Things you need to be cool....

The pre-claimer to this post is that I do not see myself as cool.  I am stocky, spotty, outspoken but shy, self conscious and intimidated by people who are either better looking than me, thinner than me, smarter than me or more successful than me: this means I am intimidated by just about everyone!


But....


I am beginning to understand cool - a bit...


A friend of mine has been struggling to find her coolness after having kids. She is GORGEOUS, has great hair, great skin and has such a great personality that people want to get to know her more. To me, she has so many things about her that are cool. But she just doesn't see it *sigh*....


Now, let me explain that cool is a combination of things. It is attitude, personality, life experience and then it is outward appearance. So, my dear friend has the first few things down pat. Her attitude is amazing - she will try anything and gives her heart to things that mean a lot to her. She has a great bubbly, quirky personality as previously mentioned. She has had a great deal of life experience from study to having babies to helping kids with stoopid names in some weird way out schools. Basically, I am proud to know her and learn more about grace and kindness every time I have a chat with her.


But still, she feels uncool. And I have surmised that it is her outward appearance she is struggling with.  The other night I suggested she throw out (literally) every item of clothing that she either doesn't like, is really old or doesn't fit quite right - to which she said she would then be walking around naked (not cool in the 'dropping kids off to school' kind of set).


So, for my lovely locked friend, and anyone else out there who is trying to regain some cool, here are some things for you to think about that I have learnt over the past 10 years or so.... Get right back to basics and think through the following things....

• Determine what  'look' are you going for? Like; hippy, conservative, boho, biker, sporty, classic etc.
• Work out which colours suit you?  Think about seasons such as; Summer = aqua, yellow, blues, oranges etc; Autumn = browns, greens, greys etc.
• What items in your wardrobe make you feel good? What items could you not live without? I could not live without jeans, t-shirts and shirt dresses....
• What are the best parts of your body are worth accentuating? I have a waste and I like my hair .... that is where I start every time I have to think about buying items for my wardrobe.

To become cool is about discovering yourself and then investing time into learning more about yourself and your style. Oh, and get your hands on anything written by Trinny & Susannah - a good place to start....

Here are some quotes to get you started on your 'Cool Quest'...

You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition.  What you'll discover will be wonderful.  What you'll discover is yourself.  
Alan Alda (I know that Alan Alda is Hawk-eye from M.A.S.H - but you know.....)

The most beautiful thing in the world is, precisely, the conjunction of learning and inspiration. Oh, the passion for research and the joy of discovery! 
Wanda Landowska




May the cool force be with you.....


Coming up next time on bbeingcool - Rules for Shopping

Red, Black, Grey and White

I seem to always have full circle moments when I am left thinking, "Hey, I think I have been here before." Let me enlighten you on my rickety train of thought.

I have a five-year old daughter. She is so beautiful it can break your heart, long blonde hair, big brown eyes, rosy cheeks. She is a stunner. But, my oh my, can she talk, argue, whinge and excuse herself with an ever eloquent tongue. My mum is very understanding and gives great (if not whacky) advice, but I cannot speak ill of my five year old to her. Why? Because my dear old mum gives me 'The Look'. You know, 'The Look' with powers you receive only when your own children have had children? She looks at me with that withering, all knowing 'Look' that says, "Yup, you were exactly the same". Sigh, she is usually right. I did argue... A lot. Especially with my dear mum. About everything. A lot.

For example, when I was in pre-school (for reference sake I was nearly five) my mum and I had a war raging about one of the outfits I was assigned to wear for church. Mum had made me a black and white houndstooth checked, wrap around skirt, it was darling. But, the shirt she bought to match it was a red t-shirt. When Sunday approached, I would refuse to wear this outfit, insisting that my mum had no idea about what colours matched and that you COULD NOT wear black, red and white together. Me being small and my mum being older, I was forced against my will to wear this outfit, in fact, if one day you have the privilege of seeing my official pre-school class photo, you will see me wearing this outfit. I wore (possibly under force) a green frog necklace to finish the ensemble off. And flip flops - but I am not emotionally ready to discuss this yet.

At the time of writing this blog, I am pregnant. I think I have a cleverly assembled ensemble of clothes that can be mixed and matched to make several outfits. I have leggings, dresses, skirts and long sleeve shirts that all match. I have either made them or bought them in range of colours so as to maximise their flexibility. But, it wasn't until one of my dear year eight students pointed out an obvious trend, that I had my full circle moment. All of my maternity clothes are red, black, grey and white.... Full circle. How could I not have noticed that these are my favourite colours to wear? I herein dedicate this post to my mum, whose sense of what colours match far outshines that of a five year old.

Huh, look left, then look right, check out the colours I chose for my blog. Funny.....