Monday Musings- Shopping For Your Personality
Happy Monday ladies. I have a bit of an obsession with books. I came by it naturally. Growing up, my Dad had half-read, opened books draped over the back of the couch, stacked on the end tables, towering on the carpet next to his chair and covering the coffee table. My mom on the other hand, never read. Oh, I’m sure she read something, but I never witnessed it. She was a doer, not a reader. I love to do both but if forced to choose one, it would be reading.
Here are a few things on my mind this week:
The Enneagram
Have you heard of the enneagram? I’m sort of obsessed with it lately. The enneagram is an ancient system of personality typing that illustrates how people see the world and manage their emotions. It helps you understand how you operate so you can make changes and grow.
I’ve always been fascinated by the enneagram and have been taking online tests for years. I’m still not sure what number I am because I have characteristics from so many of them. I just finished listening to this book on audible and I loved it with a capital L. This guy is very funny and his characterizations have gone a long way to help me nail down my type.
My copy of this book is dog eared and highlighted everywhere from years of use.
“The ancient symbol of the Enneagram has become one of today’s most popular systems for self-understanding, based on nine distinct personality types. Now, two of the world’s foremost Enneagram authorities introduce a powerful new way to use the Enneagram as a tool for personal transformation and development.”
-Don Richard Riso and Ross Hudson
I just ordered this book and am anxious to dive in. I found this author on Instagram and love her approach. She also has a podcast that I just started listening to here.
Last week I spotted this book which looks kind of fun… Can you tell I am a self-improvement addict? Does that mean I am a #1?
Shopping
My trip to the newly opened mall last week was a sad and depressing experience. I’d mistakenly thought it would be fun to shop in person. Wrong. The joy has gone out of that for now and possibly for a very long time…if not permanently. The stores I saw haven’t been getting deliveries and employees haven’t been able to work to stock the shelves. They’re doing what they can, but if you want or need anything new, don’t plan to wait for the stores to open in your area. You may be very disappointed. 
The best selections have always been online and this is true now, more than ever. For those of us who feel the need to try garments on before we buy, that may be a thing of the past. Many merchants are closing their lower producing stores to try to stay in business which usually means suburban ones. The retail landscape as we knew it may never recover. That’s not altogether bad because we were saturated with stores that were all selling similar merchandise. We were due for an adjustment but I wish it had happened in an easier way.
Comfortable shoes
My post last week on looking chic in flat shoes brought many wonderful suggestions from you, my brilliant readers. It seems many of you are in the same boat as I am with feet that need extra care and support. Here’s a recap of some brands you suggested for comfortable shoes that are stylish or the very least not ugly:)
ECCO– I love this brand and have several pairs. They have wide toe boxes
Munro– these can be pricey but available in varying widths and very comfy.
Vionic– I don’t have this brand but many of you do and rave about them.
Clarks– I do have several pairs and love them.
Reiker– I had a pair of their boots many years ago and love them.
Trotters – Easy Spirit – Naot – Skechers – Naturalizer – Rockport – Cork-Ease – Dansko – and of course Birkenstock.
Several asked about how to wear flat shoes with a skirt or dress so I have an upcoming post with some ideas for you.
What’s on your agenda this week?
Be well and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Warmest wishes from New Zealand. I look forward to your blogs and was interested to read about these Enneagram books, both new to me. After doing courses in Myers Biggs and feeling very comfortable with my ‘type’ ENTJ, I discovered Enneagram and found after attending a course that the only fit for me was #4. Each one seems complementary although Enneagram was the most helpful in finding ways to deal with the tougher parts of life.
Love books and the enneagram sounds interesting.
I agree with all those who have difficulty shopping on line, especially for shoes. It’s also wasteful and bad for the environment to constantly order things only to return most of them. Since I’m working from home, I have no interest in new clothes and I’ve decided to experiment with my hair and see if it’s time to stop dyeing it and to go natural. I bought some Overtone products to see if that will help with the transition.
Let’s hope that retail consolidates and we still have some shops where we can find quality products. While places like Forever 21 were fun, I wouldn’t be upset if the era of “Fast fashion” was over!
My sofa area looks just like your dad’s probably looked. It has always been this way, especially since my retirement several years ago and now, even more so, with the quarantine effect.
