Wear Your Happiness
Clothing and jewelry are a great way to make a statement or boost your mood. Here are a few brands that will make you want to wear your words, a heart on your sleeve, or add more smile to your style.
We live in a time when wearing pants is a luxury and drinking wine in the living room is a date night. Getting dressed has become the new dressing up.
It’s no secret that feelings influence fashion. When we’re feeling sad or moody, we gravitate towards dark, big sweaters. When we’re high on life, we are more likely to throw on bright colors and show some skin.Our clothing can also directly affect our emotions. Colors are connected to our chakras, so they help balance the body and mind.
In this era of political activism, a “statement piece” has taken on new meaning. Messages supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, reminding people to vote or paying homage to Ruth Bader Ginsberg have become ubiquitous on shirts, sweats, masks and more.
Clothing and jewelry are kind of like tattoos. In other words, they can make a statement or boost your mood––without the permanence or pain! Here are a few brands that will make you want to wear your words on your sleeve.
CLOTHING
Spiritual Gangster
When you mix California vibes with cotton, you get Spiritual Gangster. This brand blends ancient wisdom with modern culture in the form of activewear and street style collections for women, men and kids. Spread good vibes to everyone who crosses your path with positive phrases like Trust The Timing of Your Life or Don’t Hate, Meditate. Opt for the tie-dyed Self-Love leggings or an I Am Worthy Mala necklace when you need a confidence boost. For every item sold, the brand donates proceeds to provide a hot meal to someone in need through Feeding America.
Wildfox Couture
Wildfox Couture is the epitome of ready-to-wear comfort. Their oversized sweatshirts are road trip friendly and confinement cozy. Whether your vibe is Staying In Is The New Going Out or Every Hour Is Happy Hour, there is a plush print for you. Craving some vitamin D as the weather gets cooler? Wear a bright yellow Sunshine Baby sweatshirt. Alternatively, reminisce merrier months with a Bikinis & Bellinis T-shirt.
Meuf Paris
Parlez-vous French feminism? This brand designs feel-good clothing from 100 percent organic cotton in France. Why? In their own words: “Because clothing can be a way to assert yourself, to free yourself, to express your values and opinions.” Wear your ambition with a collared shirt that says Ambitieuse. Then, embrace your inner warrior with a Guerrière sweatshirt. Finally, sing out loud with their Feminist In Progress top. They even make Meuf masks for the COVID era. Furthermore, they will donate 10 masks to mask distribution organizations for every 100 masks sold.
Lingua Franca
You can’t get 98.2K Instagram followers and celebrity fans like Leonardo DiCaprio without a cohesive branding message. Lingua Franca makes sure that all their messages are loud and clear. Founded by Rachelle Hruska MacPherson in 2016, Lingua Franca began with hip hop lyrics on cozy cashmere sweaters. Since then, the brand has evolved into a global fashion sensation blending activism with avant-garde style. The brand takes political messages and makes them fashion, with garments that say I Miss Barack to Biden 2020 to Poverty is Sexist. Furthermore, Lingua Franca donates ten percent of proceeds from the Vote 2020 collection to Higher Heights Leadership Fund.
Maison Labiche
For Maison Labiche, fashion is personal. This French brand has expanded from its iconic embroidered T-shirt to a full line of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories. Maison Labiche blends the couture technique of hand embroidery with clothing essentials for ready-to-wear-items. Choose from their popular phrases or personalize your own. For example, don an Amour sweater, or let them literally read your lips with an Amour face mask. Embrace your inner French femme with a French Touch hat or Ooh Là Là T-shirt.
JEWELRY
Atelier Paulin
When feelings get fancy. French jeweler Atelier Paulinhas earned a loyal following for custom twisted metal wire jewelry that is chic and elegant. Talented artisans carefully handcraft each and every piece. In fact, they can make it while you wait for a truly personalized experience. Choose from bracelets, necklaces, earring, brooches, rings and cuff links. Additionally, choose from silver, 14-karat yellow or rose gold, or 18-karat gold. Add a personal mantra, a favorite quote, or the name of someone special.
Nouvel Amour
Nouvel Amour means “new love” in French. Hence, founder Delphine Pariente filled this French brand with nothing but messages of––you guessed it–– love. Customize necklaces, bracelets, rings or earrings with initials or meaningful messages. On the other hand, choose from their vast collection of happiness-infused gold, silver and diamond jewelry. Wear a Bonne Étoile good luck charm around your neck, or show someone you care with just the right words like I Love Everything About You.
Mantraband
Mantraband offers inspirational jewelry pieces with uplifting inscriptions. Think: She Believed She Could, So She Did, Live What You Love or I Can And I Will. Mantraband bracelets are stackable, making daily doses of positive mindfulness wearable and cute. Additionally, the brand has also partnered with several charities for collections that support worthy causes. For example, Mantraband has collaborated with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (Stay Strong), Wounded Warrior Project (Remember Your Fighting Spirit) and the American Heart Association (Listen To Your Heart). Choose from their many messages or join their “Mantra of the Month Club”for monthly mantra motivation.
CRYSTALS
Whether or not you believe that semiprecious stones and crystals create an energy grid with magical healing powers (I definitely do), I think we can all agree that they are pretty. Crystals are associated with chakras or points of vital energy in the body. As such, they can help balance body and mind.
Rose quartz is the perfect stone to boost self-love and attract love from others. Similarly, amazonite is a happiness-harnessing crystal that promotes hope and a care-free attitude. Alternatively, citrine can help bring vitality and attract positive things. In other words, it is the ultimate happiness crystal. On the other hand, amethyst is great for calming and centering the mind. Black tourmaline can protect against negative energy and feelings. Finally, aventurine can help open the heart and promote optimism.
Wear these crystals as necklaces, bracelets or rings. When in Paris, try Let’s Play On The Moon. Their collection of stones and flowers blends le French chic with the world of spirituality. Afterward, head to La Roche Mère for your very own chakra “diagnosis” and balancing crystal “treatment” from their in-store experts.
Feature image from Lingua Franca
Rebecca Leffler is a Paris-based writer and journalist who, after a career as the French correspondent for The Hollywood Reporter and as a film critic on Canal+, traded red carpets for green smoothies. She’s written five books about healthy lifestyle from Paris to NYC and beyond, including Très Green, Très Clean, Très Chic: Eat (and Live!) the New French way with plant-based, gluten-free recipes for every season, and most recently Le Nouveau Manuel de la Cuisine Végétale. Rebecca has pioneered the “vegolution” in Paris, where she continues to organize events focusing on healthy eating, yoga and la vie en rose… And green! You can keep up with Rebecca on Instagram!