What still fits? is a question I ask myself anytime I peer into the closet these days. Not the best way to begin the morning, but nonetheless an answer emerges once I pick out a couple of options. Yes, I gained about thirteen pounds over the past few years, although only the carefully concealed muffin-top would actually give my secret away. Okay, actually my candor has now spilled the beans! 

There are some items I refuse to part with - a Donna Karan silk dress (bias-cut, still fits), embroidered jeans with hibiscus and birds (can barely get a leg in), a Byron Lars safari jacket (cannot close the solo button, still looks good worn open). But a few of my once-upon-a-time favorites are ready to be retired. Donate them to Goodwill? Pack a plastic bag and dump it in the nearest clothing bin? I admit I have done both with out-of-sight-out-of-mind abandon. But what if there was another option, one to help keep accouterments out of landfills for a sustainable future? There is - some retailers offer incentives for getting and giving, bartering style with support.

Want to change things up with just your accessories? Become a Switch member and gain unlimited access to designer jewelry. At Switch, they "believe that a bracelet can tell a story; that a necklace can be an act of rebellion; and that a pair of earrings can both capture and dictate your state of mind... Life is best lived authentically - that you should wear what you want, when you want. And have fun doing it." They are very hot right now, so there is a wait-list. Once available, sign up and pick from one of three membership plans to fit your budget and style, access their curated collections, pick a piece and check out. For each month that you're a member, you get ten dollars of credit that you can put toward buying a piece at a special member price. Free and unlimited shipping both ways is always provided to send pieces back and pick something new. Authenticity reigns supreme - if a piece says diamonds, it means diamonds; if it says Chanel, it means Chanel. We like to keep it real. In fact, we swear by it.

Salvaging your clothes is becoming easier when big names like H&M step up to the plate. They believe it’s senseless that castaway textiles and a multitude of clothing end up in landfills. Recycling has become one of many ways they have fulfilled their goals for a sustainable future. "In 2017 we collected more than 17,771 ton of textiles - the equivalent of 89 million T-shirts." Impressive, right? H&M was the first brand to launch garment-collecting boxes in all stores around the world. “Drop off clothes and textiles from ANY brand, in ANY condition”, makes it as easy as possible for customers to give their garments a new life. When you drop off your unwanted textiles in an H&M store, you’ll get rewarded with a ten-percent off voucher. Recycle old clothes and discarded textiles - instead of throwing them away.

Since 2009, Eileen Fisher has taken back more than one million pieces of clothing. In true spirit of recycle and reuse, once you bring back your old Eileen Fisher clothing items and receive a five-dollar reward card for each one, the process is just beginning. First, they find them another home or turn them into one-of-a-kind designs. Roughly eight-hundred pieces of clothing arrive at their recycling centers every day. Each piece is sorted through and anything in good condition is resold. Pieces with minor color flaws are over-dyed with plant-based ingredients giving them a new lease on life. Reweaving and patching repair the lovingly-worn ones creating rich stories to tell, only making each piece more beautiful. A portion of profits from the sale of renewed clothes go to programs that support positive change for women, girls and the environment. Where others see waste, we see possibility.

Last but not least, we have LuxAnthropy, a high fashion resale website dedicated to giving back to charitable partners. They carefully select, authenticate and curate each luxury and designer item, generously provided by top celebrities, stylists, Hollywood insiders, fashion houses and influencers. Sellers make money and give money, determining the percentage of their commission to donate to a partner charity. LuxAnthropy contributes five-percent of its proceeds to the same charity. "We believe that conscious consumerism, environmental awareness, along with small but thoughtful acts of generosity, breeds global change." We believe resale has the power to revitalize.

These are certainly fabulous ways to reinforce and assist conscious consumerism. Rentable looks and recycled style are the way of the future...xoxo-Sonya

Since I was anxious to catch the current jewelry exhibit at the Met before it closes on February 24th and Brenna was keen on the idea of exploring the Guggenheim for the first time, we embarked on a day of art therapy with a leisurely luncheon sandwiched in between. With a clear sky, brisk wind, and light traffic, it was a perfect January day to spend in New York City. Our first stop was The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Jewelry: The Body Transformed explores how jewelry affects and triggers the body it embellishes. A stunning assembly of 230 head-to-toe ornaments, everything from crowns, earrings, brooches, belts, necklaces, rings and various bracelets are on display along with sculptures, paintings, prints, and photos. Together, global stories are illustrated and enriched, revealing a deep history of the transformative relationship between jewelry and the one adorned.

On a fundamental level, we wear jewelry to be seen. It catches the light, attracts the eye, shines, reflects. When the conditions are right, it can be resplendent.

Contemporary artistic jewelry often resists and rebels. Sometimes it abandons not only historical notions of preciousness but all the characteristics traditionally associated with jewelry: glamour, expense, wearability.

Whether made from precious gems or sharpened pencils, these objects excite our desire to be looked at - to flaunt and display.

Allure is... something that exists. It's something around you, like a perfume or like a scent. It's like memory... it pervades. ~ Diana Vreeland

While the pearl necklace has long stood as an emblem of respectability and social status, even a certain primness, it has also enjoyed favor as an erotic accessory.

The most extreme examples divert the gaze even from the body itself, as it recedes behind a pageant of splendid artifice.

Bridal ensembles often function as protective talismans and incorporate religious elements, while at the same time making manifest on the body a woman's most valuable economic possessions.

Beaded broad collars were primarily owned by kings, queens, and members of the elite and were worn to celebrate important events. Small replicas were also laid upon mummies, a burial practice to protect the deceased.

To show oneself in full magnificence was to ensure the flow of well-being from ancestors who animated the universe. Bodily adornment, which also included tattoos and textiles, focused that supernatural force and permitted the wearer to take advantage of its power.

Only those with power have control over resources, and the spectacle of rich adornment strengthens their position.

"Noisy" adornments could call gods and goddesses into being.

Jewelry was laid out in the tombs as if for some grand eternal production.

January is synonymous with cold temperatures and long winter nights. Though daylight is still short, it's beginning to linger with promise in the early evenings. This is my birthday month, so I take special care to foster a beginning of new habits and betterment routines. Once the holiday decorations are safely tucked back into their boxes, self-care reigns supreme. What promises have you made to yourself? Cuddles and hugs are high on my list. And do you know, there are two national holidays declared for just that. National Cuddle Up Day falls on January 6th, and National Hug Day follows later on the 21st.

  

Cuddling with your significant other, pet, or someone special has been proven to lift spirits and reduce stress. I am sure even our cat, Kit knows the benefits. Every time I meander to the family room couch for a moment of respite, his radar instinctively sends him over to join me. He especially loves to nestle in the crook of my bent legs atop the cozy throw. When we're not around, he often curls up in a fuzzy ball on the kitchen chair.

Though primary, cuddles and hugs are not only about human touch. Familiarity and routine arouse fond affection. Whenever I hear the kettle whistle, I know my favorite green tea with honey and lemon is just a cup away. Satisfied anticipation is soothing. A warm exchange can be experienced in savoring simple pleasures... stowing away under a cocoon of blankets, listening to a favorite song, reading the latest Victoria Magazine, contemplating old photos, or enjoying a scented bath aglow with candles, these experiences are hugs I can give myself.

Go ahead and snag your favorite person or even yourself, nest and enjoy languid time spent. January is a month of starts, betterment, care, cuddles and hugs. Enjoy the warmth... xoxo-Sonya