Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
When I feel blue, I wear light colors
Sometimes it’s hard to face the world, isn’t it? It doesn’t have to be gigantic tragedies that pull you under. It can be little things, or lots of little things that add up, or maybe it’s one big thing. When I wake up feeling blue, I know I need to take special care of myself right from the start and that starts with what I’m going to wear for the day.
What brought on this blue day
In the past, when I was feeling blue I could call my mom. But that option isn’t available anymore and I’m struggling to adjust. Sometimes I wake up and I am just missing her like crazy, eyes filled with tears, not sure how to put one foot in front of the other. Recently when that happened, I opened up my closet and started looking for the most gentle pieces I could pair together to help me find calm and peace even in the storm that is grief.
What works for me is simplicity. I need an outfit to be quiet, reflective. I won’t reach for a loud print or a busy pattern. I don’t want to wear anything that has lots of detail on it. When it comes to accessories, I want one necklace, not layers of them. I want one bracelet, maybe; not my usual stack of everyday bangles that I like to wear. I don’t want anything to make extra noise. I need to hear my own thoughts, reflect, be with the moment as it is, drop any “shoulds” and just be.
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The ingredients
So here’s what I chose. I picked out my Theory bone-colored silk top: super plain, super quiet. Then I added my “B” necklace, made for me by an artist I like. It’s on a shimmery platinum colored leather cord. It’s not noisy, doesn’t move around, it just sits there. It has a built in message. Yes, it’s my first initial but it’s also a reminder: just BE. It’s like a mantra. I can grab hold of the letter, take a breath and remind myself that it’s going to be okay.
I added my Carlisle blond-colored leather 3/4 sleeved coat. Again, it’s simple, not much detail, just the minimum. It has shimmer and for me, anything with shimmer captures light and brings in a soft energy. It’s not like a shiny metallic that practically looks mirrored.
This one is soft and easy, not demanding.
I put on my AGL taupe oxfords with white soles. Again, I like the shimmery quality to them. I added a favorite Calleen Cordero bone-colored leather cuff to my wrist. My silver leather “lunch bag” has a crackle shimmer finish to it.
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AGL oxfords shimmer
On my agenda that morning was meeting a client at Uber Optics in Petaluma to choose new frames for him. It was a Friday and my medium-wash jeans felt just right.
So while I was dressed for my client, I was also dressed for myself. I felt protected, safe, cocooned. I felt reassured. I know that “this too shall pass” and in a peaceful state of mind I can find the patience to ride the storm of deep loss.
My outfit choice makes me feel hopeful
This was the right choice for the day. I left the house feeling quiet, almost hopeful.
If I want to focus more on that quality of hope, I can use the Navajo prayer to help me.
I love the Navajo prayer. You pick a word and then say a set of lines in succession. Any word will do. I like to say it out loud but you can say it in your head as well.
I’ll demonstrate using my chosen word, hope.
Hope before me.
Hope behind me.
Hope to the right of me.
Hope to the left of me.
Hope above me.
Hope below me.
Hope within me.
Hope all around me.
Hope.
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Feeling hopeful
I had a great appointment with my client. We had fun. We got him into a new frames that helped him move into his next level of “showing up” in the world. It was very exciting!
Whether it’s glasses, accessories, or clothes, I love how all the pieces of fashion can support us.
Life is precious. Clothes help us face it and enjoy it.