Clothes that make us look amazing can help us feel amazing. But there are also clothes that make us feel cheery, optimistic, just plain happy whenever we pull them on regardless of their figure-flattering properties.
The skirt pictured above is one of those pieces. It has some sassy retro flair, perfectly-placed pockets, and is the absolute best shade of orange imaginable. It’s crafted from the perfect fabric – a mid-weight wool that feels completely right for year-round wear – and the longer I own in, the more I see that it works beautifully with at least half of my tops. It doesn’t get worn often enough to be considered a signature piece, but it is my go-to item for happy wearage. If I’m feeling blue or cranky, or facing down a doozy of a day, wearing this skirt boosts my mood the second I pull it on.
In an ideal world, every single piece in our closets would lift our moods and make us smile. But some clothes are workhorses, some mere occasionals, and it’s important to have a blend of all types for a balances and versatile wardrobe. But today, let’s celebrate our happy clothes.
Are there items in your closet make you feel dizzy with delight every time you wear them? Tell us all about ‘em in the comments!
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
I love my Marc Jacobs tweed coat that I got a a sample sale… It makes my heart skip a beat everytime I wear it.
xxx
CEO
Neon yellow alligator pumps. Not only did I wear them on my wedding day, but I'm pretty certain that nothing bad can ever happen when you're wearing yellow shoes.
Also, I have a leopard print swing coat that I can only wear during fall and spring that makes me want to dance.
Mad Dress Game
I have one dress that was made to measure for me (in China via an e-bay shop for around €75, HUGE bargain) and it makes me feel amazing. It fits everywhere, which is amazing, as being both large chested, small-waisted and rather tall, virtually everything else I own is too tight across the chest/hips, too loose in the waist, and has the bust darts about three inches above where they ought to be, and the waist shaping about five inches off (that's the height/bust combo in action right there). The dress is unsuitable for virtually every occasion, as despite a relatively high neck and low hem it makes me look rather like Jessica Rabbit, but for that same reason it makes me feel truly amazing when I do get to wear it. Also it is a lovely shade of green.
The other one that I really love wearing is a somewhat too large and slightly shapeless knit merino dress – but it is so snuggly and comfy that it cheers me up every time I put it on.
My gray sweater coat. I do realize it's one step away from leaving the house in a snuggie, but I just beam with happiness when I am wrapped in it. In fact, thank you. I am wearing it today because yesterday was hard and today could be as well. Good idea.
The skirt I'm wearing today is a happy item. There's no way I can look at that print and not grin. Actually, part of the reason I have lots of clothes not all of which work together is that when I see something that gives me that little happy spark, I buy it without too much regard for practicality.
it's hard to make versatile, but I love my bright red, vintage, mod, Star-Trek-meets-flight-attendant dress I thrifted earlier in the year. The color is unmitigated happiness and the style makes me feel both futuristic and retro all at once. Kind of a colorful form of escapism.
I love my grey and turquoise sillky shirt, which I have a perfect vintage pin to decorate it with. It has a really great neckline, I always feel confident when I wear it.
Love the color of your skirt!
In 1987 I splurged bigtime and bought a gorgeous Max Mara wool swing coat: shawl collar, silk lining, nearly reaches the floor, 3/4 length sleeves. It is the color of face powder. I wear it only once or twice each winter with elbow-length deep-red suede gloves and will for the rest of my life!
I have a red-and-orange striped racerback tunic that for some reason just makes me gleeful. It's not from an amazing designer, wasn't an incredible bargain, and isn't even necessarily all that well made, but when I put it on in the dressing room, I got a big, silly grin on my face. I can't really explain it.
Isn't it lovely to have clothes that really can change our mood? I have a yellow cashmere cardigan that is presently my mood shifting garment. It makes me more sunny just to see it.
I have a purple skirt. I think it's from Target but it's a bright, cheery shade of purple, medium weight fabric, with buttons up the front. I usually wear it with tall boots and it always makes me feel like I'm actually put together and have style.
Come to think of it, I don't wear that skirt nearly enough.
My Fluevogs, definitely – I have two pairs, yellow Viardots and red Benetars, and I love the bright colours and the fact that they are about the comfiest heels I own, not to mention that they seem to attract compliments from strangers, which is always nice. They just add some fun to any serious outfit – today I’m wearing the Viardots with grey tights, a grey skirt and a cream sweater.
I also have what I refer to as my party skirt – it’s a knee-length, in a leopard print with a bit of red, it has a bit of volume to it, and it moves really well. It looks great with pointy toed stilettos and an evening top with no sleeves or a plunging neckline, but I have worn it to work on days when I’m feeling tired, bored, or overwhelmed – it looks great toned down with a belted black turtleneck, black tights, and boots or chunky heeled loafers. I sometimes find it hard to resist the urge to spin around and watch the skirt fly, though.
Not clothing, but wearing a bit of one of my favourite perfumes always cheers me up too. I apply it lightly – I’m wearing it for me, not anyone else – and I love unexpectedly smelling it frome time to time throughout the day. (My current favourite is Come des Garcons Ouarzazate, which reminds me of a trip I took to Morocco.)
Sorry to be so long winded – this was a great question!
I have an over sized cardigan made of 50% acrylic and 50% cat hair. I makes me really happy knowing that I am in for the night and will have no cat claw mishaps that I need to worry about.
And it makes me feel like a college professor.
-HM
My Nanette Lepore skirt that I got for 75% off a few years ago.
My red dansko sallys.
Lots of sweaters/scarves/hats/gloves that I knit myself.
