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I believe the season change is symbolic for life changes. I believe the season change is symbolic for taking the next life step. I see the season change as movement forward, as progression. Moving into Autumn/Winter can be mentally draining for many people because Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, aka The Holidays, are quickly approaching. The Holidays can be a tough time for people because our focus tends to be on family, friendships, and love. For those that have lost love ones due to death, divorce/break up, a broken friendship, the list can go on, the Holidays can a very lonely and depressing time.  Not to mention, The Holidays are expensive! So for the one who has lost a job, that can make these times rough, and the feelings of failure can set in. Dealing with these situations can wreak havoc on our mental health. I have said, I am saying, and will continue to say that mental health is just as important as physical health. I believe the two go hand in hand. We can dress up and look runway ready everyday, but you can’t dress up a mental struggle. The stigma on getting help for the mind leads to people to say things like, “I don’t need therapy, I have Jesus”, or “Why should I talk to a stranger about my life?” If moving into this season is tough, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. If you are still holding onto grudges and anger, ask for help and get relief so you experience movement forward.

Put yourself in my shoes or get your own pair!

All of my life I’ve dreamed of having a large walk in closet,  more like a show room, fully loaded with nothing but shoes! That was slightly dramatic and a wordy way to say, “I love shoes.” I know I’ve said I don’t really follow season trends, but when it comes to shoes, I will make an exception. I think an outfit should be planned around the shoes. I think the shopping experience is much more fun if you buy the shoes first (if you don’t think shopping is an experience than you are doing it wrong!).  After looking at photos from runway shows, the styles for this fall/winter aren’t really anything we haven’t seen before. Even with that being said, what I saw still looked fresh and new.  We have the military influenced boots (flats and heels) with the straps on the sides. I can’t get enough of the leopard print ankle boots, lace or zip ups. Not so much my style, but you will see much of that pointy toe look on the boots, and regular heels.  Side-note: Every time I see the pointy toe shoe, I think of the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz (shrugs shoulders) don’t ask! Back to shoe news- Having a pair of flat boots is one of those staples to keep because you can still look like you are ready for a photo shoot and be comfortable at the same time. The “booties” are a must because they are simply adorable, no other reason.  Let’s not forget we need a pair of those girly heels. You know the ones-professional enough for work, but have a sexy side for a night out. Those heels are a necessity for every season. My absolute favorite- the thigh high boots! They yell “Make room because I’m coming through.” So, enjoy the cold (ha ha). Buy shoes.

Fashion Pause

There was an abnormal chill in the Summer air when I went out the other night. Because I couldn’t bring myself to face the reality that my favorite season was fading, I still dressed like it was a typical hot Summer night. Then a non-meteorologist spoke to me and said, “Tamara I don’t know why you dressed like that don’t you know there’s a cold front moving through?” Lol! Trust me, it was hilarious! I think there should only be 3 seasons: Spring, Summer, and Cold.  I only enjoy talking about season change into the Cold because that adds to my list of reasons to discuss fashion. Now if you are like me you don’t necessarily need a reason to go shopping, but moving into the Cold season can give you plenty of justifications for spending money on clothes. Buying essentials for the Cold season doesn’t mean you have to pack up ALL summer clothes. Layering is a good way to move into the Cold. So think twice before you pack away that colorful maxi or strapless dress. Pair that dress with a jacket, scarf, and pair of boots. With a shorter dress, it’s easy to dress for the season by pairing it with tights. When I wear sweaters, I will wear a “barely there” shirt or a tank so that I don’t burn up. (By the way, I say never pack away the tank tops.)  Also, whatever you do, don’t pack away the brights! We associate bright colors with Summer, but I think bright colors can and should be worn throughout the year. These are very simple ways to transition your wardrobe from Summer into Cold, without having to spend much money. For those of us who don’t live in Honolulu, here are pictures of ideas for “transition into the Cold” ensembles:

Having a moment....

I’ve been having these long moments of frustration that I’ve tried to ignore. Then I reminded myself that I encourage people to be honest about how they feel. So here is my honest moment. Making the decision to go back to my first love has given me so much more confidence. My vision is clear. I’ve tapped into several avenues not even sure which one will open the most doors, but that doesn’t bother. The competition doesn’t bother me. What does bother me is that I keep wondering how my life would look right now if I had made this decision even just 5 years ago. It’s a complete waste of mental energy to do it, I know (I think I even talked about this in a previous post).  But when you get to a place when you are going forward to complete the goals you want, when you know exactly how you want your life to look, when you know there’s more for you to complete, you tend to look around at your current position and frustration can set in. Now don’t get me wrong, I make it a point to start out my day giving thanks for my life and everyone in it. But give me a break people, I’m human! The weird thing is that in the midst of this frustration, I’m also excited. You may ask, “Tamu, How can you be excited and frustrated at the same time?” and I say to you, “I have no answer for that!” So don’t worry, frustration isn’t my permanent mental state. My excitement will override that.