Fashion Feng Shui Assignment: Karin

7 Outfits Deconstructed

Because this seems to hide a multitude of sins, this one is my favorite!

I think it is Wood both in structure and in the top's seagreen color. It's comfortable, allows for freedom of movement, and is a casual outfit.

But it also has some flow, so may have some Water-ness, as well.

I am not sure if the top is boxy enough to be considered Earth, too, but the structure reminds of Earth.

And I'm not sure if the bigger buttons are bold enough, but they did make me think of Fire.

I think these colors combine Earth and Water. Brown is a good solid Earth color, but the inner dark brown is a nod to Water's darkness. There is a boxy look to it, which is Earth, too. And the cardigan is textured, so more Earth. The jewelry is chunky: Earth.

I'm wearing pants (Wood columns) and the outfit is both comfortable and casual, which suggests both Wood and Earth. The fabrics are basic knits. And the outfit has versatile pieces, so more Earth and Wood.

The jewelry is slightly oversized and unusual, so has some Water element.

I am not sure the earrings could be considered whimsical, but they do come to a point at the end, and the shirt is a v-neck, and so is the cardigan, so there's some Fire.

Okay, we're starting off with Fire here, with the orange and red-orange colors in the cardigan and pullover top. And the cuff on my arm might be big and bold enough to be considered Fire?

The pants are Wood and the outfit, to me, seems to combine columnar with boxy, so I would say Wood and Earth. The shirt has some texture, so more Earth. And the outfit is both comfortable and casual, is made of knit/cotton fabric, and allows for freedom of movement, so combines Wood and Earth.

Do the round buttons count for Metal?

The top might be fluid enough for Water. But I have to say that that is what I didn't like about it. It's a little too unstructured. It is a slub knit, though, so also Earth.

The scarf here is a big splash of Fire red! My lipstick is red, too.

The green duster seems earthy, so more Earth than Wood, but it is ribbed (Wood), so it really is a combination. And I'm wearing pants, so Wood columns.

Plus, I guess all these pants count as some version of brown? So Earth?

The inner green tank top is a Wood color, but has some Water sheerness, I believe, on the bottom. I'm also wearing a big, bold ring (Water) which seems like an unexpected touch, but in a green animal print (Fire). Maybe the scarf is an unexpected touch, too?

The earrings are rectangles, so Wood energy.

I absolutely love this pullover, although I think it is not NEARLY bright enough for my coloring. I get away with it, but just barely, and usually I do so by wearing red makeup and jewelry.

I think the shirt combines the asymmetry and flowiness of Water, the ribbed texture, casual knit fabric, freedom of movement and woodsy green/brown color of Wood, v-neck styling and some of the other pointed features of Fire, and the texture/brownness of Earth.

The pants are Wood columns.

The jewelry is Fire red.

Of the seven, this outfit might be my least favorite. I think the cardigan and matching tank top, though yellow and boxy like Earth, need to be a little longer.

So that is why I added the animal print scarf, which is brown for Earth, but also a Fire element. The pants are Earth brown and Wood columns. The outfit is casual and comfortable, with freedom of movement, so a Wood outfit, overall.

Except for the scarf, an unexpected Water addition, because it adds some uniqueness?, this is a traditional Earth outfit, too.

There is a also a big, chunky-but-unique brown ring on my finger, which adds more Earth and Water energy.

And hey, in any outfit which has an open cardigan, doesn't the top in the middle create a Wood column? Does the scarf create a column, too?

This is a favorite outfit for when I want to just be able to put something on and go, so lots of Wood energy. No fuss, no frill! Very casual, very comfortable.

Some Earth energy, too, with the brown pants, and cotton/knit fabric, the boxy shape of the shirt, and it's substance.

The pants are Wood.

The shirt has a v-neck, which is Fire energy, some flow, which is Water, and if creamy white/ivory counts as white, Metal color.

The little knot might be a whimsical touch? Which would be Fire.




So these outfits emphasize Wood and Earth, which makes them good role models for me when it comes time to shop, but they also bring in touches of Water and Fire. Not much Metal, but there's not much Metal in me, either. :)

I think they make a good capsule wardrobe...

Ratings: Still, since I love some and quite like others, I decided to rate them...

(1) 9
(2) 7
(3) 9
(4) 6
(5) 9
(6) 6
(7) 8

Analysis:

The only thing wrong with my 9s is that the colors could be better. Otherwise, they would be 10s because of length, substance and ease.

The 8 and the 7 are not long enough or don't have quite enough substance.

The 6s are not kind enough to the buddha belly, plain and simple. The duster needs to be a smidge bigger and closed all the way down, and maybe with more substance. The ivory pullover is a slight compromise, because it needs to be both longer and more substantive, but I love the color and the ease.

Shopping! :)  ...

Wood/Earth with Water/Fire Influence

Making a List & Checking it Twice

I went through the FFS book again and made lists of what I related to in each element, including the physical traits. All the numbers were extremely close, within a 2-point range.

So I picked the appearance elements (they did tie for the highest score) to be my elements to emphasize, with influence from the other two. Scores were 19 for Wood and Earth, 18 for Water and 17 for Fire. Metal had less than five.

Wardrobe Plan 

casual comfortable clothes
boxy shapes
columns
pants, hip-length or long jackets/shirts
bright earthtones
woodsy greens & browns
Tawny Spring wear

V-neck shirts
dark colors, reds/red-oranges
asymmetry
scarves
animal print

Insights from Session 3 of TYLL...

Insights from today's FFS class...

