a day ago
Young people are using tarot cards to decide how to dress. So I tried it
It's 8am on a Wednesday and I'm ransacking my wardrobe for something silver to wear to a work meeting – all in an effort to channel the positive energy of the moon. After five desperate minutes, I unearth a pair of shimmery socks with a hint of the lunar, pull them on and launch myself out the door, hoping my celestial hosiery might also manifest the train being on time.
No, I'm not having a funny turn – I'm trying out 'energy dressing', a playful trend that blends the principles of power dressing with a touch of the mystical. It goes beyond throwing on a sharp blazer and heels to feel boardroom-ready.
The idea is that certain colours, fabrics and shapes can influence us at a cellular level, helping us tap into our inner 'frequency' and embody whatever energy we need to bring – whether that's focus, authority, calm, or (in my case) the strength to tackle the Tube at rush hour.
'There's a healing aspect in connecting to your inner vibrations through the daily ritual of getting dressed,' says Nieve Tierney, former fashion creative turned reiki master and energy healer for the style set (she leads workshops for the team at Stella McCartney and her monthly residency at Soho House in London is a regular sell out).
Tierney's new book The Fashion Oracle, is a guide to 'dressing in harmony with the energy you wish to manifest ', written to come to the aid of sartorial dilemmas little and large, from special occasion dressing to everyday outfit inspiration, with a divine twist. Based on the principle of manifestation – the idea that one can think things into reality – the book also includes affirmations, journaling prompts and nuggets of life advice that Tierney uses in her energy healing practises.
The trend has already taken off in the US. LA-based stylist Nicole Pollard Bayme, founder of Quantum Style, offers a service that promises to 'uncover your soul mission and align it with style that embodies the fullness of all you are.'
For a cool $250,000 a year, clients – said to include celebrities, CEOs, heads of state and royalty – receive monthly one-on-one sessions, weekly styling, and exclusive access to luxury designers for custom and runway pieces.
Perhaps it's no surprise that fashion is the latest frontier in our era of woo-woo wellness – think crystals, sound baths and all things Goop. For many, it's simply another route to peak self-optimisation. 'My client base is already listening to business coaching podcasts, optimising their diets and practising sleep hygiene. There's a curiosity about how to better themselves in different and deeper ways,' says Tierney.
Enter: the wardrobe.
Yes, it may sound like generation green juice gone mad – and in the case of a $250,000 style alignment, geared towards those with more money than sense. But this isn't just a case of The Emperor's New Clothes. Energy dressing actually has a rich history.
Wearing symbolic colours dates back to ancient Egypt (Cleopatra reportedly favoured Tyrian purple, a symbol of wealth). Coco Chanel, who had a keen interest in the mystical, wove spiritual symbolism throughout her designs: the five-point star for good fortune, the Leo lion (her zodiac sign) representing strength and confidence, and the camellia flower, symbolic of purity and longevity, all became Chanel signatures.
'Chanel was fascinated by numerology and astrology, and expressed these esoteric themes in a chic, modern way – from her use of pearls, symbolising femininity and purity, to her fixation on the number five, her lucky number associated with freedom and adventure,' says Tierney.
Her research into the Chanel archives inspired her book, structured around 70 'archetypes' she devised – each one representing an energy type, from 'The Icon' to 'The Rebel' to 'The Seductress'.
Trying 'energy dressing' as a time-poor mum
So is energy dressing just for true believers, or could it work for a cynic like me? Since having children, my own approach to getting dressed is to grab the closest and cleanest thing to hand. I'm pretty sure the only energy I currently channel is 'frazzled mum with not enough time on her hands'.
Could aligning my wardrobe with 'inner vibrations' help manifest my dream life? Or at least get me out of my jeans and jumper rut?
My spiritual-cum-sartorial journey begins with a virtual fashion reading over Zoom with Tierney. She's asked me to come prepared with my most pressing style dilemmas, for which she'll offer intuitive solutions.
We start with one that's been giving me mild anxiety: what to wear for an upcoming work presentation. I want to look chic and polished, but my outfit also needs to withstand the morning chaos of wrangling two kids into a buggy, followed by a cross-town commute on public transport. In other words, heels and shoulder pads are out.
As I focus on my presentation dilemma, Tierney puts her book to work using a technique she's devised especially for readings: flipping backwards through the pages to 'charge it with an energetic running jump,' and instructing me to say 'stop' when I feel compelled.
She then flips forwards, and once again I say 'stop'. The book lands on 'The Messenger' – an energy type rooted in 'divine communication' – which feels apt for a day of presenting. The styling guidance is to wear something that 'dances with your every movement,' so I pull out a pair of fluid tailored chinos and pair them with a wafty linen shirt. Embellishments are also recommended to create a 'captivating' effect, which I translate into a gem-encrusted T-bar necklace that adds just the right amount of pizzazz.
