Good morning, Monday. Trying to get back in the saddle and ready for the new year. Et tu?
As someone who cut her professional teeth in the trend world, I can't help but think of some things that are coming up for me that must also be coming up for everyone else. 2020 is an auspicious year- it's a new decade for one, it's an election year for another, and it's also a metaphor for perfect vision.
As 2019 came to a close, I found myself in an unexpected apartment move (torture) leading to a new fabulous apartment (bliss). In that process, I ended up getting rid of a lot of stuff, as one does in a move. Fortunately for us we had not been in our old place very long, so the hoarding was not too severe, but still- a move brings up a lot and the need to rid oneself of extras is one of them. As we hover in these last two days of the year, know that 2020 is going to be a year where we lighten our loads a bit. Whether that means getting rid of clothes that don't fit, candles that no longer burn, or relationships that no longer fit into our lives. From a consumer perspective, think about the fervor for Marie Kondo as well as the push towards sustainability- it's time to keep only the things you need and be far more discerning when it comes to what you bring into your home and your life. Look for 2020 to be the year of discernment. Choose wisely.
Also, I find myself feeling pulled into a more spiritual place. That does not mean religious for me, mind you. It means tapping into an energy I always knew was alive and well within me- astrology, tarot, intuition. My intuition has always guided me and when I trust it, it serves me extremely well. With so much riding on 2020, look to the cosmos, the cards, the inner wisdom you have. I'm learning about tarot and hoping to read cards this year. I've always loved pattern recognition (the trend thing again), so tarot cards offer an excellent way to interpret what's happening- and as my teacher told me the other day- it's not about predictions. It's about prescriptions. I'll take what I can get. So in 2020, look for the rise of the witches to figure prominently. And if you're picturing a green woman in a witch's hat think again. To me, the universe is seeking a more feminine energy- and that's traditionally a vibe that's more guided by intuition. Last year I recall seeing a ton of astrological gifts for the holiday, as well as clothing with the planets, stars, etc. This year it will manifest in action, and both men and women turning to a more spiritual interpretation of all the chaos around us.
Now this one may take you by surprise but bear with me. At the new 29 Rooms (an annual experiential event in NYC hosted by Refinery 29), I noted a bit of a theme in how we interact with strangers. From palm reading (see above) a stranger's hand through a hole in the wall to an installation called 29 Questions where "guests are invited to step outside of their comfort zone, pull up a chair, and connect with a stranger," there's something to the profound disconnection we feel in such a supposed "connected time." I imagine this could manifest in more events like the ever-popular Daybreaker to more charity focused pursuits like helping others in need that are total strangers. Perhaps it's not about anonymous interactions, but more about compassionate connectivity?
Which leads me to another world movement I see happening as November approaches- the age of activism. The number of causes we need to be concerned about are simply staggering. From the environment to racism to sexism and back again. We've seen it bubbling up all over the world in places like Hong Kong and young people like Greta Thunberg, and I believe we're going to see a ton more of it as 2020 begins. Incidentally, this will not just be about shouting and protests. It will also present itself in a sort of armchair activism, too- deciding to purchase only used clothing is an excellent example of how you can be an activist and participate in change without having to leave your home.
Something else I've been chewing on? How we are thinking about work these days. We know millennials are burnt out, and I assume the rest of us are too. Lately, I've seen all over my LinkedIn feed articles about whether it's better to work to live vs. live to work and how it's a bit of stretch to expect work to give you all the fulfillment in life you're seeking. I'm not saying that can't happen. But what I am saying is that 2020 is all about shifting priorities and discernment, as mentioned above. So when it comes to the work we do, think about working smarter vs. working harder. A friend of mine shared an article with me from the head of Shopify, Tobias Lutke, about how you have about five hours of creativity a day to offer your workplace, and that "there are five creative hours in everyone's day. All I ask of people at Shopify is that 4 of those are channeled into the company. " He's worth over 3 billion dollars, mind you. I do think we need to work on work- particularly Stateside. Many of us are too stressed out or over-scheduled to make time for the things that matter most to us. I'm interested to see how this idea plays out in the workplace- I suspect it's not going to change for 2020 majorly, but rather the seeds of change will be planted this year.
Other little blips I imagine will peak this year? Vintage clothing, a distaste for alcohol, luxe train travel, ancestral tourism, and Y2K inspired fashion a la the Matrix or shiny fabrics mixed with flared jeans. Look for those as well this year- the return of the flare is sure to be a big hit.
Also- look for maven to get a bit of an upgrade too. I have a new blog coming out- not sure when but I'm using my intuition to share it with all of you at just the right moment. ;)
Cause that's what's up this future gazing Monday at the very edge of 2019. Yours, in adjusting that focus. XO