What makes you feel glamorous?

Glamour is the power to rearrange people's emotions, which, in effect, is the power to control one's environment.

- Arthur Miller 

As in life what works for one does not always work for the other. Recently I read how in the current economic climate more and more of us are finding pleasures in the simpler things in life, such as a nice cup of coffee at your favourite coffee shop spending an hour chatting with a friend. But while in the past, in the glorious pre-recession days, we all spent more on the little bits that made us feel that bit more glamorous; in these more money gripping times we’ve all started to learn and buy the key items that makes us feel glamorous.

Typing into Google the word glamorous brings up a mirage of different websites all offering their own personal icons, ideas of glamour, as well as the different ways to make you feel more alluring. Having a quick browse through the ‘how to’ websites I’m surprised at how complex some of the advice is. While some of the tips have been noted I can’t help but wonder if glamour is something that needs to be learnt or if you discover it yourself? Maybe discovering what makes you feel glamorous is the same as finding your own style, it kind of just happens on its own. But, as many famous fashionista’s have said in the past style doesn’t come naturally to all.

Many years ago when I was young and I was watching mum get ready for one of the very, very few nights she went out with her friends I asked her why she always wore Chanel Coco Mademoiselle on very special occasions. I always remember her struggling to answer my question and finally settled on telling me it was because it made her feel better. Years later I now understand what she meant and that when she told the little me it made her feel better what she meant was that the classic French perfume made her feel sophisticated.

Now when I refer to an object making you feel that bit more glamorous I’m simply saying something that always makes you feel ‘better’, more of a confident person who feels that bit more special than you did before. Mine are extremely simple but help me in ways that I can’t really explain; red nail polish and black gel eyeliner. Only recently someone remarked that I didn’t have any nail polish on and only a few weeks ago when I wore a purple colour someone asked if I’d ran out of red. I can’t describe to you why wearing nail polish, in particular a blood red or deep burgundy colour, pleases me so much or why it makes me more confident, it just does. Just like Coco Mademoiselle works wonders for my mum. While something drastic must have happened for me not to wear nail polish I don’t often wear eyeliner, but when I do I just feel that bit more mature, confident, (dare I say it!) sexy. A subtle, thin cat flick that frames my eyes perfectly can do wonders for more self-esteem and can make even the dullest day feel a bit more thrilling.

Maybe this might appear silly to some of you, while others of you may be nodding your head in agreement to this and have their own touches that make them feel that bit more special on particularly difficult or boring days. Perhaps you have your titbit of glamour without realising it, perhaps a certain pair of black sling backs like one of my friends, or an expensive coat like one of my other friends (who has promised to leave it to me in her will). Whatever it is I really do hope you all have one thing or a few things because in these difficult days it’s nice to have an ‘old reliable’ that will help brighten your day.