I was a showgirl in a past life. Just kidding, but the amount of sequins I owned would say otherwise.
Have you moved recently?
It can be such a season of freedom. The decluttering, the fresh start, the clean slate. It can also wreck you a little, and nobody tells you that part.
While we were sorting closets, I kept pulling the "special" pieces and shoving them into a separate closet to deal with later. Later kept not happening. One night, I finally opened it.
Sequins. So many sequins. Tops, skirts, pants, dresses, even a few sequin cardigans, short and long.
Years ago, someone told me never to wear sequins when I was speaking on stage. Too distracting, they said. Naturally, that became my thing.
Every time I spoke, I wore sequins. A little rebellious but I also liked them.
But standing in that closet, I felt something and it wasn't just rebellion, if I'm honest. Somewhere along the way, my body was changing, my style felt dated to me, and the sequins became something to hide behind. If I sparkled loud enough, maybe nobody would notice I didn't quite feel like myself anymore.
I really do still love a good sequin. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. Some of it I'll rework and wear differently. A good portion is going to be donated so someone else gets to sparkle for a while, because that felt like the right ending for those pieces, not the trash bag.
I used to believe: that talking about clothes like this is shallow. Just fabric, just stuff, get over it.
But is it, though?
Clothes hold memories. They hold grief, if you let them. Letting them go is a process, not a decision, and nobody warns you about that part either.
Is there something in your closet right now that you know you need to let go of, but can't quite yet? I'd love to hear about it, truly. Send me a note. And if you know a woman going through her own version of this closet, moved or not, send this to her.
If you're in the middle of your own reinvention, come see us at cYou. We're a small luxury boutique here in Lakewood Ranch, and half of what we do is help women find the resort wear and everyday pieces that actually feel like who they are now, sequins optional.
Your friend,
Cyndi