LOVE, Kloudiia

Lunar New Year is coming! Are your new clothes hanging in your closet ready to be displayed on the first day of CNY? Now let me guess – if you’re in your teens, then you’re probably going to be dressed in colours like black, white or maybe even blue or turqoise, since it’s still in the trend now. If you’re in your 30s and older, do I sense at least a piece in red in your wardrobe? And most probably you’re going to wear it on the first day of CNY. Am I right?

You know, I have one piece of red top that I’ll be wearing. And yes, it’s totally new! I had diligently kept it fresh and new since I bought it about 3 weeks ago. I thought since CNY is nearing the corner, why not just leave it untouched so that I’ll at least have something new to wear. For the fun of it, you know.

When I was young, waiting for CNY to come had always been a torture. I mean, for a 12 year old girl, delayed gratification was more than a test for endurance! Having to stare at them so hard and wishing to just rip them off from the hangers and wear it immediately but was strictly forbidden was really nerve-wrecking.

As I grew older, I was finally given the choice to buy my own clothes! And guess what? Mum said no black on that day. ”Wear red because it’s auspicious, and you’ll be lucky for the whole year,” was her command. “No way! Red is so bleah…Don’t be so superstitious, can?” I would retort. “I don’t care. Even if you don’t wear red, you’re not going to wear black!” 

Now, black isn’t my favourite colour at - all - times. But, the rebellish streak in me just rose and yes, you could have guessed I bought black home for that year! Not so much as to purposely want to freak my mum out, but really more for the purpose of testing the waters. No pain, no gain. So if I never made any attempt, I would never know where my mum’s boundaries were. Actually, it didn’t happen in one go. I first bought some other coloured clothes with some dashes of black. She nodded in approval. “So long as it’s not all black,” she said.

So the subsequent years, I got colours of blue, yellow, white, so long as it wasn’t red. All of them would come with some bits of black – either black prints, black hemmings or whatever, and I’ll go with a black bottom.

As I grew older, the propaganda I lashed on my mum grew in breadth and depth too. Until when she realised that her mother power is not going to influence what her daughter is going to wear for CNY. So you could say that I won my battle!

Then, the funny thing happened. I didn’t feel like wearing black during new year anymore! Not so much of being superstition, but really, black has never ever been one of my favourite colours at all. I don’t find myself looking especially good in this colour, rather white is more of the one that would bring me out. Also, I find that black is a colour associated with mystery, sadness and night-glamour – none of this befits the atmosphere of a chinese new year! So why should I rebel for the sake of rebelling? If I don’t get any satisfaction (don’t look as pretty ha!) out of it and at the same time it displeases my mother (whom I love so much), what’s the point of doing it?

And I’ve also discovered that I actually, kind of look rather bright in red! The striking colour brings out more colour in my face (haha, obviously, right?) and it makes me look more energetic. So, I like red now. I embrace this colour. That’s why I chose it to be my evening gown on my wedding party.

Yes, now, I like to wear red during CNY. Rather than feeling as if I’m a walking red packet, I see myself as the energetic (and hopefully lucky like what my mum believes!) girl in town.

Paint the town red with all your red outfits during CNY people!

GONG XI FA CAI!

P.S My red top this year is a halter-neck bareback with a line of bling-blings! Would be a cooling top for our hot humid weather haha