Parpeculiar and the parpeculiarities

If you have all or some of these arities you may be among the parpeculiar of the world. Persons who are detail-oriented, hyper-fixated on certain tasks, procedures, or methods, fastidious as well as have unique, unusual, strange, or seemingly odd likes or habits. Parpeculiar is a Darinism, and is a combination of the words and their meanings particular and peculiar.

Do you eat one item on your plate at a time, do you make an exception to mix mashed potatoes and corn however mashed potatoes and peas would be a violation. Do you only like a certain size of the bow, dot, zipper, pattern, or texture, and shopping for you is frustrating? Must you align others' paintings or photos on the wall? Do you cringe at things that are catawampus such as a yoga mat that is not aligned with the others? Are you particular as to what type of creamer is in your coffee, or the plate you must use for your eggs, or even the size of your coffee or teacup? Do you dress intentionally and do your makeup to coordinate with your ensemble? Creating the look you feel or want to feel be it energy or balance? Are you often seen as the fish swimming upstream? These are just a few examples of those that may have this delightful character description. Albeit you may drive others insane your world is completely happy when all things according to you are in alignment.

When I was growing up as most children do I tried to find myself. I was always trying to explore fashion yet quite awkward, insecure, and isolated from inspiration. My parents always looked put together and neat yet one would not consider them fashion savvy. Even though I grew up near NYC I had no real understanding of what that meant as I only traveled there for the occasional school trip or to see the Rockettes.

My fashion icon was my Grandmother aka Nanny she lived 17 + hours away. She was always dressed to the nines and had that Je ne sais quoi that made everyone look twice when she walked by or entered a room. I don't ever remember her not looking lovely, not even in her Pajamas. She was captivating.

Nanny truly felt that it did not take money to look good and she was definitely a true testament to that statement as she managed to raise her siblings and her own children during the depression and look like a million dollars doing it. Often criticized for looking too good, she didn't give a flip, she held her head high and while she may be hungry she was going to look dam good. Being a gifted seamstress with vision and creativity she could create magic from a hand-me-down or thrift find and create haute couture. She was an original upcycle designer. As family dynamics have it, and her being such a strong presence think, Miranda in the Devil wears Prada, she could be a bit much, she had little patience for those that didn't have her vision and was very self-absorbed however I now see that she was pining for acceptance and love which she always struggled to find. We didn't visit Nannies home much it was not for small people or any people with its white tile floors and leather seating. It was pristine and meant to stay exactly that way. I was left to long over the Sears catalog and studying the pages over and over again, making wish lists, and daydreaming over the occasional fashion magazine I somehow got a hold of. My mother's unspoken view of fashion was that it was for the self-absorbed which she clearly felt that Nanny was and fairly rightly so.

She didn't understand Nanny and Nanny didn't understand herself.

My mother would give me her discerning non-approval looks when I would try to create something from nothing, she did not encourage thrift store or second-hand shopping, as that made her feel poor, and I was painfully picked on by peers when I would create something and wear it to school so I curtailed this creative drive and attempted to fit in.

Now I don't give a flip. I like to think Nanny is smiling down upon me although I really don't think Nanny would approve of my tutu love. She was more for animal print, cleavage, and slits up the side. She could rock it though!

I am me, and now embracing it. I prefer to be somewhat playful and not serious. This was my attire for the space museum. A multi-colored tutu with a waistband that says - I do what I want. Combat boots with flat heels so I can kick around town, run, jump, drive hours in the car, or do dancer's pose in complete comfort

Iris Apfel (more on Iris) and Betsey Johnson have been my fashion inspiration for years! When I aspired to be a designer and later attended the Philadelphia School of Textiles and Sciences now Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Betsy was my inspiration. In more recent years I have come to admire Iris Apfel. These two women have such a positive I do what I want attitude, and they do it with style. Eclectic, creative, and positively comfortable in their own skin and own who they are. I mean what's not to love?!

These ladies have always had chutzpah! I've always struggled with insecurity, now in my wiser years I realize that I just need to be me, I don't need to fit in or be accepted by others, the only people who count are those that are my people and if someone doesn't accept me as I am, then they are not my people. I am so grateful that my husband and I raised two amazing women who have more confidence, creativity, and amazingness than I'll ever have, and now our relationship is even more intimate as a true friend is among the description.

When Doug and I went to the space museum in Huntsville Alabama in August I wore one of my tutu's with a space shirt of course (I had to be themed). My tutu was polka dot (I do love the dots) and the icing on the cake was the waistband that said - I do what I want.

Later that day we walked down to the center of town to enjoy the food trucks and trailers that attend on Friday nights. A precious little boy around seven years of age, said to me, "Madam, (yes, he really said Madam!) I really like your costume." I smiled brightly, giggled inside, and said thank you. As I walked along the path we found a truck to order from and the owner of the truck popped his head out and said, "My ten-year-old daughter would love your outfit!". I giggled and replied, "My seven-year-old self loves it too!". It's what I get many a time with my desire to wear the tutu. I have so many and have even designed a few. As I mature I find that my eclectic taste expands as does my confidence. I have nothing to prove, I am who I am. I want to be comfortable in my clothing and my own skin.

Most 57-year-olds would never wear a tutu, I wear mine to work, the pizza place, the grocery store, and to fancy events. Tutu's are so versatile, lol. My husband just rolls his eyes, secretly I feel he thinks I'm adorable albeit if he had his way he would discard all my combat boots and replace them with dainty pointy-toed pumps or strappy sandals, gasp! I am not a fan of those I find the stiletto-type heel too difficult to run from a bear in, I mean the heels would sink in the earth and I'd break an ankle!

When my friend Shanna Forrestall shared her vision of producing a Fashion expo week in Chattanooga I immediately became intrigued. She met with Blake, Elea, and me and painted a picture of her inspiration and how this week's event would play out, which she absolutely beasted! As a company elea blake sponsored makeup for a local designer and MUA LAJEROMENY New York, Elea and I taught a class on The Future of Color Theory in Fashion and, yours truly entered the artist competition. The artists were challenged to create something from upcycled, recycled, and/or unusual elements. I decided to stretch myself, so I did "a thing" and created a massive tutu that reflects who I am and how that I feel fashion should be fun, reflective of how you feel and who you are. I believe in nurturing your inner child which unlocks your joy, and of course, color is key. Below Elea doing me a huge solid and walking on the runway for the very first time without proper practice on the actual runway, she did so with such confidence!

The competition walk snippet video of the presentation.

I used a fishing net to create the form, using remnant pieces from my personal color analysis swatches that are hand-painted for clients I cut them into triangles and grouped them together in threes then hand-tied each grouping into the bodice using scraps of leftover quilting fabric from a quilt that I started over 30 years ago for my twin daughters and never finished, lol! I then created the tutu belt using the fishing net and bunches of tulle which includes remnants from a wedding dress, photoshoot, and window display. The underskirt was created from a scarf that I purchased at Cause Cloth thrift https://partnershipfca.com/2/about-us . The earrings and bracelet were also made from remnants of the shopping swatches. The shoes have the lyrics of Walk a Mile in My Shoes written by Joe South https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walk_a_Mile_in_My_Shoes . The shoes were mine that I upcycled. The lyrics resonate with my belief in the importance of understanding each person where they are and who they are and that no one person or creature is more important than the other. It took 270 hours to construct.

Perhaps the parpeculiar description resonates with you. If you are among the parpeculiar and have not embraced it, do so. You may be surprised how advantageous being yourself will truly be. If you are parpeculiar let me know your thoughts I'd love to know!