This day begins the last week of the fall semester and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Starting with my mother being ill; emergency after emergency; lots of great Accidental Icon occurrences; the strangeness of having warm weather even in mid-December; my life of being a partner, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, ending with my academic life as teacher, mentor and colleague it has been a non-stop blur of time and space. At the end of this week I embark on a month long break from the halls of academia and my challenge is to slow everything down. What good is life if it becomes only a blurred, fuzzy memory and you are tired down to your bones?
What I most yearn for is the time to daydream. I feel an internal poking and prodding, like a chick starting to peck and crack its shell. For me this is a surge of creativity that wants to come out and move me in new directions. I have soft shapes of ideas wafting through my brain but no time at the moment to catch them and give time for their details to emerge like a polaroid photo. Reading papers, grading and end of the semester tasks are pushing everything else off the table. But I can see that light…
Recently I have been asked to do a number of interviews as the “Accidental Icon”. Because of the skill of the interviewers these session have carved out opportunities for me to reflect on, and articulate my vision. They forced me to take time. This vision is also informed by the comments of my readers and the seriousness with which they engage with my questions. As you know it is also informed by my relationship with my clothes.
I was totally exhausted by Saturday afternoon, crawled into sweats and lounged but that did nothing for me. Yesterday I got up early, prepared for a meeting and decided to dress in an outfit that for some reason lately has been making me feel like my deep and true self. That and the sunshine helped me to “shine” in my meeting and to make a decision to take the rest of the day for myself. I relished having a very nice feature that came out Saturday on Who, What Wear, got some well needed exercise and had the pleasant experience of having Kim France, the founding editor and former editor-in-chief of Lucky Magazine, recognize the Accidental Icon and approach me on the street to introduce herself.
So I am already plotting what I will wear on my break, knowing how what I wear will help me to make the time, lead me to the new experiences I need to have and help me get introduced to people I need to meet. So think of me this week as my eyes are bugging out from reading papers and get excited with me about what is coming.
I love your call to slow down and enjoy! I just wear something I feel confident wearing so that I can enter any situation with a smile and head held high. That might be a variety of things…but I must smile before I leave the mirror. Enjoyed the post!
I love your call to slow down and enjoy! I just wear something I feel confident wearing so that I can enter any situation with a smile and head held high. That might be a variety of things…but I must smile before I leave the mirror. Enjoyed the post!
I am hearing that same call to slow down and it is nice to hear that others are feeling the same. This is such a busy time of year, we are pulled in many different directions and it is difficult to stop to take time for ourselves. I have to say that I’ve never thought about what I wear to attract new people and experiences, but I would have to say something leopard. I am off to check out your feature on WhoWhat Wear, one of my favorite websites! Enjoy your well deserved rest.
Cherie
http://www.stylenudge.com
I am hearing that same call to slow down and it is nice to hear that others are feeling the same. This is such a busy time of year, we are pulled in many different directions and it is difficult to stop to take time for ourselves. I have to say that I’ve never thought about what I wear to attract new people and experiences, but I would have to say something leopard. I am off to check out your feature on WhoWhat Wear, one of my favorite websites! Enjoy your well deserved rest.
Cherie
http://www.stylenudge.com
Very interesting question! 🙂 The other day I came to New York City from the west coast for a photo shoot. I wore something I don’t normally wear at home: a long-sleeved striped tee by Alexander Wang with all black: skinny pants, ankle boots, cardigan, coat…and silvery pashmina. My look was more androgynous than usual, and I liked it. I had all kinds of wonderful encounters that day – it was magical. I’m wondering if it could have been more about my relationship with the clothes than the clothes themselves. This post came out of it: http://thestyletti.com/street-photography-tips/
Very interesting question! 🙂 The other day I came to New York City from the west coast for a photo shoot. I wore something I don’t normally wear at home: a long-sleeved striped tee by Alexander Wang with all black: skinny pants, ankle boots, cardigan, coat…and silvery pashmina. My look was more androgynous than usual, and I liked it. I had all kinds of wonderful encounters that day – it was magical. I’m wondering if it could have been more about my relationship with the clothes than the clothes themselves. This post came out of it: http://thestyletti.com/street-photography-tips/
Hi there Accidental Icon.
Love your thought provoking postings on your blog.
First of all, I do hope that your Mother is recovering well……….illness is debilitating not just for the sufferer but for the family and friends too. Take good care of yourself along the way.
