I get as excited about a September reset as I do about New Year, in fact probably more so. I tend to hibernate in January, whereas by September I’m raring to go. Maybe it’s the decades of academic-year rhythms, but it feels ingrained in me to start again this month with fresh back-to-school energy. It makes sense. Summer gives us space to relax and reconnect, while January usually finds us exhausted from the festive season. No wonder it’s so hard to start afresh at the beginning of the year.
Back to ‘School’
When the kids were little, we loved shopping for their new shoes, new pens and school bags - things that mark a new beginning. Now it’s more like new pans and bedding for a new university year, however I may just have snuck a new bag in for myself. I saw it a couple of months ago and not wanting it to sell out, bought it and stowed it away in the wardrobe, ready for September to begin.
So today I’m moving into the bag, and I’ve already drawn up a new weekly timetable (I’m a sucker for scheduling). This time I’m not only thinking about work projects, but also fitness and how to prioritise it more consistently. We spin so many plates, and unless I have some kind of timetable (see, school wasn’t entirely a waste), the things that matter easily slip away.
I’ve also been working on a book this year - well, to tell the truth it’s been about four years and hopefully I’ll get to the end of it soon! One of the hardest things about writing a first book is the urge to put everything in it. Every idea, every thread, every thought I’ve carried around for years sells itself to me as if it MUST BE HEARD - which of course it doesn’t. I think I’ve deleted more than I’ve written. Thousands of words delete delete delete. Distilling it down into one clear message has been my biggest battle, but I’m getting there.
But it’s been good to step away over the summer. The kids have been home from university and the pace at home shifted. We’ve had various people staying with us, lots of food, card games, days out, nights in. It’s been wonderful, and a chance to let everything else breathe. And now, as September begins, I feel the itch for routine returning. It feels like a fresh page and a natural chance to reconnect with the things that have been waiting in the wings.
Last week I was invited to a wholesaler’s showroom in London’s fashion district to see some new Autumn collections. Rail after rail stretched out before me. Styles, fabrics, colours and textures all offering the vibes that come with September: newness, style, yumminess, and fresh ideas.
I think experimenting with our wardrobes is important. It’s art for ourselves, a way to express how we feel without using words. A new item of clothing isn’t just a practical thing, it’s a glimpse of life waiting to be lived. Perhaps that sounds a tad dramatic, but that’s part of what fashion does for me. It’s always been more than clothing.
These days, though, I battle the difference between need and want, and the grey space in between. I’m acutely aware of waste and the insatiable desire for stuff that seems to have become a way of life. It’s a tricky balance. Yet there’s no denying that clothes shape how we feel. The right piece can change an entire day!
But then there’s this question that lingers - do we need things in order to be at our best? There’s an even deeper one too: do we need fashion to love ourselves? Can we feel good enough without the looks? That’s why I sometimes make myself go out without makeup or not looking my best. I don’t need to be camera-ready every day. And I know that when I can no longer do that, then what I wear has begun to define who I am, and I don’t ever want to get to that place. I am me when I’m dressed up AND when I’m dressed down and I want my confidence to remain at all levels. My friend Jo Good is the queen of this …
Pamela Anderson is another example. She recently returned to the red carpet wearing Vivienne Westwood and no makeup. She says she was painfully shy growing up and that she’d spent her entire life playing characters. Then it hit her that she didn’t know who she was without the characters, so she ditched the makeup to find out …
As long as we can still like our bare naked selves, we stay grounded and real. That’s the key to contentment. Otherwise, we end up just chasing approval. Confidence has to come from the inside. When it does, we’re free to fully express ourselves through our wardrobes and to enjoy the thrill of something new. I’ve got my eyes firmly on this coat when it becomes available…
In the meantime, there’s lots to get on with… Although saying that, I’ve booked a sneaky holiday at the end of the month, a cycling trip to Majorca - can’t wait!