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Time for the Teeny-Weeny Bikini?
Today, my philosophy is be passionate, meet deadlines, and try to smile in the midst of chaos.” For the most part, I can successfully meet this overall goal. But as I’ve learned from several other writers, business owners, and family, putting my health above all else is hugely important. They are all so true. When I spend more time on the computer than I do with my family, my boyfriend, my friends, and being the silly ‘ol me who likes to dance and sing in the mirror, go to fashion shows, and taking walks outside…I know something is up. Especially with Southern California weather reaching 100+ degrees, and wanting to wear as little as possible on the weekends, I gotta stay focused on my other goal: maintaining a fit bod. While I am loving my Old Navy and Target (on sale!) sundresses, I have been avoiding bikinis altogether. The “thickness” of my arms, thighs, and butt have always been my problem areas – even being a size 6-8 for the last 10 years (with or without the gym) – totally makes me want to avoid buying a sexy swimsuit. My favorite bathing suit for awhile was my Bebe white and brown cheetah bikini. Loved it! But then I wore it at the spa and got in a mud bath…now it’s light brown and dark brown. So much for that. In order for me to enjoy shopping for a bathing suit, I am just going to have to be as gutsy as I am when shopping for shoes. No matter the type of shoes I am looking for – flats, stilettos, boots, sandals – I choose what I want free-spiritedly without a care in the world. While, of course, a bikini is much more of a provocative statement; I’d like to experiment with trendy, new looks. I am very aware of my body shape and size (I look at my body from all angles in the mirror every morning), and I do know of fun ways to accessorize and play with a bikini to make it my own. Yesterday, I spent the day walking around the shops along Venice Beach and checking out the printed sarongs. Now that’s a great poolside cover-up to flatter my hips, thighs, and boo-tay while wearing a cute two-piece underneath. I also love to wear my big hoop earrings and scarves in my hair while wearing a bikini, which not only shows my boho personality – it also sort of navigates eyes upward instead of downward. Who knows what I wind up with as I plan to start scouring boutiques and department stores. However, in order for me to feel confident going forward and take a chance on new styles, I must continue to do what’s right for my body, in regards to health, fitness, and wellness. This means shutting the computer off by eight in the evenings, taking warm baths for relaxation, drinking lots of water, eating lots of fruits and veggies, going out dancing more often, getting use out of my treadmill, and making it a point to enjoy the outdoors. If I can just push forth with these goals, that teeny-weenie bikini might just be one of the best purchases I ever make. Written by Elana Pruitt Visit http://www.diaryofapersonalshopper.blogspot.com andwww.myspace.com/talkingchic. |
Category: Talking Chic
Talking Chic is a column written by Elana Pruitt
Make the Most Out of Your Purchase
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Make the Most Out of Your Purchase
This group of guests arrived to my “Good Girl Gone Shopping” launch party in celebration of my going forward with a new venture: helping individuals uncover their inner styles with personal shopping and wardrobe consulting. So in between cocktails being poured, hors d’oeuvres being devoured, and a table of male and female accessories being plowed through, I decided to show four different ways I could wear my new, red top (with the price tag kept on to prove that it was a real demonstration showing I have yet to wear it). With my own clothes, shoes, and jewelry set out on display, I illustrated casual and chic, casual and funky, dressy and sophisticated, and dressy with an edge. As I was talking to the group sitting on my couches, I felt completely comfortable and ecstatic that I was giving others ideas on how to make the most out of their purchases. I also gave each person a challenge: The next time they see a mannequin wearing a whole outfit they love, they should visualize how changing one piece would give the total outfit a different appeal. I also suggested that they refrain from telling the salesperson, “I’ll take the whole thing. I want exactly what the mannequin has on.” Whatever I do and wherever I go, I am always noticing how style is exemplified and how fashion is used to express one’s personality. Yet with so many factors that play into the decision-making process while getting dressed, I can’t help but wonder how many people fear wearing one of the favorite pieces the wrong way. Who Cares? That’s what I say in