Pursuing What I Truly Love

Today, based on memories revived by this article from Aine-chan,
I wanted to write about my own experiences (*´▽｀*)

A sentence found within this article by Aine-chan 💗

I, too, had a time when I lost confidence in my clothing because of what people said to me. This was around the time I turned 40.

Pink,
ribbons,
frills,
and floral patterns

were what I loved.
I appeared in public wearing the clothes and decorations I loved.

I wasn't being slandered; in fact,(*1) I was told, "It's great even though you're over 40."

So, I thought that was fine.

However, close friends who were watching this started saying to me,

"Why don't you settle down a bit?"
"Why don't you stop wearing ribbon headbands?"
"You'd be cuter without the ribbons."

They began to say these things to me.
However, at my appearances (local TV, radio, and magazines), they wanted the usual me, so I didn't end up changing for a year.

Eventually, those friends formed a "Meeting to Discuss Love-chan's Future," held discussions even when I wasn't there, and called me out to say this:

"Next time we meet, please come in a mature, cute outfit."

They said.

If it were me now, I would probably just quietly withdraw from that community,
but back then I didn't have the courage, so I went to the next meeting in a more mature outfit.

I changed the pink to mint green,
stopped wearing a ribbon headband and switched to a ribbon barrette,
stopped wearing a fluffy skirt and switched to a tight skirt,
and changed my round-toed lace-up shoes to heels.

However, as soon as I arrived at the cafe where we were meeting and sat down,

That's not good at all,

they said, criticizing me. The criticism from the six of them was detailed and covered every little thing.

Stunned, I realized that I would never try to meet these people's requests again.

I don't need to be friends with them anymore,

I thought.

At this point, I realized something important.

My fashion, which had been considered good by people in the media.

(*1) They used to tell me, 'It's great even though you're over 40.'

This was a mistake.

I realized that I, too, had been relying on other people's values.

Just because they said it was good, or because the hair and makeup artist said it was cute, did that mean it was actually good?

No, that's wrong!!

I'm doing this because I love it!!

Since I'm doing it because I love it, it's fine.

Once I was able to think that way, the members of my friend group who had been negative about pink, ribbons, frills, and floral patterns started to accept them too.

I don't know how it's possible that it suits you at your age,

they kept saying, and I would reply, "Isn't it because I love it?"

Actually, the pink image came from the fact that I wore it every day, not as clothing, but as accessories like headbands and as an apron when I did esthetic treatments; the color I like to wear is light blue. This year, I'm a 52-year-old who wants to try wearing yellow.

You can decide for yourself what clothes you wear. For example, if you like black, even if someone says "black brings down your luck," you can just ignore them. I think wearing the clothes you love is the best thing you can do.

What "getting better" means here is

・Mood
・Physical condition
・Luck

This is my personal opinion, but I believe it is correct.

If you think you should dress "age-appropriately," then I think you should continue to wear "age-appropriate fashion." That is also a form of comfort for that person.

However, I just feel that forcing those personal values onto others is not right.

#WhatAreWeTalkingAbout
Talking about clothes? Yes!
Thank you, Aine-chan~💗