let’s face it
By Judith Rasband
A few weeks ago, I suggested some experimenting with clothing and accessories as a means of developing an artistic ability in dress and defining a personal style. “But what if I make a mistake?” some readers have asked since.
Let’s face it, mistakes are natural, to be expected and often unavoidable. Murphy’s law–”If anything can go wrong, it will!”–gets to the heart of the underlying principle responsible for most fashion mistakes.
Have you ever bought a shirt one size too small then popped a button or ripped a seam? Have you ever worn one too many accessories or mismatched the color of your clothes?
A corollary to Murphy’s law continues in the same vein: “If there’s a possibility of several things going wrong, it’ll usually be the one that will cause the most damage!”
Have you ever worn something that was just too way-out, extreme or completely inappropriate for an occasion, such as the time when your boss had his eye on you for a promotion or when you met your prospective mother-in-law for the first time?
Just remember that mistakes are best considered as “steps up the ladder of learning” we all have to climb during our lives.
Don’t be afraid to try out a new look for fear of making a mistake even in the face of possible criticism from others. You risk losing your individuality and creativity, and you may become increasingly hesitant to make even the most common decisions concerning your dress.
Don’t let your regret or embarrassment over fashion mistakes grow out of proportion. Mistake aren’t that all-important, but your attitude towards those mistakes can make you or break you, day by day.
Hill’s commentaries on Murphy’s law reads: “1. If we lose much by having things go wrong, take all possible care; 2. If we have nothing to lose by change, relax; 3. If we have everything to gain by change, relax; and 4. If it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter.”
Don’t berate yourself when you make a mistake, but believe in yourself. Believe in the person you are and the person you want to become. Set your goals, be confident in yourself, and face the fact that you learn by doing.
Keep in mind that if you make a mistake, it’s a good indication that you’re still learning. And when you resolve not to make that same mistake again, you may come a little closer to your goal of creating that look you like.
Don’t dwell on you mistakes. Better yet, don’t even refer to them as mistakes but as lessons, happenings or experiences to learn from. With thoughtful practice and a determination to do your best, you may be surprised to see just how few mistakes you actually make.
And above all, don’t take yourself so seriously that you can’t laugh at yourself.
When all else fails, SMILE! (Boling’s postulate to Murphy’s law wisely states: “If you’re feeling good, don’t worry. You’ll get over it”)
The mistakes–no, the learning experiences will take care of themselves.
©2000-2018 Judith Rasband, Conselle L.C
Institute of Image Management • 801) 224-1207 • FAX (801) 226-6122 • www.conselle.com • judith@conselle.com •