regards to playing around with a purchase. Exploring your options now is perfect timing! Springtime is pretty much here in Southern California; and shortly thereafter, the salty beaches quickly become the favorite go-to place (despite the heavy traffic on the 22 Freeway towards Huntington and the 55 Freeway towards Newport). There are already uniquely cut bathing suits in the stores, and the cutest darn sandals making their way on my must-have lists. So as I envision myself basking in the sun with Lucky in one hand and sifting through the grains of sand with the other, I will continue to enjoy the versatility of fashion. It makes me smile to think that someone such as Jacquie, my friend, co-worker, and new client, is looking forward to having fun with her outfits and steering away from playing it “safe.” Admitting that my services are influencing her new-found excitement to shop and stand up a bit more confidently, Jacquie is growing into quite the “stylista” simply by stepping out of her comfort zone and exploring her personality. I encourage everyone to do the same! If you’re a loyal “Talking Chic” reader, you may remember when I wrote, “The ‘F’ in Fashion is for ‘Fun'” after Britney shaved her head. Well, when it comes to exploring your options with your wardrobe, I think that pretty much sums it up. But O. K., so you take your favorite pink blouse and pair it up with your black and white pinstriped pants, and those bright blue shoes you just had to have, and walk through the doors upstairs to work. But soon enough, you feel completely silly. You feel foolish for thinking that you could pull off a look you always wanted to try out. But how else will you know what really works for you and what doesn’t? How will you ever truly feel confident in trying out new trends? Sometimes the worst stares and comments are the best comments you could get. This tells you that you’ve taken a brave step and tried something new. Incorporating a purchase into a full-blown outfit is what it’s all about. Although every item in your closet and jewelry box should have a special quality, sometimes you have to experiment and mesh new items together. It could be quite the explosion. Written by Elana Pruitt Visit http://www.diaryofapersonalshopper.blogspot.com andwww.myspace.com/talkingchic. |
Make it a Happy Holiday Season: It’s OK to Shop For Yourself As Well!
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Talking Chic
Make it a Happy Holiday Season: It’s OK to Shop For Yourself As Well
And just like many people, I also envision a busy mall full of germs, greedy folks trying to get the last of everything, and waiting in line for impossible parking. That is what I despise about the holiday season. So, I figure, if I am going to put myself through this hellish routine, I’m also gonna treat myself to something new and fabulous in the process. (Don’t get me wrong though – I totally believe in giving to others without expecting anything in return and giving to charitable causes.) So, instead of making huge lists of what I would like for Chanukah, Christmas (yes, I am one of those people who celebrate and appreciate both holidays), or my birthday, which falls on the day after Thanksgiving this year, I like to ask for small gifts so that I am not putting anyone out. Plus, it is important that I pick out my must-haves of the season…myself! This has nothing to do with not trusting that my mom, boyfriend, or sister will pick out the right gift for me; it’s more about me wanting to enjoy the process of finding the perfect this or that. Because amongst what I despise about holiday season shopping, I thoroughly enjoy the sales galore. If things are gone when I finally make it to a certain aisle or department, then guess what? I will walk away, and figure it wasn’t meant to be! So as I mentally try to prepare for my last-minute holiday shopping, I have a few items in mind that, if I’m lucky, will score for a cheap cost with great quality:
So those are my big-ticketed items I hope to find on sale this holiday season. Now, if I skipped out on everyone’s gift and just shopped for myself, I would consider myself heartless and quite selfish. Yet, in allowing myself to update my wardrobe in the process, I feel happy. Doing just that, I will also feel prepared in entering the New Year with fresh fashion pieces, and having family and friends who understand my logic around this time…and still love me for being me. By Elana Pruitt (http://www.myspace/talkingchic) |
Tattoos, Fashion, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
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Talking Chic
Tattoos, Fashion, and Rock ‘n’ Roll
