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Andrea de Michaelis, Publisher
Hello and welcome to the January 2011 edition of Horizons Magazine.  Lately I’ve been watching some of the fashion makeover shows on tv and it’s been my Fashion 101 tutorial.   I’ve been writing about it in my daily blog at  http://horizonsmagazine.com/blog/ .  Back in the 70’s and 80’s when I worked for law offices, the women dressed competitively.  I wasn’t into fashion, so I simply shopped where they shopped and bought the same brands and didn’t give much thought to it otherwise.  After 22 years having to dress professionally every day, I was glad to become self employed in 1992 so i could switch to casual wear.  That's where I've been since then.

Lately I’ve been wanting a change, so I’ve been educating myself so I know basic things, like what shapes of clothes to wear with what shapes of bodies.  How a deep or wide neckline is much more slimming to a larger upper body than a button down collar or a crew neck.  How a shorter jacket is more slimming than a long one and gives a more flattering silhouette.  So, lately I’ve been paying attention to what people wear and seeing what I like, what shapes I like, what colors I like, what colors I might like to wear.  I’m being drawn to lighter, pastel colors.  After doing my research, it was time to revamp my wardrobe. 
 
I went through the closets and gave away things I no longer wore.  I had to make room in the closet before I could bring anything else in.  I’m not a big shopper.  I shop in spurts, every few years.  Being self employed from home, my typical daily uniform the past 10 years had been my mens’ oversized Hawaiian-style Walmart shirt with jeans and deck shoes or sneaks. I usually let comfort win if I went out to run errands, and I’m sure the post office and bank staff wondered if I owned anything other than the only outfit they ever saw me in. It was time for a new look since I’d clearly fallen into a rut.
 
I went shopping the first day and spent a whopping $131 at Kohl’s.  I got there on a big sale day.   I got an 18″ silver chain for a turquoise pendant I have –  the chain was marked $60 but on sale for $23, which is what it is worth.  I also got 2 cardigans and 2 camisoles — which is what I set out to buy — and four blouses.  I shopped methodically.  I determined what look I was going for, and I determined what colors, since I wanted to specifically have outfits to wear with my turquoise and silver jewelry. 
 
I also wanted a fitted black cardigan, since the one I had was long and oversized.  I got one in black and one in a teal and black print.  I wanted some blue/teal/green tops and decided on plain scoop necked shells to layer under the cardigans.  I can wear all the tops under both cardigans, with skirts, dress slacks or jeans, and they all coordinate with my turquoise jewelry.
 
I hung my new purchases up in a staging area where I could look at them for a few days and decide if I needed to return anything.  I tried everything on again.  I pulled tops from my closet to pair with the new cardigans, and pulled skirts and slacks and jeans to try on with the new blouses. I tried everything with and without the silver neckpieces.  Interesting.  I never thought of that as a look for me.  So I suddenly have several new outfits in greens and blues.
 
As I shopped and tried on several things, I was reminded why I began sewing.  I learned to sew when I was a kid and always enjoyed it.  I like to buy something that is almost what I want and make it into exactly what I want.  I’ve always been like that.  And I’m not doing it because I’m unhappy with how the garment is right now, it’s just that I see so much more potential in it.  That’s how I am with life also.
 
As I purged my closets last month, I set aside favorite pieces that I could either redesign for a new look, or use as a pattern for a something new.  I’m good at deconstructing a garment, such as seeing what about that blouse do I like?  The color?  The fabric?  The fabric design? The details, like stitching or buttons or zipper?  The fit?  I’ve learned to make a pattern using my favorite pieces, to buy fabric that is silky and flowy in colors that flatter me.  News flash: I’ve learned that patterns and colors I like to look at are not necessarily the ones that look best on me.  I’ve learned if I like a basic piece, I can change out the buttons and redesign a sleeve or neckline and customize it to me. 
 
When I get in the sewing mode, I’m in the slot, everything flows.  I find great fabric at a great price and my designs and pattern-making are spot on.  One night, I fell asleep with the question on my mind — what shall I make from the purple/blue chiffon with border print?  I woke up with several ideas and ran them through my head. By the time I actually got the fabric on the cutting table, I’d already created it in my mind and knew just what I was going to do at every step.
 
I made a simple tank overtop with matching scarf.  A bold and stunning contrasting border runs across the bodice, so I could keep the style simple.   Since I pre-paved the design and cutting and sewing ahead of time, it went easily for me.  Just like in life.  Once that was done, I immediately began thinking of my next project.  I had 2 yards of a tan and aqua silky sheer that I’d earlier made another overtop with.  I thought a short open jacket of the same fabric would be cute.  Short sleeves, to the waist, kimono collar.  I began to search my closet mentally for what I might best use as a pattern.  I fell asleep with that thought.
 
I dreamed I was going through my closet looking for a top to use as a pattern.  I was in my own closet but there were interesting new pieces as well.  In the dream I began trying on clothes.  I woke up and went straight to my back closet and found a favorite red cotton kimono, circa 1973.  After checking out the kimono for size and style, I’d found the perfect pattern.  I love it when I can attract information that way.
 
That’s how we attract everything, you know.  Just thinking on it. Spending time pondering something we want and basking in the feeling of having it. The more we do that, the less time we spend focusing on things we don’t like and don’t want.  We ask ourselves, “This thing I am focusing on -- this topic I am reading about or this show I am watching -- is it something I personally want to experience in my life?  Does it make me feel happy when I watch it?”  When we ask these internal questions, answers and guidance start pouring into our mind from all corners of the Universe.  This is how powerful we are as attractors of our own experience.
 
This is why you can trust that you have the power to make it even in challenging times.   We all know someone who is worried about the state of the economy.  The state of the economy does not determine your experience. Your conscious thought, expectation and belief does.  Trust that you have the power to make it even in challenging times, trust that you can attract helpful thoughts that inspire you to action.  Soon enough you’ll have evidence and your belief will change.
 
When you use your self-talk to remind yourself that you have access to inner guidance that can lead you in the right direction for all decisions, you become very powerful.  When you tell yourself that, your mind starts looking for evidence of it and attracting guidance and inspiration to you.   And unless you drown out that inner guidance by having your attention on say tv or radio or news reports, you’ll be inspired to action that can change your world — right now, right where you are — for the better.
 
And if you spend 51% of your time looking all around you at everything that is going wrong with the world, and everyone that is pissing you off, you can’t be attracting anything else. Just for one day cut the criticism and cut the pessimism and pretend that if you think of all the happy things that ever happened to you, you’ll spend a few minutes vibing in a higher and happier place.  And those minutes will lead to more minutes of happier thoughts and you’ll attract even more happier thoughts.  Let THAT be your snowball for the morning and your world can change by tomorrow.  And there is no evidence anywhere to the contrary.  I only speak from experience.
 
What if everyone simply began pre-paving their own future experience by thinking the best thoughts they can in the Now?  Even when you see horrible things happening around you, you can find something better to focus on.   When I was in the emergency room years ago writhing in pain from gallstone pancreatitis, the good thing I focused on was “soon they’ll give me a pain shot and I’ll be on the other side of this.”
 
When my third husband died of liver cancer and I thought I’d never find love again, I reminded myself that love isn’t just between me and one person, it’s between me and everyone.  No matter what the circumstance, there is always a better feeling thought you can choose to think. And it’s all related. 
 
Enjoy our offering this month. 
Hari Om.