Lately, I’ve been thinking about something that seems simple on the surface but actually feels bigger than that. Color. Not trends or seasonal palettes… just color in a very human sense. When I shared that little thought about color feeling like joy in this post, your response was immediate. Messages, comments, conversations in the shop. Clearly that one struck a chord, and honestly, I understand why.
Life can feel very beige sometimes. Schedules, routines, responsibilities, news cycles, emails, dishes, laundry, repeat. Even good, beautiful, meaningful lives can quietly drift into neutral mode. That’s why color matters more than we tend to give it credit for. One of you mentioned Ingrid Fetell, who writes about the aesthetics of joy, and I happily wandered down that rabbit hole. Her idea is that joy isn’t just something we feel emotionally — it’s something we experience visually. Brightness, contrast, playfulness, color. Things that feel alive tend to look alive.
And suddenly, so much of this clicked for me. Why certain outfits make you stand a little taller. Why you are inexplicably drawn to that bold scarf or bright handbag. Why a pop of color in your home can shift the entire mood of a space. It isn’t frivolous or silly. It’s psychological, emotional, deeply human.
And in the spirit of honesty, here’s a confession from the woman who built an entire business around beautiful things… my personal wardrobe has historically been about 87% black. Black sweaters, black pants, black coats, black everything. Safe, easy, unfussy, forever chic. But lately, even I’ve felt the pull toward more color, more brightness, more pieces that feel a little less “practical neutral” and a little more “this makes me weirdly happy.” Because the truth is, we’re just not wired to thrive in dullness.
Color interrupts autopilot. It wakes things up. It adds energy in a way that’s hard to explain but incredibly easy to feel. Sometimes it whispers, sometimes it practically shouts, “Hey… life is happening. You’re allowed to enjoy it.”
Maybe that’s the real magic of it. Not about looking fashionable or making some grand statement, but simply choosing things that make you feel a little more like yourself. A little brighter. A little lighter. A little more joyful. When you really think about it, it was never about the clothes or the objects at all. It’s about how you feel moving through your own life.
And if color helps with that, then color is doing very important work.
As always, the shop is full of those little mood lifters — the happy colors, the pieces that quietly make you smile when you put them on or bring them home. Come wander this weekend. No pressure, no agenda. Just a space intentionally designed to feel good to be in.
Because we could all use a little more joy.