I prefer to place my tattoos in discreet places, regions where I can show them off when the time calls for it. Wearing a bikini by the pool or at the beach makes me feel oh so sexy. Lounging around in low-waist sweats and a midriff tank with my boyfriend makes me feel comfy and cute. But that’s me. As for those out there who have adorned their skin with tons of pop art, personal portraits, pin-up ladies, and names of their loved ones for all the world to see, I praise your bravery. In my eyes, the tattoos that have been permanently imprinted on a person’s body are merely an extension of that person’s style, the season, a time, or a reason. Just as a pair of vintage kitten heels passed from a grandmother to her granddaughter stands for a memorable era, a tattoo depicting this very time period might also carry the same meaning. A granddaughter can show her love for her grandmother by either keeping the shoes forever or tattooing a specific memoir on her skin forever. Although I may not choose to display my body art to the public on every occasion—you’ll notice my leopard heels before you catch any glimpse of my tattoos—I can’t help but feel in awe of people who take tattooing to a whole new level. Such as Kat Von D! This 25-year-old tattoo artist grew up in the Inland Empire of Southern California, starred on the reality television show “Miami Ink” on TLC as the shop’s only female employee, and eventually scored her own show and shop “LA Ink.” Although, I am more impressed with her entrepreneurial spirit, rock ‘n’roll vibe, and her insane platform heels than simply her massive number of tattoos, I enjoy seeing a soft-hearted gal committed to her clients and staying passionate about the art of tattooing. With stars lining alongside her temple and, if you look quickly enough, tattoos underneath her chin, the most common thought might be: Why would she do that to herself ? I say, “Why not?” Elana Pruitt (www.talkingchic.com) |
September
Insights
September
September
September has always marked the beginning of a new year for me, not only because my birthday falls on the last day of the month, but also because it marks the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. Having raised three children into adulthood, I’ve been conditioned by long practice to be sensitive to the changes in the rhythms and routine that this time of year sparks.
I hope that this is a new beginning, not only for me, but for the world. Will there ever be an end to war and warmongering? Will we ever as civilized beings face that we’ve wrecked and depleted our resources and are continuing to do so? What of the world Karma? What debt are we incurring against the future generations? How can we continue to deface our world and put the least of us in the way of famine, disease, and treacherous warfare (as if warfare could be anything else but treacherous)? How is it that my comfort is at the expense of another’s welfare?
I’m a small splinter in the machine. How do I stop the machine? How do I make my voice heard and declare that I want no more part in a country that goes around killing, killing, and killing with total disregard to the sanctity of life? I want to make a change. I want to change the world. Mahatma Ghandi once stated, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
I have to be the change I seek, so I started making a change. I stopped eating meat. I like animals, and even though I like the taste of meat, I don’t like causing suffering to my fellow creatures. I walk more. The more I walk the less gas I use. I’ve taken yoga. The more I practice yoga, the more I can walk, and the less gas I use. I’ve taken to meditating, chanting, and doing everything I can to be at peace with my family and others I exist with. It’s not enough, but I have distanced myself from the machine.
I believe that if I learn to make peace instead of war, that like the 100th monkey, my habits will rub off on others. What is the story of the 100th monkey? That one monkey on one distant island that learns how to wash his food in some way causes another monkey on a distant far away island to wash his food, no way influenced by the first island.
It really happened in 1952, on the island of Koshima (http://www.dead.net/forum/ what-would-be-answer?page=2). Scientists provided monkeys with sweet potatoes that had been dropped in the sand. The monkeys liked the taste of the sweet potatoes, but not the dirt.
One day an adolescent female named Imo discovered that by washing the potatoes in a nearby stream, she could rid herself of the sand. She taught her mother to wash the sweet potatoes. She also taught her playmates, who then taught their mothers this new method.
Gradually, other monkeys on the island learned to wash their sweet potatoes, and all the young monkeys learned to wash sweet potatoes to make them more edible. But for the adults, only those who imitated their children learned how to do this. Other adults kept eating the dirty sweet potatoes.