You got me thinking and I realize that for me its not just about what clothes I choose to present myself in; make up plays a large part for me too. In my career I wore and adored black with accents and accessories to change my look and mood, along with varying my hairstyle when it was long enough to do so.
Having early retired some time ago, but having the odd business meeting now and again, black still remains for that part of my life. What do I love now when I need to feel vibrant and confident……………..Red!! For me, make up and playing with different looks boosts my confidence and makes me feel good. Lately, as I near the last few years of my 50’s and after quite a few surgeries I am on the up and playing once again, growing my hair and experimenting like a teenager again. Could this be a new found confidence and a freedom to welcome a more devil may care philosophy, rather than worrying what others think of how I present myself?? Whatever, I am having fun and a smile always welcomes strangers towards you for a chat …………….I enjoy making a statement with my clothes, even though still quite classic in look.
Hi there Accidental Icon.
Love your thought provoking postings on your blog.
First of all, I do hope that your Mother is recovering well……….illness is debilitating not just for the sufferer but for the family and friends too. Take good care of yourself along the way.
You got me thinking and I realize that for me its not just about what clothes I choose to present myself in; make up plays a large part for me too. In my career I wore and adored black with accents and accessories to change my look and mood, along with varying my hairstyle when it was long enough to do so.
Having early retired some time ago, but having the odd business meeting now and again, black still remains for that part of my life. What do I love now when I need to feel vibrant and confident……………..Red!! For me, make up and playing with different looks boosts my confidence and makes me feel good. Lately, as I near the last few years of my 50’s and after quite a few surgeries I am on the up and playing once again, growing my hair and experimenting like a teenager again. Could this be a new found confidence and a freedom to welcome a more devil may care philosophy, rather than worrying what others think of how I present myself?? Whatever, I am having fun and a smile always welcomes strangers towards you for a chat …………….I enjoy making a statement with my clothes, even though still quite classic in look.
Heels, always heels, except when I want and need to feel tough, then I wear knee-high riding boots- works every time. When I moved from Boston to a tropical climate my black clothes looked out of place so I spent a few years trying to fit in with bright colorful clothes but never felt like "me". I’m now back to my black. And now I’m back to being me and standing out in a crowd…..and starting to see a little imitation happening around me 😉
Heels, always heels, except when I want and need to feel tough, then I wear knee-high riding boots- works every time. When I moved from Boston to a tropical climate my black clothes looked out of place so I spent a few years trying to fit in with bright colorful clothes but never felt like "me". I’m now back to my black. And now I’m back to being me and standing out in a crowd…..and starting to see a little imitation happening around me 😉
Time to daydream! I didn’t know as a daydreaming little girl that I’d grow up and crave that time. It’s a must for my survival.
Attracting new people or new experiences.. Gosh, I’ve never approached sartorial selections from that perspective. Great question. I suppose it is what makes me feel the most confident and comfortable in my own skin. A summer dress or my winter black, however I style them at the time.
Thanks, I very much enjoyed reading your post!
<3 Sarah
sgitts.com
Wishing you much time to daydream during your break! You wear many "hats" in your life! Caregiving is very unpredictable, and I have been thinking of you and your mother during this time.
Speaking of hats, I usually choose a special chapeau when I want to attract new experiences. I loved your "Who, What, Wear" interview, and will be choosing my five words today.
Wishing you much time to daydream during your break! You wear many "hats" in your life! Caregiving is very unpredictable, and I have been thinking of you and your mother during this time.
Speaking of hats, I usually choose a special chapeau when I want to attract new experiences. I loved your "Who, What, Wear" interview, and will be choosing my five words today.
I wear my usual outfit, but with accessories that are conversation starters.
Hope your time off is fruitful. Thank you for all you’ve shared this year and I look forward to more of your creative ideas.
I love this post!!! I so relish your words, your appreciation for the wispiness of fleeting time, and your perfect description of the restlessness to create. I’m quite happy that Who What Wear featured you as well, as their feature was my introduction to the Accidental Icon. Looking forward to all that you will do during this break, and the coming year. Thank you for taking us all along on the journey with you 🙂
I love this post!!! I so relish your words, your appreciation for the wispiness of fleeting time, and your perfect description of the restlessness to create. I’m quite happy that Who What Wear featured you as well, as their feature was my introduction to the Accidental Icon. Looking forward to all that you will do during this break, and the coming year. Thank you for taking us all along on the journey with you 🙂
Beautiful!
<3
katsfashionfix.blogspot.com