I was just sitting here thinking about how easy it is to be taken captive by some rules out there regarding how we dress. Maybe we don’t have ANY rules because it’s a subject no one has ever broached with us… Whatever it is, we need to whip some mindsets out the door! Just open the freakin’ door and give them the boot! AND, maybe, just maybe, open the door and let some new fresh ideas in!
I’m all for class. I’m all for presenting ourselves to the world in a classy, attractive way. I think there’s a lot of truth to “We are how we dress.” Many articles out there suggest that how we dress reflects our personality, our character, our mood and our style. I think there’s a lot of truth to that.
Are you stuck in a rut regarding your wardrobe? I’ve had a ton of people tell me “I don’t know how to dress. No one has ever taught me.” Well, stick with me and follow my blog posts if you can! I have quite a few wardrobe tips up my sleeves. When you’re older than dirt, you can’t help but learn a few things that will benefit others. So, if you dare, follow along. (Just hit subscribe and type in your email address so you get my blog posts and alerts)!
Have you ever met an individual that for lack of a better word, are sloppily dressed or frumpy? What’s the first thing that pops into your mind about that person? Do you see that person as being someone who cares about themselves? Do you feel drawn to them, or do you see them as standoffish? Are they reserved, cold and unfriendly? Do you gravitate towards them or do you keep your distance? I tend to be very sensitive to people. I generally stay away from people like this because they just have a vibe about them. If I sense walls, I leave them be. (Unless they’ve come to me for Life Coaching, breaking through those walls are no fun and generally takes a ton of time).
Think of yourself as a canvas and your wardrobe as the paint. I absolutely love bright colors. And oh my gosh, I love, love, love bling. Jewelry, shoes, you name it! Bright colors brighten up my mood when I’m feeling blue. Basically, I dress happy. I rarely wear pastels because they’re just kind of… “there.” They do little for me. I hate blending in. At the same time, I don’t wear what I wear for reactions. I wear what I love. I wear what makes me happy and it just so happens that ‘happy” in general is like a magnet. People are typically drawn to bright, happy colors and people.
I tend to get a lot of compliments wherever I go. Ask my hubby and my son….! I think it CAN BE annoying for them “at times,” but over all, I think they are rather amused and proud more than bugged. I frequently hear, Oh I just love your nail color, or that piece of jewelry, or your top, your shoes, that hat, etc…. On the other hand, I rarely get compliments on my hair. I have a Cosmetology license, so I’m trained to do hair, but my hair is relatively fine. Though I keep it shaped and attractive, I’m not a gal with over the top luxurious hair. I do know how to work it though. I love fun hairpieces and I’m in love with hats, so I wear them a lot and get creative with my hair when I have time. I guaran-darn-tee-ya though, if I wake up and have to get out the door in break-neck-speed it’ll almost always be a HAT day, because it’s super easy and I wear them well!
Maybe you don’t have many bright colors in your wardrobe or don’t like wearing them. That’s okay. You need to be comfortable in your own skin for the most part. But can I encourage you to stretch yourself just a tad so you don’t get stuck in your proverbial “comfort zone”? Branch out and wear something you’re not necessarily comfortable wearing. Go get a new haircut. Buy a new piece of jewelry and actually wear it. (I have a literal TON of costume jewelry pieces in my store if you’re looking for something different to make you stand out in a crowd. I call them “Statement Pieces!” You know, why would you want to blend in when you can stand out? No need for boredom, right? Check out my store link up above or just mosey on over to CaroleDianneDesigns.com)! Grab a piece of jewelry from any store really that’s just a tad flashy and wear it…Trust me, it’ll make you feel better and may just break ya out of a self made mindset and prison.
I have a new friend. She’s not the flashy type and is on the reserved side, but she recently got her hair cut and dyed a burgundy red. Her hair is a light strawberry blonde and she’s graying a lot which is obviously aging. Oh my word! Did her cut and color ever give her a lift! And it landed her some hefty compliments! People took notice because it was such a drastic change. It even brightened up her personality. And why? Because she felt better about herself inside. The CHANGE did exactly what it was suppose to do.
There’s a new phrase that’s become quite popular. It actually irritates me just a bit: “You do YOU BOO!” Sounds a bit condescending, but I understand the premise. We need to dress the way we like. Being ourselves is important. We don’t need to be like everyone else. But my main point from this post is, if we could just widen our horizons and our comfort zones a tiny bit and s-t-r-e-t-c-h ourselves by making tiny changes it would help us tremendously! If you’ve been down in the dumps or depressed, make a haircut and color or highlight appointment. Go shopping for a new outfit and maybe stretch yourself just enough to live a tiny bit on the edge of what you’re typically used to. And folks, if you don’t have a lot to spend, don’t hesitate to go to a second hand store! I’ve found brand new clothes for a fraction of what you’d spend at the mall, at the Goodwill. I call it “God’s Will” store! (Beautiful designer clothes that someone didn’t want). Wash them when you get home and you’ll be good to go! The tiniest, most minute changes could give you just the lift within you’ve been searching for. In short, ….GET YOUR HAPPY ON!
I’d love, love, love to hear your comments if this post on Wardrobe Whips has helped you? Love ya all, -carole-