Then one day, 99 monkeys began washing their sweet potatoes. Later that morning, the hundredth monkey learned to wash potatoes. By that evening almost everyone in the tribe had begun washing sweet potatoes before eating them. The hundredth monkey created a momentum that produced an ideological breakthrough!
Written by Lisa Trimarchi
A Shout Out to I. E. Fashion
Talking Chic
A Shout Out to I. E. Fashion
A Shout Out to I. E. Fashion
I live in Rancho Cucamonga, California, a city revolving around commerce, raised trucks, and some of the best hot wings around (Buffalo Wild Wings, people). About 20 minutes from Pomona, where I grew up and lived for the majority of my life, and just over an hour east of the heart of Los Angeles, lies Rancho, one of the more uppity cities of the Inland Empire, you might say.
And whether in the beautifully diverse neighborhood of P-town or amidst the elderly dog walkers at my Rancho condo complex, I am finally overcoming my usual complaint: How does a fashionista truly exist when she’s surrounded by more drive-thrus and liquor stores than the preferred boutiques of Beverly Hills?
Well, considering most stylish beings are guided by an irrevocable light of creativity and hope, the end is never close. This said, I believe that I. E. gets too much of a bad rap when it comes to fashion, quite honestly. I am over the chunky-streaked hair, big Rocket Dog flip flops, and a “wife-beater” tank all wrapped into one played-out ensemble, yes . But I’m gonna go ahead and give a woo woo to some of my favorite local outlets, such as Target, Bebe, Macy’s, Off Saks, Forever 21, and Urban Outfitters. Yes, they do actually exist here, offering me options galore.
These shops give me the affordable styles, color, and designer touches that help me regain my strength and peace after a long day behind the computer. The confidence I need when I’ve gained five pounds. The rewards I need when I’ve lost five pounds. And most importantly, the luxury of quality without having to leave the I. E.
Because when it comes down to it, I don’t want to feel that the only place to find pieces worthy enough to update my wardrobe is the city of Los Angeles. Sure, if I could scour through the musty shops on Melrose or grab a bite to eat at the Farmer’s Market before hitting the Grove off 3 rd and Fairfax without having to spend my entire week’s lunch money on a single day of gas, I’d be all over it.
Not only do I pride myself as a sassy lady, but a smart fashionista as well. Don’t get me wrong, when I am craving a drive out west in dire need of a little R&R shopping, I make a date with my sister (and now my little niece) for a shopping excursion, making our trip to the City of Angels well worth the ride.
But until the day that I have a driver waiting for me outside eager to take me into the majestic land of lush boutiques and swanky eateries, you will find me striding into “Tar-jay” after work. I may be tired from running around the office in heels all day, and hungry because I’m back on the low-carb lifestyle, but I will be in heaven. This is because as I sift through the new Mossimo and Isaac Mizrahimarkdowns on display, I know I am just up the street from my day job and down the street from my home.
Aaaaaaahhhh… the peace from avoiding the 10 Freeway and the 101…!
Elana Pruitt (www.talkingchic.com)
The “F” in Fashion Is for Fun
Talking Chic
The “F” in Fashion Is for Fun
The “F” in Fashion Is for Fun
…Let’s step back a sec and pretend that Britney’s sole reason for shaving her head was because she was eager to spark a young Hollywood trend in baldness. Did that ever cross anyone’s mind? Well, it crossed mine—I am a firm believer in having fun with fashion.
Just as award show season has occupied much of the E! Network with pre-show coverage, post-show coverage, and Fashion Police disses, my few hours between sleep and work consist of watching beautiful hosts talk to beautiful people time and time again. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that not only “hair” has become the “ultimate accessory” in A-list credo, but so is a star’s stylist. And from what I’ve heard, I have gathered that there are many celebrities out there with really bad taste; however, thanks to the professional stylists, America can barely pick out who is clueless and who wishes they could have more spunk in their swang. So bringing it back to Britney, couldn’t one say that she is simply being herself but just getting ridiculed for it? Or desperately daring to be herself despite the commotion she has stirred?
