The Habit of Looking Good

Now I've got your attention!

One day in my shop, a woman and I were chatting about travel.  She’d just been to Italy, and was so impressed by how well dressed the women were.  “I really want to look like they do!” she said.

Sometimes it’s easy to think that looking good is about the money, and lots of it.  And it is true that women in Italy spend a good percentage of their income on their clothing.  But they own far fewer clothes than we do.  I propose that time is more important than money.  Time and effort to create habits that make looking put together and stylish as ritualized as brushing and flossing (you’re brushing and flossing, right?).

Habits can be divided into daily, weekly and monthly ones, and should include self-care rituals as well as more charming and fanciful acts (like ‘I will sing in the shower every morning’!).

Daily habits might be as simple as washing your makeup off your face before going to bed; wearing a signature piece of jewelry everyday; or giving a stranger a smile, along with a heartfelt compliment.  Manicures, face masks, and hair treatments are good candidates for weekly habits.  So is taking a bit of time to ponder your personal style, and consider what kind of help you’d like to define it:  maybe books, a class, an image consultant?  Stretch yourself a bit on the monthly habits:  of course, a pedicure is a good idea, but how about an afternoon exploring a museum, or reading a book about a designer who intrigues you?  Maybe once a month you can examine your list of wardrobe needs, and make it your mission to find what most strikes your fancy, or, less exciting but just as important, what needs replacing.

The new year always puts me in the mood to acquire new habits (the word ‘resolution’ turns so many people off!), so here are my new daily, weekly, and monthly habits.  Daily:  rising at the same time five days a week; moisturizing my cuticles every night; and having tea in the morning.  Weekly:  face mask and a manicure.  Believe me, my cuticles and I have been enemies for as long as I can remember!  Monthly:  checking out a part of town I’m not so familiar with.  It’s fun to play tourist in your city, and who knows what you’ll discover?

Make yourself the priority, and see what happens:  my guess is that a lot of other things will fall into place.  If I stick to my sleeping routine, chances are good that I’ll feel better.  If I’m religious about my skin care, maybe my skin will show it.  If I spend some time figuring out what looks good on me and populate my wardrobe with those pieces, it will be easier to get dressed in the morning.

How about you?  Any new habits you’re working to acquire?