Dressing as a devotion
My skincare algorithm is often heavy with the “ritual of skincare.” And yes, I love the idea of slowing down and making my nightly routine enjoyable, with all the ritual feelings… but to be honest, most nights soft PJs and a good book trump a slow ritual of taking my makeup off. You with me?
Here’s my philosophical lens if you will: if skincare can be presented as a ritual, can we ponder getting dressed as an elevated art, or even an act of devotion?
Devotion: a feeling of love and dedication. It’s a mood. Some of my favourite years of studying yoga were spent exploring Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion, and it shaped my worldview more than I’ve realised. I believe the steps we take in getting dressed can be an offering to this one precious life. Think about it for a minute: you are here, on a spinning ball, living in a body, at this moment in history. That, itself is a true miracle. Mary Oliver’s poem The Summer Day ends with a question I return to often: what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? I think one answer is to dress for the occasion of it. From the dog park to nights in and out, from work to workouts, we have an abundance of creative chances to express our gratitude.
My work history is a heady mix: the beauty industry (all about outward aesthetics), teaching yoga (mind and body), and then specialised dementia care. Believe it or not, that last job shaped me the most. The women I worked with, oh my lordy, did they know how to dress! One was Italian and so, so chic. The other was Slovakian, and the way she mixed her wardrobe was a daily study in fabric, economy and the beloved art of layering. For a good part of a year we were the IT TEAM! Coming to work dressed up became a daily offering for our guests at the social club. There’s nothing like seeing someone’s eyes light up when they realise you dressed up for them 👁‿👁. It had such a sweet flow-on effect that by the end, every day felt like a festival. It elevated everything around us, from the food we cooked to the activities we did to the music we played.
That moment, when someone realises you dressed up for them, is palpable.
❦ This can be a devotional offering. ❦
So here’s my creative spark. Think about your life: your workplace, the barista who smiles at you, the folks at the dog park, the ladies at the gym, the family get-togethers. Write them all down and ponder: can you elevate your style a little for them? Start small.
Start with yourself: give yourself a dab of your favourite perfume oil before bed.
A spritz of rose toner and a swipe of lippie before you grab your morning coffee.
Coffee at home in PJs becomes coffee on the porch in a sundress, soaking up the sun’s warmth.
A TV dinner takes a side step and becomes a set table, a cute fit and a spritz of perfume.
Gaps in your wardrobe? No worries! Download Vinted (a second-hand fashion app) and hunt for pieces that make your heart sing, spruce up what you own and it won’t blow the budget.
There’s nothing like the feeling of being put together in a great outfit. You shine, you radiate. When you take the time to plan, consider and feel the mood of where you’re going, how you look becomes part of your offering, to yourself and to others.
So let’s give the athleisure a night off and slip into something cute. (and on the days when it calls for it: PJs might be the right self-care offering).
**Thanks to my beautiful mentor Alana Rowe, an amazing teacher, for opening up the path of Bhakti Yoga for me.