Today I am wearing a very simple outfit of white blouse, boyfriend jeans, and my new military-ish boots. Felt kinda frumpy until I rolled up the pants to expose the boots, and even though it's probably shortening my leg line something awful, the outfit makes me so happy b/c it shows off the awesome boots!
You look so happy in that top photo!
I really gravitate toward reds, oranges and pinks in my closet, so wearing those usually make me really happy.
I recently got a vintage dress from a thrift shop and it is perfect. The print it amazing, it fits perfectly, and it has a fantastic pleated skirt. It makes me feel like skipping. I have to restrain myself from wearing it everyday.
i'd always bought into that theory of clothes – you have workhorses,'versatile' pieces, a white button down blouse,etc….a 'wardrobe' built in a particular way. you use clothes to create outfits and the outfits are great, not necessarily the clothes…
but 3 or 4 years ago i thought 'aw, cluck it. what the hell am i waiting for.' and decided to just go for clothes i really loved – no more 'useful' things. partly because i have a small wardrobe, partly because the heat around here means many days you can only stand to wear 1 or 2 pieces at a tome (no layering to create looks), partly i realized i wasn't that far off from where i wanted to be vis a vis my clothes.
and what do you know – now that i have about 90% clothes that knock my socks off, i have a lot more versatile wardrobe than ever before. It's The Power Of Happy Clothes! ; )
Dear Sal,
I went to see Matt Costa last night. I'd never heard of him before your recommendation.
Thank you! It was great! So many cute boys in farmer shirts. And pretty great music to boot. *sigh*
I wore cherry red doc martin boots – they make me pretty happy.
Cat
Cat: THAT IS AWESOME! I've never seen him live, but just adore his music. So glad you had fun!
Probobly the happiest piece I own is a very high waisted white eyelet skirt. It is very narrow through the waist, and then gets very full from my hips down. It's a thrifted piece that I'm pretty sure was supposed to be worn lower on the hips, so that the hem was ankle rather than knee length. It has serious problems- the zipper sticks terribly, the lining is litterally shredded, and I've had to mend several tears (luckily, they were all on seams, so they don't show), but every time I wear it, I feel like dancing. I've seriously considered having it coppied when it is finally completely worn out.
Oh, I have a pretty grey skirt that looks like a painting of a french cafe! You have to look closely to realize that's what the "painting" is of. It makes me so very happy!
I also have a red, retro looking coat that I can't wait to wear for the first time! I'm pretty sure it's older than me but I know it's not "retro" because my aunt made it for my mum. I found it in the coat closet, and needed a new winter coat so mum said I could have it sense I can't remember her ever wearing it. I can't wait until the cold!
I'm happy to say that I feel this way about a LOT of items in my closet! I'm making an effort to cut back on my purchases and only buy things that make me feel happy (and confident and beautiful), and it makes getting dressed so much fun!
Right now I'm wearing one of my favorite pieces, a black tweed shift from Target that I bought a couple of years ago–it fits beautifully and I pair it with a vintage black-and-white enamal flower pin that reminds me of my Nana.
Two things. First, I have a pink thrifted sweater made from ultra-fuzzy yarn. It fits, but I think it would be impossible to make it super flattering, since the shape is dictated by the thickness of the yarn. However, I love it and it always makes me feel amazing. I get a calm feeling whenever I put it on, like wearing the sweater is going to shape my day for the better.
Also, I have a faux-wool blue peacoat from a few years past. The color is spectacular (a deep bright blue) and the fit is amazing. I always wear it if I know pictures will be involved, because it makes my skin, my eyes and my hair pop.
I have a gorgeous purple sweater coat that comes out this time of year. Shawl collar, felted wool with lovely turned back cuffs. It makes me feel fabulous and chic.
Fabulous for the fall! I love the way you use belts. I like the belt in yesterday's white shirt black skirt outfit too.
What's the brand of those boots in your Etsy Harness outfit? I have been looking for fun boot. Really like the buckles and wedge heels. TIA
I have a bright pink dress that always makes me in a brighter, more cheerful mood. I think color is the thing that triggers my mood–bright colors especially.
You definitely look happy in this outfit – gorgeous smile today!
I actually have a lot of happy clothes – today I am wearing a ruffly purply-pink tank that I love
My pencils skirt and LBD always make me feel like a million bucks!
Sally I have been reading your blog too long. Bc I looked at this outfit, and I really liked it, but then I thought, hey you could have also worn these teal blue tights with that outfit
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2010/09/reader-request-working-those-colorful.html
and a cool chunky necklace to bring the teal up to your face…
Oh my goodness! What has happened to me!
My happy clothes tend to be whatever I've sewn most recently. It's a huge confidence booster to wear something you've made.
I have this awesome, light-weight cotton sateen "painter's coat" in bright red from Eileen Fisher. I like layering it over any voluminous, white skirt or dress, along with my Frye boots. Every time I wear a version of this outfit, I feel confident, powerful, and beautiful. I may go put it on right now!
last year i splurged and bought a white cardigan with yellow, orange & black flowers on the sides from anthropology. i don't wear it super often because it's mostly white & i'm a mommy of 2 little boys. but it slims my waist & has all my favorite colors in it so it is my go to when i feel like crud but want to look nice.
i also have a vintage looking diamond necklace from my husband that i wear several times a week and makes me feel lovely.
That is a perfect skirt and I love the sash belt. Looking great.
I think my perfect wardrobe piece would be my leather jacket. It's getting better as it's getting battered.