I want to throw all of my
clothes into a special super-sized bonfire. Well, maybe not all: The 'dress and
oppress' Jewel By Lisa dresses, the Kelechi Odu made to measure African
Principessa frock that took me all the way to Buckingham Palace, the foxy yet
church compliant Pokit tweed skirt, and a vital cache from Printemps in Paris
would definitely live to see another wardrobe moment. But as for the rest? I
wouldn't lose too much sleep over.
The sartorial distillation has many reasons: first there is the small but
not to be overlooked matter of London Fashion Week. A week of shows, parties,
and fashion face-offs, can really reveal the holes in one’s wardrobe, but perhaps more enduring you
realise that there are few items that
you can depend on whatever the weather and always feel your best in. In sheer
desperation, I chose to accessorise the aforementioned Pokit number with a fuscia pink bible to the shows on Sunday…the lady sitting next to me at one of
them asked me who it was by; I replied without missing a beat ‘God’. Evangelism after all comes in many forms! But
perhaps what the shows illustrated to me most was that one’s perception of
needing more often stems from a need to find that one illusive thing, be it a
winning collection or even single piece that just works, totally.
Clothes play an important role in the bible: from Joseph’s coat of many
colours (I always imagine something print-tastic a la Mary Katrantzou or Erdem)
to the new robe given to the Prodigal Son upon his return (I always think it
would be suitably dramatic to reflect the course of events, say vintage McQueen
or Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy); the items are as much a distinguishing feature,
as they are a marker of God’s favour, love and forgiveness.
Wanting to get rid of the old items in my wardrobe is exactly the same as
my wanting to get rid of all that might not work in my walk with God. What
might have seemed like a good idea in the past may seem simply embarrassing to
even consider putting on now. We are called to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles
and let us run the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1. So as well as the awkward numbers and discovering the
holy grail of high but easy to run in heels for my God authored race, I am adding
procrastination, worrying and dwelling in the past as an occasional lifestyle
option into the mix of cast-offs. It is a new season after all!
a week of invitations and some of the goodies within!
