Post-Grad: Every day feels like Halloween

Hey Post-Grad Girl,

They say Halloween is the one time a year you can be anyone you want but honestly? I feel just as multifaceted post-grad. One day I’m romanticizing my life like I’m the main character of a coming-of-age film, the next I’m spiraling in my Notes app wondering what the f*ck I’m doing. Sometimes I’m the version of myself who wakes up early, journals, and actually drinks water; other days I’m unrecognizable (and not in a “glow-up” kind of way).

But maybe that’s the point. Maybe your twenties aren’t about finding the version of you that makes sense forever, they’re about giving yourself permission to keep trying new ones on. Like a costume party that never really ends. The friendships, jobs, hairstyles, heartbreaks, new hobbies—they’re all little dress rehearsals for who you’re becoming next.

And sure, it’s confusing. One minute you feel grounded, the next you’re googling “how to find my purpose” for the 27th time this month. But I’ve started to think that being lost isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes being lost just means you’ve outgrown your old self.

So this week, we’re talking about becoming. About the versions of us that we’ve retired, the ones we’re still figuring out, and the ones that are quietly waiting in the wings. Because maybe “finding yourself” isn’t this one-time epiphany moment—it’s a lifelong project.

So here’s to reinvention, to the soft resets and the full-blown identity crises, to the cringe phases we needed to become who we are right now. Because honestly? That’s the real magic of Halloween—realizing you don’t need a costume to try on someone new 🕯️✨

We love youuuuuuu,
The Post-Grad Girl Team 💋

Confessions of a Post-Grad Girl 💌

If you ask me, post-grad is also a time to be whoever we want to be. We can fall, shift, fail, grow, learn, pivot and transform however many times we want. Oscar Wilde once said that if you know exactly what you want to be in life, a teacher, or a grocer, or a judge, or a soldier, you will become it, “That is your punishment.” And that actually, not knowing what you want to be, reinventing yourself every morning, not being a noun but being a verb. Being moving in life, not being fixed in life, is a privilege and a reward. “If you never know what you want to be, if you live what some might call the dynamic life but what I will call the artistic life, if each day you are unsure of who you are and what you know you will never become anything, and that is your reward.”

Don’t get me wrong, I admire people who know themselves so well they know exactly who they want to be and what they want to do. I look up to the people that were seemingly born knowing exactly who they were meant to be, the ones who declare their major freshman year and never look back, who land the job that aligns perfectly with. I’ve always envied that kind of certainty. I also acknowledge the ones who figured it out on the way, the ones that found their passion and driving force; I’m always in awe when I speak with someone so deeply passionate about their craft, whatever it may be.

Post-grad life has a funny (but like not really very funny) way of forcing you to come face to face with yourself. You spend years preparing for one version of the future, only to wake up one morning realizing you’ve outgrown it. The job you thought you wanted doesn’t fit. The version of you that chased that dream doesn’t either. And while that used to terrify me, I’m starting to see it as freedom. Because maybe the goal isn’t to find the one fixed version of ourselves and hold onto her forever, maybe it’s to keep becoming. To let ourselves shift with each season, each heartbreak, each tiny revelation about who we are and what we love. It’s kind of fun, if you think about it, to be twenty-something and wildly unsure. To try something new and fail spectacularly.

I think the moments I’ve felt I’ve found myself the most, the moments I’ve felt I’ve come face to face with none other than myself, have been moments of failure. Moments where it’s just me and all this effort and passion, in a position where I have to get myself up off from the ground and try again (and again and again). I learn something new about myself each time. Every time I fall short, I realize I’m still standing in the middle of a life I’m building from scratch, one decision at a time.

XoXo,

Nati ❤

To quote Ngina’s favorite fall watch, “In girl world, Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total [sl#t] and no other girls can say anything about it.”

Figuring out a new hot and sexy costume every year can be stressful, so we’re taking the pressure off. Here are some of the looks we’ve pulled off in the past to give you a little inspo for your own Halloweekend lineup. Whether you’re going clever, cute, or full send, we’ve got you covered <3

A sustainable, Puerto Rican and woman-owned swimwear brand. “Founded by a true island girl at heart,” their pieces are crafted with every body in mind, prioritizing comfort and confidence. Laola is meant to have you feeling (and looking) like the baddest at the beach without compromising your comfort. Their pieces are ethically made in-house by Puerto Rican women, minimizing their waste and environmental footprint, and pay incredible attention to detail when making each and every piece by small batches, to ensure the highest quality.

Founded by Sara S. Silva, a girl with a passion for teaching herself about fabrics, design and swimwear who found herself absolutely driven with determination during the pandemic in 2020.

Laola isn’t just a swimwear label—it’s a love letter to the island, to women, and to the art of feeling good in your own skin. From the first sketch to the final fitting, Laola represents what happens when passion meets purpose. The brand’s ethos is simple yet powerful: to make women feel their most confident, comfortable, and seen. From the first prototype stitched during the quiet nights of the pandemic to a thriving studio filled with laughter and creativity, Laola has stayed true to its roots: a celebration of womanhood, craftsmanship, and the island that raised it.

🩷 We spoke to the founder, Sara, on a moment from her journey that’s stood out and stuck with her:

There’s one night that truly marked a before and after in my journey as a business owner - the night I first opened the doors of our studio to my friends and family. That evening, I shared with them that my only prayer was for God to give me the strength and mental clarity to build a brand where my team can flourish and my clients always feel heard. Ever since that night, that purpose has been my driving force and ultimate goal - and now more than ever, that vision fuels everything I do.

There’s nothing we love more than seeing a female founder, who is BTW the kindest person you’ll meet, thrive and see her dreams come to life. You can see and feel the love, care and passion each piece carries, and we love to see it.

If you haven’t heard of Abby Helms yet, she’s about to be your new fall obsession. Her music feels like the soundtrack to your main character moments — soulful, romantic, and effortlessly nostalgic.

Influenced by legends like Mariah Carey, H.E.R., and Ariana Grande, Abby blends smooth R&B vocals with emotional pop in a way that just hits. Her song “City Night” is our current favorite — written about the early days of her relationship, it’s soft, sweet, and the perfect background for your late-night city walks.

Whether she’s singing on the streets of New York or dreaming of stadiums, Abby’s music reminds us why we love songs that feel like something. Add her to your rotation, grab your headphones, and let yourself drift for a bit. 

Until next time,

Because life after college deserves a group chat. ⭐️