When I was fresh out of high school I spent my days, and as many nights as possible, working at a horse stables. Horse crazy was an understatement.
Most days I would dress in lace-up "Ropers," Wrangles and a tank top. lol I wasn't too concerned about style. But one day some of my friends and I decided we would dye our hair. I chose the boldest red they had. Being a blonde my hair sucked up all the dye and within hours my locks were a cartoon, cherry red. Amused, I decided to paint each of my fingernails a different colour and see how my colleagues and clients reacted at work the next day.
They were surprised of course but no one was as surprised as my Gramma who came out to visit me at work that day and asked my mom "Who's the new girl!?" For years after she'd laugh and tell the story of how she didn't even recognize her own granddaughter.
I've always considered myself to be very flexible with my 'style.' So flexible that I couldn't define it from one day to the next. Some days I'd be in my 'cowgirl' clothes. Other days I'd clean up, put foam rollers in my hair and wear a silk scarf around my neck. (Not to work at the stables of course.) Sometimes I'd be in bold colours, other days neutrals and classics.
It wasn't until I started to make jewellery that I really began to evaluate what my 'style' is. I found that my pieces were always 'clean' looking with a little special something. Some of my favourite pieces are single strand necklaces and even, smooth, high-quality beads.
That doesn't mean I won't make a 10-strand necklace with fuchsia and lime green at some point. Or possibly taking relics I find at the thrift store and creating something new and amazing. It just means that my style leans towards simple and elegant.
This was all reaffirmed to me when I was browsing a high-end jewellery store in the mall and the sales clerk looked me up and down, and studied the rings I was asking to look at. "Your style is 'classy elegance'" she said. Ahhh. That hit home. Sure there are many days that I don't get out of my pjs but in my heart 'classy elegance' defintely suits me. It can be reflected in many of the jewellery pieces I make as well as my own sense of style - even if that's only visible in my head!
