Recently, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) in NYC for the reopening of the Costume Institute & the Charles James exhibit.  If you have never been to this prestigious museum, put it on your bucket list.  There is something there for every taste & style preference.  For me several things, from the Degas ballerinas, theEgyptian wing, early American silver & furniture wing to the Costume Institute.  I have seen many fashion exhibits here over the years, but this is by far my favorite.

Charles James is a lesser know fashion designer starting out in millenary before moving into dressing the elite of his day, including Millicent Rogers, Babe Paley, Princess Caroline of Monaco to Gypsy Rose Lee in luxurious gowns, coats, dinner & cocktail dresses.  He invented the puffer coat, wrap dress & infinity scarf we all wear so much today.  Christian Dior credits James with Dior’s famous “New Look” also known as the full skirt of the late 1940’s & into the 50’s.

I expected the over 60 ball gowns, coats, cocktail dresses & dinner dresses common in this type of exhibit–all stunningly beautiful.  What captured my imagination, made my jaw drop & kept me riveted for hours were the digital videos & x-rays of how the garments were constructed.

Looking at the exteriors you see the beauty of the design, fabric & color.  You imagine what it must feel like to wear one of these gems; polished, pulled together, pampered, effortless.  Little hints at how much lies underneath. He builds three layers: an air layer between body and garment, boning or tulle which creates a scaffold, and the hidden cut of the pattern. It is those underneath supports & structures that make each piece wonderfully effortless.

It made me think of women who lead effortless lives.  How do they do it?  How do they keep juggling all the balls at one time?

They enlist a team to assist them from lawn care, to housekeeper, to manicurist, to hair stylist, to therapist, to mechanic, to friends.  They have a go-to recipe for guests; the family helps around the house; & they carve out time to rejuvenate.  Two things they don’t do is over schedule their calendar or do it all themselves.

The next time you feel overwhelmed or that you are about to drown in your To Do list, look around to see who you can delegate to.  Then set about spending quality time with family & friends. You’ll feel a bit more relaxed & rejuvenated, using your underneath support & sensibly structuring your calendar making your life wonderfully effortless.