WTH is Fashion Feng Shui?
This is the first post in a series I intend to write on Fashion Feng Shui. I will explain each of the elements in a post but first of all - what the hell is it, and why should you care?
Feng Shui has been around for a long time - it had a bit of a renaissance in the 90’s where we all wanted to ‘feng shui’ our rooms… were you finances not great? maybe you needed to put a plant in the finance area of your living room; or declutter your finance corner… it was too much for me to understand as a young tween with parents who in any case, certainly would not have financed a reorganisation of my bedroom to meet feng shui standards! I never imagined Feng Shui would appear back in my life many years later… or that it would EXCITE me so much, or that it would make so much sense from a styling perspective.
The easiest way for me to describe it’s importance is to explain when you feel it! So picture this - you are in a dressing room and you are trying on what should be the perfect outfit. The size is great, it fits you well - the colours are bringing out your eyes… but it just doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel like you…
*THAT IS FASHION FENG SHUI!*
There are 5 elements in Feng Shui - water, earth, metal, wood and fire. Every single one of us possesses each of these elements - they make up our soul but we each have what is called a soul essence - an element which is more dominant. That feeling when a ‘perfect’ outfit feels off - that is your soul essence not vibing with the outfit.
Some of us have very dominant soul essences and some of us will be mixes with only a slightly dominant essence, but each of the essences represent something of our personalities and we can use the elements to heighten sometimes hidden parts of our personalities.
Looking for love or want to stand out at an event - embrace your fire element. That can be as big as wearing a red leather jacket, or as small as paint your nails red!
Wood symbolises qualities such as creativity, adaptability, and renewal - to help you lean into your creative side perhaps you try a breton stripe with comfy jeans the next time you need to unleash some creativity…
That isn’t to say that just because your soul element is metal you need to dress exclusively in white (á la Geri Halliwell)… unless of course you want to (and can afford the cleaning bills) but maybe you look to incorporate more white or silver in your wardrobe, or perhaps you invest in some jewellary that helps accentuate your soul essence.
Personal styling should never be a prescriptive ‘this is what you MUST wear’ and neither is your soul essence! I want to help you find YOUR style - what lights you up so that you face the world every day feeling authentic, and fucking fabulous!
Whatever that looks like for you!