So with a stylist as a sidekick, are other celebs misleading the public into thinking that they actually know a thing or two about real style? Truth is, we care…but we really don’t. All in all, we just want a celebrity to look good and maintain the holier-than-thou status that society continues to hold them to. Yet when a star—aperson—steps out of the grips of Hollywood and dares to take a chance on the raw emotion she is feeling at the moment, we point, laugh, exploit, make fun of, and chastise them because they are defying what and who a celebrity is supposed to be.
Since when did fashion get so serious that a girl can’t shave her head and not make it on every gossip magazine at the grocery store? It’s just hair, people, really. But Britney’s move was definitely shocking…for me to watch, at least. I’ll admit it. I myself enjoy playing around with braids, weaves, and scarfs; how my hair looks is nearly as important, if not more, than the jeans on my butt and the shoes on my feet.
I understand the symbol of femininity engrained in the look of a woman’s hairstyle. And for me, I gotta feel confident before I step out the door. So for many of us who watched actual news coverage over Britney’s lock chop, which in itself is sad—(Hello? Aren’t there troops in
Iraq to cover? What about the burglar down the street to show on the 10 o’clock news?)—it seems like the real issue is that without her hair, she has lost any sort of sex appeal that may have made boys twist in their seats and girls buy her music to feel as empowered as they may have believed her to feel.
Maybe the real empowerment was in Britney’s forgetting about what her stylist, her family, and her management team wanted for her. Despite any sickness or help she might need, I actually felt a sort of envy in the fact that she let all of her inhibitions go and lived for the moment. Whatever that moment held for her, Britney is still the Mickey Mouse Club tyke and the I-kissed-Madonna chick—but possibly for one of the first times in her life, she became the I-think-for-myself Britney.
So with the insistence of our dear friend, I am actually going to extend the “F” for fun to the “F” for “F&#% you.” Now, that’s what I call a role model.
Elana Pruitt
My First Photo Shoot
Talking Chic
My First Photo Shoot
I’m not sure exactly what turned me on to a day of outdoor modeling. Maybe I was tired of hiding behind the computer. Maybe it was to prove my sister right—that I really am the “cool auntie” my niece would grow to love. Maybe it was to explore a new art concentration. Or maybe, as an avid “America’s Next Top Model” viewer, I just wanted to see what all the hype was about… was it really that difficult ?
One word: YES.
Truth is, out of about 80 photos, only 20 were to my liking. Whether I got my money’s worth, whether I didn’t, whether I ever actually use the shots for anything worthwhile, or whether I hold onto them for my trips-down-memory-lane at 90-years-old, I learned more than I can really say.
To sum it up though, my experience in exploring this thing that we all know as modeling is something no lady of fashion can ever truly understand, or judge for that matter, unless she throws herself into the shoes of a model, especially if you think you can look even more fierce than winner Caridee in a single shot. (Yeah, good luck with that!)
So just do it—let go of all your inhibitions, choose a photographer you are comfortable acting a fool in front of, and realize that you are also choosing to do more than just model.
Because modeling involves much more than just “posing” for the camera, here are a few tips to amateurs who are yet to afford the luxury of hiring your own help or have yet to reach the status to be hired on yourself:
- You have no assistant; eat something first! O. K., so the morning arrives and you decide that the only hard-core way to feel like a model is to skip breakfast and feel skinnier that morning. But guess what? Smack in the middle of working, you feel panicky because you ALSO forget your morning coffee. So in wardrobe (stiletto boots and all), you run into a local Starbucks for a quick java, all the while feeling ridiculous for being dressed totally inappropriate for a college-town coffeeshop.
