The Lure of Beauty

Today I was sharing some of the items in my Poshmark closet in a "wardrobe goals" party, and I was struck by how many of descriptions say "worn once" or "only worn twice."  How could I have purchased all this clothing and jewelry, hung onto it for (in some cases) 30 years, and never used it?

I blame the Lure of Beauty.

I'll bet you know what I mean.  The color, the fabric, the design was just so amazing I had to buy whatever it was.  The feel of the soft silk!  The saturated colors in the paisley print!  The stunning asymmetrical neckline!  Then when I took it home, it didn't go with anything else I owned.  Or it was gorgeous, but not really cut right for my body.  Or, in the case of my most recent wardrobe mistake, I realized too late that I don't feel comfortable displaying my booty in maroon pants, even though they're well cut and go with most of my other things.  Beauty on the hanger or in the jewelry case doesn't always translate to wearable.

When I was an insurance executive in New York, I could afford to buy clothing and accessories I wore only occasionally (or never).  With retirement staring me in the face, that is no longer the case.  Now before I buy something, it has to pass through these filters:

• Is it an item I really need?  Does it fill a gap in my wardrobe AND do I anticipate wearing it frequently? 
• Do the color and style flatter me and coordinate with the rest of my things?
• Does it fit my body really well, or can I have it tailored cost-effectively?
• Will it be easy to maintain?  (I rarely buy "dry clean only" any more.)
• Can I afford it?
• Does it make me feel fabulous?  (Those maroon pants were never more than "yeah, OK.")

I actually tried to ask some of these questions in the past - particularly "does it coordinate with the rest of my things" - but then a luxurious cashmere or a particularly beautiful semiprecious stone would convince me that surely I could wear whatever it was with SOMETHING in my closet.

Oh, the lies we tell ourselves when seduced by the Lure of Beauty.  Now when I am in danger of succumbing to it, I watch a few videos by slow fashion and sustainable style blogger Alyssa Beltempo, and eventually the moment passes.

"Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self expression and, above all, attitude." —Iris Apfel

Surprised Again

Today I uploaded a revised header for this blog that reflected the fact I'm older and grayer than the last time I posted here - which I now realize was 4 1/2 years ago!!  YIKES!!!

A lot has happened in that time, but the biggest change is yet to come.  As of September 1 I will officially be a Retired Person.

I've read quite a bit about people going into shock once they no longer have the routine and security of a job on which to base their schedule and their identity.  I doubt very much that will happen to me because throughout my career my various jobs have been what I do, not who I am.  I am expecting that retirement will instead give me the chance to do more of the things I enjoy in life - traveling, reading, taking photos, cooking, dancing, singing, and hanging with my sweetie (whose name, by the way, is Lee).

But wait, you may say - this is all stuff that you were already talking about when you worked on the blog before.  Yes, yes it is - but then it was my escape from work, and now I anticipate that it will be my "work."

I'm already having fun gearing up for the changeover.  I've spent two years downsizing and refining my wardrobe (with a little help from Poshmark) to make it more workable for "life after."  I bought a crock and sourdough starter to get back into baking.  Lee and I are making plans to visit Washington state in September to escape the heat here.  And I am ruthlessly shoving long-term work projects off onto coworkers.

I expect retirement to be fun.  I expect it to be exciting.  And I expect, as always, to be continually surprised.  Please come along for the ride!

“There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” – Bill Waterson, Calvin & Hobbes