Hi you, 

I like clothes, talking about clothes, and wearing clothes - most of the time. But you know what's even better? A sense of humor and a good joke. 

A blonde and an Irishman walk into a bar...

Kidding, I don't actually do too well at remembering jokes in general, unless it's the one about how most blondes drown... when you put a scratch-n-sniff sticker at the bottom of the pool. Terrible, isn't it? This was the caliber of jokes we exchanged as a group of friends when I was about 12. 

KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR IN YOUR CLOSET 

Speaking of being 12, those were some pretty awkward days in fashion, and socially. Figuring out an adult world after being steeped in kidhood is no small thing. 

There are some things I'll never outgrow, like my tendency to knock the morning coffee onto my white shirt or drop things in front of handsome men (and not in a please-pick-this-up-for-me kind of way).

 In the day-to-day for all of us, different as it may be, we should try to remember two things. 

1. Life happens

It is good to look handsome or attractive, but if the clothes you choose to wear to a fall party keep you from bobbing apples or going on a hay ride, why again do you wear them? 

The point is never to try and fit a life around clothing, but to make the clothing fit around a life. For this to happen there must be a life. I think you’ll understand when I say this to you with a quirky smile, “get a life.”  

2. Get a life  

Life is not about style, or looking put together in something easily recognizable to others. 

“Oh, she likes a western style.”  

“He’s all about that gym life.”  

If your life happens in the gym quite a lot of the time then it is perfectly reasonable to own a good amount of gym clothes. If you work a day job outside, once would assume some good quality jeans and boots will be a big part of your wardrobe. 

Get a life, or figure out what it is, and then buy clothes that help you live it well. 

Most of all, keep a sense of humor handy. It will spice up the plainest day or most awkward situation. A smile may be the icing on the cake, but humor is definitely what saves the day. 

Humor is what I remember when a guy on the streets of London snatched my hat off my head and wore it 20 paces down the street. 

Humor saved my aplomb in a moment of clumsiness in front of an attorney the other day. I was wearing an outfit I love, but if I hadn’t been able to laugh at myself I would’ve probably gone stiff and awkward. Not what you want in a negotiation. 

Why is humor so valuable? It gives you confidence. And confidence, as we all know, is the most important part of getting dressed.   

Challenge for tomorrow: learn to laugh at yourself. I’ll be right there with you. 

Fondly, 

L. Raine

P.S. Please forgive the mistakes. Due to an unfortunate error of leaving my computer behind somewhere, I couldn’t put a normal amount of effort into the post for this week. Thanks for your patience!