This week's #slowfashionoctober theme is WORN (i.e. heirlooms / second-hand / mending / caring for things / laundering for longevity / design for longevity (bucking trends, quality materials …). I have a lot of pieces in my wardrobe that I've had for many years, love, and wear season after season, but I couldn't zero in on one thing that fit this concept. And then I looked down at my one constant.
You see those gold bangles on my wrist? There are six delicate bracelets there but in the beginning, I was given seven, one for each day of the week. In an old Chinese custom, mothers give daughters these seven bracelets when they reach puberty, and I've had these bracelets on my right wrist since I was 13 years old. Once they were placed on my wrist, I never took them off. Yes, you read that correctly ~ I'm now 52 years old and I've had these bangles on my wrist, non-stop, for the past 39 years. These have seen me through adolescence, college, graduate school, marriage, pregnancies, births, and now perimenopause. They go with anything and everything that I wear, and I know that I would feel absolutely naked without them. So, yes, these are my most worn objects, and I'll never tire of them. Oh, and the colorful enamel bracelet is from a recent, magical trip to Barcelona (and I never take this one off now either!).
I loved the story of these bracelets so much when you first told it to me. Perfect for this theme!
ReplyDeleteI am always surprised when I hear of those that shop for clothes every single week and must have the latest fashion, I shop at Goodwill maybe once or twice a year and then wear it for years.
ReplyDeleteI love your bracelets and the story behind them, that is so special.
Great tidbit there. I haven't heard of that custom.I have gotten cheap with clothing over the years since the accumulation of children. My CFO cracks the whip. I do have investment pieces that cost a good penny but will last forever and be timeless.
ReplyDeleteI update most things in my wardrobe with one word: accessories. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the story of those bracelets!
My grandmother presented me with a gold bangle when I reached adolescence, but I never really connected the dots that it was a custom. I think the 7 bangles morphed into one thicker one in Malaysia. I still have it, and will present it to my daughter as her heirloom. Thank you for making that connection for me!
ReplyDeleteHeh- I'm with you and have never heard of nor had a budget for this quarterly budget. Maybe if we click our heals. :)
ReplyDeleteThose bangles are so amazing and special.
I'm surprised you don't have a jade bracelet that never comes off :)
ReplyDeleteI love how these delicate bangles are such a part of you, your history and your culture! Truly meaningful!!
ReplyDelete