Carla, safety and security are top of mind during the pandemic, so it is not surprising that you (and the rest of us) feel this way. Rest assured, your outfits all look great and the colour palette you have been wearing suits your colouring beautifully.

I had to have a partial thyroidectomy in July and to hide the scar, bought two pearl necklaces. I love that pearls add an Angie and Chanel aspect to my style and it has made me feel happier about my style.

Perhaps adding a new bright or light colour that works well with this palette is a style direction to take in 2022. Do you have a favourite colour? If you are not feeling bright colour at the moment, I find the addition of white or cream is always a good remedy for feeling dark and dull which is why I am loving my pearls so much.

So much kindness, and wisdom! Thank you friends!

I find that after a dark color spell I am strongly drawn to color. I think it’s okay to want what we want.

However I had been feeling a little stuck. I purchased something just outside my norm and I found it energizing.

One other suggestion is, if you haven’t already, spend time playing in your closet, Pretend someone with a different eye is with you. What might they suggest? What rules do you have that maybe could be broken? I’ve often found new combinations that way.

Good luck!

Your lifestyle doesn’t allow for skirts? I can’t imagine. Of the things you’ve mentioned on here (besides working out), I can’t think of any where a skirt wouldn’t work. I mean, you wouldn’t want any lovely new clothes for heavy landscaping, but kneeling to plant bulbs or stretching to cut spent blooms can certainly be done in a skirt. Then again, you may have more of a life than you show on here.

Really love your new 'Victorian mourning colours' and I always admired your well thought out and put together stylish but practical outfits!!! But I too, can relate not feeling brights so much this year... but you know what? I don't really miss them either!!!
I just love being creative with some light neutrals including lots of creams for ex. love discovering the practicality of a longer to knee shacket vest in cream thrown over literally everything!! That's just bright- and lightening- enough my darker fall/winter palette, too! Hang in there- you are always a great inspiration to me and your taste for brights will came back eventually!

Oh, I almost forgot you are due for new eyeglasses! New frames can definitely provide a bit of a shot in the arm. I tend to get a little stressed when shopping for frames (one of those items that I find very challenging, plus they’re expensive so a big investment!), but I took my time and had a really excellent SA helping me. He’s the shop manager and has 30+ years of fitting and styling eyeglass frames on faces, so he was terrific at suggesting shapes I would not have necessarily chosen, which surprisingly worked! But I tried on frames in three different places before I went there. So take your time and enjoy it as much as you can. If you’re patient and picky, I think you’ll find some that give you a boost!

Janet is right about how new specs can transform the way you feel about your style.

Carla, I'm becoming a bigger and bigger and Ralph Fan! We can be RL style buddies, if you like. Their site is HUGE, and they have lots of labels that vary in look - yet are all cohesive and indicative of the brand's integrity. Browse their site regularly for inspo:

https://www.ralphlauren.com/women?webcat=women

I'm starting a horse capsule, and just got this. It is GORGEOUS:

Runcarla - I'm so sorry you are feeling like you've lost your way. I can only tell you, every time I click on one of your posts I think you look absolutely smashing - especially in lilac!! I think we are all feeling dissociated playing this weird game of cosmic dodgeball. LIke being trapped in a bad teen dystopian novel with no method of escape. Our world view has changed and we are all learning how to negotiate it and who we are now within it. How can we dress the outside when this sea change has fundamentally changed our inner vision. If it's any consolation because of diet, resistance and aerobic training I'm also down a size and I've had to actually rebuy about 1/2 of my work wardrobe. Thank god for poshmark and everything being discounted because I tried to source same. I too feel most comfortable in what I had, I liked it and I did not want to change. So rather than buy new, or buy now, I've tried to replace exact pieces but a size down. There is nothing wrong with the tried and true. Accepting that when you don't know what you want sitting tight and letting time, calm, and perspective kick in before making purchases that are different for different's sake is probably wise. But hugs to you. Wishing you peace, clarity and joy!!

Interesting! My palette has been subdued this year, too. Lots of black and dark brown, especially in the second half of the year, some olive and rust, with a smattering of pale blue and white/ecru in spring. At least, that's what I remember! I should go have a look at my 2021 collection in Finds. All I know is, I'm feeling very good about wearing mostly dark neutrals all the time, and have not hit the blahs yet.

I'll be curious to see what kind of refreshers you come up with for the holiday season and heading into 2022. Love the idea of dramatic silhouettes (I hear you on skirts/dresses being a bit tricky outside of summer -- but maybe more wide/pleated trousers?), more texture/pattern, and some bold accessories or jewelry. Lots of ways to add visual interest without going light/bright if you're not feeling drawn to brights at the moment.

Love your palette- and I don't think of it as mourning! I'm totally with you about not wanting bright colors...At All. Mostly black, brown, olive, beige for me these days. Even at home- I'm ready to toss the lot and go with light brown and white only!

Runcarla - I am always grateful to those who share their thought processes and challenges. I always either learn something, or start thinking about something a different way.

Admittedly, I'm quite different from you in size, style and shopping habits. I enjoy online shopping, and go for bigger silhouettes than you do. But I love your color palette and how you work in lilacs and ivory (your lightweight puffer is killer).

Winter accessories and specs will be fun to play with. Even a teeny bit of online window shopping can sometimes spark a new idea. Hats - do you do hats?

Wishing you some new and fun inspirations!