Sick, depressed or in a no future mood? Looking at inspiring outfits “so me” might evoke a little smile but it won’t get us out of the funk. In fact, as I experienced myself, my passion for fashion was on the lowest burner when I felt physically imbalanced recently. Fashion is not a cure but is an amazing sidekick on light gray days and when we need an accomplice to achieve our goals.
Secret No 1 - feel your wardrobe.
What is the mood or situation I am in and where would I rather be?
Which color, fabric or style will support my goal?
Secret No 2 - let your outfits talk to you
Colors - colors have vibrations often interpreted for us by the society we live in. Before simply agreeing to something like “red is power “(western societies) we let it talk to us. Your relationship to red is not like everyone else’s. Red might feel aggressive to some or even dangerous to others. Those very personal viewpoints will jeopardize the intention of being powerful. The more successful approach is to hold colors to your face thinking about what you would like to express or achieve; which one will say “chose me?” The same counts for fabrics and styles.
Style has personal and collective memories. It is steeped in the history of its making as much as stories of who wore what and why and how it is received by society. Style equals roles; which role will we step into today? Which styles can we mix to step away from the usual interpretations and surprise the world with new meaning, with the uniqueness of you and me?
Forms - intellectual architectural structures, renaissance ruffles, over sized casual jackets or tight pencil skirts can be loud like cartoons and show what you want very pointedly.
Fabrics - from cold to warm, stiff to flowing they evoke different energies from the feeling of intellectual power, sensual openness, cozy protection or balanced zen power; when you feel your need or desire in your wool, vinyl, satin, silk or fake fur, the fabrics will be there for you
Secret no 3 - shop in second hand designer stores like Crossroads Trading or in thrift stores (those in more fashionable areas of town) Not only because you care for the environment but also because these stores often have an enormous variety of clothing from designers to fast fashion which is perfect for letting the outfits call to you. You chose intuitively rather than intellectually.
Secret No 4 - we imbue our outfits or one of its pieces with meaning
After we find out what the outfit means to us and the message it shall convey to the world around us, we consciously imbue it with our meaning. Invent a ritual to make it stick; add a particular fragrance to your thoughts or an adornment like jewelry, gloves, stockings, a handbag or a hat to remind you all day of who we want to show the world and why
Truth test
How does your body respond? Do you feel a smile or a shiver come up when you look at a particular color or style? Don’t wear periwinkle because Pantone says you should.
I love my two piece polka dot outfit, it was a vintage dress which I modernized by ripping it apart to show a little skin. I wore it to show the storytelling Wizard of Oz boot beauties, they even have a button to make them blink. Their funky art lured me in. Why then did I wobble when walking in them? I walk my truth in my boots but in these I stumbled. Surprise; I remembered that I never liked Dorothy and her witch killing story. As amazing as the boots are they have to go back because they make me unhappy. Moral of the story? When your body sends you a negative message , don’t be afraid to say no to your sartorial choice.
Happy making examples
Colors - Blue is the color of truth if you agree that it is. When literally stepping out in it we promise to walk our true selves, tell your controversial opinion, honest stories or grande messages without caving in under the fear of not fitting in, being judged or belittled. At the end of the day, the feeling of having walked in our truth is priceless. Imagine you reinforced that pink means unconditional love and wearing it was a reminder to smile at the world with gratefulness. Not just the giving but also the smiles you got back will warm your heart for days.
Vintage outfits, evoking Audrey Hepburn, Rosa Parks, Anais Nin, Madonna , princesses or rebels, lets us feel their power and how the same lives in us.
Faux everything - wearing faux fur and leather will make any animal lover’s heart sing
Alternative materials - eco warriors feel aligned with their philosophy and that’s certainly joy creating.
It is not that fashion is a happy pill by itself but with the ingredient of us feeling it, communicating with it and choosing it intuitively or mindfully, outfits become an alchemical element in our happy day.
We are the artist and the art and amazing art always has meaning and helps others to understand their world and themselves.
Outfits can make us happy when we imbue them with our very personal meaning.
