Well, it is that dreaded time once again. Mercury has gone retrograde.
It's not really a big a deal as people say. Sure, you lose your sunglasses or your credit card gets declined, but these are all minor inconveniences when compared to the good that Mercury retrograde does.
In astrology, Mercury rules how we think. And when he goes all wobbly, backsliding into the Underworld, this is a pretty good time to reconsider some things. Like: do I even like this person whose text I'm waiting for? Or, is this book I can't seem to finish better off chucked out the window instead of wasting my time? Or, am I suddenly a leopard print kind of person?
Yes, as we age, as our bodies change, as we grow out of fashion and more into style, we change our minds about what we like and how we want others to see us. Which is a very good time to reconsider some of our biases and things in the past we would have immediately dismissed.
Let's reconsider together!
Now normally, I am not a ruffle type person. I will instantly pass by anything with ruffles or puffy sleeves or like a flared collar. But this, this dress I am oddly drawn to. Maybe it is just that it manages to give a hard edge to a ruffle -- not an easy thing to do, for sure. Or maybe I'm just coming around on a girlish flourish in my old age?
I never really understood the whole athleisure thing. This could be because I am essentially allergic to all physical activity, but the elevated sweatpants and cozy fabrics and wearing things that are actually comfortable... see, I'm convincing myself right here that I was wrong about this. I love these pants. Such a soft, warm velvet but with enough shape to still pair it with something fun on top.
I will change my mind about a lot of things, but let me be honest with you: I do not look great in turtlenecks. I don't know what it is, it just looks like my body is trying to swallow my head. But this sweater makes me wish I could.
One thing that our culture needs to reconsider as a collective project is the prevalence of the puffy black winter coat. You know the one, they are dull and sad and totally monotonous. Why just walk around in a foot-less sleeping bag when you can take that same idea and make it as chic and warm as this? You are half battling the cold and half navigating the Matrix in this coat, and I really want all the other black puffy coats to disappear from our sidewalks.
One thing I know that I am right about and will not be reconsidering is my belief that jackets are the most important item of clothing. I have so many jackets, guys. I have more jackets than I have a season long enough to wear them all. They are a little layer of armor, they hold you tightly and add a final layer of polish. This, with its soft leather the color of smoke and its interesting texture, would keep you together as you move through your landscape.
I feel like we need to reconsider tie-dye. I know we have all been traumatized by truck stop t-shirts and head shop novelty tees and college students, but really, there is some real life and prettiness in these shirts. We need to re-embrace the color and the fluidity and leave the mistakes of the past behind us.
I am still working on my aversion to jumpsuits. They look amazing, but what if there is a bathroom emergency? I just clamp up in fear. But look at how beautiful this is. If I could make myself wear a jumpsuit, I would start here.
And on that note, am I a person who can wear cool sneakers? Are you? Maybe I am? And how would cool sneakers rearrange how I wear and match up other things in my wardrobe? Maybe this is a question you need to be asking yourself, too. Maybe a year ago you were not a cool sneaker person. But now, maybe that Mercury is retrograde, you can find another answer to that question.
Jessa Crispin is a writer and tarot card reader. You can find her at jessacrispin.comor at Instagram at @jessacrispin