There are so many words I wish I could write, so many themes I’d like to explore, and countless thoughts I’d love to list. Yet, quite pathetically, I find my mind far too busy to do any of it.
I’ve written articles before that I will never publish — not because they weren’t good or because I didn’t like them, but because I no longer consider them relevant. I should have published them when I wrote them. I postponed, lacked courage, promised myself I would prepare them in advance, or said, “a little later.” Too late… As the delay stretched on, I even abandoned the joy of writing altogether — until one evening, I invited a friend over for a sleepover. Redheaded, petite, and fiercely decisive about what she likes and what she doesn’t, she shares my passion for words. I must admit, she reminded me why I started writing in the first place and motivated me not to stop.
Maurice Munteanu mentioned in one of the episodes of StyleFiles - show with Domnica Mărgescu, that 5% red can completely change an outfit. A bright red lipstick, a perfectly manicured short nail, or a red scarf paired with a sailor top can work wonders. The “5% red” rule goes beyond fashion — it doesn’t have to be the color itself, but rather the effect of a small, distinctive accent. Something uniquely yours, unexplored by anyone else, that sets you apart from anonymity. Something that makes people instantly think of you: a signature look, an emblematic perfume, a passion, a dimple at the corner of your mouth, a poised gesture — something spicy, effervescent, and iconic.
In a world so busy chasing the latest trends that “influencer” has become a profession, it’s rare to find something that is truly yours. And if you are determined — and lucky — enough to discover it, don’t be afraid to own it. Most people, however, are too busy being trendy, jumping from one aesthetic to another, trying out countless hobbies without ever knowing if they genuinely enjoy them. They live quickly, like a novel skimmed diagonally — a light read, lacking a red accent, without the power to provoke thought or linger in memory. A safe, stylistic recipe: it offers comfort, but nothing that truly wows.
Naive are those who claim that fashion and style are superficial. I do not consider myself naive — at least, not in this case. After all, the soul cannot be touched directly. And so, guided by our most primal human desires, we find ways to show the world that we are unique and worthy of love in all our individuality. I, like many who will read these lines, am still searching. I wonder: is that 5% of my red expressed in these words? Or perhaps in the white silk scarf I adore, or in the small joy of buying a book instead of a magnet in the cities I visit? Or maybe it lies in all these little pieces of the soul, gathered together… When I figure it out, I will write to you.
-AE
