December 2012.

It was cold outside, and on such an evening, you want to stay in a bed, covered with a soft, fuzzy blanket, watching a chic flick movie or reading a novel. I could have done that, but instead, I was slowly walking around my tiny apartment with a glass of Merlot. I was alone, and the only sound stopping me from getting lost in the silence was chill music playing on my laptop. 

I stopped near the window and tried to see through the darkness. A big world is outside my apartment, where at this moment, a wild wind was forcing snowflakes to dance accelerated Waltz. 

It’s been a year since my divorce, and I finally started feeling relaxed living alone, comfortable with my finances, and cheerful about my future. I was putting in my best efforts to maintain a delicate balance between my memories, actions, and dreams, but I still didn’t have all the pieces of a puzzle called “A Happy Life.”

I rubbed my shoulder, took another sip of wine, and suddenly, my attention was drawn to my outfit: a black knitted dress and black tights. “Why am I wearing all black?” – I asked myself. It looked like I was at a funeral, and I wasn’t. In the morning, I met my friend for a coffee, and we spent two hours chatting. After I returned home, I forgot to change my outfit, and even if I would, my cozy home clothes are in dark colors: grey and chocolate, so it wouldn’t make a big difference in a color scheme. Do I have colorful clothes? And my first thought was: “Maybe!?” So I decided to check my wardrobe to eliminate doubts. The moment I opened it, I felt like a shock wave covered me with sticky question marks.

I stared at my clothes for a while and then mumbled: “Why most of my clothes are black?” There were three shirts: white, red, and beige, that got lost in an overwhelming amount of black clothes. “Why I don’t have more colorful outfits?” It will take me a couple of years to answer that question. At that moment, I remembered that I’d been wearing a lot of black clothes for many years and never doubted the feeling of comfort it gave me. It was my way of escaping any attention and blending into the grey city landscape of the big city I lived in. 

Following my “call of bravery” that awakened in me since my divorce, I decided to act immediately. I left several essential black clothes and all the rest packed in big trash bags. That brought me a soothing feeling of freedom and strengthened my hope. I found another piece of a puzzle. The following day I took them to the donation house and later visited the nearest shopping mall.  

I want colorful clothes.

Are you on a journey to change your life? Do you want to try something different and colorful? I encourage you to keep moving forward. Believe in yourself and know that there is growth and abundance on the other side of change.  

There were five main obstacles that I encountered on my transformational voyage. Some of them were based on fear, others on the lack of knowledge. It was scary, but I wanted more from life, so I didn’t allow them to stop me. 

1. I want to wear colorful clothes, but I don’t know what color will fit me.

I didn’t have money to pay for the advice of a professional image consultant, but I had a great desire to change my wardrobe and add colorful clothes. So, I followed the easiest way by choosing the clothes in my favorite colors: red, gold, purple and pale pink. And it worked. 

Nowadays, my favorite colorful clothes are orange, yellow, red, green, pink, and fuchsia. However, there is one color I deeply respect, but I know it doesn’t fit me – blue. I wear several dresses of that peaceful color from time to time, but I wouldn’t call it my favorite.

There is science behind choosing the right color based on your skin tone; take a look at this article “Trick to finding your Signature Fashion Color.”

Get inspiration from Pinterest, then experiment and see what color makes you feel good and elevates your spirit. Share it in the comments, and let’s spread the word about the benefits of wearing colorful clothes. 

2. I want to wear colorful clothes, but I’m afraid of what people think of me. 

If these words resonate with you, I understand you! I was there! I cared deeply about what other people thought of me for most of my life. I lost so many hours of my life creating unrealistic scenarios about people judging me for all sorts of actions and words. Until I finally decided to stop it and take control of my life. 

If someone cares about you wearing a red dress, green pants with an orange top, or a combination of a skirt-shirt-blazer of different patterns – it’s their choice. That doesn’t mean there is something wrong with your choice to wear a colorful outfit; it might be because their life and outfit are so dull that they choose to invest their time in thinking about you, who is doing and wearing something interesting. 

People who are happy and engaged in their lives won’t judge other people. They don’t have time to do that. 

There is an excellent quote from the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert that once helped me to overcome this obstacle. “Long ago, when I was in my insecure twenties, I met a clever, independent, creative, and powerful woman in her mid-seventies who offered me a superb piece of wisdom. She said: “We all spend our twenties and thirties trying so hard to be perfect because we are so worried about what people will think of us. Then we get into our forties and fifties, and we finally start to be free because we decide that we don’t give a damn what anyone thinks of us. But you won’t be completely free until you reach your sixties and seventies when you finally realize this liberating truth – nobody was ever thinking of you, anyhow”. They aren’t. They weren’t. They never were.”

