Women are often
chided for wanting to be beautiful, but the truth of the matter is that beauty
and fashion are just alternate forms of taking care of yourself. Beauty means
that you are healthy, happy and in control, and these are the things that a prognosis of a serious illness like
mesothelioma or uterine
cancer tries to take away from you.
If you have been
doing the grim round of doctors, or even if your treatment is over and you want
to get back to your life, it can be hard to take care of yourself the way that
you would like. When you are feeling a bit at a loss, see how beauty and
fashion can affect the way that you live.
For example, think
about accessories. Accessories are small and manageable, and you’ll discover
that it takes very few of them to dress up a common or plain outfit. If you
want to start small with beauty, accessories are definitely the way for you to
go.
Start with a scarf
that you truly love. A good scarf is one that has a bit of color and detail,
and which goes with many different things in your wardrobe. When you want a
glam fifties look, tie it around your wrist. If you need a little bit of color
on your person, wear it as a belt.
A scarf threaded
through the belt loops on a pair of jeans looks wonderfully bohemian. Loop the
scarf around your neck or even use it to tie back your hair. The possibilities
for a simple rectangle cloth are immense.
Remember that you
should start with a good foundation of garments. There are garments that are so
wonderfully versatile that you can customize them to any effect that you want.
While many designers suggest that you build off of the color black, others
recommend that you start with a range of colors that you love.
For example, if you
are someone who adores earth tones, make sure that you have a good selection of
garments that are brown, warm gray or cream.
Similarly, if you
prefer natural tones, choose your garments by selecting cool greens and blues.
A small amount of planning before you head to the mall can help you create a
very solid look.
Choose clothes that
make you happy both when you wear them and when you look at them. Clothes let
you add your imprint to the world, and if you choose carefully, you can make
that imprint look very personal indeed.
Think about the
colors that express who you are, and design an outfit that only you could wear.
Emphasize your best traits by selecting things that are suited to your tastes
and leave behind anything that isn’t perfect. Remember that if you don't love
it, you don't need it!
If you are ready to
reclaim the person you are, or even to figure out who you want to be, consider
your clothing. Fashion is a tool, and you are ready to use it!
wearing: Peplum Top: H&M, High Waisted Jeans: American Apparel, Platform Sandals: L.A.M.B, Clutch: ALDO, Watch: Michael Kors
I had the pleasure of being contacted by Jackie Clark, the author of this article, who does outreach for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, a leading web resource for mesothelioma cancer. She has always had a passion for fashion-from shoes to makeup, nail polish to handbags, and everything in between! Coupled with that is her belief that all women need to feel beautiful, no matter what circumstances they may be facing. Women are powerful beings and WE need to realize it! Sadly, many women are hearing those devastating words 'you have cancer.' Despite a cancer diagnosis, women can still feel beautiful in their own skin. Jackie believes that Fashion is a wonderful way to feel strong and confident. I agree with her wholeheartedly. She is an inspiration to many women who lack the confidence they need. You can ALL check out her other inspiring writings HERE!!
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL SUNDAY!!!
~Opal-
