Leave Room For Surprise
Sharing a curated assortment of statement pieces that will make getting dressed feel like a joyful exercise in creativity, and self-expression.
One of my earliest, most detailed childhood memories is of the first time my parents took me shopping and let me pick an outfit of my own. I was only 4 years old at the time, but I remember vividly how excited and empowered I felt at that moment. I walked through the boutique, thrilled by the pretty pastels, florals, and skirts with layers of organdy. But one ensemble in particular stopped me in my tracks. I can still see it now. A ruby red, crushed velvet top with bell sleeves with a matching tube skirt. A rather unexpected choice for a 4 year old with a social life that was almost exclusively limited to playdates and parties in basements and gymnasiums. I couldn’t tell you what it was exactly about this outfit that said I’m the one, other than it didn’t look like everything else and therefore I wouldn’t look like everybody else.Â
The following year when I started kindergarten, I was allowed to dress myself for school, which became an exercise in creativity and experimentation I looked forward to each day. The aforementioned crushed red velvet ensemble over a pair of leopard leggings?A flower girl dress styled with sketchers? No article of clothing in my closet was off limits–-not even underwear (which I styled over tights, perhaps setting this trend? I’m talking to you, Madonna). When you don’t dress like everyone else, you don’t have to think like everyone else, and I felt both accomplished and proud whenever I surprised myself with a new twist or an unexpected outcome.
When I look back at these experiences, I realize my approach to getting dressed – essentially my style – is the same today as it was 30 years ago. I’m still looking for the surprise. When everything in a wardrobe is planned and predictable, there’s no room for magic, and I find that the best outfits I’ve ever worn are the result of improvisation, experimentation, and even whimsy.Â
To create an environment and a wardrobe that supports the occasional surprise, you need to deliberately leave room for them in your closet. Invest in the statement pieces you are drawn to but typically talk yourself out of because you don’t know exactly how or where you will wear them. These items -- the off-beat accessory, the pop of color, the conversation starter --will challenge you to be inventive when it comes to styling and enhance your overall look.Â
Obviously, a statement piece should make a statement. But what is it saying? Is it adding color, texture, sparkle, or shine? Is it an off-beat accessory? Does it have enough impact on its own to be the central focus of an outfit, or should it play nicely with others? Here, I share a curated assortment of statement pieces that will make getting dressed feel like a joyful exercise in creativity, and self-expression. I also suggest how to style a statement piece –that special something that speaks to you – for maximum impact.
