A New Year Doesn’t Have to Mean a New You
I hear it every year starting as early as in October when the sound of Brach’s Candy Corn hits the bowl like a drumroll. Friends and family give themselves permission to “let go” during the holidays on the condition that they go puritan come January. This literal feast or famine notion is also expressed by my clients who defer shopping until they re-establish their “pre-holiday” waistline or until their American Express card sufficiently chills. While this tendency to go to extremes is part of human nature—as is the need to take a break from excess—why does it have to come in the form of self-punishment? Wouldn’t life feel a little less stressful and a little more gentle if we allowed ourselves light transgressions without heavy penalization?
Easier said than done, right? Maybe not.
How many people do you know who followed a crazy crash diet only to gain back the lost weight once they resumed normal eating? How about those weeks when you chose to “go dry” Monday through Friday and wake up Saturday morning in a world of pain from over-indulging in too many Margaritas the night before? Everything in moderation may be cliché, but there’s real truth behind the notion, even when wardrobing. Whether you are feeling bloated or experiencing holiday sticker shock, there are ways you can make the transition back to “normal” in a less extreme way.
Think head, shoulders, knees and toes. No, this is not meant to be a call for you to exercise, although these lyrics do harken back to a popular children’s song meant to get little ones up and moving. (Anyone else remember The Wiggles?) There are many body parts beyond our waist, butt and thighs that need covering. If you don’t feel like squeezing into a pair of Frame Le Skinny de Jeanne jeans this month, give your shopping itch a softer scratch with these items that you can wear even when your six pack may feel to you more like a mini-keg:
Accessories, like a colorful pair of Golden Goose sneakers or an Alexander McQueen skull scarf, will always fit you perfectly. A new handbag is always a perk-me-up and a fun pair of gloves or a fuzzy knit cap will keep you cozy during the cold winter months.
Not into accessorizing? Not a problem. Explore outerwear options or a less structured third piece like a cape, an oversized cardigan or a long boyfriend blazer like these from Ganni, Vince, 3.1 Phillip Lim and Isabel Marant.
Bling in the New Year! If you don’t want to treat yourself to a splurgy belated holiday present, look for more approachable jewelry options. Vermeil hoop earrings or delicate beaded necklaces are great guiltless options that still feel and look beautiful on.
What if your holiday hangover relates to financials vs. fit? Rather than go cold turkey on the spending, allow yourself to be mindfully opportunistic when swiping that red hot credit card. Despite how it might seem, holiday sales doesn’t technically end with the holidays. Mid-year discounts extend into the winter months, through January at minimum. While the designer floors at Neimans may appear bright and fresh for Spring, keep your eyes out for those lone Sale racks lining the walls.
Sale racks can be a treasure trove of returns and coveted pieces that may not have made successful gifts or holiday outfits. However, negotiating what in January is better known as Clearance can be frustrating. Sale shopping is exhausting and requires a tremendous amount of patience and stamina. That said, did you have your eye on something in November that may have sold out in your size? Still looking for that perfect pair of Manolo Blahnik embellished flats? Ping your salesperson or personal stylist and let them know that you are on the hunt. (I am always on the lookout for my clients.) Or, stay home and search online from the comfort of your couch. Since they don’t face the same sales-per-square-foot pressure that brick and mortar retailers do, ecommerce retailers are able to offer more sale merchandise for longer periods of time. (Psst...some sites like Barneys are always on sale—Barneys Warehouse, anyone?)
However you choose to enter into this new year, please remember the old adage, life is a marathon, not a sprint. (Save the sprinting for the gym!) Keep a steady pace as you refocus on fitness and financial responsibility. Ask yourself, “What good was all that holiday fun if all that it comes to in the end is self-imposed chastity?” Complete denial in the form of starvation diets, intense workout routines and strict budgeting can be extremely stressful for your body and soul. Why not approach these upcoming months more moderately? Avoid desserts but allow lunch, work up a sweat but protect your rest days and while you’re at it, trade in that ugly Christmas sweater for a chic new chunky knit. Allowing yourself small pleasures like a new sweater or a night out with friends in January and February will go a long way to extending the levity, joy and personal freedom you felt in November and December.
