Stay present, Stay in fashion, Stay fabulous

 The beautiful friends that inspired this post.

British Statesman, Lord Chesterfield was once quoted as saying, 'If you are not in fashion you are nobody.' To what form of fashion he was relating to I'm not quite sure, however being such a bold statement, and with my slight fetish for the brutality of the fashion world, I take it as the obvious.. A large warning to not sink into oblivion, but to stand up and take charge of the fabulous facade that fashion allows us.

Yes, clothing is mearly a fraction of who we are, but it is first to be judged before the opportunity to speak and a lasting image as you leave a room. Fashion is the beginning and the end, the first impression, the cherry on top. Like it or not fashion completes us. I admit to chasing the 'fabulous life', a life filled with glamour and a never ending supply of shoes but just because my idea of fashion and dressing seems superficial, does not mean yours has to.

For me there are no excuses for bad styling or simlpy no styling at all, only ignorance. Dressing is something we cannot avoid so why see it as a chore or a burden? Stop thinking of fashion as a single item of clothing, or a tiring trend. Open your eyes and allow yourself an experience. Feel it, hold it, take it in.

Last week myself and a few friends were lucky enough to take a break and spend a week at the beach. Among these friends were two lovely ladies my closest friends and fellow fashionistas, who I couldn't wait to spend time with. The day we arrived, the heat hit us with a massive weight and any hopes of a hairstyle holding up or make up staying in place quickly faded. We were passed the lady-like glow of perspiration, we were full on sweating! At this point the week for me was looking very bleek. 

Like a miracle, (well for me anyway) the next day we were woken by rain, grey skies and cool temperatures. So even though we couldn't enjoy the beach as planned I was relieved to not have to sweat it out for another day. What now though, what to do with ourselves in a creaky log cabin with limited television channels? 

After moping around a bit on the couch and eating the breakfast of champions, (coffee, muesli and chocolate with a side of nik naks) three best friends found themselves freshly showered and wondering what to wear. Seeing as the weather afforded us all the time in the world we gathered in one room and began trying on options. If one decided she was unhappy or uninspired to wear her own clothing, she could go 'shopping' in another's suitcase. Forgot to bring some much needed accessories? You just top that ensemble off with mine! Nail polish came out, as did bronzer and eye-shadow and all the added extras that you never quite take the time to do when you're on holiday. In this small, somewhat insignificant moment I looked around at my favourite girls, my favourite floral print dress, the way a borrowed dress suddenly fitted perfectly and transformed into styled perfection with the addition of a skinny belt, and I realised an exciting truth. Fashion is the fabric of our friendship, a fabric that even on a rainy day with no where to go and no one to see us, held us together and kept up our holiday spirit.

Now you see, fashion is not just a 'look' or the perfect outfit. It's a moment in time, a clever idea, the joy in a friendship, the saviour on a dreary day. So pick up on a trend and share it with a friend, 'get dressed' in the morning don't just clothe yourself. Make fashion the celebration it should be. Being in fashion is not about following the masses or wearing designer jeans, being in fashion is being present, present in life.

  

     Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart.

~ Gabrielle 'Coco" Chanel

Still ended up on the beach that cloudy day with my favourite fashionista sistas!

Yours in style,

Melissa Jane

xoxo