Welcome To My Mid-Life Style Crisis

The other day, I opened my closet and all my clothes started shouting “WHO EVEN ARE YOU?”. Not in a cool and mysterious “who is she?” way. More in a “How did you get into my house and why are you wearing my skin as a suit?” Way. That as disturbing as you can imagine. Firstly because I spent 41 years on this earth not knowing clothes can talk (and throw shade) and secondly because well… I can’t really face the world in my birthday suit. 

So I did what anyone would do, I reached for a pair of jeans, a tee-shirt and a sweat shirt and called it a day. Did I love my look? Nah. Did I feel like it represented my personality? Nah. Did it excite me? Naaaaah. But it looked alright. I could have thrown on some accessories but I didn’t bother. Why should I? 

And this is how I realised I was in the midst of a mid-life style rut. I didn’t see it coming. Didn’t think it would happen to me. I used to tell people what to wear for a living. Then L.A. happened, my time in the fashion industry seems like a distant memory. The shine of the sequins and Atelier Swarovski crystals is dimming in my mind. I’m left with faithful basics. Bit boring.

I consulted with the oracle (my girlfriends group chat on WhatsApp) and we concluded I just needed to try everything. Even stuff i had snubbed before. Stuff I thought wasn’t me. 

I am trying EVERYTHING. From any brand. Any shape. Any print, colour or style. I even tried Stitch Fix (plot twist: it was awful – they sent me a full Karen outfit, I didn’t even open the box and sent it back). I tried on all the dresses from ASOS. Ended up keeping one. My family is the official jury of this experiment and they get regular fashion shows. I feel sorry for them but they indulge me. 

I am also trying to re-appropriate my own stuff of course. I put together whacky outfits just to see how they feel. Some of them have felt pretty good, some… didn’t make it out the door (of my closet). 

So I ask you, my 40-something readers – I know you are there somewhere- what do you wear? How do you deal with such feelings? How do you keep shit fresh? Tell me in the comments or slide in my insta DMs.