I woke up this morning still in a funk from a grating conversation the night before. I wanted coffee, badly. Not caring about what I was to wear in my trek one block north, I remained in the leggings I had slept in, threw on my gorgeous gray Frye boots and matching jacket, wrapping my absurdly over-sized 2.5’ x 8’ knit scarf around my neck. Mascara from the previous night was halfway down my face and I remedied it with drug store sunglasses. I did not give a damn about how absurd I must have looked.
“You look like a movie star,” said the barista.
“No,” I said in complete disbelief, shaking my head.
The customer next to me agreed with the barista, lifting my spirits because he happened to be cute.
“Is it the inappropriate use of sunglasses on a cloudy day in the middle of fall?”
She disagreed. Sipping my prize, I headed south, thinking that more often than not these days, I head to Ladro not to get coffee but to talk to the baristas. Dustin, who is a bit too old to rock his indie haircut, is my favorite. Every one of them knows my drink and I rarely have to squeak out my order before I have fully awakened. I get free coffee more times a week than I pay for it.
I pondered fashion and its ability to make someone feel far greater than they actually are. Put a man in an expensive suit and he feels as though he is Hank Rearden. Show a woman how beautiful she looks in a wedding gown and she feels validated. Getting dressed doesn’t have to be a pesky nuisance. It doesn’t have to be an indulgence of the superficial. It can be a tool of progression.
One of my goals this year was to look my best as much as possible. Hair is done, makeup impeccable, appropriate clothing put together in thought provoking and innovative ways. I realized that being ridiculous in your appearance is not a detriment. If I start to look like Cher, please scale me back a bit, but until then, I’m going after the sequins and cashmere!
This morning I look like a movie star (hopefully not one of the train wrecks). I had fantastic social interaction and a delicious cup of coffee. I am ready for my meetings.