On to shoes….I have a wide toe box and a narrow heel plus a very high arch. Back in my running days, I often was directed to a men’s small size to fit the toe box. That worked well. Since the quarantine I’ve been walking lots more, out on the sidewalks as opposed to a treadmill at the Y. I’m piling up the miles. My Asics Metrolytes are comfortable and so light. I love them but lately one foot has been having pain on the outer side. I think I also pronate, if I recall correctly from getting fitted in Athletic Shoe Stores. There are so many choices but, in this case, I do think I need to get properly fitted. Yikes. I don’t like going to stores in “no virus times.”
I grew up in a reading family, and have always read several books a week. I am never bored if I have access to books or an e reader. I have done many personality type tests over the years, particularly when working, But I have not heard of Enneagram before, so off to google and try it!
Here in Australia we have a brand of shoes called Frankie4, which were developed by foot professionals. Very popular with the over 40’s. I love their boots and flat shoes, but not the high heeled ones I have tried. I don’t know if they ship overseas.
I am liking my Grasshoppers espadrilles, for affordable comfort and style.
I came to your blog for fashion news, and I’m so happily surprised to find you and a community who love books. (warms my teacher heart) My mom taught in a one room schoolhouse, grades 1 through 8, and passed her love of books to all. At age 80, she memorized Longfellow’s Hiawatha, and recited it to me, her audience of one.
Be safe, fellow travelers, next purchase may have to be a wig?!
I don’t like those “tests” that label people. Why do we all need to be nicely filed in a category?
When using those instruments it’s important to remember that they are just a clue to how you interact with the world. They are not intended to put you in a box.
The Enneagram is not intended as a way to label people. Each person chooses their own type number after studying the whole system. It took me months of study, classes, panels of types and testing to decide my personality type. Ideally a person can go to gatherings (back before shelter-at-home) and hear different people speak about how they move through the world as a Type One or a Type Nine etc. It is very enlightening to hear people describe how they are like the Personality Type they have chosen and in the ways that they are not. We are Individuals yet we often act and react in ways that have been distilled into nine Enneagram types with influences from ‘wing’ types and our possible unhealthy ways of being. I’ve enjoyed studying the Enneagram and it’s wisdom helps me many days to embrace Empathy and Self-Compassion.
still on lockdown in ct who knows for how long. Was in the fashion industry many moons ago and now get my fix watching the fashion shows on youtube, I feel the shows may be a thing of the past although have heard they may be limited to 2 a year….
Retail was already in difficulty before the virus, so no surprise there.
Thank you very much for all the efforts you put in your mails it is very much appreciated.
I’m in no rush to go out to stores, especially now. I understand the reasoning behind closing fitting rooms, but that would be a big deterrent to me. I might as well shop from home and have it delivered. Yes, returns can be a pain, but if I have to wait to try something on until I get home, there will doubtless be returns then as well. Another trip back to the store. No thanks.
I had not heard of Enneagram before so I just googled it on line and found a site Trusty.com which has a 10 minute free test online. I’ve taken the test and found out my number. Very interesting!
Sharon, I’d keep being curious about the Enneagram and all the nine types. An Enneagram test is not the end-all in your search to know more about how you might use the Enneagram as a base of insights. Just as someone can’t ‘type’ you (like the results of a text)–only you can name what type you may be. The more you learn–the more you may know your test result feels like a good fit or you also learn by staying open enough to all the types and how they also fit in some way with you.
I’ve been following a Well Styled Life for a while and really enjoy the blog itself and the comments. So much common sense and inspiration!
I’m in Minneapolis and just heartbroken about everything that has happened here and across America.
I agree that it’s hard to purchase clothing on line. Regarding comfy shoes – I love Grasshoppers. I wear the navy sneakers. I work in jeans and a polo shirt, so these sneakers work well. I order a new pair every spring and they never disappoint. Just received a compliment on them last week.
The enneagram is very intriguing. I immediately knew my number. What I find fascinating is how did this originate? No one person can know all the attributes, idiosyncrasies and personality of eight other types. One can only know oneself. The detail is incredible. As far as shopping, I haven’t been out since March 11th except for a haircut. Hubby does grocery shopping. We get drive-thru lunch twice a week. Online clothes shopping is pretty much a fail. And shoes…forget it. I read that many stores did not put in orders for fall and winter merchandise. We are in a mess, ladies. The good news is it’s summer!
The mall in my small city was empty before the pandemic. My online shopping (for clothes) has been a total bust. Weird fits. Poor quality. I am shopping my closet for now.