After a frenzy that began with a trip to Japan and ended with the close of NYFW, I finally feel like I can take back full ownership of my “red”. I am owning it here from head to toe. I have re-connected with all my important relationships, my clothes (old and new), my students, my emerging designers and am feeling very excited about starting a new phase of development: being able to design and create my own clothes. I also celebrated Lunar New Year with Calvin and friends. I am feeling really, really red right now.
There are many associations to the color red that I would like to bring to my creative process and to the way I want to express how I feel about living in today, 2018. First is the great cultural and historical significance the color holds as i feel this could be an era that can transform the way we relate to each other and to really find out what a civil society means in a rapidly transforming technological space. Next is it’s association with revolution, anger, passion, blood and love, a churning cauldron that is our current sociological situation. While red is highly associated with joy, happiness and well-being, it is also associated with hatred, anger and aggression.
This color exactly conveys the paradoxical feelings I had when I was seeing brilliant clothes and glamorous people during fashion week while at the same time getting news of a mass school shooting in Florida. Red is also the color that warns of the highest level of danger, in this instance to our civil society. But as has been my experience while working over the years with young people who have experienced trauma in a great many forms, I am given hope because of the resilient, brutally direct and empowered “red” we are being given by teenagers who now challenge us to take action. It is more important than ever to not let others define the kind of people we want to be. Fashion is more important than ever to be a way to express both what we care about and to give us a way to have happiness and joy. As always clothing helps me to express what I often cannot with words, so today I wear red to honor the youth who are standing up because they are seeing “red” and have had enough.
How does fashion help you to express something important to you and how does it bring you happiness and joy?
Great post Lyn. Your words and redness inspire and resonate with me and I am sure I am not alone in thinking this. As for me – as a designer of hand knits I use many colours and styles for my knits, all of which give me joy and happiness. In the weekend however I chose red…there is something in that choice that inspire me to explore, to extend, to enthuse for myself and for others.
I have been seeing red since that horrible shooting. I am so sad and disappointed in the response from trump (I cannot even capitalize his name). I, like you ,am also feeling hopeful seeing these kids from Parkland totally own this. Their anger, sorrow, heartbreak, and passion are inspiring. Reminds me of the protests against the Vietnam War in the late 60s and early 70s. And a young child shall lead them…I will march with these kids in my community on March 24th. I think I saw that we should wear orange, but, I might sneak some red in there somewhere. I find in times like these, I tend to go more muted in my fashion choices. Matches my mood, I suspect. You are helping me break out of old ruts. Thank you. Love, light, and peace, to all of us.
Thank you for your post Lyn. I just want to add a thought which relates to what you’re saying. Red is also associated with the Base Chakra . Perhaps the color of what we choose to wear each day is influenced by which chakra is most active at that time…or perhaps we can stimulate a particular chakra with the color(s) we wear.
The Root Chakra is the first chakra and is located at the base of the spine.
It is the root of your being and establishes the deepest connections with your physical body, your environment and with the Earth.
Muladhara is the most instinctual of all chakras – it is your survival center. Your fight and flight response is initiated from this chakra. This is your primal, animal nature.
The energy of Muladhara allows us to harness courage, resourcefulness and the will to live during trying times. It connects us with spiritual energies of our ancestors, their challenges and their triumphs.
Since base chakra carries our ancestral memories, basically everyone experiences challenges or blockages within muladhara.
War, famine, natural disasters, and any events that threaten our basic survival, are all recorded within energies of the first chakra. These memories are imprinted in the subtle body and are passed down from generation to generation creating unconscious generational patterns. It is our work to take responsibility for our own lives and bring to light that which is unconscious.
All of the seven chakras are important and interconnected with each other. Usually, balancing one chakra will create change in another chakra. It is important though to balance the root chakra first, before we proceed to others, or we will lack the stability and rootedness necessary for true transformation and personal growth.
We cannot grow and change unless we feel safe and secure.
Enjoy the “ownership”of your Red”…very empowering.
This article on “Red” is so very appropriate and timely. The significance of “Red” and the boldness and confidence women can feel while wearing the colour red and by owning their “Red”…to say with truth and conviction with these students…NO MORE of our innocent children lives to be taken by violence!
thank you for naming, finding powerful words, gestures and signs. i can answer your question for clothing not for fashion. it is expressing attitude in various ways. attitude matters. does it bring me happiness and joy? hm.
I love that even in ur fashion blog u r mindful. It’s amazing to watch ur journey through social media especially knowing u from all those visits on Babbling Brook Lane and King St… we had wonderful blended families and thru ups and downs and ins and outs we developed a compassion that is ever present… keep on keepin on and maybe I’ll run into u at a Moran gathering one day…. or walking down the streets of the Bronx where I work my career as well! Love to u! Meghan Brown from BB Lane!
Red is my power color now. I first noticed it at the Atlanta gift market, when a woman wear all black and bright red creepers walked towards me…..I thought “That’s fantastic!” I am now still drawn to it these and love as the holidays approach and I change all the pillows on my Davenport to red ones…..red definitely brings me joy. Thanks Lyn
So cool to hear you’re going to design your own clothes, can’t wait to see them You look amazing in all red, love it!
Marije | <a href="http://www.thegfguide.com"> thegfguide.com </a>
I just started following your blog. Thank you for your inspiration, insight, attitude, encouragement, and all around good badness!!!
Yes! Thank you for connecting the red dots this week.