'Go as subtle or as all-in as you like with the styling prompts – and take only what feels relevant,' says Tierney. I keep this in mind for my second dilemma: what to wear to a toddler's birthday party. This time, the book lands on 'The Seductress'. As leaning into my 'powers of allure' doesn't feel quite right for a soft-play centre, I focus instead on the instruction to channel sophistication through 'materials that drape the body like a second skin' – and decide a silky wrap dress should do the trick without veering into full vamp.
Unfortunately for my husband, 'The Seductress' doesn't come up when I consult the book for date night dressing. Instead, he's in for 'The Wild Woman'. This archetype calls for letting 'your hair flow like wild rivers' and embracing raw trims and textured fabrics. As we're heading to the theatre, I layer a suede jacket over black evening trousers – and, for the raw trim, choose the knickers with the frayed elastic.
With the training wheels off, I go it alone for the rest of the week, using the book and Tierney's backwards/forwards flip method. The idea is that, each time, my fingers will be subliminally drawn to the archetype and outfit guidance I most need – all interpreted using clothes I already own.
At first, I'm stumped when I land on 'The Prophet', which involves dressing by numerology. My life number (calculated by adding the digits of my birth date and reducing to a single digit) is nine – something I'm supposed to incorporate into my look. Rather than attempting nine layers in a heatwave, I opt for a charm necklace with nine gems and follow the accompanying guidance: 'asking for help isn't a burden'. I take this as a sign to ask the nanny for an extra hour, giving me time to finally conquer my to-do list.
By day four, I'm into the swing of it. My readings have pushed me towards long-forgotten pieces in my wardrobe and new combinations – a slip dress and loafers to 'channel the dance of opposing forces' for 'The Punk Princess', for example.
Some of the prompts focus on jewellery – usually an afterthought for me. I own some beautiful pieces, but in the morning rush they rarely make it out the drawer. Starting the day with my grandmother's watch or the pearl necklace my husband gave me has felt unexpectedly joyful. And whether or not I'm channeling 'The Mermaid's' mesmerising energy, a few extra adornments have definitely lifted my outfits.
That, ultimately, is what I've taken from my week of energy dressing. My life hasn't magically transformed, and I'm not suddenly a five-star version of myself. But I've had far more fun getting dressed – and received more compliments than usual from my husband and friends. While the woo-woo aspects didn't always resonate, 'dressing with intention' – or, put simply, taking a moment to think about how I want to feel in my clothes each day – has been an enjoyable, purse-friendly way out of a style rut, and a reminder of how much I already own.
So next time I'm facing a wardrobe meltdown, I may just tune into my inner vibrations and see where they lead me.
Seven days of energy dressing
Day 1: The Moon
A day of meetings in town calls for an energetic and positive mindset – and a glossy look with lunar symbolism. I add socks with a hit on silver shimmer and a string of pearls to wide chinos and a leather jacket.
Day 2: The Punk Princess
I'm heading to a fashion event and want to look cool in every sense of the word as it's unseasonably warm out. 'The Punk Princess' recommends balancing hard with soft, so I drag out an olive green slip I haven't worn in years and team it with a pair of chocolate loafers for edge.
Day 3: The Prophet
For a day battling my to-do list I'm guided to dress based on my 'Life Path Number' (nine) to help me 'make informed decisions'. I find a charm necklace with nine gemstones, then text the nanny to ask for an extra hour or child-free peace – which seems like a very good decision indeed.
Day 4: The Coquette
I want to give off relaxed, fun vibes for a picnic with the nursery crowd. I land on 'The Coquette' – an invite to wear white for a 'light-hearted spirit.' Fingers crossed my two-year-old avoids me with jam-covered hands.
Day 5: Chance
A day running around to various kids clubs, plus a playground session isn't always the most fragrant of things. Thankfully my guidance today is 'a drop of life in a bottle' to embody spontaneity – which in terms of practical advice translates into adding a spritz of my favourite perfume. All I have time for before bolting off to my son's football club
Day 6: The Legend
To help me feel chic and switched-on for a morning of writing, the 'timeless accessories' brief of 'The Legend' archetype steers me towards my Grandma's heirloom Gucci watch – which cheers me every time I look down at my hands tapping at the keyboard.
Day 7: The Modern Woman
A rare evening out with friends for cocktails at the opening of a bar means I'm looking to feel footloose and fancy-free. I'm in luck, the book lands on 'The Modern Woman', my style solution is to wear an LBD.