- Sorry, honey, no makeup artist for you this time! Ain’t that the truth. You love the job you did on your face with your new M.A.C. makeup, and you remember to bring nearly all of it to location. However, because you want to feel free in front of the camera, you leave EVERYTHING in the car. So as you go back and forth to touch up your lips and quickly combat T-zone shininess with powder, you are taking up too much time and losing all concentration because you are focusing too much on the outer beauty versus letting your inner beauty come through.
- Without a publicist, you gotta make your own calls! So if you are serious about taking good photos and you happen to have an awesome photographer who says she will shoot as long as you have the time…don’t screw it up by cutting it short because you were supposed to meet a girlfriend for lunch. Do yourself a favor and keep the day as open as possible for your first day of modeling. And honestly, you will need about an hour to relax, EAT, and calm down from the excitement and stress that made your Saturday an unforgettable December 16th. Without someone next to you who can make that cancellation call for you, this means interrupting the shoot again to go find your cell and become an annoyance to both your friend as well as the photographer.
… And so many more lessons learned from this experience. As a writer who understands the loneliness behind a creative profession, I actually got a taste of the solitude a model probably lives through in order to play dress up and fully transform into that character, allowing herself to become vulnerable and weak in front of the camera. All this while trying to create a masterpiece of raw emotion—whatever that emotion may be.
Overall, it was an indescribable feeling, seeing myself in my favorite pieces (Fortunately, I DIDN’T have a stylist for my first photo shoot).
Because when it comes down to it, all that is really left is the photo…or the article. It is merely a point in time when you realize that you accomplished something you truly believe in, and a point in time when you know that the real accomplishment is simply having the guts to put yourself out there.
Written by Elana Pruitt
“Size 12 is the New Two”
Talking Chic“Size 12 is the New Two”
So like it was just yesterday, I remember when my older sister finally dragged my then 22-year-old body to the gym, smack in the middle of my Sunday morning hangover (hint, hint). Fortunately, I joined the gym my first day there. After witnessing a horrific side profile of what looked to be me while trying to jog on the treadmill – yikes! There was no turning back. However, forget about my poor choices in the past. It is common knowledge that if the fashion world and social standards were more lenient toward women with shape and a naturally fuller figure, I would feel a little more at peace. And, like millions of other women, I wouldn’t have those pesky voices in the back of my mind yelling at me. “Don’t give in to that ham croissant at the donut shop fatty!” or “C’mon, just a few more pounds to go. Then you’ll have something to show off to your friends for once!” and the worst one yet, “Just smoke for about a month longer and you will totally look skinnier.” As I listen to those voices, half feeling like crap and half trying to rationalize my inner turmoil, I can’t help but think of the couture models of Fashion Week. Although most of their waist sizes look almost equivalent to the size of just one of my thighs and their shoulder bones ridiculously identical to those of hungry, third-world children, the clothes truly look gorgeous . But hearing that a model actually died from anorexia – the Brazilian beauty who weighed about 88 pounds and worked in the industry mainly to support her family – hit home. After many shows at L.A. Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios, I’ve sat outside and model-watched. The skinny jean, the cigarette in one hand and cell phone in the other…deep down, I sometimes would wish I had the same consistent control in maintaining protruding hip bones (sans smoking to do so). But when it comes down to it, I would rather not look like a starving boy. We live in the richest country in the world, and I’m so overpretending that food is my enemy. Yes, I have not yet reached my ideal weight, but you won’t see me crying over it anymore. In fact, I have a wonderful brownie and hot chocolate waiting for me when I’m finished writing this column. In my early 20s, I went from loving the gym and enjoying a sweat to obsessively counting calories and spending more time inside a room full of workout machines than spending time talking to my father. Now happily at 26, I have found my balance. After getting health tips off MSN, studying my vegetarian mother’s eating habits, substituting a Corona with a vodka and soda water, and joining an intense cycling course for the best workout ever, I have realized that to actually sculpt my body into a fit and more proportioned shape means leading a healthy lifestyle and wearing clothes that fit me now . This doesn’t mean buying clothes in hopes that one day I can squeeze into a size two. Guess what? I don’t want to be a size two. Just as I enjoy my flat stomach and strong calves, I am learning to enjoy my curves as well. Despite recent discussion or controversy about how tiny models are becoming, the truth does remain: fashion looks best when it complements one’s shape . And you know what? If that means purchasing bigger sizes to get the flowing, luscious look you’ve always aspired to, then guess what, ladies. Leave your ego at the door and think health over ridiculous standards. Like seriously, that could save your life. Written by Elana Pruitt Visit the “Talking Chic” website at www.talkingchic.com. |
The Real Me Every Day
Talking Chic
The Real Me Every Day
Waking up with the headache of the century and a matching nasty attitude, my workday lay out before me like a pile of bricks. Just the thought that today I had to actually make a wall out of this red mortar, one by one, practically brought me to tears.
