The Birthday I Spent Alone
(and why it felt strangely iconic)
This year I spent most of my birthday alone. Not lonely, just quiet in a way that felt different.
I got ready slowly, chose an outfit that felt like the woman I’ve been growing toward, and took myself out with no real plan.
There was something grounding about not waiting for anyone, not checking my phone to see who remembered, not trying to fit into any space other than my own.
Somewhere in the middle of that, something kind of changed. It felt like the first birthday where I wasn’t chasing a feeling, I was creating it.
And the lovely part was that life still met me.
The messages that came through were intentional and warm.
My son brought me flowers and my favourite chocolates, completely proud of himself. We had the sweetest little dinner together, singing wildly off-key and laughing like we always do. It all felt soft and honest and enough
Then, something I wasn’t expecting.
Someone on LinkedIn shared a reflection about the talk I gave on using your wardrobe as a tool for ‘Bossing it’ in 2026.
She wrote that she’d never cared much about clothes, that style wasn’t something she paid attention to, but she remembered every point I shared. And then she said that it changed how she sees her wardrobe, how she realised that the clothes aren’t something to copy from others, but something that helps you return to who you already are.
Reading that during my birthday felt like such a mirror to what I was living.
Because that’s exactly what the day taught me…. when you dress like your highest self, you’re not posturing, you’re choosing. You’re signalling to yourself who you are becoming. And the rest of your life often rearranges itself around that choice faster than you expect.
It isn’t about clothes, but identity.
About coming back to yourself.
About expressing rather than performing.
And it was the first birthday where I really felt that.
Like stepping into a version of myself I’d been orbiting for years, and only now feels true, and part of my reality in every single area of my life. :)
A little note, if you want 2026 to feel like that too…
This week reminded me why I do this work.
Why wardrobes matter more than people realise.
And why the right pieces, chosen with intention, can make you feel anchored in who you are becoming.
If you want to start 2026 with that feeling, clarity, direction, your style, not borrowed style, I’ve opened spaces for my Wardrobe Edit + Ready-to-Wear Lookbook in January.
It’s the most valuable thing I create:
✔ a wardrobe that actually supports the woman you’re stepping into
✔ outfits planned, styled, and ready for every part of your life
✔ a personal lookbook so you never stand in front of your closet wondering
✔ clarity on what works for you and what quietly holds you back
If you want next year to feel aligned from day one, it’s one click away - HERE.
Next week: The Christmas Style Edit 🎄
Before we all dissolve into mince pies and ‘what day is it?’ season, I’m sending you a festive lookbook you can actually use.
A cosy, festive guide for the holiday season,
outfits for family gatherings, dinners, nights out, slow mornings, fireside days, winter walks, and New Year’s Eve.
Plus simple ways to elevate the pieces you already own so you can enjoy this season without panic-buying sequins at 11pm.
See you next week. And until then… dress like the woman you’re becoming, she’s already closer than you think. ✨
With love,
Carolina