Patty Mayeux Blog

I recently shared a moment with a stranger in an unorganized and overstuffed sales rack. She held up a dress and asked if it was too wild. What? No! The classic style and muted tones of a floral theme were asking to be worn. I said wearing it would be like wrapping herself in a beautiful bouquet of flowers. She was afraid her daughter might think it too flashy. We are so easily discouraged from being authentic to our likes and preferences because of what others may think. Too wild, too flashy, too gutsy, too colorful. I hope she bought the dress, wore it with bravado and told her daughter to dress her own self as she pleased. I was tempted to buy a matching one even though flowery patterns aren’t really my thing, for the sole purpose of solidarity. 

If you are stepping out for an end of the year party, may you dress in your version of a bouquet. Better yet, adopt a resolution to stay true to your own likes and leanings, especially when choosing clothes to wrap around your beautiful and amazing self. Let go of others’ expectations or restrictions or requirements. Fashion comes and goes, but authenticity, no matter how outrageous, never goes out of style.