Nine Months after my Breakup

I discovered an unexpected gift - in my wardrobe.

They say time heals all wounds (except maybe the flesh eating ones from the White Tail Spider). Sorry - I didn’t mean to go so dark so soon into this newsletter.

Today’s missive is one of unforeseen joys. Nine months ago when my heart was wrenched from my body and dragged around Europe like a miserable, snotty, crying toddler for a month - I could never have imagined that I could feel happiness (much less joy, elation, peace, contentment or excitement) again.

Of course I knew at some point I surely would recover, but in the depths of a heartbreak of Shakespearean proportions (channelling Lavinia from Titus Andronicus as I did for several weeks), any glimmer of future light was somewhere off in a galaxy far far away

However - emerging from the black hole that was my ‘journey to the dark side’ - life has taken on all manner of colour and possibility.

The latest object of my delight is my wardrobe. Following the irrepressible Jen Holt from makingupforglossedtime on Instagram - who has had a not dissimilar set of ‘unfortunate events’ (job ending, partner leaving) things happen to her - I have seen in her something of a kindred spirit. (She’s hilarious and fabulous and stylish too - so maybe we have more in common?)

Anyway - I have recently joined her on the #75hardstylechallenge - where for 75 days, you make no new purchases and dress only from what is already in your wardrobe. Eeek!

Truth be told - I have a lot of stuff (not nearly as much as Jen Holt mind you - my accessories pale in comparison to her Cleopatra’s Tomb of Bling), and I was ready for the challenge.

Three pretty solid years of active wear (thanks Covid) dominating my wardrobe (with thongs in summer and ugg boots in winter) needed to come to an end and this style challenge is the perfect way to reacquaint myself with dressing from head to toe in fabrics other than Lycra and polar fleece.

The first few days were fun - out of the starting gates with a bang and all that. Days five to eight felt like a bit of a grind “oh hell - I’ve really got another 67 days of this?!”

But I have persevered. And dear readers - here’s what I’m discovering. I’m enjoying dressing up. Not for an event, not for a show, not for a performance, not for a client, not for a man - but solely for myself.

The Thrill of the Chase

This challenge has reawakened in me the thrill of planning an outfit. Crafting a theme, thinking about a central element - today it was all about the Dangerfield Dinosaur print pants I’m obsessed with, and determined to wear. They got loads of looks - and I loved it. Even if some of those looks were accompanied by wrinkled up noses and shaking heads (maybe someone had let one rip right then - who knows!). I cared not a whit. I was dazzling in my dinosaur daks. I knew it, the dinosaurs adorning my legs knew it, and that my friends is all that fucking matters!

Not since my days with The Super Supremes have I so looked forward to putting a look together. There is something about curating a look, a costume if you will - that gives you a sense of being able to inhabit a larger, bolder, more confident version of you. I’ve got a spring in my step, a swagger in my stride and I intend to go the whole way

God knows what I’ll be wearing by Day 75 - but this I do know - I’ll be wearing it well.

Ciao Ciao for now my lovelies!