So as I pull myself up anyway, click on “Good Day L.A.” for shits and giggles, put on a pot of coffee, and give in to my last morning smoke, I dread standing before my closet. This, of course, would mean I actually have to find something to wear. And with no mindset to be creative, I decided that this would be a brainless morning.
But I never thought that someone would call me out on it. “Elana, are you O. K.? You’re matching today.”
My “matching” sense that day consisted of a black cotton skirt, red blouse, denim motorcycle jacket, and velvet multi-colored Nine West shoes with (gasp!) matching red blazing throughout the tips. No silver-gold-burgundy-black-polka dot-striped combos that day.
Whether shuffling to the copy machine, chitchatting within cubicle confinements, or heading to the stockroom for a fresh stash of toilet paper for the ladies room, I seem to always catch friendly eyes following my strut. Sometimes, I pretend that the office corridor is my very own catwalk – a little less sway and a lot more attitude.
On numerous occasions, my clothing, shoes, or accessories become the topic of discussion. And don’t get me wrong, I definitely enjoy the confidence booster when a word like “sassy” is thrown at me. But because my emotions are the sole force that drive me to put on certain pieces, I’m usually oblivious to other people’s perception of what I’m workin’ with. When a compliment is thrown my way, I actually have to look at or touch the specific item to regain my reasoning for wearing it. As much as fashion weighs on my world, I am not image-conscious and obsessed with pleasing others. I simply wear a great color or slip on shoes that are alive with artistic flair, and if others find their own interest in those pieces, then hey, that’s cool.
Practicality also guides my wardrobe: my royal blue, peep-toe Carlos Santana shoes have been re-soled so I don’t slip again and again… and my billowy blouses are predominantly worn during my bloating “that time of the month” days. So to have certain items scrutinized in a positive light is always enlightening. I must be doing something right, but if they only knew the emotions though that inspired me to wear that outfit….
And I know that I’m not alone. Just the other day, my boyfriend showed up at my place (on a summer evening) in a long, vintage army-like pea coat. Never saw it before, but I knew that this article of clothing gave him the strength he needed. I think he, going through a rough time in his life, was able to stand up a little taller with that on. Then there is my girlfriend at work who seems to forever wear the same brown hoodie with every outfit. Maybe it’s a shield against the cold air conditioning system or a “blankie” of sort. Whether relationship issues, work problems, or any other qualm in her life, she seems to rely on the comfort of her cute jacket. It’s always there for her and she looks adorable and sporty in the process.
Even if you don’t recognize it, what you wear is probably guided byyour emotions as well, whether a subconscious effort or not. My red-matching outfit was the antithesis of how I really felt that day. In that case, I decided to just put on a classic, happy-go-lucky ensemble with hope that it would transform my real emotions into its mirror image (It didn’t really, but the next day I was dressed in black and blue, expressing my true beat-up feelings…somehow feeling better that I was loyal to the real me). I’ve also come to the realization that people really do notice what you have on, whether you are looking for kudos or not.
Written by Elana Pruitt
