Truvy: Well, these thighs haven’t gone out of the house without lycra on them since I was 14.
Clairee: You were brought up right.

~From Steel Magnolias

I’ve always loved fashion. I will admit that my level of good taste had periods that could really come into question. And my own self-consciousness and desire to NOT be pointed out in a crowd has often had a negative affect on my sense of style. But I have always loved fashion, at least in theory.

Over the years, I have done what many women have done… squirreled away clothes, shoes, accessories, like I had to pack an arc with a flood on the way. I have doc marten’s from high school, gigantic tee shirts from my undergrad college, that sundress that I bought specifically for a luau in Hawaii, and souvenir moose socks from Minnesota. I have that Laura Ashley dress that I might like when I lost weight and found just the right belt and granny boots and those Ralph Lauren floral pants that were hot, uh, when Gwyneth was dating Brad. I still have that cute little sweater that would be awesome if I had smaller (much smaller) breasts and those paperbag waist wide pants that would look great on me if I grew another foot or even half a foot!

It’s been a long (long, long) time coming but I’ve finally reached a point where not only am I ready to be honest with myself but I’m ready to let go… let go of the sweater, the pants, the old powderpuff football tee shirts. Now I still love fashion but having style includes understanding and accepting oneself, improving oneself with honesty! I’m vowing not to keep anything that I don’t really love and that doesn’t love me back. I’m going to enjoy my love of fashion by loving my clothes or setting them free.

I’m also a person who has discovered that dressing the part makes me enjoy playing the part even more: going to work, beautiful tailored suits; going to the gym, fun hardcore workout clothes; going to ballet, fabulous etherial ballet clothes; going out to dinner, a gorgeous dress and heels. I think it makes a difference in the attitude, in my posture, and isn’t that where everything starts?

So not because it’s a new year but because I’m on my journey that includes a series of new starts all the time, I’m lightening up my closet and embracing my love for fashion  again.