When Everything’s Going Right — and One Thing Isn’t

The dark spot that steals the light

We’re heading into one of our biggest seasons — the months that matter most for 1987. Prime gift-giving. Black Friday. And our favorite tradition of all: The 12 Days of Drops.

Jen, photographed at the St. Regis in Park City, wears our knit in Gamay.

If you’re new here, every December we release one to two pieces a day for twelve consecutive days — a tradition that started a few years ago and has become something our community looks forward to all year long. It’s chaotic, beautiful, and one of the most rewarding things we do.

But this year, behind the scenes, it’s been… a lot.
There’s a situation that has been incredibly stressful — something that’s completely out of my control. And that lack of control has led to a lot of sleepless nights for me and Sarah.

Entrepreneurship is wild like that. This brand is our baby — we care for it more than ourselves some days. My hair might go unwashed, but 1987 never does. And when something threatens the rhythm we’ve built, it’s hard not to feel like the ground’s shaking beneath us.

Over the last few years, we’ve grown faster and bigger than ever — every week a new drop, every color, every design hitting stronger than the last. Our community is the strongest it’s ever been, and our financial health is the best it’s ever been. And yet, I’ve caught myself focusing on the one thing that’s gone wrong, rather than the hundred things going right.

It’s a strange kind of human flaw — how one dark spot can overshadow all the light.

This week, I told Sarah that we needed to zoom back in on what’s ours. The things we can control: the quality of our products, the joy of our community, our customer experience, our creativity, and the love that goes into every piece. We can’t control outside politics, opinions, or timing — but we can control how we show up.

I’ve been grounding myself through the things that never fail me: breathwork, movement, 10K steps, journaling, long walks with Latte, and cozy nights with Jack. Reminding myself that life’s best moments always exist alongside challenge — and that our job isn’t to wait for everything to be perfect, but to keep showing up with heart, even when it’s hard.

Sarah and I have always said: if 1987 can make someone feel cozy — through heartbreak or celebration — then we’ve done our job. Because that’s what life is. It’s both. It’s silver and shadow. It’s joy and grit.

So this is my reminder to myself — and maybe to you, too:
Things have never been better.
And there will always be that one little thing tugging at your peace — the undone detail, the piece that’s still in progress.
But joy is something you choose, even in the middle of the mess.

We’re so grateful you’re here — cheering us on, wearing our pieces, believing in this brand as much as we do. I can’t wait for you to see what’s coming this holiday season.

With love,
Jen DeAngelis McNamara

Founder & CEO

1987 Label