Frenchie Friday: What Does Your Wardrobe Say About You?

I’m no stylist, but give me the opportunity to help a woman express and awaken her personal beauty and finesse, and I guarantee she will rethink what’s possible in her life. Everything is energy.  The fabrics, styles and colors that you wrap your gorgeous body in are certainly part of this.
Ahem… I’m talking about your wardrobe.

Weight loss, entrepreneurship and femininity are recurring focuses surrounding the women I work with. You could say my speciality is “women stuff”.

And the way you dress is one of the greatest access points into leveraging your feminine essence (tweet it).  

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. — Coco Chanel

Here’s an example: I recently hurt my back and was reduced to yoga wear and flip-flops. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with comfort and LuluLemon, but everyday? Life becomes a bit dull.

After one too many days of mindless dressing, I began to notice my lackadaisical attitude spilling over into other areas of my life. In grabbing for my sweat pants, I was also reaching for an extra piece of chocolate, an extra episode of Gossip Girl and procrastination.

Repeatedly, I have seen this. This pattern has affected my life and the women who I work with. What I’ve discovered is that clothes are more powerful than we often think.

“Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.” —Vivienne Westwood

This last weekend, one of my gorgeous School of Self-image members told me she hadn’t worn a dress in years. As she vocalized this, wearing a beautiful and sassy dress, she knew that her femininity and freedom were beginning to shine through. Her beauty radiated.

Now, I’m not telling you that in order to shine, you have to wear a dress. In fact, you don’t have to wear anything at all (although that’s a different conversation). But, what I am suggesting is that the way you represent yourself on the outside is absolutely a reflection of how you feel on the inside.

And, if you are seeking internal change, dressing in a way that reflects who you aspire to be could give you a boost of inspiration and joy.

So… what does this have to do with Frenchie Friday?

Well… a lot, actually.

While I don’t like to oversimplify– because I have met many French women who don’t put much effort in their wardrobe– for the most part, French women approach their wardrobe with a true sense of beauty, quality and sensuality.

Their approach towards fashion and style has earned French women the title of the chicest women in the world.

They express their womanhood in part through their clothing choices. They invest in beautiful lingerie, a classic wardrobe, and feminine accessories.

They keep it simple, self-expressive, and feminine.

The great news is that you don’t have to be a millionaire to invest in a wardrobe of beautiful, quality pieces. I love haute couture fashion, but your ideal wardrobe can be created from a range of possibilities– from TJ Maxx to Bergdorfs.

“Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.” — Ralph Lauren

The label doesn’t matter, how it makes you feel does. (Tweet it.)

Sure, this is just a small part of the puzzle, but it is a big factor in how we feel and express ourselves to the world.

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” — Rachel Zoe

There are more impactful things in life, like attitude, treating people well and spirituality, but whoever said clothes are not part of the spiritual equation?

I have witnessed God in Saks. And, I have kissed the Divine while sauntering the streets of Paris in heels.

It’s time we honor who we are as women: sensual, creative, and desirable creatures.

Does your wardrobe reflect that?

And, before I leave, I’m happy to report that I have been rocking a summer wardrobe that has reignited my love for style, being a woman, and life itself.  Simply put:  Style is fun!

So, here’s a style challenge for you:  go into your closet and allow your clothes to speak to you.  Which pieces are no longer aligned with the woman you desire to BE?  What pieces make you feel alive and radiant?  Begin to edit your closet to include only those pieces you love.  It’s better to have a few beautiful pieces than a closet full of stuff that doesn’t align with who you truly are.   If you’d like to share one of your favorite pieces, you can share on Instagram and use the hashtag #schoolofselfimage or over on the Facebook page.

Tonya

(P.S. I am loving my Stitch Fix.  Just yesterday, I received five compliments on a dress that came via mail for only $60.  Again, I’ve seen women wear haute couture poorly, and I’ve seen women who know how to rock a bargain.)