Finding Your Signature Look

I decided I want to have a signature look. All the great women of history have. There’s Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy’s incredible style. Elizabeth Taylor had her diamonds and gems. My 10th grade English teacher had a different pin on her sweater every day. The girl sitting next to me painted her nails a different color each day. Me? I think I’m going to go with this:

No it’s not the paper hat or the chocolate ice cream-covered cheeks.  It’s also not the crooked bangs because I wouldn’t keep still for my poor mom and her scissors.  I mean, those do look pretty cute, but it’s just not quite what I had in mind.

I want my signature to be a big smile and a warm face.

It costs the least.  It never goes out of fashion.  And for some reason, people really like it.

I remember sitting in German class in Berlin last spring.  We’d all brought photos of our families to share during a break.  Everyone chatted about the clothing styles of the Russian families and what was going on in the pictures of Vietnamese and Polish families.  It was awesome!  Then I pulled out my photos.  Everyone started laughing.

“What?” I kept asking.  ”What?”

“They’re just soooooo American,” everyone told me in German.

I had a puzzled look.  My forehead wrinkled up, and I just looked at the pictures of my family just doing our thing.  ”What do you mean?” I asked.

“You’re all smiling.”

My forehead was still wrinkled.  ”Yeah,” I said.  ”We’re happy.  Of course we’re smiling.”

(me in red with a classmate)

My husband, Martin, and I have always had a running joke that no matter were we go, someone always asks me for directions or to take photographs for them.  The funniest is when they’d start asking me in German, and I’d have to shoot a nervous glance toward Martin.  ”Help!”  He’s returned from getting tickets or our lunch to find someone chatting with (or at!) me.

I started carrying a map everywhere I went in Berlin just so I could answer questions.  It’s actually been one of the best ways to practice German!

So you know what?  Clothes and accessories can really be empowering.  (They can also be just as frustrating and discouraging – anyone else struggle with what to wear this morning?!)  But every single day, if you stand tall, you’re going to carry a sense of happiness and confidence that clothes might not be able to offer. After all, who do you ask for help?  You probably don’t pick based on who looks the most stylish.  You’re looking in their faces and in their eyes, right?

And well, if you’re looking at me, I’ve got a map! ;)

Our family stopped buying new clothes in May 2008.  It’s been the greatest lifestyle change we’ve ever made.  Check out the entire No New Clothes Challenge here.