Sara Cornell
Recently, while getting dressed to have dinner with friends, I pondered the look I was going for and settled on a buttery leather jacket. The jacket was a fairly new addition to my overstuffed wardrobe, an acquisition made possible by the good folks at American Express. In these troubled economic times, austerity is good and should be practiced as much as possible, but every so often it’s equally rewarding to indulge in something that, while frivolous to the naked eye, makes you feel good.
Sitting down to dinner there were a few “oohs” and “aahhs” regarding my jacket, until my dinner partner chimed in that it was a ridiculous expense, and as beauty and character come from within, the luscious leather jacket was not going to make me a better person. That is where I beg to differ!
One of the things that I most enjoy about being not-married is the freedom of choice when it comes to discretionary purchases. When you are legally and financially tied or obligated to another person the range of frivolous purchase options is narrower, and if you want to go out and splurge on something that makes YOU feel good, the price is oftentimes doubled. There is an inherent quality to being married that makes each purchase a joint purchase…but what if the thing you are buying is a salve to the relationship or some band-aid to a partnership wound? I guess that’s one for the therapists…and may explain the fashion extravaganza that appeared on my credit card statement in the months following my divorce.
Once upon a time on SNL Billy Crystal pronounced, “It is better to look good than to feel good!” When you look good you carry yourself a little taller. Your swagger is swaggier and your attitude is, in all probability, better. When you look good, you feel good. When I feel well adorned I’m happier, and that makes me a nicer person, and when I’m a nicer person I am more generous in spirit, which of course is a major key to spreading love and happiness and making the world a better place.
Another member of the dinner party jumped on the swag bandwagon, proclaiming that he had invested in a pair of Prada loafers a while back, and knew that every day that he wore those loafers, something wonderful was going to happen because his feet just felt so damn good. He also casually mentioned that the purchase occurred shortly after his divorce was finalized. Is it really so wrong to seek happiness in a pair of shoes? I think not. Attitude, my friends. It’s where it all begins. From the ground up.
Yes, beauty does come from within, but so too does good outlook, positive spirit and a relentless desire to go out there and make the world a better place. And if a healthy dose of that inspiration comes from a fabulous pair of shoes or a jacket that makes you feel like a rock star, well I say go for it. Wear it proudly, do it boldly, and be the change that we all want to see. And if you look good doing it…well, you can’t beat that!