Every Day Is A Tiara Day

The world is a different place when the sun shines. I just had the longest, laziest lunch with a couple of friends in that spontaneous way that is so delicious. It started out as a coffee, turned into lunch, then a wander over to a local restaurant for a glass of crisp rosé and finally a sunset walk along the river at Strand-on-the-Green. All inspired by a glorious summery day and the joys of a girlie get-together – two of life’s great pleasures rolled into one. Not only that, but we met some interesting characters along the way and made the vital discovery that a tiara should be worn for every possible occasion.

One of my compatriots on the long trek from café to brasserie and beyond was Stephanie Walker, who makes fabulous jewellery with semi-precious stones that I cannot resist. The pieces I usually adore are the ones with big, bold stones like amethyst and turquoise that really make a statement, but she unveiled her latest pièce de resistance – a fine filigree tiara with Swarovski crystals, pearls and smoky quartz – and I completely fell in love with how much fun it was to wear. Not only that, but I wanted to wear it everywhere. So now we are on a crusade to introduce everyone to the delights of the everyday tiara.

The concept is not as silly as it might sound and, if you bear with me, you will see that there are deeper benefits beyond just glamming up for fun. This tiara was so charmingly tasteful that it sat perfectly with the boho chic look we’d adopted for our laid-back lunch, but equally would have added a touch of glamour to any style. If you imagine the slimmest headband, adorned with fine filigree and twinkling crystals, you’ll get the picture. What I wasn’t expecting was just how uplifting it was to wear. I felt fabulous in a gloriously ‘no particular reason’ kind of way. As I have never had princess fantasies a la Jordan, that really caught me by surprise.

For me, part of the attraction is that it is a totally unnecessary piece of kit – necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings are all de rigueur, but a tiara is a luxury. It also has an air of being an item for special occasions, so adding it to a daytime outfit is a little bold. That’s what makes it fun, a treat and therefore totally uplifting.

This reminded me of something that all the creative people I know instinctively do – they use whatever they know makes them feel great to lift their mood when faced with unwelcome tasks or even just to make a statement to themselves. One friend does the housework in high heels and full-tilt jewellery and another would always change into a dress of an evening to mark the end of the day as a mother and the transition into her own time, even though she was on her own. I’m quite prone to throwing on a full face of slap and a liberal splash of exquisite scent just to hang around the house if I’m not feeling at my best. This is not just one for the ladies either, as I hear that the rugby player Gavin Henson likes to indulge in a spot of pre-match waxing, industrial-strength hair gel and some serious fake tan before he feels at his best on the pitch.
Whatever your own quirky way of dealing with drudgery or downers may be, these little rituals affirm that we value ourselves and are willing to treat ourselves well. They have enormous potential to lift our mood because they are concrete actions we take that affirm our commitment to our own well-being. Never underestimate the power of even the smallest gesture. All the theorising in the world may not change how you feel, but a simple action can make all the difference.

When we want change, there are two ways we can make it happen: from inside out and outside in. The more traditional, logical method is to decide what we want to create, feel or think and then take action. The lesser-known path is to understand the power the environment holds in affecting how we feel, and to change the outer experience in order to affect the inner experience. This is one of the essential principles of feng shui – by creating harmony in outer form, you promote inner harmony. A tranquil environment encourages you to feel peaceful and a busy atmosphere calls you to action. By manipulating the environment, we can alter our own mood and perceptions.

I like to think of tiaras as jewellery feng shui – a mood-altering placement of gems and precious metal to bring joy and a sense of fun to the wearer. Interestingly, the placement of the tiara corresponds with the highest energy centre in the body – the crown chakra – and crystals here could arguably be said to draw light to the spiritual aspect of the self. Well, that’s my justification and I’m sticking to it!

The other aspect of the tiara question to consider is: how often do we save things for special occasions and never get around to using them? I remember seeing a bottle of Arpège on my mother’s dressing table, as a child, and being told it was ‘for good’, which meant it was hardly ever used. Later on I realised that the perfume had probably gone off long before it ever got much of an airing, which seemed such a terrible waste.

This week, your mission is to create and practise some fun rituals of your own to add a touch of sophistication to even the dullest of days. What is it that makes you feel good? What could you do for yourself that you normally wouldn’t bother to do? What is it that inexplicably just lifts your mood for no discernible reason?

Don’t forget that part of the everyday tiara crusade is to banish the concept of ‘for good’ and to make use of every luxury item you have lurking about the house. Get out the good china and have a tea party. Lounge about watching TV swathed in silk and cashmere. Put on an outfit you’ve been saving for a special occasion and make one happen – get friends together for cocktails. You’ll be surprised by just how fabulous these things will make you feel.

Of course, if you’re up for it, get a tiara. They’re no longer just for weddings. It’s time they came out of the closet and gave us all an uplift on a daily basis.

Stephanie Walker Jewellery is available from Koh Samui in Covent Garden or you can contact her directly to commission your very own everyday tiara by emailing SJWJewellery@aol.com.

Coach Fabulous is now online and updated every Thursday at http://coachfabulous.blogspot.com. You can also use the link in the Favourite Sites section on the right. For alert emails on new postings, with added inspirations and confidence tips, send a blank email to IAmFabulousCo@aol.com with 'Subscribe' in the title field. All material © 2006 Alison Porter. No article may be reproduced in full or in part without the express permission of the author. (Originally posted 8 May 06)