So, your desire to wear colorful outfits is the only permission and approval you need to do it.

3. I want to wear colorful clothes, but I don’t have any.

The solution is easy. Invest time and money in buying several vibrant clothes. Nowadays you don’t even have to go to a shopping mall to buy it; online stops offer a great choice of different outfits for different budgets. One of my favorites is SHEIN. Yes, it’s made in China, as well as iPhones, certain items from Prada, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Coach and many other billion items. And if you know what you are looking for and invest a little time, you can find good quality clothes in their online store. I also buy clothes and shoes on Amazon. 

Last Thanksgiving, I discovered Ann Taylor store, where they sell elegant clothes in different colors, including yellow, green, and fuchsia. And on Black Friday, I bought one of my favorite coats because I loved the fuchsia color and the tweed fabric. 

Given all our shopping options, it’s easier to invest time in choosing ones than staying trapped in a bubble called “I want to wear colorful clothes, but I don’t have any.” You can have something if you want it; just make the first step. 

The benefits of using colors (also known as color therapy) have been known since Ancient Egypt. Adding colors to your clothing is its direct application. When you wear a colorful dress or a blouse with a skirt, you share the joy of colors with other. It’s a mutual cultivation of good vibes – you receive and give simultaneously. 

4. I love colorful outfits on other people, but I can’t see myself wearing them. 

Concentrate on the positive side of this statement: “You love colorful outfits!” That’s the only permission and motivation you need to add colors to your daily outfits. 

Start with little steps, check out Pinterest for colorful outfits, choose the one you like, and try it on while staying at home, where you feel comfortable and protected from other people’s views. Look at your reflection in the mirror as often as possible to get used to seeing yourself in a colorful outfit. Be gentle in your thoughts while looking at yourself. Depending on your wardrobe’s color scheme, the resistance level will vary, and it might take longer to get used to your new look. Keep trying; that’s how you train your mind to your new look. Repeat this for several days. 

The next step will be going to the grocery store or another small place. Repeat this step as often as you need until you feel comfortable. And the final step will be meeting good friends while wearing your new colorful outfit. 

Unless you try, how will you know; unless you try a colorful outfit, how will you see yourself wearing it?!

5. I love colors, but I feel uncomfortable wearing colorful clothes. 

Feeling comfortable in personal style and the fashion world is based on the number of times you did or experienced wearing something. It’s not an organically-natural feeling you were born with; it’s something acquired by repetition. Let’s say you feel comfortable wearing jeans and yoga pants with knit shirts. Ask yourself: “How many times did I wear them already? How often do I wear them?” If the answer is more than twice per week and for many years, then it’s obvious that you feel comfortable wearing them. And how often do you wear a vibrant dress or a colorful shirt? If you answered: “On a special occasion” or “When I go out to a party or restaurant,” it can be the reason for discomfort while wearing colorful outfits. And one more, Isn’t life a special occasion of its own? How many lives can we live in one lifetime? Only ONCE. So, it’s worth using colors and applying other creative hacks to feel the delight of being alive.

Practice wearing colorful clothes more often than just on a “special day,” and soon, you’ll see a shift in your mindset toward abundance, joy, and happiness. 

Colorful outfits bring confidence. 

The healing effect of wearing colorful outfits is a massive add-on of confidence and self-esteem. Using colorful outfits intentionally can become your magic tool for cultivating those essential ingredients of self-love. 

Confidence is born when you act despite resistance from old habits or do something you thought you couldn’t.

Don’t wait for the right moment when you feel ready to wear a colorful dress or an outfit. Make it happen now. Waiting for a Monday or the next months to start a new life doesn’t work – it has been proven to be a procrastination trick. The same with colorful outfits. The best time to try one is now. Yellow, pink, green, orange, red, and purple is all vibrant colors ready to share joy and optimism with you. You will feel different: inspired, energetic, and beautiful when you put them on. 

In my life, pivoting to wearing color outfits was a result of a healing journey after divorce. Years later, it feels logical how it happened but back then, I was confused. Despite that feeling, I decided to continue experimenting with wearing colorful clothes, and soon it dissipated, replacing it with joy, confidence, and bravery. 

I am here for you and happy to answer your questions and discuss colorful life-changing adventures. 

You are not alone in your desire to wear a colorful dress! Check out a story about four women who ventured to do a photo session on a crowded street in a megapolis. That turned into an empowering experience, significantly changed their perceptions of themselves, and infused them with self-confidence.