fit into it along with a “Fashion Fast Forward” that reflects how both she and society have evolved.

Wellington started covering fashion when the industry was on the cusp of social and sartorial change. As trends evolved, so too did Wellington, who found her place as she defined Philadelphia’s style scene. She profiles local doyennes Joan Shepp and Toby Lerner and writes about finding the perfect jeans. Wellington also intertwines optics and social justice in columns about First Lady style, the power of the hoodie, and the impact of the CROWN Act, which protects against discrimination based on hair.

Writing thoughtfully about fashion with nostalgia and passion, Wellington covers retail, Fashion Week runways, and the changing political landscape. Mirror, Mirror showcases Wellington’s flair in her work as she writes about style and herself.