(1) I am Water and Earth essence: and she talked about how each one influences the other. Last week, she gave me the feedback that my secondary Earth is lived out philosophically (Water). This week she asked all of us to reflect on how we live our primary essence. So if we are the Philosopher, are we a "healer Philosopher?" which would be Water blended with Earth. Well, that's exactly what I am.

(2) I am Water and Earth appearance: Water hair, Earth eyes and Earth skin. I thought maybe my eyes also had Fire coloring because when I looked at them in the mirror, I thought I saw one of the colors on the Fire wand. But she asked me to email her a pic of my eye and when I did, she said it was topaz and she would say it was Earth. In class, she called my coloring "burnished." Don't you love that?

(3) I'm thinking that makes Fire a tertiary influence, since I have some of the facial features and identify somewhat with the personality traits.

(4) A lot of the people I thought had Wood bodies were Metal. Wood, apparently, is waistless. If there is any indentation of arc, even if it is slight, then that person is Metal.

Toward More Earth

 

So last night, I sort of let percolate the question of how to bring more Earth into my life and into my daily experience. Because my goal is to be more grounded, more centered and more peaceful.

And then I had a dream that I believe may be a response to that question. In the dream, I was getting my car worked on, and the guy working on it had moved some things around and was telling me how to fix it back to the way it was before.

While I was trying to adjust things, the car started moving, and I was barely able to control it. By the time it stopped, I had moved away from the place where I was and was on another road entirely! And that kept happening!!

It was like this scary, madcap adventure because I couldn't stop the car, and could barely make it move the way I wanted it to but somehow, each time, it would miss the other cars and eventually stop without anyone getting hurt. Finally, I was able to turn it off in the driveway of a house I had never seen before.

I got out of the car, shaken, and a woman was walking across the street, having seen me stop, and was coming to talk to me.

Now, I'm sure this dream has multiple layers of meanings (including some deeper meaning about recent losses in my life) but as applied to the Earth thing, here are the questions I asked...

(1) What did the car need? Better brakes!!!

(2) What did I need? Confidence that I knew exactly where I was going & how I was going to get there without hurting myself or anyone else.

(3) What was my perceived problem? I could not control the car & wasn't sure when or if it would stop!

(4) How do I wish the dream had been different? I wish it had been a smooth, easy ride straight to my destination.

Well, there you go, the meaning of life in four questions and answers! It is obvious that I am the problem in my dream, and that, in real life, it is not necessary to "control the car" or know when and how it will stop or even exactly how I will get where I need to go.

But I do need vision and confidence that I will get there. And trust in the car and the one who fixed it.

Earth offers commitment to wrap a bow around vision and confidence, and being grounded and centered may help with trust. But also, maybe I need better brakes. And I might need more frequent stops to regroup.

And, of course, I need to remember that "the car" is a love bug! :)

(photo credit: Miehana on Flicker)

Intention: More Earth

During our FFS class yesterday, I realized that though my Essence element is Water, my secondary elemental influence is Earth. I didn't think it could be because Earths are the nurturers who live to serve. I definitely do not live to serve!!

But I do love to help people by empowering them with information! When Evana mentioned Oprah (as an Earth), who has been doing exactly that for more than 25 years, I realized I did fit within the Earth framework.

And she talked about Oprah's giveaways. I love to surprise people with things, too, though I often don't have the money for it (I do it for my son, though, and love to watch his face when I surprise him).

So then we talked about which element we want to use to bring what we need into our lives. She asked us to consider what we need most. And I realized that what I need is to be grounded and centered and to have peace. The kind of peace that doesn't budge.

And that's an Earth thing! So I need to figure out what I need to do to bring more of that into my life.

Pre-Training Homework: Angel Blessings

Since we have such a large group in our calls, I am going to ask you to pull an Angel Card on your own to see how the Angels will support you with your intentions for your TYLL experience. You can do this once -- or before every session.

If you have time, please go to  www.innerlinks.com (http://www.innerlinks.com)

Click on Pick and Angel Card

Log in or register as directed.

Keeping your intention for TYLL in mind, follow intructions to "pick an Angel Card."

Respond to this discussion with your "word."

I also chose a MentorSpirit and it was just what I needed...

Pre-Training Homework: Mini Fashion Feng Shui Closet Audit

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MINI FASHION FENG SHUI® CLOSET AUDIT
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Please select from your existing wardrobe the following four
garments:

1. Something that you love and wear all the time 




2. Something that you love but don't wear 





3. Something that you think you should love but don't 





4. Something that you dislike





5. Something I love that I probably shouldn't (I added this one myself) 






Take a photo of each garment and prepare a digital file to upload to the Training Portal. Save the file in .jpg format with a maximum file size of 5MB.

Pre-Training Homework: Ideal Self Collage

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IDEAL-SELF COLLAGE
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Take some quiet time to think about your Ideal Self. Who would
you be, what would you do and have if there were no holds barred?
Using photos, phrases and mixed media of your choice, please
create a collage on at least an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet of paper (larger
is fine too!) that illustrates your Ideal Self and the life you
lead. If your dreams could become your reality, what would it
look like? Have fun with this project. Whichever way you do it is
perfect!

Either take a digital photo of your collage, or scan it and save
to a .jpg file not larger than 5MB that you can upload to the
Training Portal.

Fashion Feng Shui Training

SO excited to be starting the training at the end of the month!!

I have started this blog to chronicle my experience before and during the training and as I begin to learn about my own elemental influences. Then it will be my homebase for sharing the information with others.