We all have days when our hearts are heavy and we’re not our normal happy selves. But life goes on and we still have to get dressed for work, take care of kids and pets, run errands and everything else, despite our frame of mind. Does your blue mood affect what you wear?

Feeling blue affects my outfit choice. I make a point of wearing extra happy outfits on days when I’m feeling a little sad in hope that they’ll cheer me up during the day (extra lipstick helps too). For me, a happy outfit means bright colours, strong colour contrasts and bold patterns, as opposed to a more monochromatic and sophisticated look.

A blue mood struck me twice last week and the happy outfit on the right is the first one that came to the rescue. I shopped with a very casual client in a mall that day, so I was fine to dress casually.

Strange as it may sound, my happy outfits do improve my disposition. Wearing bright red either as an item of clothing or an accessory makes me feel powerful and alive. Bright apple green is my favourite colour, which made glancing down at my feet fun and cheerful (especially since the green contrasts so well with the denim). As I put the outfit together I realized that I looked a little “Christmassy”. But Christmas makes me happy too, so what the heck and I dashed out the door.

We’re all different, so the way we dress when we’re feeling blue will be different too. Specific wardrobe items spark off specific feelings in ways that are unique to us as individuals. Obviously, we don’t really care what we wear when we’re very upset. Sweats and PJ’s for a day at home will do just fine on days like that.

Do you consciously dress a certain way when you’re feeling blue? Does your mood affect your outfit choices in general?

The number one accessory on last night’s red carpet was the umbrella as it poured with rain over designer gowns and tousled hairstyles. It was a very damp start to this year’s awards season, but a start nonetheless. I hope it stays dry for the Oscars because it’s a shame to see all that effort end up in wet frocks, frizzed hair and runny make-up

Ruffles, asymmetrical necklines, blush pink and all shades of purple along with lots of sequins and bling were the big looks of the night. I have to say that I wasn’t enamored by the long gowns. Most of them, apart from Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet’s gowns, seemed overly styled, overly ruffled, overly embellished and a little too poufy. I love seeing someone take a red carpet fashion risk, but it’s got to work. Perhaps I’m being overly red-carpet-fussy, or a little conservative. Or perhaps I just prefer a strong, sleek line on a long gown.

So the gals in shorter frocks were the ones that piqued my interest. The Golden Globes is not the Oscars, which makes a cheeky short hemline perfectly appropriate. Remember Reese Witherspoon’s short yellow dress in 2007? That’s my favourite Golden Globes look of all time.

As bohemian as it was, Julia Roberts was my favourite look of the night. Her long sleeved short black dress was a breath of fresh hair and she wore it flawlessly. I loved the oversized gold medallion that complemented Julia’s golden locks. She looked classy, alluring and very comfortable.

Ginnifer Goodwin was my next favourite in a sculptured drapey cobalt dress with asymmetrical neckline. Stunningly different.

Robert Downey Jr. gets my vote for best dressed bloke with Kevin Bacon and Tom Hanks as runner ups. Unfortunately Jon Hamm’s beard looked awful so he doesn’t make my list at all.

Over to you. If you saw the awards show, I’d love to hear your favourites.

Like many, many other people, I ached to be a rock star in another life. I can’t sing or dance, but the thought of being able to do so like the best rock stars of our generation seems magical. I’d sport these leather pants in a heartbeat if the fit, quality and price was right. I’d match them up with something soft, silky and drapey like a blouse or item of knitwear to create a contrast with the hash sleekness of the leather. A pair of killer booties and piles of pearls to finish of the look and there you go. Quite delicious.

Leather pants are a fringe trend. They’re awfully expensive and probably a devil to wear, but strangely appealing. Would you wear them?

Congratulations to Babe! Your comment was selected by our random generator and you’ve won the book. I also enjoyed your comment on Michelle Obama’s sense of style:

“I love what Mrs. O brings to American’s fashion scene and social consciousness — a realistic look at dressing, a playful sense of color and thriftiness, a pride in being fit and comfortable with your body, and an approachable attitude no matter how formal the occasion. I don’t think we Americans have ever had a more influential style-setter in national public office. Three cheers! I’m eating it up”.

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