Making Maki is the home of Maki B. It’s where all of life’s parts meet. Figuring out the work-life balance, managing finances, navigating relationships, finding the things that give us joy, appreciating life’s journey and caring for ourselves along the way. Making Maki isn’t about finding any particular thing; it’s about always searching for the best versions of ourselves and making the most of all of life’s lessons and opportunities.
Fun fact: I have a pretty fixed colour palette. If you ever take a peek into my closet, you’ll find a lifetime of blacks, whites and dark blues along with a few pastels and earth tones. At best, you’ll find a handful of brightly coloured garments that I’m considering passing on to someone else who will love them properly.
My colour choices are evident everywhere. I recently had to take some professional photos and I chose to wear all black, topped with a cream coloured blazer. I loved the look and felt like my best self. It was so me that two friends of mine poked fun at how “Maki” it truly was.
Once upon a time, I used to venture into the colourful side of things. I would see the colour trends online and in stores and be sucked in. If Vogue said it was the colour to be worn, I was trying it – bad idea all around. While I knew my preferred palette, I used to fall into the “I’ll find something to wear it with” or “it’s on sale” trap. I would try to convince myself that I’d wear it eventually – and that would be enough justification for the purchase. One time, I walked into a store and saw a dark blue blouse on the mannequin. I tried it on and it fit perfectly – I decided to buy it. On my way to the checkout counter, I picked up the red as well because it was on sale. Fast forward to about two years – while the blue lived a full life, the red was worn once.
I wore that red blouse one single time and was so uncomfortable that it was never seen on me again. I donated it sometime later. The purchase was clearly unnecessary, but the lesson was needed. That singular blouse helped me to see the importance of being comfortable not just in my skin, but in my clothing as well. When I wear bright colours, I feel itchy and end up fidgeting. I also don’t recognize the person in the mirror. When I wear black or blue, I feel like I can take on the world. I look at the person in the mirror and I see her clearly. She isn’t forcing herself into a specific mould to fit someone else’s definition; she’s living for herself, on her own terms – yes, I get all that from what I wear. Also, I’m well aware that it’s all in my head, but it is what it is.
I’m not into fashion. I’ve never designed anything and I’ve never sewn beyond replacing a button or fixing a hem. I’m no seamstress, but I understand the concept of self-confidence. I understand that looking like the person we envision ourselves to be matters. I can identify my happiness in my greys and blues and I hope that everyone else can find their preferred pallets and be happy there too. Though I’d probably never dabble in fire engine red or hot pink, I admire and respect the folks who do. There are so many colours, patterns, cuts, shapes and sizes out there for all of us; we just need to find our own and respect that of others.
Clothing, like so many other things in our lives, is about personal choice and personal expression. So, let’s leave some room for all of us to express and live as our truest selves. And with that, I return to painting my bedroom a lovely shade of grey called Rock Candy.
