Feng shui in fashion
The full moon is upon us this weekend, marking the end of the Spring Festival according to feng shui practitioners. If you aren’t the type, though, to put shiny gold and red “cures” and enhancers all over your house but would like to augment your personal luck this Year of the Metal Rabbit, then well, you are, in luck. Feng shui, which is considered a science in the sense of channeling optimal energy into your life, can actually be “worn,” and I’m not talking about just talismans (which is an option, as there are keychain-sized little dragons and “evil eye” amulets) but colors, prints and, yes, even accessories.
What exactly is the benefit of following feng shui? Most still scoff at the idea that changing the direction of where you sit or sleep can actually “help,” but as Princesse, a feng shui consultant at the Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony, explained to me, “You can liken feng shui to the rays of the sun: even if you do not see it, or sometimes only feel it (like, say, on a cloudy day) that doesn’t mean its effects are not there.” There are long-term effects of using this age-old science properly and, if done with sincere intention, sometimes dramatic, quick results are also experienced.
When researching on feng shui I discovered that there are three kinds of luck: Heaven Luck (which is the best if you have a lot of it since it comes from a Divine Source); Man Luck, which can define your percentage of Heaven Luck through your education, perseverance and beliefs; and then there is Earth Luck, which is where feng shui comes in by triggering and augmenting its energy, and this is where the location of your house, office, where you sleep, etc., comes in.
So what to do if you’re not keen on remodeling your house or placing gaudy decorations in your beautiful (but maybe unfavorable-facing) bedroom? Check your wardrobe and be prepared to do a little shopping (which could be fun). First of all, get a proper chart reading, so you know what your lucky elements are, whether you are fire, earth, metal, water or wood. Next, there are colors and even patterns or shapes that are most favorable depending on your element. You can probably quickly find this out by inputting your details into an application on the Internet, but for something more precise I always recommend going to a professional. If your lucky element is fire, then go for fire colors in your wardrobe; this means reds, pinks, peaches, salmon and dark violet. Fire is represented by a triangle, so look for patterns that have sharp angular shapes (hexagonal, octagonal, etc.; anything with sharp ridges will work). Look at Marc Jacobs’ take on argyle with his “Elliot” designs. Oh, and good news for some of you ladies: the diamond itself is considered highly lucky for Fire Elements, so if you can’t find the print, pray you get the rock instead.
If your lucky element is Earth, then go for colors such as yellow, browns or golden hues. For shapes, think square, like the classic Burberry plaid, or checks, or something more bold and graphic like a dress similar to what was shown at the Nicole Fahri spring summer collection last year. An accessory will also work in terms of square-shaped objects, such as a watch with a square face; it is important to remember that for feng shui to work, subtle is not the key.
Are you a Metal Element? Then incorporate a lot of white into your wardrobe and accessorize with gold. In terms of shapes go for circular ones (not oval, which is better for Water Element). This may be easier as most watch faces are round and you can get a whole slew of circle-shaped bracelets, rings, even pendants or neckpieces that can frame your face and body. For what you wear, think pretty polka dots or retro-type circles. You don’t have to limit the print to your top, by the way: it can be seen on your trousers, jeans, even the bag that you carry. Just use your imagination! A friend of mine tied a scarf with lots of circular prints to her bag when she was too lazy to think of how else to incorporate round shapes into her ensemble.
For Water Elements, stick to blues, blacks, grays and silvers and look for clothing choices and accessories that have wavy prints. Missoni would be a good example of this as their knits already have a “weave”-like feel. Pucci also has great examples of doing the “wave” with what you wear. Pearls are also great for Water Elements, so go ahead and channel Audrey Hepburn in her LBD and long strands of oyster-bred beauties when you dress up.
Wood elements can play with a whole spectrum of green as their color and rectangle is a good print to look out for, such as the Mondrian-color block prints that have influenced many a designer. The classic Chanel 2.55 is also a rectangular shape, so why not invest in a classic to help get your feng shui Fashion amped up?
Oh, and one more fashion tip: You don’t have to limit your colors and patterns to your outerwear. What you wear closest to your skin, I’ve been told, can be even more effective.
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For more Feng Shui tips go to the Yin and Yang Shop of Harmony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Tel. 752-5882 or 750-8888 ext. 2722.
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